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« • N / > Schools View Tax Picture (by Jeff Ronato) A preliminary estimate of 1976 personal property tax assessments for all school districts in McHenry county Was distributed Thursday, with the results proving en­ couraging for School Districts No. 12 and No. 15, and District No 156 faring better than ex­ pected The estimates were issued to all business managers of school districts in the county by Willard J. Hogge, supervisor of assessments for McHenry county, at a meeting in the county courthouse. The figures Hogge presented illustrate the financial bind which is hampering District 156, McHenry Community high school, at this time. The figures and com­ putations delivered by Hogge were extensive and com­ plicated However, essentially, the educational fund is the most important source of revenue within a school budget Out of the educational fund jcomes the money to pay teachers' salaries, as well as running various curriculufns within the school structure. In last year's budget. McHenry high school netted $1.698,939 from taxes for the educational fund. That money was proportioned into the fund by taking $1.32 from each $100 of assessed valuation within the school district. This year, with Johnsburg having its own high school district. McHenry high school will only receive, i ap proximately 85 percent of the 1975 total for the educational fund The obvious recourse would be to take more than $1 .32 out of each $100 of assessed valuation for the educational fund Increases, however, can only be made possible by a referendum, which. % pas^l. would then raise everyone's individual tax rate. And while the school would appear to need the rate fuke at this time, there is little optimism for such a referendum passing. District No. 156's $1.32 rate compares unfavorably with the $2.58 rate supported recently by persons living in the Johnsburg school district District No. 12. (Johnsburg^ will receive 12.2 percent more money for its educational fund this year than last year because of increased valuation Thus, the difference between Johnsburgs 12 2 percent in­ crease and McHenrys 25 percent decrease is a whopping 37 percent The total number of tax dollars each school district will receive also illustrates how the fortunes of the two school districts are progressing (Continued on page 14) <» District 156 (McHenry High School) District 12 (Johnsburg) $1.32 $2.58 $2.80 120% Igf r * * t * , . v • - ; /..yy; */> fry* ; /• ;r;: ̂ , -• \\.T-VT*.>eV*S W?* $0 •\ * •SIS 12 MAXIMUM EDUCATION TAX LEVY (Per $100 biMiMd valuation) 2.45 2.10 1.75 1.40 1.05 .70 .35 100% • 1975 Level 103.7% 77.8% • 4 : . V V « f V . r > r* ! " .V."J 156 Percentage change in assessed valuation from 1975 when Johnsburg was included in McHenry's valuation. (Figures based on 7 percent multiplier) 100% • 1975 Level 75.7% \ 12.3% ,20% v'- 105 90 75 60 45 30 15 156 12 Percentage of educational fund tax dollars an­ ticipated compared to 1975 Figures. (Figures based on 7 percent multiplier) * IN TIIU -* +7ryv\> THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-QUAKES REGION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 101 NUMBER 44 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1977 3 SECTIONS 36 PAGES 20' Snowplow Wins This One/ Park-Recreation Board In New Council Plans To serve the needs of the people in the growing city of McHenry. the City Council Park and Recreation com­ mittee met Saturday morning •to formulate plans for a Park and Recreation board. The newly created board will make recommendations for programs and facilities to the council's recreation com­ mittee, as well as being in charge of scheduling of events and taking reservations for the city's many parks. Committee Chairman Jack Pepping, along with Aldermen Raymond Smith and Edward Datz, are in the process of formulating the complete roles and responsibilities of the new board. And While the plans are still in the preliminary stages, the committee has formulated some definite ideas. The board will apparently consist of five members, each being appointed for three-year terms. To stagger the terms, and preserve continuity, the initial appointments will consist of two members being appointed for one-year terms. two members being appointed for two year terms, and one member initially for a full three-year term. The mayor, with the approval of the City Council, will appoint a chairman from the five board members. The Park and Recreation board will meet a minimum of once a month, and will not be paid for its work. Also, no elected or appointed city officials may sit on the board, and applicants to the board position must live in the city limits The Council committee hopes to have the terms go into effect as of June 1, so that the newly formed board can begin work on next year's (1978) park programs. The board will be responsible for making recommendations to the Council Park committee as to programs, expenditures, materials needed, and supplies and equipment. These recommendations riiust be made to the Park committee of the Council prior to Jan 1 of the next calendar vear, so the committee will lave time to consider them and plan the recreation budget accordingly/. All park , maintenance will remain the responsibility of the Superintendent of Public Works, and Fred Meyer's crew will either do the repairs or hire people to do it The new board, as is presently planned, will have no authority to spend any money, but will only recommend ex-' penditures to the council committee. Alderman Walther Schaedel asked committee chairman. Pepping, if there was a need to have a park board, which will be reporting to another com­ mittee He wondered if the board will replace the Park and Recreation commitee of the City Council. Pepping explained that with the increased demands on the city's parks, the City Council simply doesn't have the time or manpower to service the community's needs. Thus, if an organization wants to reserve a park for a Sunday picnic, they will now be able to do so by contacting the Harker Officially Enters *** Race; New Aldermanic Filing A strftrhpr bearing Thomas Wasicak is loaded into a McHenry Rescue squad ambusar.ee :or transportation to the hespitfii fuiiuwiug a iwu-cai Ci asii Friuaji at 1G p.m. Tiic tup picture shows the remains of Wasicak's car after it rammed head-on into a snowplov; (background at left). The driver of the snowplow, Richard Miller, was ticketed. (STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLOKU) January has come and gone. Until it breathed its last cold sigh we had forgotten the month was destined to have an impact on the McHenry community. It wasn't until we perused a special section of the Wood­ stock Sentir.el commemorating the restoration of the historic old opera house that we realized what might have been an important happening locally. January was to mark the decision of the National Land mark committee on our Pearl street bridge. With impressive credentials from the state to support its inclusion, the 96- year-Old bridge might well have shared the status of the opera house. Untortunately. the bridge stands in three pieces on Rt. 31, at Terra Cotta, to be used here and there on private property. Fortunately, the sections are intact, although much of its historic value has been lost through the move. With pilings in place for the erection of a replacement bridge on Pearl street, the driving public has only to wait for a completion date. Estimates are not encouraging, and it seems evident the 1977 vacation period will be endured in McHenry much the same as the fall season of '76. Those who complained of the inconvenience of the old one­ way bridge have a lot bigger gripe with conditions as they exist until the new thorough fare is actually part of our travelling accommodations. In the meantime, we are plagued by bittersweet memories as we compare the impressive opening of the refurbished opera house with our own loss. Close friends attended the bash marking its reopening last Saturday night. It brought us a tinge of sadness. If the old Pearl street structure had been recon­ ditioned as many of us wished, we had hoped for a brouhaha on the bridge Suffice to say that if it 's lucky enough to earn national status some day. we'll have to settle for a soiree in the school (Landmark, that is). K A F. A serious accident Friday night resulted in a McHenry man being taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries, while the other driver was ticketed for two traffic violations. Thomas M. Wasicak, 5419 W. Woodman drive, was taken to McHenry hospital by the McHenry Rescue squad for treatment of injuries sustained when the car he was driving ran head-on into a snowplow driven by Richard R. Miller, 601 Green street, McHenry. Miller was ticketed after the collision for having no valid registration and no iden­ tification, which demolished Wasicak's car, but did no damage to the snowplow. Wasicak stated he was north­ bound on Ringwood road at approximately 45 mph, when he observed lights entering his lane of traffic. He further said that due to the height of the lights, he could not determine what was in his lane. He added that he then ob­ served a snowplow to be blocking his entire lane, and also the southbound lane of traffic. He applied his brakes, but struck the snowplow head- on. Miller stated he was turning right onto Ringwood road from Sherman road, and that he looked both ways and didn't see any traffic. He added that he pulled out into Ringwood road, taking the turn wide and en­ tering the northbound lane of traffic. He added that he then ob­ served the Wasicak car ap­ proaching him, and he applied his brakes, but could not avoid the collision. A witness to the accident. Arch E. Clohon, McHenry, stated that he was southbound in front of the snowplow and observed the Wasicak car approaching at about 45 mph. He added that he knew the snowplow was pulling out and he looked into his rear view mirror, seeing the snowplow collide with Wasicak's car. Clohon stated that the snowplow was in the wrong lane of traffic. As of Tuesday afternoon, Wasicak was still in McHeni^ hospital in satisfactory con­ dition recovering from his injuries. In another serious traffic accident, both Therese K Zelkovich, Richmond, and William W. Randolph, 1409 Sunnyside Beach, McHenry, were transported by the Rich­ mond Rescue squad to McHenry hospital for treat­ ment of injuries sustained when the cars they were driving collided on Wilmot road Thursday morning. Ms. Zelkovich, in addition to her injuries, also picked up a (Continued on page 14) Alderman George Harker has made it official. The second ward Council member filed his petition for mayor during the past week. Earlier he had announced his intention of becoming a can­ didate before a meeting of the Whispering Oaks association. Harker will oppose Mayor Joseph Stanek, who is com­ pleting his first term of office. Another filing this past week puts Claire L. Rosing of 3702 W. Maple street in the three-way race for alderman in Ward 3. She seeks to fill the seat now held by James Wegener, who has not filed for reelection. Previous filings in Ward 3 were made by Anna Mae Cuda and Vincent Adams. There are three tilings aiso in one other ward LeRoy Guntner. Grace Blake 'and Elizabeth Nolan are candidates in Ward I. The present office holder. Jack Pepping, has indicated he will not be a candidate for a second term. The second ward finds in­ cumbent Edward Datz facing Clint Claypool. In the lourth ward. Ernest 'at'iiuuiey aiiu CcCiliH Ijcrntclla seek to fill the office now held by La Verne Hromec, who has not filed for reelection. Deadline for filing is Monday, Feb. 14. Career Center Concerns Voiced By College Board Concerns of the McHenry County college board were voiced about creation of a Career center as a joint venture when members met with Career center board members. David Benrud of McHenry and Joe Janotta were present along with Duane Gamble, center director. It was the Career center committee's proposal for a MCC board study of a joint 'venture in career education ^hat prompted the concerns to be discussed. Gamble had told them that a joint venture was legally possible although no regulations or guidelines had been set, and the state has no master plan Concerns outlined included these: How a Career center would be funded; How the operating costs would be supported; Would a cehter replace existing high school programs? Would it be a gain or loss to high school districts0 Would high schools retain their funding if students spent a number of hours a day at a center? ^ Gamble answered,' "At this point I don't know if an Area Career center is advantageous to high school districts or to McHenry County college, but it might be advantageous to McHenry county 3 "Sixty percent of high school graduates do not go on to college". Gamble stressed "They must have a marketable skill when they graduate from high school All we propose tonight is that a committee of both boards study and discuss possibilities". MCC Board Chairman Gerald Smith of Woodstock told the center representatives the college would extend the courtesy to the taxpayers of the county to form a committee consisting of Trustees Barbara Pautz and Dr. Bill Ryan. Crystal Lake, and himself to L meet with a committee from the center. Rep Cal Skinner, Jr., who was also present, commented, "The two boards will have to decide if there is a need for a Career center We certainly do not need another tax district I see a large advantage to the $3- $1 funding a college could receive opposed to $6-$4 the center would receive. I feel there is a need for an Area Career center; the question is, who is going to do it The College board can be a bridge". The Board also adopted a resolution establishing voting precincts and polling places for the April college board elec­ tion Dr Ryan reported that for the convenience of the voters there will be additional polling places in Ald&n Hebron. Crystal Lake, Spring Grove and Woodstock In other business, the board (Continued on page 14) park board, rather than having to go through the City Council. The ne» board will also have the authority to charge fees for certain ° events, and be responsible for finding qualified instructors for programs that need them. The committee emphasized that Saturday's meeting was just a preliminary report, and that some portions of the plan will possibly be changed at this Saturday's meeting. As it now stands, anyone wishing to serve on the initial board should file an application with the city clerk's offfcf addressed to the city of McHenry. The Council and mayor will then be notified of any ap­ plicants, and nominations for the board will be made by the mayor, subject to Council approval Interested persons have until May 15 to apply for one of the initial terms, to start June 1 The budget for this year's park programs has already been set, and it will be ad­ ministered by the superin­ tendent's office. Again, the Park an£ Recreation committee will meet this Saturday to continue working on plans for the new board. And while the committee members emphasized that , work thus far has been preliminary, it appears to be a giant step in a much-needed direction ---- 3: Tyrrell Suspends Deputy Sheriff Sheriff Arthur T. Tyrrell has announced that Deputy Sheriff Raul Mpdma o! the Jail division has been suspended from duty by Lieutenant Matt Sch^t pending investigation on ttaje charge of delivering alcoholic liquor to a jail inmate The suspension was effective Feb 5. Marian Sets Registration Sunday, Feb. 1 $ Marian Central Catholic hij school will hold registration its freshman class of 18f77 Sunday, Feb 13 Registration will take place in the schopl gymnasium between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Registration packets have been mailed to the families of prospective eighth grade students throughout the county. Included in this material is information regarding general • course offerings, the freshman course descriptions, datta regarding tuition, fees, booiks and uniforms Each family is asked to examine the course offerings carefully in preparation for course selec* tion At Sunday's registration, parents and eighth graders will meet with individual faculty members to discuss the registration process. The (Continued on page 14)