MCC fills vacant trustee post

McHenry County College has tapped a local businessman to succeed Donna Kurtz on the board of trustees.

Dennis Adams, 48, takes the reins from Kurtz, who resigned from the seat after she was elected to the McHenry County Board, citing state law that bars her from serving on both boards.

She stepped down four months before the spring election to ensure her seat would make the ballot in time for the April elections.

Kurtz had two years left on her term and Adams has every intention of running for them.

“Definitely,” he said. “I wouldn't do this without that,” he said.

But first things first.

Adams, owner of Adams Collision Center in Lake in the Hills and Harvard, will be sworn in Thursday. He said the experience of being on the board for a short while will help him better understand its workings before he makes a run for the seat.

He says his business experience makes him uniquely qualified to help keep costs down at the Crystal Lake-based college.

“The board is responsible to the students and the taxpayers, so what I hope we can do is balance the best possible education in a cost-effective manner,” he said.

Trustee Carol Larsen says Adams' business background and connections are assets to the board.

Adams is past chairman of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, served on the boards for both the Huntley and Harvard chambers of commerce and was an alderman and police commissioner in McHenry, where he resides.

“He is a small-business owner and he has volunteered on many boards,” Larsen said. “He seems very down to earth, he seems knowledgeable about the college and the community we serve.”

Three other people applied for Kurtz's position. Trustees' appointment of Adams was unanimous.