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Adopt-a-Dog month nears Helping Paws Section 2, Page! McHenry aindealer Since 1875 2 Sections 30 Pages UWIftNIUMP Friday Number 11 Volume 109 Shaw/Free Press Media, Inc. September 28, 1984 Sides still clearly divided Library opponents harangue board N By Carol A. Stevens / \ Five residents verbally blasted the Johnsburg Library Board last week with ac­ cusations and continued com­ plaints regarding the formation of the new library district. The special meeting, at which a tax levy for the library was unanimously approved, was -stretched to over an hour, as emotions ran high and tempers were lost by several people present. Resident arguments centered basically around four areas: problems of inequity arising from the difference in library and school district boundaries; an accused influence on the library's part of judge and news media during a recent coug hearing to put the library issue on the November ballot; a complaint of "unsuitability" of the present location of the library; and the expense of supporting the library through taxes.- While members of the library board were openly accused of being unfair to residents and being "crooked", differences of opinion on the value of the library and. the way it came about remained unresolved. "I would not cheat a soul," stated board member Edna Robel. "This (library) is for the benefit of the community." The library, as it now exists, is the result Of a referendum passed by 100 votes in March of this year; only after the failure of two previous referendums by narrow margins. The boundaries of the library district were Originally the same as those of the Johnsburg School District 12 when the issue was first brought to the voters two years ago. The library was voted down by 14 votes, and by law, if the *ssue is to come to vote again within a two-year period, new boundaries are required. A second referendum was on the November, 1983 ballot with new boundaries, and again the issue was voted down, this time by two votes. Through another redrawing of district boun­ daries, the issue passed at the third referendum. The board explained that they felt that since some areas did not want a library and the other areas did, only those areas who wanted the library would vote on it and be taxed for it. Residents however,, pointed out problems that have resulted from the boundary changes, including some students of the Johnsburg schools who are not residents of the library district while others are; and non­ resident property owners who are now paying for the library without having the advantage of voting on the issue. Regarding the school-library boundary differences, the board stated that they have addressed the problem. The board agreed it did not want to make it too expensive for the families of out- of-district students to have a library card, but did not want it to appear that the non-residents were getting a "fr?e ride". The possibility of setting a students rate at the library was discussed, . with residents arguing that a& users of the library should "pay their full share". ' The boundary changes were charged as "unethical" by one resident, who explained she is not a resident of the library district and was unable to vote on the library, yet she must pay taxes for the library on ap­ proximately 300 acres of far­ mland that lies within the district. The land is occupied by - renters and the resident argued that she should not be put in a situation where she may have to raise the rent in order tp pay for a library that she herself would be unable to use. Library board president Dick Kucik replied that the board is having a hard time deciding how to charge non-resident users for cards and encouraged persons so affected to attend the next regular board meeting, to be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at the library. A recent hearing at 19th .Judicial Court, Woodstock on the library issue, also drew fire from the library dissenters. Citizens opposed to the library collected and filed petitions in Continued on pog» 3 Softball, baseball, soccer, picnic areas--all the features of a major park-are envisioned for McHenry Township residents by local government officials. In fact, 50 acres adjacent to the McHenry Township offices on Route 31, north of McHenry, have been acquired for just such a purpose. Township Supervisor Albert "Albie" Adams said the land will be a township park, but he said that development will probably proceed at a rather slow pace. "We plan to hire a land con­ sultant before we go any far­ ther," Adams said. "We have 48 square miles in the township and • the only real paries are in the ' City of McHenry." Adams also commented that many of the users of the big ticket items will probably be contributing to the development. _ in McHenry, softball leagues • making heavy use of the diamonds contribute regularly with purchases of backstops, fill for outfields and infields, time and effort to keep the facilities in good working order. The land was purchased for $100,000 from a financial in­ stitution that held title to the property. It encompasses 50 acres of farmland just to the north and west of the township property and includes a barn and other . structures. It does not include the Changes Disco property, which has reportedly been purchased by another organization. t • • ; • ><r Adams said there was a lot of pressure for a park, particularly because of the heavy use of the parks (n McHenry. ^ i V- * "This park will be for all the residents of McHenry Town­ ship," Adams said. Township Supervisor Albert "Albie" Adams points to a portion of the 50 acres that will Plaindealer photo by Anthony Oliver someday be a park "for all the residents of the township." Zoning of horse businesses draws concern By Angela Burden ' Plaindealer News Service * ' # According to statistics, McHenry County ranks second in the nation in horse population density and is part of a four- county area of northern Illinois - that generates approximately $1 billion per year in the horse industry.• . Because McHenry County is proposing changes in its zoning ordinance concerning blacksmith shops and other horse-related operations, a large delegation of horse owners from the county was present at last week's McHenry County Board meeting. The proposed zoning changes have the horse people worried, according to Donna Peterson, co-chairman of the Horse Council of McHenry County. The changes "will have serious, long-range, if not immediate, adverse effects on the future of the entire horse industry in our county," she said recently. McHenry County officials, however, said this is not the case. The proposed amend­ ments to the county's zoning ordinance pertains not to in­ dividual horse owners but to horse-related blacksmith shops, large animal veterinary clinics, horse farms and professional stables. According to Glenn Peterson, the county's zoning officer, the proposed amendments sub­ mitted for review request the deletion of the above four uses from the "A-2" Agriculture District and the "E-5" Estate District. He noted that according to the zoning ordinance, both districts are designated principally for residential use. "They are not intended for commercial type uses," he explained. As proposed, a blacksmith shop and a veterinary clinic for large animals will be prohibited from operating on property * zoned "A-2" and "E-5," but blacksmiths and veterinarians will in no way be prohibited from serving customers on properties zoned "A-2" or "E- 5." According to Glenn Peter­ son, "this is the same restriction placed on all other trade oc­ cupations presently." If the proposed amendmehts are approved, anyone con­ ducting one of the four uses- horse-related blacksmith shop, veterinary clinic for large animals, horse farm or professional stable-on property zoned "A-l" Agriculture (lops than 160 acres in size), will not be affected by the amendments, unless the use is non-cpnforming and discontinued for a period of time exceeding one . year, at which time the rigbt-of-use would be lost. According to the zoning of­ ficer, there recently has been some concern voiced/in regard to the number of parcels of land that will be turned into "legal non-conforming" parcels in the event the proposed amendments are approved.' He explained that as of Nov.l, 1979, the effective date of the comprehensive amendment to. the zoning ordinance, and parcel zoning A-l Agriculture con­ taining a single family residence on less than 160 acres has been considered "legal non­ conforming." "The 180-acre minimum requirement applies only to the acreage required for a single family residence in the A-l Agriculture District," Peterson said. In the case of horse farms and professional stables, the following supplementary regulations would apply: -Such uses are allowed by right in the A-l zoning district. -The minimum lot area for a horse farm or professional stable shall be two acres. -The minimum gross lot area per horse over 8-months-old shall be 14,000 sq. ft. per horse. However, horse farms and professional stables located on Continued on pogo 10 Cary man's death now investigated as homicide By Joe King Plaindealer News^ Service Cary police have iden­ tified a man found shot to death Tuesday in a Cary basement apartment as Randall L. Flood, 38, Cary. According to the official police report issued on Wednesday morning, Cary police received a call at 1:42 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon reporting a gunshot injury at 189 Northwest Highway. Upon arrival at the scene police found Flood dead in his basement apartment at that address. The preliminary in­ vestigation and autopsy indicate that Flood died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. Police are investigating the matter as a homicide. Initial reports from people near the scene of the shooting had led to speculation that the shooting may have been a suicide. A woman, who allegedly found Flood's body, ran to the print shop of General Printing Corporation reportedly screaming that Flbod had shot himself in the head and ws dead. Employees gt the print shop called police, who responded immediately and sealed off the area. Persons working in the office complex across the road from the scene of the shooting reported hearing no gunshots. It was not until the official police report issued on Tuesday that the shooting was confirmed to be a- homicide. Cary police are asking for assistance on information on Flood's activities on Monday Sept. 24, and Tuesday Sept. 25. The building where Flood's body was found formerly housed the Super Bowl Pub. In past years, the bar had been a trouble spot, with police frequently receiving calls about fights and other such occurrences at the tavern. According to Pat Hughes, who arrived at the murder scene several hours after the shooting and identified himself as the new owner of the building, Flood hpd recently been notified^mat he was to vacate the premises. Hughes also said there are plans to reopen the establishment as. a bar sometime in the future. Johnsburg vocational students to lend talents to playground By Carol A. Stevens The 1984-5 budget for the Johnsburg School District was unanimously approved at the last school board meeting. No residents of the district were present at the hearing to raise questions or comment on the budget. Also approved were plans for the high school vocational education classes to build a playground in Sunnyside for the use of the community. The playground would have baseball fields for the use of the Littie League, playground equipment and a soccer field. The construction will be part of the heavy equipment program which gives students the opportunity to have hands-on experience with heavy earth- moving equipment. The students will do as much as possible this fall and aim for completion in the spring. Steve Pollock, director of the vocational ed department, estimated that the cost will be approximately $450, which will be paid by the Village of Sun­ nyside. The payment will cover the cost of gas to run the equipment, which is owned by the school district. Since there are many factors to be con­ sidered in a project of this type, the most important being the weather, Pollock said he will inform the village that although the students will try their best to complete the project, there is always a possibility that weather or equipment break­ down could hiunper their ef­ forts. If this is the case, it will be the responsibility of*the village to complete whatever tasks have not been finished. The director stressed that the most important factor is the educational value to the student. He also feels it is important for students to learn to be com­ munity-minded, and in the future feels that students will take pride in coming back to see the playground and knowing that they had a part in its con­ struction. Pollock also received board approval to apply for a state grant in the amount of $40,000 to do an in-depth study of in- dustries in McHenry County. The focus of the study will be to determine what job skills workers feel are necessary to effectively work their job and also to determine what skills industrial managers feel are necessary for the workers. The study will be com­ puterized and the computer analysis will be performed by an outside firm. The school district will only act as administrator to the project. The results of the study wiU then be utilized in Johnsburg, and any other surrounding school districts who would like the information, to determine Continued on pogo 10 A look inside. Senior Day Care Page 9 • Twice Told Tales Section 2, Page 8 Musin' and Meanderin' Page 2 Speaking of Soaps Page 8 Obituaries Page 10 •