WOODSTOCK – A McHenry County Board committee decided that maintaining a contractual relationship with a company that has hired County Board Chairman Ken Koehler’s son is not a deal breaker.

The Transportation Committee at a Friday afternoon special meeting decided to go ahead with awarding two contracts to Mathewson Right Of Way Co., which did not inform the committee during a contract presentation in early November that Kris Koehler was now on its payroll.

While the State’s Attorney’s Office has concluded that no laws are being broken, several committee members criticized company owner Mark Mathewson for deciding against sharing the hiring during the company’s presentation. But others think the issue is not significant. And at least one – Sandra Fay Salgado – said she suspects the controversy has more to do with influencing Monday’s election of the chairman than transparency or good government.