McHENRY – Starting May 1, when the lock re-opens for the boating season, operating hours will be reduced at the William G. Stratton-Thomas A. Bolger Lock and Dam on the Fox River in McHenry.

The reduced hours are an effort to manage costs during challenging fiscal times, according to an Illinois Department of Natural Resources news release issued Friday.

The IDNR operates the dam. Officials said in the news release that the lock would be closed Mondays and Tuesdays, except for holidays, starting in May. New hours Wednesdays and Sundays will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The lock will be open from 10 a.m. to midnight Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Holiday hours will be from 10 a.m. to midnight.

For two years, hours have been from 8 a.m. to midnight daily from May 1 to Oct. 1 and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31.

Funding availability requires the postponement of hiring staff, the release said. IDNR is working on finding ways to raise revenue and restore services as quickly as possible, according to the release.

The McHenry County Board will have a resolution on the May 5 County Board Meeting Agenda opposing any reduction in services. Please contact Pam Althoff, Dan Duffy, Mark Beaubien, Mike Tryon and Jack Franks; let them know that Springfield can cut costs else ware. At a time when we are encouraged to have a "staycation", reducing the hours of operation at the William G. Stratton-Thomas A. Bolger Lock and Dam is a poor decision.