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Page 1 - November 7, 2019 / McHenry County News
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VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 46
7124 WINDSOR LAKE PARKWAY, SUITE 5 • LOVES PARK, IL 61111
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019
U of I Extension offers gardening help line As winter approaches, it might not be time to plant a garden, but it is definitely time to plan for next year’s garden. Every Wednesday morning, from 9 a.m. to noon, the University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners will offer a free telephone help line and an onsite help desk, as well as an email address for McHenry County residents to ask garden-related questions. By calling 815-338-3737, emailing uiemg-mchenry@illinois.edu, or visiting the Extension office at 1102 McConnell Road, Woodstock, you can ask nearly any gardening question, as well as learn about various plants, insects, pests, or horticultural diseases. You also can bring a plant or insect sample to the office or send a photograph of the issue in an email. Master Gardeners will be onsite each Wednesday morning from now until next April, when they switch to
their full seasonal hours, which will include more mornings per week. The University of Illinois Extension also has an extensive website featuring gardening and horticulture information for homeowners at extension.illinois.edu/global/horticulture and the Lake/McHenry address is extension.illinois.edu/lm. The University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners consists of about 130 volunteers. The mission of an Extension Master Gardener is to share unbiased, reliable, research-based information with home landscapers and gardeners, as well as to encourage people to enjoy gardening and vegetable growing. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact the McHenry County Extension office at 815-338-3737.
Draft budget to be presented to county board at Nov. 19 meeting McHenry County has presented a draft 2020 budget that not only reduces its property tax levy for the third straight year, but also makes the reductions of the previous two fiscal years permanent. Taxpayers stand to save $28 million over the three-year period had the levy remained at its 2016 amount. The draft budget and levy, which are on 30-day review, are available for public viewing on the main page of McHenry County’s website at www. mchenrycountyil.gov. The county board, working collaboratively with Administration and department heads, has reduced its property tax levy by more than $18 million over the past two fiscal years – most of it through abating the money back to taxpayers to preserve the county’s taxation ability in the event of unforeseen circumstances. However, after three years of not having to undo the abatements because of the county’s solid financial footing and prudent fiscal management, the county board directed county staff to make the reductions permanent. “At a time in which more and more county residents are literally being
taxed out of their homes by governments seeking to tax to the max, McHenry County government is leading by example. We’ve now significantly reduced taxes for three consecutive years, for a total of $28 million,” County Board Chairman Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said. “If we can do it, so can every other local unit of government in McHenry County. It’s time for them to follow our example and help us lower their levies and help keep people from being taxed out of their homes.” The $218.1 million budget is balanced, and like previous years, does not cut or diminish any services. The reduction of the tax levy does not guarantee that a taxpayer’s bill next year will not increase due to a higher property assessment or other local governments increasing their tax rates. County government accounts for slightly less than 10 percent of a McHenry County property owner’s tax bill. The county board will vote to ratify the budget and levy at its Nov. 19 meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. The county’s fiscal year begins Dec. 1.
Ice Hauling 1900
COURTESY PHOTO McHenry County News
Master Gardeners with the University of Illinois Extension covering Lake and McHenry counties are available to answer gardening questions on Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. The University of Illinois Extension also has an extensive website featuring gardening and horticulture information for homeowners at extension.illinois. edu/global/horticulture and the Lake/McHenry address is extension. illinois.edu/lm. Pictured are Master Gardeners (foreground) Craig Sundstedt and Douglas Moore.
MCHENRY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTO McHenry County News
This photo shows a group of horses used to haul ice from Lake Geneva to Clark’s Market in Hebron, circa 1900. The men in the photo are unidentified. Samuel Clark was the owner of Clark’s Market located on Main Street in Hebron. Clark was a progressive business man who successfully engaged in purveying choice meats and groceries. He enjoyed a wide-extended trade from the people of Hebron and its vicinity. Clark farmed for a time and then learned the butchering trade. He followed it until 1898 when he came to Hebron and opened a market.
SBA loan applications for June 26 storm damage repair
McHenry County residents who experienced significant flood damage from the severe storms on June 26, 2019, may be able to apply for a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help with damage repairs. The SBA recently approved a request from the State of Illinois to assist homeowners and businesses in northern Illinois affected by the June storm, which resulted in torrential rain and severe flash flooding that caused damage to more than 200 homes. The SBA disaster declaration makes low-interest loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses. While the majority of the damage occurred in Will and Cook counties, properties in McHenry County that were affected by the June 26 storm may qualify for the SBA disaster loan. For more information, contact the SBA at 202-205-6734 or visit their website at www.sba.gov. The application deadline is Nov. 25, 2019. This declaration only applies for the June 26, 2019, storm event. The September storms are not covered under this declaration.