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

McHenry Since 1875 2 Section* City vows pressure for sewage facility Police weather phone by Anthony Oliver The proposed McHenry south sewage treatment facility faces a clouded future at best, but city officials have vowed to continue pressuring state agencies until a decision is made. The facility, with a proposed location between McHenry and McHenry Shores on the Fox, is considered to be crucial to the s ° u r _ - intended that the plant provide capacity for Northern Illinois Medical Center, McHenry Shores and the developing southern properties. Until it is built, the new hospital will be routing its sewage to the existing treatment facility on Waukegan Road. Hjalmar Sundin, Baxter and Woodman Engineering firm president, reported to the council that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) will not permit capacity for any projected growth, only existing structures which can be immediately connected. Sundin said that at a recent meeting with IEPA officials in Springfield, the agency once again altered the rules of the game. "They played games with I&A (innovative and alternative)," Sundin said. He noted that I&A systems were being encouraged by IEPA and acceptance would eliminate the need to compete for grant funds. Some time ago, the city was urged to modify the grant application to go for I&A binding. "We were comfortable with the system, and it was easy to modify to a conventional system," Sundin said. "But, it was too innovative for the EPA." Sundin lamented that the upper echelons of IEPA were in would work, given the new United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulations. "The interpretation of the lower 1 level was the most restrictive," Sundin said. He, and Aid. William Bolger (1st) who attended the meeting, said they ran up against a stone wall, until the managers and supervisors were called. T h e M c H e n r y reprsentatives-Sundin, Aid. Bolger and Mayor Joseph Stanek-argued that as a state agency, IEPA should J>e interpreting federal regulations in favor of the muncipalities and citizens and let USEPA be the "bad guys," The state officials offered a tradeoff, Sundin said. If McHenry would consider taking Village of McCullom Lake outflow into the existing plant, the state would accept an equivalent capacity in the new plant. "They'll pay for a certain capacity," Sundin said. The engineer also noted that the city could exceed what a grant provides. "If they'll pay for an eight- inch line, and you want a 10-inch line, the difference (in cost) is small. There may be something to be gained here," Sundin added. He also noted that it may be worth pursuing funds from t&e •tat* anti-pollution bond, issue, which was originally used to augment federal grant monies. Aid, Elizabeth Nolan (1st) commented, "If McCulkxn were taken in, it doesnt seem that we'd be serving our own people." "That's a legitimate concern," Sundin said. He explained that the tradeoff would simply mean greater state participation in the funding. Other s aldermen expressed fears that increased federal or state aid could affect rates. "What remains to be done is that IEPA would like a new cost study," Sundin said. The study would compare the cost of a conventional system, McHenry's I&A system and an I&A system favored by IEPA, The cost of the cost study is $5,000. If successful, the second phase would require detailed, design engineering which is expected to cost about $200,000. If construction funding is approved, up to 75 percent is $ repaid. w. "How many years can we be comfortable without doing anything?" Nolan asked. "Three or four," Stanek replied. ; Aid. Raymond Smith questioned whether the Village Of McCullom Lake could afford , to become involved and said he L IP §m. QOttfltraad mhwri the potential rfeteTttructure impact. "ESther McCullom Lake goes nop, or with the declining grant program., their chances are getting dimmer and dimmer," Sundin said, Bolger said he felt IEPA was left with the impression that the city will not leave the matter alone. "I think they know they will be bothered every month, hopefully every week. If we enlist help, we can get it to move," Bolger said. He noted that Sen. Jack Schaffer (R., Cary) was interested in the project and ha!s assisted in the past. "Is the problem with IEPA or with USEPA?" asked Aid. Gary Snell (4th). Sundin said the city deals with IEPA, which is bound by federal regulations. The newest regulations, which take effect in October of 1984, were released in about May' of 1983. "In May or June, IEPA found Contlntivd on page 3 §anta parade Dec. 10 opens Christmas season Santa Claus is coming to town Carolers on a hay wagon will at the northwest corner of the Each child bringing a toy for tt Saturday, Dec. 10. This year Santa and Mrs. Claus are inviting all the kids to 'ark. Assembly point will be at East Campus high school beginning at 12:45 p.m. and the parade gets under way at 1:30. Carolers from Johnsburg Junior High will be there to lead a sing-along during the line-up for the parade. Jingle bells and red ribbons will be issued to the parade participants for the march up Green Street and down Pearl Street to the Park. provide the music for the marching. Pom-Pon girls from Parkland School will serve as parade chaperones to keep the marchers in safe order throughout the trek. Upon arrival at the park, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the Christmas hut to'hear the wishes of all the kids until 3 p.m. or until the last child has been heard. Meanwhile,, the traditional tree trimming ceremony will take place beginning at 2 p.m. A look inside- caiis from Santa Selecting fresh trees Regular features ' Crime of the week Helping Paws Obituaries park. Children are encouraged to bring ornaments for the big tree. Assistants will be on staff to help even the smallest child place his own ornament on the official tree. When the trimming has been completed, the lights will be turned on for Christmas, 1983. During all the activity of the day, carolers from McHenry Junior High and Parkland Schools will perform in a combined choir. The fifth grade select chorus from Johnsburg School will also perform, as will the hay wagon riders of John­ sburg Junior High. The Marine Corps will be in attendance to collect Toys for Tots in their traditional manner. toy for the less fortunate will receive a special glass. Any toys that are in good repair will be accepted, and new toys are especially appreciated. Dolls in repairable condition are welcome. Whatever the weather may be Dec. 10, the parade will take place, and Pearl Street Park will provide warmth around a huge kettle fire while children and parents are waiting to see Santa. Hot chocolate, hot coffee, and doughnuts will also be available. The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce invites all re­ sidents to come and enjoy the Promise of Christmas, McHenry style, Dec. 10, and all during the Christmas season. Transportation service for seniors Page 6 Section 2, Page 13 Page 4 Section 2, Page 2 Page 3 The McHenry County Senior Citizens' Council has received a grant to provide limited tran­ sportation service to McHenry county seniors. Seniors in the McHenry- Lakemoor-Wonder Lake area who need transportation to attend a Meet & Eat center, to go to a doctor or hospital, or go shopping, can make arrangements by calling 1-800- 892-3273 and asking for the transportation information worker. Service will be on week days between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., starting the week of Dec. 12. The transportation vehicle has a hydraulic lift, thus making it available for seniors who are wheelchair bound. Service will be provided on a donation basis, which will go toward meeting the local share of one-fourth of the cost. With the arrival of snow- packed and icy roads, the Illinois State Police have again set up weather phones to make traveling easier for motorists. The road condition reports sre pre-recorded and updated four times a day: 6 a.m., noon, 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and more often as weather conditions change. Road conditions for the surrounding states are also given: Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, and ttHuiiif. These states will be added to the report as weather and road conditions change. For Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane and DeKalb counties, the telephone number is: 312-742- 7642. For the Chicago area, the number is: north: 312-283-6204; south: 312-385-3770, and for the Illinois Tollroads it is 312-323- 1111. These numbers will be in service until April, 1984. According to Captain Richard L. Stone, district commander, District 2 in Elgin, "It would be appreciated if these numbers would be called for just road conditions and not to find out what the weather forecast is going to be. A good number of people will be using these numbers so please do not tie up these lines." Stone filao state that the State Police will also contact the f.V. and radio stations in the Chicago area to update them on the road conditions. The driving public is asked also to use T. V. or radio as a source" of information on changing road conditions. • Suburbs promised fare cuts By Cliff Ward Shaw Free Press News Media The interim Regional Tran­ sportation Board promised a 10 percent fare cut for suburban rail riders and a balanced budget as the board unveiled its preliminary 1984 budget during another week of meetings. Chairman John Kramer announced earlier this week the components of a balanced RTA budget that included extended service for the McHenry County area, elimination of some little- used train stations and suburban bus routes, a new $25 monthly pass good for unlimited rides on suburban feeder buses and CTA shuttle buses and extension of the Milwaukee Road's west line to Almora. The proposed $827.2 million budget calls for a return to the hourly service from downtown Chicago in the early evening on the three commuter lines run by Chicago & North Western Transportation Co. Jeff Ladd, a rural Woodstock resident and member of the interim board, called the budget proposal reasonable. "The budget, as drafted at this point, is a very reasonable point of departure," he said. However, he added that the figures the board is working with are "very preliminary" and there are still issues to be worked out, including labor issues with the Chicago Transit Authority unions. He called the proposed 10 percent fare cut for RTA riders "excellent" and said the measure "represented a lot of compromise." The C & NW north and nor­ thwestern lines, which serve the McHenry County area and suffered service cuts during the RTA financial crunch in 1981, will feature new hourly service between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and more late Saturday and Sunday night service. Weekend train Service will allow more collar-bounty residents to enjoy social and cultural events in Chicago, Ladd noted, and represents a "real attempt to meet the needs" of area riders. The reduction of commuter rail fares, scheduled to go into effect Feb. 1, has been a major goal of the suburban-dominated board, and of state legislators who pushed through the com­ promise agreement that led to restructuring of the board last month. In other action, the board moved Wednesday to restrict the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Rail Corp.'s ability to award contracts over $5,000. Ladd said when be saw the amount of money in contracts being awarded by the NIRC, "I asked how this could possibly happen-" Hie board voted that the NIRC, an RTA subsidiary which operates the Milwaukee Road and the Rock Island Line, must gain board approval for the award of any contract worth more than $5,000. Until then, Ladd said, there was no or­ dinance giving the RTA control over NIRC contracts. Last week, the board canceled six NIRC contracts, worth an estimated $450,000, including the five-year consulting pact with former RTA board member Kenneth Sain. Sain's agreement, signed by former RTA head Lewis Hill, called for Sain to receive a maximum annual salary of $50,000. Ladd expressed concern over Kramer's call for citizens to ride the RTA free after 3 p.m. The proposal may be instituted as early as Dec. 12. Despite the measure being "an excellent one to showcase the system," Ladd said he was worried the proposal will result into too many holiday shoppers getting a free ride off taxpayer money. - He also expressed concern that it might hurt local retailers Continued on pog* 3 Wednesday December 7, 1983 Number 35 Volume 108 CHRISTAAAS CARD WINNERS-The entry of Marty Koleno in the AACHS Christmas Card contest won $25 first prize money for the talented East campus senior, pictured left. Second prize went to Cory Carani, East sophomore, $15, and third to Kelly Pierce, senior at East, $10. They are shown with Supt. Robert Swartzloff.