Cary Village Hall Could Become Police Training Facility

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — The Cary Village Hall could soon become a new multi-jurisdictional training facility under an agreement between the village of Cary and McHenry County, county officials said Friday.

Under the tentative agreement, the county would take ownership of the soon-to-be-
vacated Cary Village Hall, at 655 Village Hall Drive, and convert the 20,485-square-foot government center and police station into a multi-jurisdictional training facility under the control of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.

The agreement also would cede the county a portion of the village’s 38.7-acre public works property for the construction of an indoor shooting range and training facility.

Cary is finishing construction of a new municipal center and expects to relocate in December or early January, according to a news release from McHenry County.

“For years, McHenry County law enforcement has wanted a local site to train and hone their skills to protect and serve their communities – and once again, McHenry County governments worked together to get things done,” said Michael Buehler, R-Crystal Lake, chairman for the McHenry County Board. “This agreement with the Village of Cary will improve public safety and quality of life, while at the same time saving millions of dollars by repurposing an existing facility.”

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Sheriff’s office deputies and local police officers often are forced to travel to other counties to complete their weapons qualifications and attend training. The sheriff’s office maintains an outdoor range in Hartland Township west of Woodstock, but training opportunities are limited by weather and use restrictions.

A tentative memorandum of understanding would transfer ownership of the 655 Village Hall Drive building no later than Feb. 1, with approval for the indoor range at the public works site anticipated to be in place by the end of 2022.

Besides the other benefits that will come with having a law enforcement training center in McHenry County, the consolidated facility will further improve public safety by giving local agencies more opportunities to train together, which will improve operations during mutual aid incidents.

The facility also will allow for other first responder trainings – such as fire, dispatch, emergency management and others – to be hosted.

“We are excited to partake in an opportunity for the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, and our sister agencies, to develop and progress training resources. This training facility will serve as a powerful, efficient resource that enhances our ability to serve our citizens,” said Lake County Sheriff Bill Prim.

While moving to its new municipal center will be bittersweet, the village board is pleased that its current village hall will continue to serve the public, said Cary Mayor Mark Kownick.

“We’re proud of our great partnership with McHenry County, and we’re proud that our building will continue to be in good hands,” Kownick said. “Having the Sheriff’s Office take ownership of the building and repurpose it is a win-win for the community and for the county.”

The county board and Cary Village Board are scheduled to vote on the agreement at
their respective Tuesday, Oct. 19 meetings.