The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

' l\ \ THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER S E R V I N G T H E C H A I N - O L A K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 8 7 5 " M a r i a n C e n t r a l VOLUME 105 NUMBER 74 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1981 2 SECTIONS 26 PAGES 25* Zoning Board Split On New Housing Complex For Elderly by Anthony Oliver Petitioners looking to construct a 48- unit housing complex for the elderly received a negative recommendation on two of four requests before the McHenry Zorflng Board of Appeals (ZBA) last Friday. The requests from developers Irving L Coppel and Anthony Bono concerned & 4 588-acre tract of land, presently zoned "R-4a" multi-family, on the east side of Route 31, approximately 200 feet south of the McCullom Lake road in­ tersection. The thrust of the proposed development, according to the plan .presented Friday, was to provide rent- subsidized housing for the elderly. According to the plan presented by land planner, Jerry Buckley, con­ struction of the three-story, 48-unit structure would require three variations from the McHenry Zoning djtflinance. First, the ordinance allows 4A-^nits as opposed to 48, due to the A number of Plaindealer readers took up our plea to bombard their legislators with requests to ban theMeghold trap following this newspaper's published picture of a coyote caught in the device last fall. Probably the number who reacted was greater than we know. One of them - Marie Cicchini of McHenry - was delighted by the response to her letters. Some of the legislators took an adamant stand and agreed to add their voices in dissent. Others, more politically oriented, were sympathetic to her cause but were less committed to be a leader in the revolt. The newly elected Jill Zwick was one of the more forceful in her agreement. In a hand written letter to Mrs. Cic­ chini, she said, "I agree that it is barbaric and inhumane to animals as well as dangerous to children and adults who might happen to get caught. I will vpte to ban this device in Illinois and other similar devices while I am your representative in the 82nd General Assembly". From another new legislator, Richard Klemm, she received this response: "Having been the first president of Helping Paws, I too share your concern and am opposed to this |rap. I will be looking into possible legislation to prevent the use of the ' >ld trap". IcHenry's Rep. Thomas Hanahan told of his hearty support this way: "Please be assured that I am not only in support of the ban of the leghold trap in Illinois but also have supported and co- sponsored this legislation in the past. We must come into the 20th century fully aware of and practicing humane concepts, not such barbarism in­ dicative of a device such as the leghold trap. Let us hope that we will prevail in this coming General Assembly". Senator Jack Schaffer recalled the , (Continued on peg* 20) square footage requirement. Second, the ordinance allows two levels of habitable dwelling units instead of the requested three. Third, the ordinance requires two parking spaces per unit. The developers are requesting one-and- a-half. The developers ran into trouble on two of the requests, a variation and a request for a change in the text of the Zoning ordinance The variation request for three floors of habitable apartments instead of the two allowed by the ordinance, will receive a negative recommendation to the City Council as a result of the 4 to 3 vote of the ZBA. Board members Fred Kupstis, Suzanne Kauss. Jon Smith and James Fouse voted for the variation, while members Kay Halverson, Robert Jessup and Annie Mae Cuda voted against. By law. the ZBA must have a majority of five votes before an af­ firmative recommendation can be made to the City Council. •*? The major points of opposition to the request were centered around a lack of of adequate fire protection in the proposed three-story structure and the fact that the developers wanted to keep this variation free and clear of the financing arrangements with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). Mrs. Halverson expressed concern at not having a sprinkler system in the design of tfie bulTWmg' That concern was expanded to include the ability Of residents, particularly those living on the top floor and those who were han­ dicapped. to quickly exit the building in the event of a fire. Buckley told the ZBA that there were many housing developments for the elderly, some more than three stories in height, which did not have sprinkler systems He also noted that 5 to 10 percent of the apartments would be reserved for handicapped persons and all would be located on the first floor "Is it unsafe? No, it is not placing people in any inordinate danger," Buckley commented In previous testimony. Buckley told the Zoning board that the proposed housing development was slated to be financed through an agreement with IHDA He noted that the developers would be willing to condition two of the variation requests, concerning the number of units and parking spaces, upon the closing of the financing agreement with the state agency. The three-story variation, however, would not be tied to the financing agreement The developers argued that a three- story building would be more economical to build and maintain, involving less roof and foundation area than the corresponding two-story, 48- unlt strudwe Buckley explained that the expected lot coverage of the three- story structure would be about 8 per­ cent, while nearing 11 percent for the two-story building He also commented that the two story building would cost an estimated 12.5 percent more to build than would the three-story building The land planner also contended that the shorter building (three-story) would cost less to maintain as far as utility costs were concerned "We have control of the exposure with the smaller building." Buckley noted. ZBA member Kay Halverson asked if the developers would consider a two- story, "L" structure if approval was not given for the requested variations "We would consider it. but it is more expensive and would have to be okayed by IHDA." Buckley said. According to the land planner. IHDA has already given site approval to the McHenry location, which puts the developers "one step ahead" of other developers and municipalities desiring the same type of housing complex (Continued on page 20) Speaking for the board of directors of the McHenry Hospital Corp., President LeRoy Olsen said Thursday that they would observe the restraining order against hiring a new chief executive officer. In an effort to forestall this hiring until the disputed consistency of the board is resolved, the protesting por­ tion of the corporation membership secured a temporary injunction April 6 from the 19th Judicial Circuit court for which a hearing was scheduled April 15. Olsen said that the board would take no action and would wait until the hearing, when they expect the restraining order to be dissolved Olsen also said that it was un­ fortunate that this court action stalling the hiring was taken at a time when the hospital needs a good administrative head. The board is being enjoined from exercising its specific function, Olsen elaimed,and doubted there was a legal basis for the restraint. He said he didn't believe that the injunction would be upheld. Olsen admitted they were at the point of securing a new chief executive officer, and he indicated that the person selected has agreed to stand by until the court disposes of the restraining order. Olsen also confirmed that Harry Jones, vice-president of the hospital corporation, had resigned for reasons of health Olsen indicated that the pressures caused by the present situation had affected Jones' well being The escalating rift in membership and board opinions became apparent at the annual meeting of the hospital corporation membership on Feb. 7 when the board failed to secure elec­ tion of its slate of directors for vacancies on the board. A portion of the membership, claiming to seek a voice in hospital management, asked for a special meeting March 31 which Olsen and the board canceled in a letter issued March 21. It pointed out that it was not possible to meet the conditions laid down by the by-laws for the meeting. Hie meeting was held anyway in what the board attorney characterized as a "rump session" With ap- (Continued on page 20) Restraining Order For HSA Expires April 16 SHAW WWMA WWS SBMCS Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Roland Herrmann issued a temporary restraining order to enjoin the Com­ prehensive Health Planning agency for McHenry County from appointing members to fill expiring terms on the board of directors The order, which is in effect until Thursday. April 16. involves the election of directors of the Health Systems Agency for Kane, Lake and McHenry counties (HSA-KLM). The restraining complaint was filed by the Family Rights Coalition (FRC), led by Director Donna Whitfield The order also prevents the seating of any directors who are chosen by any means other than election by the general membership. The HSA-KLM has been embroiled in a controversy concerning election procedures and charges of obstruction have been leveled at the agency by the FRC. Parents In Angry Appeal Over Dismissal Procedure SHAW MEDIA NEWS SERVICE More than 300 angry parents packed the Marian Central Catholic high school gymnasium this past week to express their dissatisfaction with the manner in which Principal Thomas Parsley was dismissed from his position Parsley and Dean of Students Lou Hartlieb were notified in mid-March that their contracts would not be renewed But some ambiguity in the policy wording of just who can fire whom resulted in the reinstatement of Hartlieb The dismissals, according to the Rev- Karl Ganss. McHenry county superintendent of Catholic education, were based on five separate studies, two North Central evaluations, a Purdue university personnel evaluation, the Simpson report and what is known as the Washburn report The Rev Ganss said the reports indicate various areas of concern, including the lack of specific goals, program continuity, better teacher evaluations and a method of dealing with declining enrollments at the high school The final report -- the Washburn report -- was not presented to board members until March 17, the day the vote was taken to dismiss the two ad ministrators A member of the audience described the board's action as "hasty." noting. " What bothers me is the way it was done What kind of example does this set for the kids0" Father Ganss said the board might have acted with a little haste, but ad­ ded. "I don't think the board's action was reprehensible with respect to the individuals." Area Board President Arthur Holt (Continued on page 20) Observe Restraining Order As Hospital Wrangle Continues Crown Queen Pretty Nicole Curran. 6-vear-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Curran of 480T W. McCullom Lake road, is shown being crowned shortly after learning that she had been selected to reign as Miss McCullom Lake for the year ahead. The crowning by last year's queen. Heather Nelson, 8, took place Saturday morning before a large crowd gathered for the annual Easter carnival in the McCullom Lake Community house. Heather Is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Nelson of SMI W. Park View drive. First runner-up was Julie Lawson, 7, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Lawson, Sr., of 2tli Knollwood, and second runner-up was Tiffany Krumwlede, 4, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Krumwiede of 4C1C Lake Shore drive. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Volunteers For School Young family members may be enjoying the Easter vacation in recreation, but some of their Crents have been busy this week stalling new playground equipment at Edgebrook school. In left photo, a father of one of the students wheels a load of concrete from the truck. At right, parents secure one of the Items of the obstacle course. The school's parent-teacher organisation (EPTO) recently purchased five new pieces of equipment and donated them to their children's school. Monies for the purchase were obtained through various EPTO fund raisers including the book fair, Christmas bazaar and the recent fun fair. STAFF PHOTO- WAYNE GAYLORD Readers Comment On Problems Unusual Accident Scene Memorial Day Plans Public Puli• Driver Treated At Wonder Lake Pag* 18 Page 20 . Section 2, Page ?