McHenry County moves to buy bank building for treasurer

McHenry County finance leaders authorized plans this week to pay up to $700,000 for a former bank building in Woodstock and make it home to the county treasurer's office.

The county board's Finance and Audit Committee unanimously approved the purchase Tuesday, part of a plan that could see it spending an additional $450,000 to renovate the Cardunal Bank facility south of the McHenry County courthouse for use by the treasurer.

Backers say the move will ease crowding at the county's administration building in Woodstock and allow the treasurer to provide services in a more convenient and customer-friendly manner.

The new facility, Treasurer Bill LeFew said, will have three drive-up lanes for county residents dropping off tax payments and allow for expanded hours of service,

"People can literally drive up, pay their taxes or do their other business with the treasurer's office and never have to leave their cars," said Marc Munaretto, chairman of the finance and audit committee.

Funding for the purchase will come from a $4.5 million loan county officials authorized last year primarily to pay for the acquisition of a 30-acre parcel along Route 47 near the county government center. Officials set aside $700,000 of the loan in anticipation of buying the bank building.

"We are seizing on an opportunity," Munaretto said. "When you think about the treasurer's responsibilities, it really mirrors what a bank does."

County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said last month he hopes to obtain funds from the federal stimulus plan to pay renovation costs. If they are not successful with that, the county board will lend the treasurer's office money from its general fund to pay for the work, and then have it repaid through passport and automation fees collected by the treasurer.

There are no specific plans yet for what will be done with the office space vacated by the treasurer when the bank renovation is complete, Munaretto said.