Mchenry County Conservation District

The meeting commenced with acknowledgments of the public meeting being held virtually due to the pandemic. A public comment was provided offering appreciation for the board's service and leadership, and affirming the foundation's commitment to working with the district on its mission. Discussions in new business covered Agenda Item 1212, Resolution 2132, regarding an IDNR grant. A trustee expressed reservations about the mission criticality of the snowmobile grant given current staff workloads and questioned the administrative duration. Staff provided clarification on the involvement, noting approximately 5-6 hours for application submission and 10 minutes quarterly for reporting, plus an estimated 4-8 annual hours for the yearly report to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The overall estimated annual staff commitment was estimated between 10 to 18 hours. Later, an IT Director provided a presentation regarding a critical security vulnerability in the Microsoft Exchange Server, attributed to state-sponsored actors. The district applied immediate patches on March 3rd, and post-incident analysis showed an attempt to compromise the system, but no widespread internal compromise was detected. The recommendation was to transition from the in-house server to a hosted solution via Microsoft for enhanced security resources.

The meeting commenced with a motion to allow Vice President Clinton to attend remotely, followed by a discussion on conservation ethics, specifically Goal Six concerning fostering a conservation ethic among citizens, and Goal Five regarding the integration of district functions. New team members, Christine Kustra (Community Engagement Coordinator) and Nate Skills (Program Coordinator One), were introduced. A motion was made and approved to adopt the agenda, pulling items 12.4 and 12.6 from the consent agenda. A Trustee report noted the unanimous approval of the Duke Energy solar farm project the previous month. Financial discussions included the unanimous approval of three organizations' requests through finance for the April funding cycle, totaling $22 million requested from 31 completed applications. Updates were given on a potentially controversial new sewer system project in Holiday Hills due to flooding and septic concerns, with public meetings scheduled. The Board is preparing a township dissolution statement in case any township votes to dissolve. The second rental assistance allocation program is expected to pass. Significant attention was given to creating a police social worker program, funded by $300,000 from the County and $300,000 from the Mental Health Board, with several municipalities already signing MOUs. Updates included zoning language changes concerning slaughterhouses and the passing of the legislative agenda, which seeks changes to PITO and legislation regarding township dissolution. Item 12.4, accepting the bid from Hurricane Farms and Stables Inc. for an organic agricultural lease agreement, was discussed extensively regarding the proposed rate structure, the loss of income compared to previous conventional leases, and the necessary USDA accreditation process for organic produce.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and the reading of conservation ethics and stewardship pledges, including goals related to fostering a conservation ethic in McHenry County Citizens and managing areas for optimal preservation, education, and recreation benefits. The agenda adoption was approved following a roll call vote. A presentation introduced a new team member to the marketing team, Sarah Lorenz, detailing her extensive experience in marketing, museum assistance, environmental education, and invasive species management projects. The primary discussion centered on the audit presentation, where the auditor reviewed the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, covering introductory, financial, and statistical sections, including the unmodified opinion and the adoption of GASB Statement 87 related to leases. Key financial points included the General Fund's unassigned balance being approximately $3.6 million (about a four-month reserve) and a net positive change of about $700,000 in the General Fund. The auditor also presented the schedule of employer contributions for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, noting a consistent contribution rate, and detailed the net pension liability changes, noting a shift from a small asset to a $4 million liability due primarily to poor investment returns in calendar year 2022. The audit communication confirmed no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies were noted. The final segment briefly covered the executive report, mentioning a Green Drinks event focused on pollinators and bumblebees.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and roll call, which confirmed the attendance of most members, with one trustee attending remotely due to health reasons via electronic participation. A motion was passed to allow the remote attendance and voting rights of the absent trustee. Key discussions included the reading and affirmation of the conservation ethic goal six concerning fostering a conservation ethic among citizens, and the reading of the conservation stewardship pledge for Mckenry County. The land acknowledgement statement recognized various indigenous groups. The agenda approval followed, including the acknowledgment of a member joining late. Recognition was given for numerous employee service anniversaries ranging from five to thirty-five years, including special commendations for a director retiring from the board of regents and an HR manager stepping into a director-elect role for the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Announcements detailed honors received by the district and its partners from Chicago Wilderness, including platinum accreditation for an ecological restoration program and 'Force of Nature' awards. A trustee report focused on the district volunteer program, emphasizing the need for increased engagement, appreciation, and participation by board members in volunteer activities such as brush burning, seed spreading, and restoration days. Finally, an update on the 'Green Drinks' event was provided, noting the many presentations from conservation groups.

The meeting began with addressing quorum requirements under Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation Executive Orders related to COVID-19, leading to a motion for trustees to attend remotely, which was approved. The agenda was subsequently adopted. Key discussions centered on the second reading of the Fiscal Year 2021-2023 Strategic Plan, which outlines four focus pillars: water, land, community, and support areas. The Board moved to approve the consent agenda, excluding the strategic plan discussion for later. The consent agenda approval covered minutes from previous meetings (Finance and Admin, and Election) and the Treasurer's report. Other actions included authorizing specifications for fuel purchases, executing amendments to agricultural lease agreements regarding tillable acreage, appointing a director to the McHenry County Conservation Foundation, and authorizing an agreement for fiber internet connection services. In new business, the Board discussed amendments to the personnel policy regarding emergency closing procedures (a 10-day discretion period for the director during pandemics/national disasters) and the inclusion of electric-assisted bicycles in a January ordinance. Finally, a resolution adopting a financing strategy to pay off a $4.3 million installment loan by calendar year 2027 was introduced and approved, with subsequent discussion on the payment schedule.