McHenry County Board rejects flag policy, adds truancy officer

Flag policy was seen by many board members as targeting the pride flag


The McHenry County Board voted Tuesday evening to postpone consideration of a flag policy that many board members and residents saw as an attempt to stop the county from flying the gay pride flag.

Board members voted, 17-6, to postpone consideration of a resolution creating a flag policy for McHenry County government buildings. By moving the resolution to a future date for consideration, board members were able to take a simple majority vote, effectively rejecting the proposed policy entirely.

“I think this is the most divisive resolution that I’ve ever seen,” said board member Paula Yensen, D-Lake in the Hills. “It’s discriminatory, it’s not inclusive and we shouldn’t even be here. We shouldn’t be debating it.”

The flag policy put forth by board member Jeff Thorsen, R-Crystal Lake, would have created a specific flag policy for county government buildings. It would have allowed for the American flag, state of Illinois flag, county flag, POW/MIA flag and Purple Heart flag to be flown at county government buildings. It was not clear if other flags could be approved in the future.

Read more: https://www.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/news/government/2021/08/18/mchenry-county-board-rejects-flag-policy-adds-truancy-officer/
(Crystal Lake Northwest Herald)