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Resume McHenry County Update – February 15, 2022

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Indoor mask mandate (mostly) ending Feb. 28
Illinois’ indoor mask mandate will end for most settings on Monday, Feb. 28, if COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to decline.
The mandate, however, will still apply to schools, mass transit, nursing homes, day cares, and other congregate living facilities.
You can learn more about the scheduled lifting of restrictions by clicking here.
After 15 months from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois eliminated the last of its restrictions in June 2021, but reimposed the indoor mask mandate in August with the surge in cases caused by the delta variant.
Private businesses and organizations are allowed to continue requiring masks if they so choose.
Chairman Buehler delivers State of the County Address
2022 State of the County Address
McHenry County Board Chairman Michael Buehler touted achievements of the past year and plans for the future in his annual State of the County Address.
You can watch the video by clicking on it, by visiting McHenry County‘s website, or its YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
In his 14-minute video address delivered last week, Buehler discussed milestones such as continuing the county’s long streak of balanced budgets without raising taxes, and launching the Advance McHenry County initiative to spend federal COVID-19 relief funds on programs directly benefiting the people of McHenry County.
Among the topics discussed were improving public safety through the creation of a countywide police social worker program and converting the former Cary Village Hall into a law enforcement training facility, the countywide expansion of the MCRide dial-a-ride program, upcoming road improvement projects, and the McHenry County Moves 2050 long-range transportation plan.
Workforce Development Plan open to public review
An updated McHenry County Workforce Network Plan is now open for 30-day public review.
Updates to the plan, which guides its mission to assist employers and job seekers in meeting the challenges of the job market, include recent local economic changes and service delivery strategies, and changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here to review the changes. Comments can be submitted by email to MCWNBoard@mchenrycountyil.gov no later than noon on Sunday, March 13.
You can learn more about the Workforce Network by clicking here.
Downtown Crystal Lake director to retire
Diana Kenney, who has served for 22 years as executive director of Downtown Crystal Lake, is retiring at the end of April.
“Locally, Diana has served our organization, and has worked with the city, businesses, board and committee members, and thousands of individual volunteers to bring great changes to our downtown,” Downtown Crystal Lake Board President Ben Volling said in a statement. “We appreciate and applaud our shared accomplishments, and wish Diana well in her much-deserved retirement.”
Kenney said she will be staying in Crystal Lake in her retirement, and will continue to be involved in the city’s historical society and historical preservation commission.
Downtown Crystal Lake is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the city’s historic downtown district while providing for a successful business and residential environment. You can learn more about the organization by clicking here to visit their website.
McHenry County People in Need Forum a success
McHenry County People in Need Forum video
More than 450 people attended last month’s People in Need Forum, which was held virtually out of safety concerns for the then-surging COVID-19 omicron variant.
More than 100 agencies, including McHenry County Government, participated to spread the word about the services they offer to people needing assistance. You can click on the video above to watch the county‘s four-minute presentation.
Thank you to McHenry County College for organizing and hosting the forum – with mask mandates ending, here’s hoping that the 2023 forum will be in person!
You can click here to download the updated directory, in English and Spanish, listing all of the resources available to county residents.
CASA Nashville benefit set for March 4
Fox River Grove will become Music City for an evening to raise money for CASA of McHenry County.
The advocacy group for abused and neglected children will be holding its Big City Bash-Nashville fundraiser Friday, March 4, at Avante Banquets, 1050 Route 14.
The Nashville-themed event includes dinner, live and silent auctions, and live music by local artist Mackenzie O’Brien.
Founded in 2005, CASA – short for Court Appointed Special Advocates – gives abused and neglected children who are placed in temporary foster care a voice in court through nearly 200 trained volunteer advocates.
Click here to learn more and to purchase tickets.
We hope you found this newsletter informative. We need your help reaching more McHenry County residents and businesses to share this important information about the COVID-19 response and to connect them with vital resources.
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