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zWi&i i SSI Indefinite Plans Fog Zone Objections Cloudy objections were made to two rezoning requests made last week by Lon H.J. Smith and the Alliance Bible church concerning two lots on the southeast corner of Bull Valley road and Route 31. Smith and the church are requesting county "B-3" business zoning on two lots which are presently zoned "B-l" business. The county zoning ordinance was revised in 1979 and a number of uses were deleted from the "B-l" classification. The matter of objections - on the part of McHenry hospital which is relocating near the property in question and abutting property owner, George Jacques -- was fogged by a lack of definitive plans for the two parcels. Neither Smith nor the Rev. Gerald L. Robertson, pastor of the Alliance Bible church, provided the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) with any testimony as to exactly what was planned for the property. Attorney Thomas Baker, representing Jacques, said, "I'm not certain of whether we are objectors or observers. The question is, what are we really doing here? It seems like there is something going unsaid." Baker noted that, in most instances, a zoning petition is brought when there is a specific need. Smith had testified that he had been unaware of the zoning ordinance revision and did not know that the automobile repair business, which was in operation until spring of this year, had been rendered legal non­ conforming. According to law, once a legal non conforming use is ended, it may not be resumed. ZBA member Horace Wagner asked if there were any specific uses planned for the property. Smith replied, "It has been automobile for a long time." In response to another question Smith said ht was not sure whether the two properties would be merged Smith said further that he was also uncertain of whether the property would ever be annexed to the City of McHenry and stated that no additional buildings or development was planned at this time When asked why he was seeking the zoning reclassification, Smith said the revised "B-l" classification deleted approximately 40 permitted uses, in eluding the various auto repair operations. The petitioner said he was looking to make the area compatible Both Smith and the Rev. Robertson testified that the church was seeking "B-3" zoning for the same reason. "Our parcel is between two parcels currently zoned 'B-3' and it seems logical to have ours the same," Pastor Robertson said. Attorney Brian Blaeser, representing McHenry hospital, said the hospital board was not concerned about the "B- (Continued on page 20) - | Adopt District 15 Budget | The expenditure budget for Elementary School District 15, adopted by the board Tuesday evening, totalled $6,079,000 Members also learned that I960 taxes received prior to July 1 of this year, but for 1981-82 use, amounted to $1,587,600. Together with anticipated revenues of $4,833,806, this results in a combined revenue total for all funds of $6,421,406. Based on expected individual fund revenues and expenditures, apd the balances on hand July 1 of this year, the following deficits and balances are anticipated next June 30 as follows: Education, $301,225 deficit; Operations, Building and Maintenance, $19,279 deficit; Bond and Interest, $46,407 balance; Transportation, $6,925 balance; Illinois Municipal Retirement, $61,122; Site and Con­ struction, $2,305; and Working Cash, $1,117,682. As the last step in finalizing the, professional negotiations agreement, the board approved the salary schedule calling for an increase in salaries of 9.9 percent. Because the teachers agreed to pay any increased insurance costs over 10 percent, salaries will be down from the 9.9 figure. Insurance increases amounted to about 105 percent, of which teachers will pay 95 percent in addition to the amount they are already paying. Increased insurance costs were as follows, listing the past year and then the year ahead: Health $30.25 and $62.50 per month; dental, $5.01 and $10; life, $4.41 and $4.65; and disability, $3.97 and $4.27. This amounts to a total increase of $453.36 per teacher, less 10 percent to be paid by the board, bringing the figure to $408.02. In personnel action, the board okayed the employment of Janet Gene to teach fifth grade at Hilltop; Elayne Schultz as a bookkeeper; and the reassignment of Brenda Collins to Bookkeeping-Payroll The resignation of Lynne Coris, Hilltop teacher, was accepted. Payton Chevrolet of McHenry was awarded the contract to furnist\.a truck for a total cost of $9,760. The 1973 model now owned by the district will be kept to serve as a back-up for snow plowing and a second plow when necessary A resolution was signed by the board, recognizing the contributions to the school district of Carl Kohrt, who is retiring after 16 years as band in­ structor for the system. A gift of $500 was accepted from the Chamber of Commerce to improve the parking lot at Parkland school. New Township Building Bids The McHenry township board has set Thursday, Oct. 8, for the second opening of bids in conjunction with the new township building to be erected on Rt. 3r, north of Johnsburg road After bids were opened Sept 16, a vote of the board rejected all of them because they exceeded the figure budgeted for the new building. Dif­ ferent specifications have been drawn up, upon which new bids will be sought The building will be the same size, 46 x 47 feet, and will house offices of ihe supervisor, assessor, clerk and high way commissioner. Staff members of McHenry hospital are shown painstakingly environment. Youngsters will enjoy a journey down the Yellow painting in the Carey house at 3409 W. Waukegan road, site of a Brick Road to see hospital procedures in action. About 300 new hospital-sponsored community relations program children will take the tour this Saturday. Another 1,000 are on a designed to introduce the young child to a hospital waiting list. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER S E R V I N G T H E C H A I N - 0 - L . 4 K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 8 7 5 " VOLUME 106 NUMBER 17 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1981 1 SECTION 22 PAGE:S 25' Council-Chamber Unite To Through The Eyes Of A Child Included in the action was the ac­ ceptance of 14 apointees from the government, businesses and in­ stitutions in the community. Addressing the council to explain the formation of the commission was A1 Moltrum, from the Illinois Department of Community Affairs. He noted that the governor had established the department sometime ago to promote programs for economic growth in Illinois cities. To interest prospective industries or businesses, the state needs information about communities that want such enterprises to locate within them. He said his department predicted that McHenry county would face a growth of 75,000 in 10 years, the third highest population increase in Illinois. Moltrum explained that his department would cooperate with board members to work for planned growth, assist where possible with the McHenry area dredging projects, and to aid in search for the types of businesses and industries that would be com­ patible with McHenry's requirements. They also would work with realtors to market such commercial and industrial properties available in the community. The goals of the commission, he said, would be the active recruiting of desirable industry and subsequent jobs; to help existing commercial areas to remain healthy and to have planned growth, and to correct any neglected areas that might deter development. Moltrum concluded, the commission would complement the council and the Illinois Department of Government Affairs would be involved in promoting the whole state. Mayor Joseph Stanek acknowledged the offer and noted that the first step would be to arrest the flight of business from the state and the second to im­ prove the economic conditions here. He also recalled the need for money to complete the Boone creek dredging and he said the city plans to visit industries locally to determine and meet their needs in an effort to retain them in the community. Appointed to the commission for one, two and three-year terms as recom­ mended by the Chamber of Commerce were: Tom Bolger, banker; Dave Gelwicks, real estate; Kit Carstens, contractor-plan commission; Don Doherty, retailer; John Smith, zoning board-engineer; Butch Meyer, developer; BryceKlontz, industrialist; Jack Pepping, alderman; Dan Curran, attorney; Ken Bast, hospital; Fran Olsen, Chamber resource; Dennis Wonderlick, architect; Barb Gilpin, city resource; Maxine Moy, downtown redevelopment. McHenry Dam Improvements Possible By James Blum The McHenry dam may be in for some improvements. That was one of the possibilities outlined by Mike Gregory, Army Corps of Engineers Fox River Study manager, who spoke to an audience of about 30 persons Sept. 22 at city hall. He outlined six alternative plans for flood damage reduction and water quality improvement. The public meeting was one of several being held along the Fox river valley, from Waukesha, Wis., to Ot­ tawa, 111., for the Army Corps to hear public response to its proposals. These comments, according to Gregory, will then be used by the Corps "in selecting a plan for further development." Gregory outlined six alternatives that the Corps has identified to reduce the possibility of property damage due to flooding of the Fox river. The first of these plans, Gregory stated, is a "nonstructural" approach, consisting of flood-proofing measures such as elevating homes on floodplains and installing > |Jood warning and forecasting network in the Fox River- Chain of Lakes area. The second plan calls for modifying the dams from Algonquin downstream, with modifications to include removing some dams, cutting notches in others, and installing floodgates and providing canoe chutes at some dams. The third plan consists of construction of local flood-protection levees. Included in the fourth plan are modifications to McHenry dam such as providing additional floodgate capacity. The fifth plan incorporates the McHenry dam improvements with the modification of the Algonquin dam and further dams downstream. The sixth plan combine the nonstructural plan, the levee plan, and dam modification plans. According to Gregory, the changes in the McHenry dam might include the addition of another 100 feet of floodgates on the east side of the dam; these gates would have a depth of six feet beneath the dam crest. Gregory noted that the State of Illinois, Division of Waterways, has also developed plans for additional floodgates. The state plan calls for the addition of 25-feet of new gates on the island bet­ ween the dam and the present spillway. Gregory further claimed that there might be some environmental impact from the state if the state plans were put into effect. The state, ac­ cording to Gregory, calls for the new gates to have a depth of 10 feet below the dam crest, a depth that could allow a considerable amount of sediment to pass through the spillway at McHenry. A member of the audience, Darlene Degenhardt of the Chain of Lakes-Fox River commission, stated that she hoped the Corps and the commission could work more closely than has been the case. The commission, she stated, has been seriously discussing the (Continued on page 20) Oktoberfest In Park Members of the McHenry Kiwanis club will sponsor a traditional Oktoberfest celebration in McHenry's Pearl Street park Friday evening, Oct. 2. The festive and lively event will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. and will include a delicious German dinner and dancing. A popular musical group will be playing favorite waltzes and polkas for the dancing enjoyment of the public, while Kiwanis members serve a complete and tasty German dinner. The menu consists of traditional German brats, chicken, kraut and boiled potatoes and onions cooked to perfection and served in hot melted butter. Kiwanis members boast, "This is without a doubt, the most delicious and fun way to begin your October." Tickets are being sold by Kiwanis club members, the Crystal Lake and McHenry Chamber of Commerce and Pioneer center. Further information can be obtained by calling 344-1230. The Kiwanis club is an international organization that is dedicated to providing local civic support and by policy, 100 percent of all benefit proceeds remain within the local community. One of the major contributions made by the McHenry club last year was a $2,500 grant to Pioneer Center for the Exceptional. The grant was used to expand speech therapy services for a children's program. Hospital Life. . . The McHenry City Council approved participation in the McHenry Area Economic Development commission, a joint City-Chamber of Commerce venture as a quasi-public commission, to further business health and ex­ pansion at the Sept. 21 City meeting. State Rep. Richard Klemm has revised the results of a recent opinion si&tty in this 33rd Legislative district. It appears in detail on the editorial page of this issue, but a few items rate a special mention. The great majority drive a car, and we complain bitterly when potholes mar our trip, or the highway doesn't fit our needs. Yet 73 percent of us, in responding, were emphatic about not favoring an increase in any tax to provide for more funds. Even more - 76 percent - favor a constitutional amendment to limit state spending to a percentage of total Illinois personal income. Seventy percent give a "no no" to a tax increase for any reason, and a whopping 92 percent say employees who quit their jobs voluntarily should not be eligible for unemployment benefits. These results came shortly after Congress passed a good many tax and budget cuts. The results should tell us something about the mood of the men and women from our own area toward the state of the nation and their own pocketbooks. It has been suggested that too many years of high living has tended to spoil use - that some belt tightening is good. The fact is that for some, belt tightening started a long time ago; for others, spoiled is an accurate description. But whatever category we fit into, there is an economic mess that begs to be solved, and it won't come about through complaining. Anyone who doesn't believe it should take a look at these figures and think again: In 1980, 100 savings and loan associations either merged or went bankrupt. In the same year, while we were becoming well informed on the problems of the Chrysler Corp., about 48,000 other businesses actually declared bankrupty. Taxes have climbed by 102 percent in just five years; interest rates are the highest in a century. And above all. inflation from 1976 »«»* (Continued on page 20) Auction For Seniors At Fairgrounds Sept. 26 Page 21 FREE TV Guide In Today's edition Predict Hiring Dip McHenry Area Employers Page 4