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THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER Tax Receipts Up 'SERVING THE CHAIN-0-LAKES REGION §tNCE 1875 VOLUME 107 NUMBER 45 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1982 1 SECTION 16 PAGES 25 As the new year approaches, we would be the exception to the world if there were not things we would like to see changed. For most of us, these wishes will be little more than daydreaming, but we are optimistic. For Cat, the neighbors' big yellow fellow who belongs to anyone with a well stocked refrigerator and the ability to withstand deep clawmarks (playful, of course), we would hope for a less determined stakeout of our house. Christmas eve marked the first anniversary of his foothold into our life. It is an event we are not able to forget even for 24 hours due to his constant presence. We would hope for a 1983 in which we could please most of the people most of the time. That's about all we can hope for based on the fact that there are those few folks who would take over our business as Cat takes over our life. We firmly believe in the old school of thought that the customer is right - if the customer wants to be served in the many ways they have a right to expect of their newspaper. Only when they want to make our rules do we make a strong objection. We would hope for courteous clerks who appreciate honesty. The shopper has observed both kinds during the recent shopping season. In a McHenry restaurant during the holiday week our check for a small group carried a figure about $6 under the correct amount. When we called it to the attention of the-waitress she beamed her thanks with the comment, "Ttiat would have come out of my pay". It was an entirely different ex­ perience for an acquaintance who shopped at a popular general mer­ chandise store out of town. Checking her bill after returning home, she discovered that the checker had omitted a $20 item. In the midst of contrary opinions on whether or not she should return to the shopping center with the money (a trip of 10 miles), honesty prevailed. But the reception she received from the employee in charge of the tran­ saction did little to encourage the same action another time. Only two days before Christmas, with crowds in the checkout lanes, she was told to stand in line again. She was charged tax on the clerk's mistake and there was not even a "thank you" for the time and effort to return the money. In 1983 we would hope for smart Moms like the one who surprised a state trooper who had just arrested her 28-year-old son for driving in the wrong lane and under the influence of liquor. He was back in Illinois on holiday from his Kansas home. When his parents came to post bond, the officer was informed that the mother wanted to speak to him. As he approached the gray-haired lady, she embraced the young officer and said, "Thank you". • A. smart mother who values the life of her son more than the em­ barrassment of an arrest. That's a lesson for every other mother with the start of a new year. KAF Medical Center Top Goal Of City Leaders by Anthony Oliver The relocation and construction of the Northern Illinois Medical center, the former McHenry hospital, remains at the top of the "1983 goals and objectives" list of community leaders. "I hope that the new hospital will progress without any dislocation and be nearly complete in early 1984," said McHenry Mayor Joseph Stanek. He added a wish that all aspects of the relocation, including the sale of the existing facility, go smoothly. "Hopefully, the existing facility will be used for some positive community use," he said. Looking at the relocation from a ( different point of view, newly elected McHenry Area Chamber of Com­ merce President Trey Covalt said, 'The hospital is the biggest and most exciting thing to happen in this county inra long time." "The Chamber is excited about the economic growth that will go with it," Covalt said. "It's worth millions of dollars for all the businessmen in the area." The McHenry mayor also com­ mented that a grant decision con­ cerning the proposed south sewage treatment facility is expected in the upcoming 12 months. "We should know in 1983 if we will be successful and get the grant," Stanek said. If the city is successful, the regional treatment plant would serve the southern part of the city which presently has no sanitary sewer service. The plant would also handle sewage from the hospital. 'There is real potential for »wth," Covalt said. "The south end f .town could really boom " The McHenry mayor also noted the need for a hotel or motel in the city and said he hoped "some wise in­ vestor" would develop one. Stanek said he hoped the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will authorize the purchase of land to increase the size of the parking area at the Chicago and North Western station in McHenry. It is hoped the department would design an overall parking scheme which would include paving, striping, lighting, etc., the mayor said. In other transportation matters, Stanek said he hoped the bypass study being conducted by the county would "conclude that a bridge at Bull Valley road, or in that proximity, is vital and construction will be planned, programmed and assured." Continued park development is also indicated in the upcoming year, ac­ cording to Mayor Stanek. He said that play areas in Fox Ridge and Whispering Oaks should be developed and made available to the children. "I am confident that the small lake that will be dug in the public lands of Whispering Oaks park will provide fishing, aesthetics and sediment control for the just completed im- (Continuod on pago 13) by Anthony Oliver In the first seven months of calendar year 1982, gross sales tax receipts in the City of McHenry jumped 4.73 percent over the same period in 1981. In terms of dollars, this means the city received $24,788.77 more in January through July this year than it did in 1981. According to figures provided by the City Clerk's office, the per month sales tax revenues this year exceeded those of 1981 in five of seven months. The most striking figure through July this year was the $16,065.35 in­ crease in February sales tax revenues. In February, 1981, the city received $69,713.29 as compared to the $85,778.64 reported in February, 1982, and received in May. By and large, the differences bet­ ween months in 1981 and 1982 ranged, plus or minus, between $4,000 and $6,000. March and May gross sales tax revenues in 1982 revealed a drop from 1981 of $5,845.43 and $5,382.17, respectiverly. These were the only months in the first seven that came in less than their 1981 counterparts. In 1982, the five months that came in above the 1981 rivals, did so. by $36,016.37. The other two months came in second to 1981 by $11,227.60 -- leaving the current net balance of $24,788.77. J Over the last five years, counting only the first seven month?; 1982 revenues continue to lead by a sizeable margin. The total revenues, for the first seven months in 1982 were $549,301.52; in 1981, $524,512.75; in 1980, $493,409.12; in 1979, $548,645.95; and in 1978, $488,845.30. In a percentage comparison, gross sales tax revenues for this period in 1982 showed double-digit gains of 11.33 percent and 12.37 percent over 1980 and 1978, respectively. In real dollars, 1982 revenues topped 1980 by $55,892.40 and 1978 by $60,456.22. In the comparison, the revenues received showed 1979 to be a strong runner, lagging only $655.57 behind 1982, or 0.12 percent. The sales tax revenues is a major source of operating funds for the City of McHenry. COMPARISON BY MONTH Month 1961 1982 Change JANUARY $63,187.82 $67,695.16 $4,507.34 FEBRUARY $69,713.29 $85,778.64 $16,065.35 MARCH $72,651.70 $66,806.27 --$5,845.43 APRIL $73,013.30 $77,726.57 $4,713.27 MAY $79,953.36 $74,571.19 --$5,382.17 JUNE $80,844.36 $86,920.08 $6,075.72 JULY $85,148.92 $89,803.61 $4,654.69 TOTAL $524,512.75 > $549,301.52 $24,788.77 SHAW NUCHA NEWS SERVICE In light of a county board move to extend the deadline for local par­ ticipation in the senior citizen bail-out plan, McHenry County Senior Citizens Council representatives expressed optimism toward eventual approval. Earlier this month, the McHenry County board voted 21-2 to extend the' deadline on its offer to buy these iors a central building. In July, board members said they would buy a facility for the council, provided the county, municipalities and townships could agree on a fun­ ding formula and that 80 percent of the latter two bodies would agree to participate by Jan. 1. The deadline has been extended to April 1. Ed Buss, chairman of the board's senior citizens task force, said he thinks the deadline was extended in order to provide more time for follow- up and re-evaluation of the proposed program. Buss said letters about the plan were sent out to municipal and township governments, some of which have not replied. Dan Malone, senior council executive director, is optimistic. Besides the deadline extension, he said he has marshalled support from eight cities and villages which represent 74 percent of the population in McHenry county municipalities. Malone said he has received commitments from McHenry, Crystal Lake, Marengo, Harvard, Richmond, Cary, Hebron and Lake In The Hills. Woodstock, Algonquin, Huntley and Prairie Grove have turned down the plan. Malone said he has received definite commitments from Greenwood and Nunda townships and tentative commitments and rejections from other townships. But he added he has been concentrating his efforts on municipalities and plans to turn his attention to townships in the time allotted by the extension. Malone also said he plans to make return visits to some of the com­ munities where he made program presentations. "I'm very optimistic," Malone said. "I feel there are officials who now may wish to review the plan and perhaps reconsider their decisions from the standpoint of funding for the next fiscal year rather than this year." Under • the plan received more favorably by local officials, the county would pay about $160,000 for a building located in Crystal Lake and the municipalities and townships (Continued on pago 13) McHenry Mayor Joseph Stanek (left) and newly elected president of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce Trey Covalt observe the on-going construction of the Northern Illinois Medical Center. The hospital relocation project topped both men's list of goals and objectives for 1983. STAFF PHOTO--WAYNE GAYLORD Abandoned Christmas Gift? Gross Sales Others Join Hospitals Seeking Funds From Estate As two lawsuits were filed by county hospitals Monday seeking funds from the will of Thomas W. Ames, it was learned that other groups also are requesting to share that money. The Northern Illinois Medical center (McHenry hospital) and Memorial Hospital for McHenry County, Woodstock, are asking the court to declare them as qualified beneficiaries under the will to receive ' funds for the construction and maintenance of hospital facilities. The will of Ames, who died Feb. 8, • 1963, directed the trustee to apply the trust money "toward the cost of in- 1 corporating and establishing a not- for-profit hospital association or foundation in or near the city .of •"Crystal Lake... and toward the cost of ^erecting, constructing and main- • taining of a hospital building or buildings". ^ •-* [f the hospital should not be erected and operating within 20 years of his d6ath, Ames directed that the funds from his estate be applied toward the sponsoring of whatever other public or worthwhile charitable cause or •project the trustees may consider for * the best interest and welfare of the people residing in or near the city of Crystal lake. In 1975, Sherman hospital, Elgin, filed a declaratory judgment suit requesting the 19th Judicial Circuit court to declare the proposed Sher­ man-Crystal Lake Health Care center as a "hospital" within the terms of the Ames will. Good Shepherd hospital, Barrington, St. Joseph hospital, Elgin, and McHenry hospital all in­ tervened in the Sherman suit. In its 1981 order, the court con­ cluded none of the parties complied with the intent of the Ames will. Among others vying for the estate funds, estimated to be about $700,000, are McHenry County college, the Crystal Lake Park district and the Crystal Lake public library. M. David Cain, president of the Northern Illinois Medical center board, said the local hospital serves the medical needs of the Crystal Lake community. The new medical center will be located about 5V2 miles from McHenry. Both Cain and the spokesman for Memorial hospital stressed that the lawsuits should not be interpreted as an attempt to prevent the use of the trust fund for alternate uses for the residents of Crystal Lake. Wonder Lake Vote Down Pay Raises SHAW MEDIA NEWS SERVICE Pay raises for Village of Wonder Lake officials were stifled by a 3 to 2 vote at the last meeting of the board of trustees. The ordinance required approval by a majority of the entire board, not a majority of those present. A motion to increase salaries by $3,720 parsed Nov. 9, but after the village attoftiey drew up the required document, the vote Tuesday night was one short. Trustee John Sorenson was not present .^nd never has voted on the matter, according to Village Clerk Duane Zeman. Sorenson was unavailable for comment. Since the November vote, Trustee John DePyssler resigned for personal reasons. He favored the raise, as did Trustees Brian McLaughlin and Richard Matthei, President Bill Andrea and Mrs. Zeman. Trustee Anita Vanderwiel repeatedly has opposed the increase, saying the village can't afford it. Trustee Dave Kuziel voted likewise. "The economy is so bad right now," he said. "We don't know what (funds) (Continued on pago 13) A covered garbage can isn't a fitting place for any living thing, to say nothing of a cute ball of fur like this guinea pig, as yet unnamed. But that's where Sam Zito, the Plaindealer's advertising manager, found him. When Sam put garbage into a receptacle near his Orchard Beach home Wednesday evening, he was greeted by the little fellow shown above. It is certain that he was placed in the plastic container, probably an abandoned Christmas gift. Believing he might find a home for the animal among his co-workers, Sam arrived at work Thursday morning with the guinea pig comfortably situated in a box and munching on a piece of celery. And he was right about a home. Pam Arwine, also of the advertising department, took the furry fellow home as a companion for another guinea pig cared for by her 8-year- old daughter. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD