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McHenry Area Flooding "Above the dam, the water is 2.64 inches over the flood of '73. And it's 6.84 inches away from the record flood of 1960". Those were the words of John Shay of McHenry, director of the Emergency Services & Disaster agency for the county, Monday afternoon. He added, "There's little hope for quick relief." * Asked for the most daxgerous area of flooding. Shay responded quickly that the entire length of the Fox river, from its mouth to Algonquin, has problems. Shay learned Monday af­ ternoon that the situation "was holding" at Wilmot, where the The emergency phone number to call in ca$e of flooding problems is 1-338-6400. Calls may be mad* 24 hours a day through Friday, and if the situation worsens, throughout the weekend. water was 18 inches over flood stage. "As long as it doesn't go down there, we can expect more flooding here", he commented. The director, who has been watching the- situation along the Fox for several weeks, said it would probably be three we­ eks before the situation eases. Elyse Roberts, executive assistant to Rep. Thomas Hanahan of McHenry, was called to a River Terrace subdivision, near Johnsburg, Mpnday afternoon. Ac­ companied by Township Supervisor Walter Dean, she found it necessary to walk with knee high boots in water to mid- calf to reach the house after leaving the car. Ms. Roberts said about a quarter of a mile of road was flooded and 10 homes along the road have water extending as far as the door steps. Sump pumps in many areas are receiving full time use. However, Shay warned that it is possible for ground pressure to become so great outside a home that floors could be in danger of exploding. "It is important", Shay continued "to try to equalize the pressure. Sometimes this means it might be good to let 6 or 8 inches of water into the basement." Last weekend's snow in Wisconsin has made the local situation more serious. Shay said 6 inches of snow lies un melted in this watershed area The Emergency Services & Disaster agency is anxious to have all people who must evacuate, call for assistance Where there are serious problems and there is no place to go. the Red Cross will be called in to help As of Tuesday morning, an E m e r g e n c y a g e n c y spokesperson said an effort was being made to determine the exact number of persons who have had to evacuate up to this time No figure was yet available Community Building Survey Results Friday THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 » WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1979 2 SECTIONS 28 PAGES 20e Peter Bender, as Petruchio, visits Kate, played by Kris Salman, who smiles her greeting from the balcony. This is a scene from "Kiss Me Kate", the MCHS Spring musical t«» be presented in West campus auditorium starting Thursday, March 29, and continuing through Saturday, March 31. with curtain time at x p.m. There will also be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 1. Tickets are available at the door or may be purchased in advance at the main office of either Kast or West campus. STAFF PHOTO-WA'i'»\Yi •>»'!» VOLUME 103 NUMBER 69 City Ponders Lack Of Developer Guarantees 50 percent spent in the general fund." Baldino, who was appointed to the RTA board when it was formed in 1974, reported since 1975, $1.3 billion has been spent on capital improvements of transportation system in the six-county area. "To rehabilitate a mile of railroad track," he offered, "it costs '^-million dollars." He added that four years ago. a bi-level coach car cost $475,000 and this year the same car costs $675,000. Making the system ac­ cessible to handicapped per­ sons is another major problem facing the RTA. "The federal government mandates many things." Baldino said, "but it doesn't pay for it And, the public can't afford it." He indicated it would cost $6- $7 million to rehabilitate the Chicago & Northwestern railroad to make it totally accessible to the handicapped, including wheelchair lifts. "A recent study has shown it will take until 1980 for the suburban area to catch up with transportation service that was offered in 1958," he added, " due to deterioration." Baldino reported that at­ titudes concerning the RTA were finally changing slowly. "Instead of saying 'go to hell', Eleven Seek Six Seats On Two McHenry School Boards When voters go to the polls in Elementary School District 15, McHenry, Saturday, April 14, they will be making their selections from among six non- office holders. None of the three incumbents whose terms ex­ pire will seek reelection. Newest filings in District 15 are Willis Martin, 508 Ken­ sington; Karen Salman. 6907 Mason Hill road; and Joan Miller. 1617 N. Draper road. Previous filings were made by John C. Gealow, 2903 Bay view court, Kathleen Cichonski, 1809 S. Fernwood: and Gertrude Casey. 401 N. Country club. Three will be elected Saturday. April 14. Leaving office this year are M. David Cain, who serves as president; Anna Mae Cuda and Robert Thornton. In High School District 156. newest filings were made by Edward L. Parks. 3512 First avenue and Edward .1 Neumann. :;t>8 N Country Club drive Parks is new to educational politics locally. Neumann now serves the l>oard as secretary Previous filings were made by Dan McNulty, 2004 N. Woodlawn Park an incumbent completing a one-year term; Terence Howard 1718 W Lincoln road, a former member of the grade school board; and Barbara J Slater, 1709 N Mar road. The deadline for filing was Friday, March 23. There are no contested positions on the boarc^ of Johnsburg District 12 or Harrison District 36. Test City Fire Hydrants On Thursday, March 29, from 9a.m. to 1 p.m., the state rating board will test McHenry hydrant pressure for fire rating. Fred Meyer of the Public Works department said probably a dozen of the hydrants will be tested at a very high pressure, which may cause a discoloration of the water. This is not harmful in any way. During the first week of April, the water tower will be drained for repainting. Residents are urged not to waste water during this time since there will be no standby water, only the pressure in the pipes. This pressure will vary. Meyer warned A pump removes water from one property owner but it only adds to the woes of a neighbor on Holiday drive in Holiday Hills. The latter stands in his doorway, pondering whether he will need to add more sandbags as the water drains into his yard. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD There appeared to be no guarantees of park land donations or of development, and no time limits in the preannexation agreement being offered by Residential Development Group, the City Council learned as they reviewed it article by article at a special meeting March 22 with City Attorney Bernard Narusis. As Mayor Joseph Stanek grumbled, "There's no guar- Jim Berg, speaking for RDG. advised that even if they owned the land, they wouldn't want to deed it to the city right away. They would have to go on it for water detention, for borrowing or filling, as they worked on the subdivision, he said Narusis noted that there were no legal guarantees to commit RDG to particular times or places or order of development at any time. They can jump all over the development depen­ ding on what the developer would see as the most urgent need in the real estate market place, he said. Berg insisted that they needed the flexibility to shift boundaries as developing conditions change and noted that they were restricted in jumping because the water and sewer would come from the east, making it impractical to jump to another part of the acreage. Stanek asserted that they needed control over requested use of the land and wondered since RDG came up front with the developers' donations money, why the city couldn't get the land Berg, seizing on this argument, said "We have paid the water, sewer and donations in advance even if we go broke, you'd be ahead of us in the first part. It's structured the way you wanted it." Alderman Jerry Rogers asked if they could set a certain time limit for the dedication of the land. Narusis claimed. "No, only if Backhaus agrees " He went on to explain that it would be better to rewrite the agreement to change the underlying zoning to R-l residential As it is. if (Continued on page 15) Do Unto Others. . Baldino Cites RTA The financial restructuring of the Regional Transportation Authority is one of the major problems facing the agency, according to RTA board member D. Daniel Baldino. Baldino was the featured speaker at last week's McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce Industrial com­ mittee luncheon at Sasha's Crescent Bay Landing in Johnsburg. Baldino, a former resident of McHenry who graduated from McHenry high school in 1959, gave the over 50 people in at­ tendance an insight into background, problems and proposed solutions to the RTA system. "The right of the RTA board to impose a gas tax should be abolished," Baldino, who now resides in Evanston, said. He represents suburban Cook county on the board. "Whatever tax the RTA has," he explained, "ought to be a broad tax. The RTA benefits everyone, so no single group should bear the tax burden." Baldino explained the gas tax was not the best solution to the financial crunch facing the RTA, but when it was adopted, it was the only alternative available to keep the syst6m going. "The gas tax, the parking tax (which hasn't been levied) and state subsidies should be eliminated," Baldino stated. "The $140 million now being given to the RTA should be returned to the state." According to the board member, a 1 percent general sales tax should replace the current revenues of the RTA. "Fifty percent of the money raised should then be spent in each district in which it was raised," he said, "and the other natee and no time limit," At­ torney Narusis confirmed, "That's right". The attorney had pointed out what the agreement did not do for the city. As submitted, the preannexation agreement grants zoning or variances for the various uses specified in the agreement, and RDG promises to make cerain donations of money and dedications of land as the development of the 285- tract proceeds Narusis pointed Problems people are beginning to ask. 'What can you do for me?"' he said. Another stumbling block for the RTA in his opinion is the CTA. "The CTA has been obstinate and difficult." he charged. "They don't want it in the hands of suburbanites." "The CTA has to merge with the RTA." he explained. "It just has to happen," he added, indicating it would be a political fight "People just can't tolerate the CTA taking all the public funds they do." "The CTA isn't responsive to the RTA or to the patrons of the system," he charged, ex­ plaining how the January blizzard crippled the system. Citing an example of the CTA's thinking, he explained how the CTA board purchased $19,000 worth of snowshovels and didn't have anyone to use them. out that if the planned unit development (PUD) by RDG or other developer fails, the zon­ ing reverts to the underlying zoning which by this agreement is the same as in the PUD Stanek noted that he learned the city would not get all of area "G" of the Winding Creek plat (which is planned to be dedicated as park land or public use) at once but will receive it in increments. He asked Narusis, "What guarantee do we have that we will get it?" Narusis replied. "Nowhere in the agreement is an obligation to convey. The owners (Fremont and Backhaus) are not parties to the dedication agreement." Alderman Ray Smith in­ dicated that he understood it was like Whispering Oaks where the developer, after completing one-fpurth of the developmenk'^would dedicate one-fourth of the promised land or facilities to the city. He noted that RDG doesn't own the land (that the city wants) yet. He added, however, the CTA service was still far superior to any mass transit system in the country despite its existing problems. "And there isn't another region in the country with seven train lines in operation as there is in the RTA region," he added. "Suburban service is inadequate," Baldino con- (Continued on page 15) It didn't take the calendar to tell us Spring had arrived. It came in so many different ways, headed by a few di^ys of balmy breezes - all of\this before Winter made a return visit. One of the best ways to celebrate the changing sea­ sons, and possibly lose extra girth gathered during the sedentary winter months, is a long hike in Moraine State park. If there was ever doubt that the fancy of the young turns in the springtime, one need only visit the park. If the change was not as the poet described, at least it turned toward frisbee, hand­ ball, walking, or just sitting around doing very little. There must have been a hundred of them when we were there, and the average age made use feel we should have chosen a rocking chair to walking. The park is a real asset to the community, and a recreational area that will be increasingly appreciated as McHenry continues to grow. And outside the park there were Spring signs all around us. For instance, the 3-year-old groundhog in a children's zoo that had refused to succumb to the temptation of goodies on Groundhog day Feb. 2. With the first warm breeze he decided to let the world about him know he was a groovy groundhog as he emerged from his hole. Over Lakemoor way it wasn't robins but a garter snake that was the clincher. Nathan Lubke walked into his yard one morning to find a snake stretched out on some ice. Believing the small reptile must be dead, he poked it with a stick and found he was just soaking up the sun as he prepared for his meanderings of Spring. Then there is Clyde Black- well, the 88-year-old puppet man who finds the demands of the new season almost more than he can meet. Providing entertainment for four parties in one day isn't bad at any age. At 88 it's downright inspiring. And to continue Spring thoughts this March Friday, we are looking at a pressed Bot- tlebrush flower sent with a letter from Anna Shadle from California. As a loyal former Ringwood resident, she ap­ preciated our recent comments on her home community and did other reminiscing also. Mrs. Shadle recalled that it was 40 years ago that she and her late husband arrived in this community (one of the last to leave Germany before Hilter took over). "We studied the Plaindealer first to learn English" she remembered as she sat in her California home. And no one can say the RTA hasn't been caught up in the spirit of the season. The latest is that in conjunction with the Illinois Arts council, it will feature illustrated poems on posters on all of the major suburban bus lines. But some things never , change. We have found the stamp machine in the local postoffice to be as unrelenting as always. No change of mood with the change of seasons. In a two-week period we inserted three coins only to learn there were no stamps. Twice the coins failed to return. We even thought we noticed an impish smile on an imagined face of the machine. But it's Spring and we're forgiving, even to this inanimate thing that has ripped us off before. K.A.F. |