Slupski: Time for county to end seal quest
How should McHenry County be embodied in a seal?
It is a question County Board members have pondered for more than a year.
The issue has been discussed by the Management Services Committee. County staff have attempted to incorporate the county’s flag into a seal. There was a contest in which designs were submitted by the public.
And yet, the question remains. What should be the county’s seal?
“I wanted it to incorporate the rural and the suburban,” County Board member Tina Hill said. “But I did not know what that would look like. I’ll know it when I see it.”
The seal quest began in September 2007 when McHenry County administrator Peter Austin thought that the county could incorporate its flag into seal form. The current county seal basically is a copy of the state seal. By using the flag image, the county would have its own identity. Plus, the change would cost nothing, the county simply could use the seal on new signs and printed material. It would be phased in.
But Austin said that there was a “lack of enthusiasm” for the flag seal concept.
Hill noted that in the lower right of the flag there is a cow and a “huge ear of corn.” In the upper right, there is a stream, sunshine, and a tree. The flag also has the county name and 1837, the year the county was established.
I don’t necessarily believe the county needs a seal change at all. But Austin’s initial idea was practical. It took a historic symbol of the county – its flag – and used it. The flag is unique to McHenry County and there would have been no cost. Unfortunately, County Board members took that simple idea and ran with it. Now there is talk of hiring an outside design firm to the tune of $7,000 to $9,000.
Too much time and energy already has been spent on what truly is a non-issue. Quick, what’s the seal of Kane County?
Do they even have one?
Most people don’t care. It’s a nice idea and all, but it’s not worth the expenditure of tax dollars. Sometimes it’s best just to keep things simple. It’s always a bad idea to design something by committee.
Hill said the contest the county held produced about 12 designs from about four individuals. One design that was strongly considered included a Dick Tracy theme. Dick Tracy creator Chester Gould was a longtime Woodstock resident.
“I thought it had a lot of promise,” Hill said. “Other members though said that the county is a professional organization, not a cartoon and I respect that.”
Hill added that the seal quest has been worthwhile.
“I think it’s important to brand the county in a way that attracts economic development and tourism,” Hill said.
The notion of corporate “branding” of the county is a bit overblown. The best way to attract economic development is to address infrastructure needs such as improved and expanded roads. I am not suggesting that the county is not aggressively dealing with transportation issues – they are. The ongoing Randall Road and Algonquin Road plans are just two examples. But, I don’t think that someone planning to move their business to the county cares that much about a seal or that Chester Gould lived in Woodstock.
As for tourism, attractions are what attract tourists. Dick Tracy is not really an attraction, as evidenced by the now closed Dick Tracy museum. The county does OK with agricultural tourism because there are things to do: Apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes. In the fall, city folk like to drive off into the real country and have an experience.
The seal quest has been well-intentioned.
But County Board members would be wise to keep it simple and not over think the issue. In the big picture, a county seal will have a very small effect on anything.
Use the flag, which harkens back to the county’s rural, agricultural roots, and move on.
• Brian Slupski is the Northwest Herald’s opinion page editor. He can be reached by e-mail at bslupski@nwherald.com.
