McHenry County Board to shrink from 24 to 18 members in 2022

Voters' desire to reduce the size of government is leading the McHenry County Board to shrink from 24 to 18 members - but not for another four years.

The impending change comes at the recommendation of an ad hoc committee created earlier this year by Board Chairman Jack Franks. The 10-member group was tasked with exploring ways to streamline county government after 77 percent of voters supported a 2016 advisory referendum question asking whether the board should be reduced to 12 members.

Board members this week voted 19-3 to approve downsizing by 25 percent, which Franks says is a compromise between leaving the board as is and cutting it in half. The change goes into effect during the 2022 election, when all board seats will be up because of redistricting after the 2020 Census.

"This is government doing the will of the people," Franks said in a statement. "Taxpayers want their governments to be leaner and do more with less. ... We have to lead by example."

The initial proposal did not indicate how a smaller board would be structured. Those details were expected to be determined either by future board members or voters, Franks said.

However, the measure was amended Tuesday meeting to include a provision maintaining the county's six districts, each of which would have three members instead of four.

That addition led Paula Yensen of District 5 to vote against the size reduction ordinance altogether. She said the county board needs to discuss the structure more thoroughly and gather feedback from residents before making a decision.

Michael Skala of District 5 and John Hammerand of District 4 cast the other two opposing votes.

Mary McCann of District 6 said the six-district structure is the best option for her constituents, who live in largely rural and unincorporated areas. She fears restructuring would cater to portions of the county with a higher population density.

But Joe Gottemoller of District 3 said the county should explore other options, such as one- or two-member districts. "I'm not necessarily opposed to the (existing) structure," he said. "I just think there are others that need to be considered."

The county board has the power to change its structure in the future, Franks said. Voters also could redistrict the county through a referendum, though they don't have control over the board's size.