Q&A with McConville, Provenzano, Wheeler
Daily Herald report
Incumbent Republican Barbara Wheeler, Republican Nick Provenzano and Democrat Lori McConville are competeing for two seats in District 3 on the McHenry County board. The candidates answered the following questions:
Q: What is your Number 1 campaign issue?
McConville: Balanced Development that protects groundwater and builds financially stable and healthy communities.
Provenzano: In a recent study, McHenry County ranked in the top 10 in the country for longest employee commutes. Transportation infrastructure improvements have both a quality of life and an economic development impact. Potential manufacturers looking to relocate to McHenry County will be looking for an efficient way to bring their goods to market and a high quality of life for their employees. My top priorities for County Highway projects include:
-The Algonquin Bypass
-Route 31 widening from Algonquin to McHenry
-Miller Road widening in McHenry
-Longmeadow Toll Bridge
-Route 47 full Interchange at I-90
Recently, I joined a contingency of business and governmental leaders in a trip to Springfield, meeting with Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senator Frank Watson, to lobby for state dollars. I supported the County's policy shift and voted for the $50 million bond program to immediately fund road improvements. We should also ensure the transportation fund balance is sufficient to give the greatest flexibility to provide local matching funds for federal dollars should they be made available.
Wheeler: Our greatest challenge in the county today is the difficult economic times. Unemployment has been above 9 percent for months, the number of foreclosures and bankruptcies are at an all-time high and growth and building are at an all-time low.
As revenue to the county's general fund is decreasing, the county needs to continue to provide services.
As a county board member, I have promoted and supported fiscally responsible initiatives. Knowing the economy was going to take a turn for the worse, administrative staff continually reminded our board to “put on the breaks” when spending tax dollars. Last year was one of our toughest to maintain a balance budget with reserve, however, the county board made tough decisions and continued to pursue our goal.
Like private industries experiencing decreased revenues, we had a job freezes and eliminated those jobs frozen and not filled after a certain period of time.
We asked our department heads and other elected officials to return budget dollars to the general fund that was not absolutely essential for their departments to provide services, over a million dollars was returned. Unlike many of our neighboring counties, we have a very strict policy regarding accepting federal and state grant money. As we accept the money, we provide the program.
Once the grant money is gone … the program is finished. These changes saved over a million dollars last year. This year, we will need over 3 million and we are going to have to make even harder decisions. I have voted for pay freezes, we may have to reduce staff in some departments and we will continue to review all of our department budgets and further reduce spending.
Q: What is your Number 2 campaign issue?
McConville: Preservation of farmland and sensitive lands.
Provenzano: Economic development in McHenry County is my top priority. We need to create more primary jobs, ones that create true financial ripple effects throughout the rest of the local economy.
I will work with the McHenry County Economic Development Corp. to bring more manufacturing jobs to McHenry County.
I will also work with the World Trade Illinois to retain and grow existing manufacturing businesses by identifying new international markets. I will also work with State Legislators to make the Capital Plan a reality which will in turn drive road development, new school construction and make an immediate impact to the county. We should also review development and construction related fees to make it as cost effective as possible to get development projects going again.
Wheeler: The McHenry County Board just recently passed the 2030 Land Use Plan. The 2030 Plan is the compilation of the hard work of dedicated volunteers for the past 3 years. It is as one member of the public described “a sincere effort” for balance of growth and sustainability. The text chapters, especially the Water Resources, Open Space and Agriculture Chapters, are very well researched and strongly supported by studies, maps, charts, etc.
It is clear that the commission was cognoscente of the importance of respecting municipal and township plans, and promotes growth in and around municipalities. Because of active involvement of residents and different organizations throughout the process, the board continued to strengthen and improve the plan as it proceeded; up to the moment of the vote.
I am very proud of the 2030 plan, as all of McHenry County should be. In fact, it won the APA Burnham Award just this July. The key issue here is to recognize the importance of this plan and implement its recommendations and strategies so McHenry County can achieve that which it set out to achieve.
Q: What is your Number 3 campaign issue:
McConville: Attracting high quality businesses to the county and improving the existing infrastructure.
Provenzano: Groundwater Preservation is another of my top priorities. We need to continue the work of the County's Water Resources Manager. I support the network of county groundwater monitoring wells and would also support expansion of the network to monitor new development in the county. I support the County's Winter Snow and Ice Program and also support the Anti-icing methods that this county was a national pioneer in developing. In environmentally sensitive areas I would support the use of non-chloride based de-icing material such as Calcium Magnesium Acetate, a safe non-salt product. Federal grants are available to help offset the incremental expense.
We need greater promotion of the County Medication Disposal Program and increase the number of drop-off locations to prevent unwanted contamination of groundwater from flushed pharmaceuticals. We need to continue greater acceptance and use of conservation design development to protect groundwater and water recharge areas and encourage individual use of rain gardens and rain barrels.
Wheeler: My Number 3 Campaign issue is providing obtainable housing for McHenry County residents. After the McHenry County Board was presented with the Heartland Alliance Study regarding the lack of affordable housing in McHenry County and in the middle of the worst housing crisis in McHenry County, a few board members and I initiated and lead an effort to bring solutions to a looming problem in the county.
After only 13 months, an ordinance to adopt and implement the McHenry County Housing Commission was approved (01-05-10)! The purpose of the Housing Commission is to promote and plan for housing and mixed-income developments that meet community and County needs while also addressing broader regional sensible growth goals, and to advocate for the increase of affordable housing throughout McHenry County by educating the general public, elected and appointed officials, housing providers, and other interest groups regarding affordable housing issues.
In addition, the commission will support, develop and promote programs, policies and resources that serve to further the availability of sensible growth and affordable housing countywide.
The commission will provide an expert resource on sensible growth and affordable housing for McHenry County. It will further housing goals related to HUD programming as outlined by the Consolidated Plan and related action plans. Also important to mention, the commission will work with local private sector entities to establish and implement the Commission's goals and objectives.
An Ad hoc Committee was formed by the County and local entities to address current housing issues including foreclosures and the lack of affordable units in light of the economic downturn. As such, the McHenry County Board adopted a Resolution (R-200909-10-262) supporting the formation of a Housing Commission. The Ad hoc Committee, also known as the Housing Committee, continued to meet to outline the purposes and goals of such a commission, and potential activities to increase the capacity for mixed-income development, housing policies and procedures, and planning and education initiatives for housing in McHenry County.
Q: As revenues, both from local sources and the state, are likely to keep falling in the year ahead, how should the county adjust its spending priorities related to the office you are seeking? Please be as specific as possible.
McConville: It is my opinion that spending should be concentrated on attracting businesses that can utilize existing locations and will offer employment to the local populations. It will also be important to maintain and improve county infrastructure to make setting up business in McHenry County attractive and at the same time, build access for farming and small businesses, downtown areas, and for agricultural tourism.
Provenzano: The County Board recently voted for a $10 million budget increase on top of a $20 million increase the year before all while home values (the County's main source of revenue) were declining, in fact all economic indicators were pointing down and their expenditures were pointing up. This culture of spending and growing government must be reversed. We need to review all expenditures and reduce all nonpublic safety spending back to 2008 levels. We also need to review our staffing levels in certain departments and utilize some part-time employees to cover peak or heavy workload periods. I would immediately freeze all previously budgeted capital expenditures over $5,000.
Wheeler: As mentioned above...
Last year was one of our toughest to maintain a balance budget with reserve; however, the county board made tough decisions and continued to pursue our goal. Like private industries experiencing decreased revenues, we had a job freezes and eliminated those jobs frozen and not filled after a certain period of time. We asked our department heads and other elected officials to return budget dollars to the general fund that was not absolutely essential for their departments to provide services, over a million dollars was returned. Unlike many of our neighboring counties, we have a very strict policy regarding accepting federal and state grant money.
As we accept the money, we provide the program. Once the grant money is gone…the program is finished. These changes saved over a million dollars last year. This year, we will need over 3 million and we are going to have to make even harder decisions. I have voted for pay freezes, we may have to reduce staff in some departments and we will continue to review all of our department budgets and further reduce spending.
Q: The McHenry County Board this summer froze salaries for its members, as well as those of the sheriff, treasurer and county clerk. Do you support the pay freeze? Why or why not?
McConville: Yes, I support the pay freeze. An increase in compensation is not necessarily the only way to acknowledge good performance. When the citizens of the county are forced to manage with less because of the economy, public officials need to respect those conditions when spending tax dollars. When the Board knows the public must do more with less, and also has to provide more services with less, public officials need to reflect that and lead by example.
Provenzano: Yes, I support the freeze. In fact, I was one of the few calling on the County Board to reverse the raises during the Primary Campaign, I expressed opposition to the County pay raises because it's difficult to fathom approving increases while simultaneously debating the need for layoffs, staff hour reductions and how to prepare for a worsening economy. The County Board got the message and reversed course by freezing the pay raises. Our next step is to roll back the pay raises given to all County employees.
Wheeler: I did support the freeze and will continue to support pay freezes and staff reduction. The grim reality of our current economic state is going to force responsible government entities to make difficult decisions. We need to have a balanced budget, continue to provide services and not create more of a tax burden to our residents. The McHenry County Board must make these difficult decisions.
Q: According to the U.S. Census, McHenry County's Hispanic population grew from about 19,600 in 2000 to about 36,000 in 2008. What challenges does that present for the office you seek, and how would you address them?
McConville: The biggest challenge in dealing with the growing Hispanic population is communication. To bridge the barriers between cultures, a good first step would be to have translations available so rules, laws, instructions, directions and assistance are clear and understandable.
Provenzano: The percent of Hispanic residents is around 10%, that's significantly lower than the national average of 15%. With a County budget in critical shape I would not advocate spending additional dollars to support a specific demographic at this time.
Wheeler: I find the premise of the question to be insulting; that the increased population of a certain race would create challenges beyond the ordinary needs of population growth within the county. Having said that, I supported and voted for the 2030 Land Use Plan and believe that the county did an exceptional job planning for the expected 495,000 residents by 2030. As a matter of fact, McHenry County won an APA planning award The Burnham Award.
Q: Kane County, which like McHenry initially banned video gaming machines from bars and other approved establishments, now will allow the machines. Should McHenry County follow suit, or should it remain opposed? How is your position best for county voters?
McConville: McHenry County should remain opposed. I believe that the gaming machines will open the door to more gambling, and I oppose gambling as a source for revenue. The impact of gaming and gambling will create larger and more difficult social problems that will increase expenses and programs rather than aid in the management of finances.
Provenzano: The County has decided to opt out of Video Gaming. Once the rules and regulations are defined by the state of Illinois' Gaming Commission, it would be prudent for the County to revisit the decision to determine if there are any substantive changes in the program that would initiate a change in the Board's decision to ban video gaming.
Wheeler: The thought that video gaming machines is going to solve the state's economic problem is a farce. Illinois is one of the worst states in the country when it comes to many things, most importantly, handling money. Now they have the audacity to ask us to trust them when it comes to taxing a currently illegal activity. They do this in the name of job creation and increased revenue for small business. The people of McHenry County are not that stupid to think that is what is really going on here. What a joke. It is time for the state of Illinois to start making difficult decisions we make in this county. It should be cutting spending, reducing staff and controlling their budget.
Q: McHenry received a two-year delay on a deadline to create a drug court, leaving it as the only collar county without one. Do you agree with the postponement? Should the county set up a court sooner? If so, what are the obstacles? How would you fund it?
McConville: I do not have enough knowledge or background on this issue to comment. However, I do know that drug issues are severe and growing in our county and that attention to the problems that come with illegal drug activities and abuse needs to be a priority for the protection of our citizens and communities.
Provenzano: I agree that it is absolutely necessary to perform all needed due diligence before launching a Drug Court. The obstacles are many at this point but all can and should be overcome as soon as possible.
The state of Illinois is also a pacing item in this as it needs to approve an additional Judge for this court.
As Chairman of the County's Law and Justice Committee, I advocated for this new Drug Court and would continue when I am back on the board. I would seek a portion of the funding to come from increased fees on convictions just as I coordinated to pay for the County's Child Advocacy Program. I believe that the Criminal Justice System should be funded by those choosing to take part in criminal activity.
Wheeler: This is one of those notorious state unfunded mandates... We were mandated to set up a drug court. Although the county already had an effective drug program, the state said we must set up a drug court. It did allow the county an extension for implementation and allowed us to add a court fee for expenses. In order to provide a fund balance to grow, the county is taking advantage of the provided extension and applying for grant money to cover some of the costs. When the state mandates counties to provided services, McHenry County is committed to do providing those services to the best of our ability.
Name of Candidate: Lori J. McConville
Hometown: Crystal Lake
Running for: McHenry County Board District 3
Party affiliation: Democrat
Candidate Incumbent? No
Occupation: Elementary educator