District 6 hopefuls debate water, open space

Conserving groundwater is a persistent concern in McHenry County - nowhere more so than the largely rural 6th District, which encompasses the western half of the county.

The five Republican candidates seeking a seat on the county board recognize the importance of the issue; nearly all say groundwater management is among their top priorities.

Incumbents Dan Ryan of Huntley and Mary McCann of Woodstock are running for re-election, while challengers Diane Evertsen of Harvard, Victor Narusis of Woodstock and Richard Draper of Wonder Lake are hoping to unseat them.

McCann says the county should require all developers to assess a project's impact on the county's groundwater. She also supports a groundwater protection plan.

"If long-term water sustainability is to occur in McHenry County, it is important that the county work with the municipalities and townships to implement a groundwater protection management plan," McCann wrote in a questionnaire.

Ryan applauded the work of the county's water resources manager and said new subdivisions should be built in or incorporated into existing towns, where conservation can be more easily enforced.

"All new subdivisions should be incorporated into municipalities, where they can connect to necessary infrastructures," Ryan wrote in a questionnaire. "All new development outside of municipalities should be encouraged to use conservation design and discouraged from disturbing recharge areas."

Draper also commended county officials for hiring a water resources manager and starting a groundwater protection program, but proposed more enforcement and education.

"The county must educate the public, farms, citizens, community, governments and developers of ways to conserve - our groundwater," Draper wrote. "New developments should be monitored by the county for water usage."

Evertsen similarly suggests stricter enforcement.

"I suggest that the county monitor and control subdivisions in order to protect the water resources if, indeed, groundwater preservation is a priority," Evertsen wrote.

Narusis, though, cautioned against placing too many restrictions on businesses, potentially discouraging job growth in the county.

"I would support monitoring of groundwater by all users, not just those from residential developments," Narusis wrote. "However, we must be careful that through this process, we do not limit opportunities to attract new job creators."