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New RTA board chairman asks for rollbacks -X - I'LAINDEALKlt - FIUDAY. DECEMBER 2.19R3 by Cliff Ward Shaw-Free Press News Service The new Regional Tran­ sportation Authority board spent no time getting on track last week, with interim chair­ man John Kramer calling for fare rollbacks for commuter train riders and cancellation of six subsidiary and consulting contracts. Kramer, head of the Illinois Department of Transportation, also promised a balanced budget for 1984. At an early week meeting, Kramer called for fare cuts to go into effect by Feb. 1, 1984. The rollback reportedly called for a dip of between 5 and 17 percent, according to sources quoted in the "Chicago Tribune." "Some of us would like greater consideration," ac­ cording to Jeff Ladd of rural Woodstock, one of the members of the new board. Besides looking at reducing the sur­ charges on commuter train fares, Ladd also said the board should look at scheduling. problems, especially for areas like Woodstock. However, half of total transit revenues for the RTA must come from fares, and fares currently pay for 51 percent. Whether or not the board can cut rail fares, balance the budget, and still maintain 90 percent of total revenues through fares is a matter Ladd said he would not comment on until he saw the first RTA budget proposal, expected to be presented to the board early next week. "I'm not going to make statements out of left field," Ladd said, but he did say the surcharge currently paid by rail riders is "not fair." Ladd said the board is trying to make reforms that hopefully will last for several years, and "making snap decisions is not the way to do it." However, some lauded the proposal to reduce fares. "I think the board really cares about the people who ride the trains and buses,'^ House Minority Leader Rep. Lee Daniels (R., Elmhurst) said, pointing to talks on reducing rail surcharges as the "best example" of that concern. . "Under John Kramer's leadership, the RTA board appears to be launching a new era of fiscal accountability," said Daniels, who chose Ladd as his appointment to the board after the compromise agreement passed earlier this month that abolished the old board in return for a $75 million State subsidy and greater suburban input. Kramer announced that the board had cancelled a con­ sulting contract with former RTA board member Kenneth Sain. Sain, it was learned, had been given a five-year contract a day after his term expired reportedly calling for him to receive an annual maximum salary of $50,000. Kramet\ who said the move was an economy measure, also cancelled five other subsidiary contracts worth an estimated $450,000 annually "Too bad it didn't happen sooner," Ladd said of the cuts. State Sen. Jack Schaffer (R., Crystal Lake), who said the RTA should be able to present a balanced budget by taking the state subsidy money into ac­ count, noted it would be difficult to hold the line on labor costs. Part of the compromise package asked that a $33 million RTA debt owed transit workers unions be retired. "They're paying salaries that are non-defensible," he said. "Virtually everyone on the payroll is overpaid." Ladd said he was waiting to study RTA salaries before taking any position. Schaffer said he supported the proposed fare rollback, calling the 33 percent surcharge now paid by suburban rail riders a "thinly-disguised siphon" of money to the Chicago Transit Authority. general flews Jaycee calls from Santa The McHenry Jaycees will sponsor their first annual Calls from Santa. On Dec. 18, between 1 and 3 p.m. children in McHenry can received a per­ sonal phone call from the gift giver. Anyone who would like a child to receive a call need only send child's name, age, and brothers' and sisters' names and ages to McHenry Jaycees, attention Joe Nootens, P.O. Box 163, McHenry. Parents are asked to name the child's favorite toy last year and what her (or she) wants this year. Also, the pet's name should be included. Anyone interested in helping Santa make calls, or in becoming a Jaycee, is asked to call Joe Nootens at 385-1863 or Mike Bohne at 344-0195. LAST CHANCE TO SAVE j a s AGREE ON MENTAL continued from page understand what is written in it." Pat la said her staff would try to prepare a plain language summary for general un­ derstanding, but they had to maintain the technical character of the text for reveiw by other professionals because it would be submitted to regional and state agencies as a basis for future funding. In other business Smith an­ nounced his staff's intention to participate in a pilot project to provide and receive management information. With special dispensation received from Region 2 officials, McHenry County would join Region 1-A in a computer net­ work that would funnel current information from Springfield through Rockford. This way 1 they would get immediate readouts. The state would pay the cost of the phone line hookups needed, and there is money in the current budget to pay the $24,000 to $30,000 for the necessary equipment, Smith said. Smith noted that under the present manual system, there is up a four-month delay in receiving information cm ac­ tivities and policy from the state. Smith also noted that the "Jail Program", which up to now has been sponsored by McHenry County College, will now be sponsored by the Sheriff's Department and the 708 Board will, in the future, sign the contract for funding with the sheriff. Smith said that by in­ stitutionalizing the program, it would help funding. i mmm MM •EVERY MONDAY: Special Entree' Day . Call for details (815) 385-7955 •TUESDAY: Always a Beef Entree! ...Such as Pepper Steak, Beef Stroganoff, etc... • WEDNESDAY: The Italian Lunch: Such as Baked Lasagna, Baked Can- neloni, Baked Ziti, etc... •THURSDAY: The Chicken Lunch: Such as. Baked, BBQ, Kiev, Tetrazini, etc...It's Great! •FRIDAY: The Best London Broil Lunch Anywhere! •ALSO ALWAYS AVAILABLE... Cirkus Burgers & Butt Steak Sandwiches ONLY 8 DAYS LEFT! TORO S'NO RISK PROGRAM If It Doesn't Snow We'll Return Your Dough. And you keep the Snowthrowcr! Buy a Torn Snowthrowcr Ixrfore Drccmbrr 10, 1983. and if it snows Irss than 20% of average this season, you gel all your monrv bark and you keep the Toro If if snows less than f>0% of average you get 50% of your money hack And you still kerp the Toro. If it snows more than that you'll really be glad you lx>ught a Toro snowthrower Offer includes S-140, S-200R. S-200E. S-620E. and all two stage models. 2 I IF IT SNOWS I.KSS THAN VOL KK.K.l' 1 HK IORO AND VOl- RKCKIVK 9fl Ok avkrm.k* *»V/ /O SNOWKAI.I. RKKl NI> <>l 1 OH °7~ Sl (,(,KM H> X \J\J /O RKTAII I'RICK 30% RKHNDOF 7fiQZ~ si <;<;ksi>i> / U /O RKTAII. I'RICK 40% wxuzi RKKl'ND OK SL'titiKSTM) Uv /O RKTAII I'RICK 50% xxs RKKl NI) OK C7 SK.(iKSI KI) iJ\J /C RKTAII. I'RICK Haven't you done without a Toro long enough?"' psip1 mimm Come in for full details "THE HOUSE THAT SERVICE BUILT' Geo. P. Freund, Inc. 4102 W. CRYSTAL LAKE RD., McHENRY » (815)385-0420 $ iMMiniiaaKinansj Employee of month Lorraine Kledzik, an employee at Memorial Hospital since March 1,1949, has been serving as Employee of the M o n t h f o r November. She is manager of accounting and a senior hospital employee in years of service. I EDGEBROOK S 8• 8 CHRISTMAS * » 1 I BAZAAR Sat., Dec. 3rd 9am to 3pm Crafts • Bake Sale Refreshments at Edgebrook School 701 N. Green St. Mchenry rwvwi¥ Squirrel Account No. Nome Address ~ City Zip Phone Beauticians ONLY! Rux Pigment Color Class Monday. Dec. 12, 1983 10am Tickets: *5°° to be redeemed for Rux Products RIVERSIDE BEAUTY SUPPLY 2020 Rt. 120-McHenry ') FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF McHENRY COLORING CONTEST O 2$ m JOHN L. FREUND FREUND FUNERAL HOMES • WONDER LAKE 7611 HANCOCK DR. •15-728-0233 COOPER-FREUND • MARENGO 205 N. STATE 815-508-7345 Squirrel Club Members Coloring Contest Rules 1. Color picturey clip it out and bring in or mail to>du/atkjress. One entry per squirrel, 2. If you are not a Squirrel and you wish to participate, Squirrel Club Membership foiyns are available in our lobby. 3. Entries must be in no later than Monday, December 19, 1983. 4. Entries will be judged in three categories: ages 9-13, 5-8, and 4 and under. 5. One s50.00 Savings bond will be awarded overall. Two prizes will be awarded in each category, *10.00 added to the winner's account and a Filbert T. Squirrel doll. 6. Winners will be notified no later than Friday, December 23, 1983. (IttSMKKaMXAXifitfVM! 8 B B 8 NATIONAL BANK OF MCHENRY 3814 W. ELM ST. McHENRY, ILLINOIS 60050 P.O. BOX 338 385-5400 MEMBER FDIC 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 I