McHenry Co. chairman addresses state of the county

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler urged county board members and staffers on Tuesday to build on the conservative fiscal approaches and creative money-saving ideas that enabled the county to meet goals last year despite the tenuous economy.

During his State of the County speech Tuesday, the fourth-term chairman gave a collective pat on the back to county board members and staffers for balancing the county’s budget without eliminating programs and personnel, in addition to accomplishing significant objectives.

“This past year was a tough economic one for the county, but we have confronted our economic realities while still delivering the services our constituents expect,” Koehler said during his 25-minute speech,

This past December, Koehler said, the McHenry County Board adopted a budget that was roughly $6.9 million less than the Fiscal Year 2010 budget by matching expenditures to revenues. The county also maintained fund balances and reserves while avoiding layoffs.

“We continue to be committed to operating the programs and services the residents of McHenry County expect, in addition to accomplishing our strategic objectives,” Koehler said.

Though there were no breaks for applause during the speech, board members said the chairman addressed all of the salient points.

“The county board, chairman and staff have worked diligently to remain fiscally conservative,” said Diane Evertsen, a Republican from Harvard. “I think Ken touched on everything accurately.”

Some of the key accomplishments from last year included the county attaining high marks for its accounting and financial reporting, receiving grant money for energy improvements in county facilities and increasing efforts to make the county’s business more transparent.

Koehler said one of the most successful initiatives in 2010 was the bed rental program at the McHenry County Jail. The jail averaged 300 bed rentals per day in 2010, adding about $10 million to the county’s general fund.

Koehler also outlined a number of key projects slated for the new year. Construction projects such as the completion of a new archives storage building and the start of the Rakow Road extension topped the list. The Rakow Road extension, a $26.5 million project, will add lanes along the corridor connecting Route 31 and Randall Road.

Other projects include the redrawing of county districts and wage increases.

“I know that we cannot yet make promises on wage increases, but we can commit to thoughtfully reviewing this important issue ...,” Koehler said. “Especially in light of union contracts coming forward, I am committed to treating union and nonunion employees equitably.”