McHenry County Board ending mileage reimbursements for members in 2022

The McHenry County Board voted Tuesday to eliminate mileage reimbursements for board members to attend regularly scheduled meetings effective in 2022.

The resolution, as initially written, would have eliminated this benefit effective immediately. However, the board's administrative services committee voted this month to delay the measure until 2022, the same time a separate proposal to eliminate health insurance benefits for county board members could take effect.

When combined, the elimination of mileage and health insurance benefits - spearheaded by board members Michael Vijuk, Kelli Wegener and Paula Yensen - are estimated to save about $317,000 a year. The 2022 start date was chosen because elected officials' compensation cannot be decreased during their term, according to the Illinois Constitution.

At a special committee of the whole meeting to discuss these benefits, several board members asked that the potential elimination of these benefits be discussed in a broader conversations about employee compensation packages. McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks said a discussion about the effects of the board's reduction from 24 members to 18 in 2022 should precede a debate about compensation packages.

Opponents also criticized the minimal impact to the county's finances and challenges these losses could bring to attracting strong candidates for the county board in the future.

Currently, a total of 10 board members do not sign up for insurance coverage, and eight do not request mileage reimbursement.

Another topic addressed by several county board members during Tuesday's board meeting was the Illinois State Police investigation into Franks.

McHenry County Board member Pamela Althoff requested a legal opinion from McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally as to whether the board as a whole or individual members would have any exposure or liability risks because of the investigation. She also said she would reserve judgment on the matter until the investigation concludes.

Franks said he doesn't expect this to be an issue, but he welcomes a written opinion from Kenneally.