To the Editor:
I strongly support McHenry County College expanding training and certifications in health care.
However, I have serious reservations about its $42 million expansion plan. MCC assumes the population of McHenry County will grow by 3.5 percent annually.
But from 2000 to 2010, the county population grew by 48,000 – only 2.1 percent per year. Moreover, 36,000 of that increase were people over age 50, primarily because of retirement communities. People age 19 and younger grew by a mere 8,000.
Using the wrong growth assumption would result in a facility three times larger than needed.
Power Wellness, which has a conflict of interest since it will benefit from the expansion plan, commissioned the feasibility study that the board will not release to taxpayers. Finally, the board will not allow a public referendum on the plan.
Tom Wilbeck, Chris Jenner and Molly Walsh are highly qualified and support a referendum. They deserve your vote.
Joseph L. Daleiden
Woodstock
