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McHenry County chair lays out 2026 priorities, cites workforce training, ARPA investments and tight budgets
Summary
In the Feb. 12 State of the County address, the county board chair highlighted workforce training at the Foglia Center, ARPA-funded economic and social programs, transportation grants and a modest levy increase paired with cuts and staffing changes.
The chair of the McHenry County Board delivered the 2026 State of the County address on Feb. 12 at McHenry County College's Foglia Center, outlining a year of investments in workforce training, economic development and health services while acknowledging a challenging budget outlook.
In his address the chair recognized several senior county staff who retired in 2025 — including county administrator Peter Austin, Veterans Assistance Commission superintendent Michael Wannakee and public defender Mark Cook — and announced leadership changes: Scott Hartman will serve as county administrator; Nate Johnson now leads the VAC; and Richard Beehoff is the new public defender. "County administration, the VAC, and the public defender's office are in very good hands," the chair said.
He described the Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation at McHenry County College as a 45,000-square-foot training facility opened in 2024 that received equipment funding from the county. The chair said the…
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