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Maps for consolidation unveiled McHenry County task force reveals 3 options for proposed township boundaries By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – A working group created to examine consolidating McHenry County’s townships unveiled three boundary options Tuesday. However, the second meeting of the McHenry County Township Consolidation Task Force, like its first meeting last month, began with an hour of public comment, mostly from township officials overwhelm-
On the Web To see videos from the meeting and the proposed maps for consolidating McHenry County’s townships, visit NWHerald.com. ingly opposed to the idea. The task force plans to vote later this month on a recommended map and resolution to advance to the full County Board. Consolidation will be put to the county’s voters in the
March primary should County Board members in September approve the task force’s recommendation. A group called McHenry County Citizens for Township Consolidation, with the blessing of a number of high-ranking county Republican officials, asked the County Board earlier this year to put consolidation referendums to voters to halve the number of townships from 17 to eight. Board Chairman Joe
Federal funding plan gets overhaul
Gottemoller, R-Crystal Lake, subsequently convened the five-member task force – three County Board members and one township official each from both sides of the consolidation debate – to explore the issue and recommend action if justified. Townships under Illinois law have three statutory functions – assess properties, maintain roads and provide assistance for constituents in need – but many also have added
services such as senior transportation, food banks and local programs. While supporters of townships call them vital and the most direct and responsive government taxpayers have, opponents call them unnecessary anachronisms rife with nepotism and patronage. Conversely, township officials scoff at the idea being pushed by consolidation supporters that merging townships will save taxpayers millions and not af-
fect any services. Task force member and Coral Township Supervisor Roger Naylor again said Tuesday that a true cost-benefit analysis – whether the taxpayers will see any cost savings from consolidation – is needed before anything can be advanced to the voters. “We need an analysis. Otherwise it’s not fair to the public,” Naylor said.
See CONSOLIDATION, page A7
JUVENILES AND THE McHENRY COUNTY LEGAL SYSTEM
House committee gives OK despite Rauner’s protests By JOHN O’CONNOR The Associated Press SPRINGFIELD – What began as a bipartisan effort to distribute $5 billion in federal funds, and keep some Illinois programs afloat despite a budget stalemate, appeared Tuesday to be headed for a veto by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner amid a continuing financing feud with Democrats in the General Assembly. The plan before the House to cut loose available federal funding – providing nutrition for low-income women and babies and energy-bill assistance for the poor – got an overhaul. Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan pumped into the Senate-approved initiative an additional $1.4 billion, including about $750 million in state spending authority. The state money is a deal-breaking “poison pill” inviting a total veto, Rauner’s office announced hours before a House committee endorsed the idea on 10-1 vote, with four GOP members voting “present” in protest. The vote, following a 90-minute hearing during which Democrats and Republicans traded grievances from a summer of stonewalling and inaction, sends the legislation to the House floor where lawmakers expect to vote Wednesday. More than $4.8 billion available from Washington for social services, emergency aid and more would have been included in a state budget slated to take effect July 1. But after both the first-year governor and legislative Democrats produced budgets that did not balance, the deadlock ensued. The Senate approved authorization to spend the federal money last week with Rauner backing. Now Republicans are beside themselves as to why Madigan would pass up the chance to get some money flowing even though there’s no fiscal plan. “Don’t you think it would be better to move forward on the
Matthew Apgar – mapgar@shawmedia.com
James Edwards, Juvenile Division chief managing officer for the McHenry County Probation and Court Services Office, talks inside a courtroom Tuesday at the McHenry County Courthouse in Woodstock.
County probation officers give individualized focus to juveniles Mental health, drug abuse, family key factors in criminal behavior By HANNAH PROKOP hprokop@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Senior Probation Officer Bill Pickens said some of the juveniles he’s worked with probably could have stayed out of the system if the proper program was available to help them. Mental health issues, drug abuse and family dysfunction can be factors that drive criminality, Pickens said, and it’s “not as simple as just putting it in a little box and saying, ‘This is what it is.’ ” A new training program at the McHenry County Probation and Court Services Office works on better processes of engagement with offenders, and is very specific to an individual’s needs, said James Edwards, Juvenile Division chief managing officer. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all pro-
gram, but it’s a series of practices that can work with any of the criminal justice clients based upon their individual needs,” Edwards said. Looking at cases this way can help when it comes to working with juveniles who have mental health issues. About 40 percent of the 250 juveniles with which the McHenry County Probation and Court Services Office works are classified as having a moderate to high mental health risk, according to information provided by the office. This includes juveniles on probation, diversion programs or administrative programs. Pickens, who has been working in the field for almost 29 years, said mental health problems for offenders are frequent but don’t necessarily trend up or down. “There’s no rhyme or reason to
it,” Pickens said. “There are always cases I’m dealing with with mental health issues.” Diagnoses can range from schizophrenia to personality or mood disorders, according to Probation and Court Services officials. Edwards said mental health problems could “lead to risk factors that would lead to the potentiality of being more inclined to commit crimes,” but that does not mean all juveniles with mental health issues commit crimes. When it comes to treating juvenile offenders with mental health disorders, Edwards said early intervention is key, “but we have a big role in it, too.” Pickens said in the past few years he’s seen a change in approach in the criminal justice system, where
“It’s not a one-size-fitsall program, but it’s a series of practices that can work with any of the criminal justice clients based upon their individual needs.” James Edwards McHenry County Probation and Court Services Office Juvenile Division chief managing officer
See JUVENILES, page A7
See BUDGET, page A6
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