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\ £ THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER VOLUME 107 NUMBER 65 ' SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION S INCE 1875 FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1983 1 SECTION 14 PAGES 25' Budget Cuts Have Impact On Recreational Areas Massive state budget cuts in recent years have left many departments in a quandary as to just how to maintain programs. Many cannot and many programs are cut. One of the hardest hit, the Illinois Department of Conservation (IDOC) has been beset with cutbacks in manpower and programs. Gov. James Thompson presented a fiscally balanced budget f*r 1984 in Springfield recently; however, the budget did call for substantial program cuts. Affecting IDOC, the budget named at least five parks that would be closed. " "These cuts may set us back 25 years", said John Schweder, site superintendent at Moraine Hills State park, south and east of McHenry. Schweder explained that there was little or no impact on the public by previous cuts of the last year which took one ranger and a maintenance man. The second of three rangers has been given notice of the termination of his employment as of May 1. "Volunteers filled in", Schweder said, "but this time it will be different. We won't be able to use the volunteers because they will no longer have proper supervision". "The impact will be staggering", Schweder repeated. Volunteers in the past have included representatives of CETA, the school work program, county welfare, and concerned citizens, among others. Some of them received payment for their work through various agencies. As many as 38 of these people have assisted rangers in the past. Schweder was reluctant to say what MWMm JM . • V: IIIM '4 • r . \ , . ; , s the hours would be after May 1, when the second ranger leaves. He hopes to maintain the same schedule but with much reduced supervision. At present, two staff members open the park about 6a.m. and two rangers and a maintenance worker close it at 9 in the evening. In the future, one maintenance worker will open it in the morning and another will close it at night. There are 11 miles of bike and hiking trails at the park, one of the heaviest used in the Illinois state park system. Schweder looks for up t < a 30 percent increase in bike and hiking accidents on the trails because it will be impossible to maintain them as in the past. These accidents will need to will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m and we'll probably be closed Monday and Tuesday " The visitor center, which is usually open four or five days during the week, will only be open now on weekends. The hours of operation are not the only services at the park to feel the axe. "The guided tours will be cut -- can't say entirely but it would have to be a pretty special occasion," Kielar said. "I'll still be here. If they tried to pull everyone out, the buildings would be gone." Before the state acquired the land, the park was used by teenagers as a party area, Kielar commented. To abandon the site now, would probably Kielar: "I'll still be here. If they tried to pull everyone out, the buildings would be gone." be handled by maintenance help in the future. Moraine Hills State park has been open for seven years and is used by a half million people each year. Big changes are lo take place at Volo Bog State Natural Area, on Brandenburg . road, east of McHenry. Site Superintendent Tim Kielar said ihe new closing changes are official. "There are only two of us out here: the superintendent and an in­ terpreter", Kielar said. "The in­ terpreter will be laid off May 31." The Volo Bog site will go to a five- day operation this summer and summer hours will not be extended as they had been in previous years. "Normally, we would have been open until 8 p.m. during the summer," Kielar said. "This summer, our hours result in the destruction of the existing facilities. The superintendent said the park recently added another 250 acres, leaving much work for one person to do. "This summer I'll be fencing, working on resource rehabilitation, planting prairie grasses, etc.," he said. Kielar said a number of special programs, like the frog walks, would be eliminated. The visitor center was slated for some expansion, but this has been dropped from plans for this year, anyway. Another program to be put on hold was the construction of a three-mile path around the bog. "If things get better and finances (Continued on page 13) Ranger John Schweder looks over an entrance to one of the bike trails at Moraine Hills state park. Schweder feels the termination of the employment of a second ranger within the past year will create an impact he described as "staggering". STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Council Questions Cost Saving Of Law City ZBA Gives Support To Zoning Two petitions Thursday night, a business special use to allow a muffler shop and a change to business zoning, received the support of the McHenry Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). In previous testimony, represen­ tatives of Long John Silver, Inc., told the ZBA they were planning to sub­ divide their parcel and sell it to another business. It was zoned B-l business. The folly of some of our laws, or the pursuit employed to carry them out, becomes more evident with each reading of the daily paper. One of the most recent came about at the time of the NFC championship game between the Washington Redskins and their favorite rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. Football fever was so rampant in Washington that one store was even having a run on $35 music boxes that play the team song, "Hail to the Redskins". R.F.K. Stadium tickets were sold out immediately so the only way to get them was to buy from someone who either couldn't make it to the game, or had never intended to go - people who bought up tickets specifically in an­ ticipation of reselling them for a profit. Twenty dollar tickets were going for $150 or more. This is known as "ticket scalping" and brings us to the point of this column. One newspaper report told of police arresting more than 30 people for selling their tickets at a profit because it was illegal in certain areas of the city. Talk about 'victimless' crimes! To be sure, they are not all as harmless as one would think. But it makes you wonder how many other crimes were taking place unpunished that same day--muggings, stickups, robberies, rapes - you name it. The police officer can't be blamed for arresting the scalpers. But don't you wonder who assigned him to this particular crime task force? How many other examples are (Continued on pago 13) A potential buyer, if the zoning and the subdividing are approved, is Merlin Muffler corporation. Seeking to build a four-bay muffler service center, the corporation had entered into negotiations with Long John Silver. Originally, the petitioners sought a change from the less intensive B-l zoning to B-3 business, the classification in which a muffler shop is a permitted use. In the hearing Thursday night, Attorney Sam Diamond said the petitioners would be willing to leave the parcel B-l if a special use variation were granted to allow a muffler shop. Historically, the Zoning Board of Appeals has been reluctant to Assurance Given 7-Day Week At McHenry Locks According to reliable sources, Governor James Thompson has assured state Senator Jack Schaffer i hat funds would be found in the current budget to continue seven-day per week operation of the McHenry Dam locks. Earlier, Frank Novak, IDOT supervisor of the lacks and dam, had announced that because of budget cuts, he had to lay off two full time employees and not hire any summer help. And because of the scheduling of the remaining employees, this meant closing down the locks for four days per week, operating only on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. He had estimated it would take up to $35,000 additional in the remaining budget amount lo operate the locks full time for the season. Schaffer's office indicated that $12,000 would be found to keep the locks open for the full seven days per week for the current fiscal year. After July 1. it is expected that funds derived from boat licenses and other fees will somehow be diverted, as Schaffer had suggested earlier, to keep the locks open for ihe balance of the season. Novak's report to the Fox River­ front federation in February indicated that ihe McHenry Dam locks are the busiest in ihe state. recommend approval of any of the more intensive B-3 zoning. Diamond noted that previous ob­ jectors to the petition, Fred and Irene Bykowski, had withdrawn their ob­ jection if the operation was carried out as presented in testimony." After questioning the petitioners on the method of handling refuse from the operation, ZBA member Harry Semrow, Jr. made a motion to recommend approval of the petition as amended. < Voting in favor were Fred Kupstis, Harry Semrow, Jr., Donna Tobeck, Robert Jessup and James Fouse. Voting against were Kay Halverson and Annie Mae Cuda. With the five affirmative votes, the ZBA will make a positive recom­ mendation to the McHenry City Council. The ZBA also voted to recommend approval of a petition seeking a change in zoning from R-2 single family residential to B-l business. The parcel is located at 409 N. Front street, McHenry, and was most recently used as the McHenry Alternative high school. Owners Michael Wieser and Dennis Conway petitioned the ZBA for a zoning change to business because of financial problems in renting or selling the property as residential. At the original hearing, Conway told the board that the proposed rebuilding of the Route 120 bridge would wipe out parking at his present offices on W. Elm street. He said when construction begins, he would probably move the office to the Front street location, at least until he could move back. It was also pointed out that the petitioners were seeking the zoning change regardless of what happens with the bridge. Both petitioners noted that in the present real estate market, few renters are able or willing to make the rent which would allow the owners to break even on the property. Those who could pay the rent, they said, were not likely to want to live on a busy thoroughfare like N. Front street. Attorney Sam Diamond pointed out the trend toward business zoning that existed on the west side of the high­ way and commented that B-l was the least intensive business classification. ZBA Chairman James Fouse said he could not see two of the B-l per- (Continued on pago 13) McHenry City Council members Monday night questioned the claimed economies resulting from the recently passed consolidated elections law which set established polling places and precinct lines for all local, state and federal elections. The idea was to save money spent for off-schedule elections by setting certain dates on which they could be held, and voting places were to be consistent for all to eliminate voters' confusion about where to go. It was reported at the March 7 council meeting that for the coming city election there will be 28 polling places with five judges for each, ana all have to be opened, the 140 judges and the rent paid. This compares with four polling places used for city elections prior to this change. In addition, for various reasons, voters in some precincts must travel from two to six miles outside of their precincts to cast their ballot. An extreme case is the voter in Winding Creek subdivision who must travel six miles to a Nunda township place on Hillside road near Lake. Alderman William J. Busse noted that the reason for the extra travel is due to the lack of availability of locations which the owners may want to lease for elections. Mayor Joseph Stanek emphasized that the city has nothing to do with setting the boundaries and places of the election. This is all done by the county clerk, who now supervises and sets the conditions of all elections according to state statutes. > polling Crystal MCTA Wins Contract Negotiations by Marion Olsen The McHenry Classroom Teachers' association, affiliate of the Illinois and National Education « associations retained contract negotiation rights for school District 15 teachers as the result of a March 3 election. Of 142 eligible voters, 70 voted for the MCTA and 62 voted for the McHenry Elementary Federation of Teachers. IFT-AFT. One vote was cast for "no representative" and one ballot was spoiled. Eight eligible voters did not vote. A negotiations team will be ready for contract negotiations after the Easter vacation, according to MCTA President Judy Krabbenhoft. Supt. Richard Farmer commended the two groups for a "professional and dignified campaign." He also noted that the election will probably take place prior to every future contract negotiation. In other business, the District 15 board approved a 1982-83 budget revision due to increased Education fund revenues and expenditures of $21,764. The added revenue stems from receipt of a Chapter 2 federal block grant to be used to purchase microcomputers, peripheral equip­ ment and software. The year's budget, approved in September, 1982, was $4,699,526 in expenditures and $3,710,425 in revenues. The new budget figure totals $4,721,290 in expenditures and $3,732,189 in revenues. The budget is available for in­ spection at the school administration office on Main street for the next month and a public hearing will be held April 12 at 7:15 p.m. at the ad­ ministration office. The board also approved the school calendar and student registration fees for 1983-84. Kindergarteners will be charged $16; grades 1-5, $20; and grades 6-8, $23. The fees reflect an increase of $1 over 1982-83. Additionally, in line with a board policy to change audit firms every three years, a contract was awarded to low bidder Alexander Grant & Co., Waukegan, to conduct the 1982-83 fiscal year audit for $2,500. In a "good news" segment of the meeting, Parkland School Athletic Director Dwight Hibicke announced that the Parkland and McHenry Junior high wrestling teams placed fourth out of seven teams in district competition. Seven boys will go on to state competition in Bloomington, 111. March 11 and 12. he said. The schools have participated in district competition for five years with representatives going to state competition in the last three, ac­ cording to the director. Hibicke also reported that 178 girls and boys will take part in track events at Parkland school this spring. The Parent Teachers'organization again is sponsoring a third track coach to meet the increasing student par­ ticipation, he said. Police" Chief George Pasenelli advised the council of coming recommendations for his department to institute charges for fingerprinting persons and record searches in connection with background and reference checks for job and various license applications which now are performed free. These would be called "users' fees". He said he was to be guided partly by information from the FBI which was explaining certain guidelines and fees they were establishing. The FBI is the chief source of information for record and background searches based on fingerprints. Pasenelli said he 'understood the FBI was also eliminating some of the searches that they do now and narrowing the scope of the work they would do. The chief submitted a voucher for $340 for a course completed by Police Sgt. Joyce in connection with his career development, which the council approved. He also briefly reviewed the statistics in the uniform crime report which was in the process of completion. These statistics showed a five percent overall increase in total of all crimes reported, with the largest increase of 9 percent in Category 2 offenses: aggravated battery, attempted burglaries and theft under $300. In response to complaints from several parents north of Parkland ~ school about their children having to walk along Ringwood road with no sidewalks to reach the school, the council referred the problem to (Continued on pago 13) Close Portions Of State Parks Freeze-thaw action, flooding, and muddy conditions have closed portions of a number of Conservation department properties recently and barred public use of some facilities in others, according to Raymond J. Norbut, DOC superintendent of Public Lands. Since conditions are subject to rapid change, persons planning visits to any state park or other Conservation department property this spring are advised to call ahead to the site in order to make sure the lands or facilities in which they are interested have not been closed, Norbut said. State sites where use of specific facilities or areas currently is restricted include: Chain O'Lakes State park, near Spring Grove, all camping facilities, except the Honeysuckle Hollow area closed; Moraine Hills State park, near McHenry, all facilities and properties, including the McHenry dam area closed. Women In History FREE Form County Coronary Club Women In History rmmrwrmtm FREE Form County Coronary Club A McHenry Leader BFFIROI TV Guide In Support And Education Page 2 BFFIROI Today's Edition Page 13