By Kerry Lester

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin might not have had a lot of answers for McHenry County officials Tuesday, but he did offer one novel service: he listened.

"Durbin's been a wonderful resource for McHenry County -- making time to hear about our problems," McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said. "Wish we could say the same for the governor."

Beginning his day at Nissan Forklift Corp. in Marengo, Durbin made the rounds to Fox Valley factories and American Legion Post 57 in Elgin before giving the keynote speech at Northeastern Illinois University's Equity in Action Conference.

An intimate noontime lunch at Algonquin's Port Edward Restaurant began with discussion of issues specific to McHenry County -- transportation and water.

"You've helped secure money for McHenry roads, particularly the Algonquin Western Bypass project" Algonquin Village Manager John Schmitt said, noting the $19 million in federal funding reserved by Durbin, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and U.S. Reps. Don Manzullo and Melissa Bean.

"However, we're told we will lose that funding if the state does not match the federal grants," Schmitt said. "It's incredibly frustrating to be totally reliant on the state government. If we don't get (matching state funds) we're sunk."

Area officials also voiced hopes for improving McHenry's public transportation options.

"Commuter trains need to be dependable and move at high speeds," Koehler said. "They shouldn't be slowing down road traffic, either."

Robert Abboud, Barrington Hills Village President, brought up Canadian Pacific's recent purchase of Union Pacific's spur line in McHenry County.

"Potentially, 30 more freight trains could come through McHenry County each day now," Abboud said. "This will particularly impact ad-grate crossings on Route 14. This has been a closed process so far. We need fair hearings of the true environmental impact of this."

Durbin, who had not heard of the purchase, promised he would look into the issue.

Koehler spoke about McHenry's problems with quality and quantity of water.

"There is a serious lack of water in Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and Cary," Koehler said. "We need funding to further studies on finding alternate sources of ground water."

In Elgin, Durbin's discussion of local problems gave way to a national one -- the number of American military personnel returning from overseas with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Exposure to combat over long periods of time can have a negative impact," Durbin said, speaking to veterans at American Legion Post 57. "It's important to the veterans. They have serious injuries that require special care."

To help address the problem, Durbin helped author parts of The Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, which includes $73 million in federal funding to assist wounded soldiers as they return home and transition out of the military.

"You risk your life for America, we'll stand by you when you come home, Durbin said.

The legislation has the support of at least one Chicago-area veteran.

U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Casara, 33, of University Park said he has had 24 surgeries to repair injuries he sustained when a roadside bomb detonated near his tank in southern Baghdad.

"The ability to be able to have support, I think, is such a huge thing for the veterans that are returning," said Casara, Durbin's guest at the Elgin appearance. "It is imperative that we do everything we can."