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lima uz * mk a«sf "Sftir Sf: ; -yyt • - ^ ; • : • , ^ • ; -' • ' ' & s '•• ; -a*. • •. v m Fun In The Frwi Meyer, >aperimeiident of Public Norm Kocol, president of the M Laubenthal, daughter of Mr. ud her cllnih to the top of a piece of porh. In the background Uit station city recently by the Jaycees, As a pi he holding n timed event to determine completed. The competition It free, a ages 6 throagh n. The event will get •• Aug. N, at Petersen park. There will bo trophies awarded for the best times In each age category. An entry form appears elsewhere in this Issue. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLOED tor the city, left, and watch as Kargi Laubenthal, enjoys alpment at Petersen le coarse given to the I kickoff, the clnb will fast the course enn be open to boys and girls, way at 2 p.m. 8unday, Investigation Continues Into 'Sex Education School' An investigation and search for youths who had any contact with a sailing instructor, who was arrested last week for allegedly operating a "sex education school" is con­ tinuing. John R. Spargo, Lake Geneva, was charged last Friday with child pornography after showing a photo album with pictures of 12 boys to an undercover investigator in McHenry State park. Lt. George Hendle, of the County "Sheriff's department, said the department is at­ tempting to locate children whose names appeared on a partial list found in Spargo's apartment. According to Hendle, the list contained the first names and last initials of 28 youths, ranging in age from 7 to 16 years - reportedly his sexual partners for the last three years. Spargo was employed as an in said there assistant program director at the George Williams college conference facility in Lake Geneva, Wis. Hendle appeared to be no between Spargo's alleged pornographic activities and his position as a sailing instructor. Carolyn Gramley, college director, said Spargo dealt only with adults at. the college. According to Illinois Legislative Investigating (Continued on page 19) "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 104 NUMBER 8 FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1979 2 SECTIONS 28 PAGES 20' ukay Sewer Plant Bonds Mass Meetings In County In spite of one suggestion that it should not be necessary, the McHenry County board Tuesday passed a com­ prehensive ordinance regulating any mass public gatherings that might be held in the county. Board Chairman Richard Klemm made the request for passage of the document presented to each member. Thomas Huemann of Johnsburg questioned the necessity of the ordinance, including very high bonds, stating that the present law should be sufficient. However, Donald Doherty of McHenry, also a board member, observed that the new ordinance deals strongly with particular items such as water and sanitation. He felt it was a good precautionary measure since the county is asked fort two or three mass meetings each year. The ordinance describes a mass public gathering as one which attracts 500 or more people and which continues for at least twelve hours. It does not include public gatherings and events sponsored by a governmental unit or agency, legally held on publicly owned land or property, the McHenry County fair, or a public gathering and event conducted entirely within a permanent enclosed structure. One of the purposes for the ordinance is to determine the responsibilities of promoters of mass public gatherings and require a permit for them. The application fee is set at $200, with no refund if a license . should be denied, suspended, revoked or surrendered for any reason^" Hie minimum performance bond is set at $10,000 for Mich 1,000 persons In attendance, withstand minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $300,000. Insurance to provide for payment of any claim for personal injuries (including death), connected with such a mass public gathering is set at a minimum of $250,000 per person. Member George Hubbard of Crystal Lake, in commenting about the Year 2000 Com­ prehensive Land Use plan, said he would like to see one more meeting to receive more input from the public. Dianne Easty, also from Crystal Lake, reminded that a meeting had been held as recently as the previous week. At that time it was suggested that the public be encouraged to send In questions so that more thought could be devoted to them. Realtors, she added, have (Continued on page 19) Project School Budget Surplus t With the most recent ^burglary of model homes within the city solved IHiS past week, it occurs to us that neigh­ bors can be Very Important 'People. They can also be a tremendous asset to the local police. Officers have limitations on coverage of our streets, and as the city grows, it becomes more important , that individual citizens assume the role of more responsibility. Evidence of how well it works was the speedy apprehension of a visting burglar to McHenry, who was enroute out of a model home with some choice items when apprehended. If a neigh­ bor had not chosen to become involved to the point of making a phone call, he might have been successful. Theft has become a way of life as populations grow. There are figures to prove that a car is stolen every 30 seconds in this country. Ex­ perts say if the owner can make • entering the car difficult enough to last more than 60 seconds, there is a good chance the car thief will leave that car in favor of easier prey. While we look to the big city ' as the place to use extra caution, the mind of the thief has that all figured out. Knowing that suburban folks frequently don't bother to lock their cars, they are finding this a fertile territory for a free ride. With thefts and vandalism a "very real problem in recent years, both home owners and car owners must admit a responsibility for protection of property that was unnecessary a couple of decades ago. An alertness of neighbors gives strength to a police department and helps rid any community of undesirables. K.A.F. An operating surplus of $83,237 is projected for the 1979- 80 budget for High School District 156, board president Edward J. Neumann, Jr., reported at the regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 21. And in order to comply with statutory time limitations, the board voted to change the date of the next regular meeting to Thursday, Sept. 27,Jo include the public hearing on the proposed $8 million plus budget. Supt. Robert Swartzloff announced that the tentative budget is available for public inspection at the school ad­ ministrative offices and in­ terested persons can inspect it there during office hours. Any questions raised then can be answered at the public hearing. Figures from the tentative budget, prepared by business manager Mike Kelly, showed that the estimated revenue from all sources for all funds of $8,128,918 would exceed the projected expenditures of $8,045,681 by $83,237. This would increase the total carryover balance of $318,976 from the last year (1978-79) to $402,213 at the end of the next fiscal year (1979-80.) Last year's expenditures, according to the June financial report, totalled $4,598,205 compared to the projected $8,045,681 in the proposed budget. The big difference is in the Site and C instruction fund with projected expenditures of $2,642,587 which last year listed expenditures of $25,000. (Life Safety work is proposed for East campus for this year). Also up are Education fund expenditures of $3,474,138 compared with $3,004,212 for last year, and building operations from $645,265 to $842,990. Bond and interest has also increased from $581,974 to $620,330 and Transportation from $199,373 to $313,900. The other two funds, Illinois Municipal Retirement and Working Cash have only nominal increases to $82,000 and $69,776 from $77,381 and $64,997. Following a discussion of the Life Safety work for the East campus building, for which a contract to the low bidder, Althoff, had been approved Aug. 9, the board approved a "deduct amendment" for $184,100 for kitchen equipment for the cafeteria which ap­ parently had come in high. Architect Len Peterson advised that the school probably could come out ahead by perhaps $80,000, by letting this bid The City Council moved unanimously to issue the revenue bonds for the sewer plant expansion at Monday night's regular meeting of the City Council. Prior to passage, there were some conditions which had to be met-requirements of previous bonds and of Chap­ man and Cutler, a Chicago- based bond counseling firm. According to the 1956 bond issue requirements, before another revenue bond series can be issued, a letter of cer­ tification from the City's engineer must be approved by the Council and made a part of the public record, which the Council did. Then, at City Attorney Narusis' recommendation, the Council passed a resolution approving the engineering specifications of the project in order to insure the Chapman and Cutler "seal of approval." Narusis explained that the Chapman and Cutler firm is recognized as one of the foremost counsels in the braid security market and its ap­ proval of the issue enhances its salability. "Are you satisfied, as our legal advisor, as to the legality of a bond issue of this magnitude?" Alderman Harker asked. Narusis said he was satisfied and the issue was passed. The Council also passed the City of McHenry levy or­ dinance which will raise an estimated $514,200. According to Alderman Pepping, chair­ man of the finance committee, this would result in a tax rate of approximately .857 or maybe a little less. "The City's tax rate has not appreciably changed in the last 6 or 8 years," Pepping said. Mayor Stanek said he thought the City is doing quite well considering that included in this levy is park and library money-money from districts normally taxed in addition to the City levy. The ordinance was unanimously passed. tn an unprecedented move, the City Council voted unanimously to compensate members of both the Zoning * Board of Appeals and the Planning commission. "It is not the usual thing to do, but we think it is fair and proper," Alderman Pepping said. "If there is justification fof paying members of the Police commission and the Board of Health, then there is justification for paying these commissions, too." The members of both these commissions will be paid $10 for each regularly scheduled meeting they attend, effective Sept. l According to Alderman Pepping, this action could cost the City about $7,000 a year. assuming 100 percent at­ tendance at every meeting, "which is unlikely." In other Council action, the public works department will receive a new road grader and a new tree limb chipper. The grader, to be purchased from the West Side Tractor Sales company, Naperville and Wheeling, will cost in the neigh­ borhood of $58,000. The old grader will be sold for $5,000, according to Supt. of Public Works Fred Meyer. The chipper will be used to grind tree limbs into small chips which can be used as mulch, for trails or sold outright. It will cost a little more than $8,000. According to the salesman, the chipper will reduce 15 truckloads of branches into one. The Council voted to hire Durfee Brothers, Woodstock, to put a new roof on the barn in the newly acquired Knox park at a cost of $3,200. Alderman Wieser opposed, wanting to know how many squares (10 foot by 10 foot sections) the City was getting for $3,200. There were no answers immediately available. The Finance committee reported that the method of recouping the cost of having the City of McHenry do all the police dispatching for a number of surrounding communities is still under consideration, pending more information from Chief Pasenelli. The final plat for the Chapel Hill Oaks Unit 1 development, across Chapel Hill road from the golf course, which has already cleared the McHenry Planning commission, was approved by the Council. The Park committee recommended that Johnsburg high school be allowed to use two of the tennis courts at Freund field, three days a week for team practices and meets. The committee also suggested that the school look into using the courts at Parkland school. Questioning the effectiveness of the committee system, Alderman George Harker was perturbed, to say the least, at the lack of progress reports he had received concerning various projects throughout the City. Some time ago, Harker said, the fire department sent a letter to the City enumerating 30 fire hydrants that were in various stages of disrepair. Harker was incensed because no report from the public works department had ever been made to the sewer and water committee about the progress of the repairs. Similarly, he was concerned about the fate of the outside meter ordinance. A list of the 30 worst (hardest to. get at) meters was made, and the public works department is putting outside meters at these locations. Harker said that if history is any indication of the future, (Continued on page 19) Former Teacher In Medical Service Post Scott Seaborn, former teacher and principal at the Johnsburg Middle school, has been appointed Emergency Medical Services coordinator (formerly Trauma center coordinator) for McHenry County-Western Lake county. Seaborn is a paramedic, having received his cer­ tification as an emergency medical technician in January, 1977, and his EMT-paramedic certification in July, 1978. He is also an instructor in car­ diopulmonary resuscitation, certified by the American Heart association in 1977. He holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Northern Illinois university and taught in Johnsburg from 1969 to 1974 before becoming principal of the Middle school. He is married to the former Linda Huss of Milwaukee, who also taught elementary school in Johnsburg. They have a daughter, Jody, and a son, Brian. SCOTT SEABORN Whispering Oaks PUD separately. He noted that some equipment firms are reluctant to bid through a general con­ tractor. Peterson also outlined the proposed Life Safety work for the West campus which had accumulated to $353,800, and with two additional items of boiler repair and tennis court rehabilitation could exceed $400,000. Peterson noted that the boiler work could range from a low of $500 for each building to a possible $16,000 if (Continued on page 19) McHenry Mayor Joe Stanek said Tuesday night he may have been a little hasty in calling an informal meeting of the Council, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), the Planning commission and the school boards concerning a recent Residential Development Group (RDG) proposal. The meeting had been called regarding a 1965 planned unit development (PUD) in the Whispering Oaks subdivision which called for more than 140 acres of land to be made into a golf course. The preliminary maps and models showed this and the land was sold with this in mind. Recently, RDG asked for a meeting to see if it would be possible to change the zoning 20 and use the land, at least part of it, for something other than a golf course. The underlying zoning of the golf course area is residential. The crux of the matter is whether or not the developer can get 80 percent (figurative) of a development completed under one plan, and then come back and try to change the zoning on percent. remaining City Attorney Bernard Narusis said there is no sub­ stantial case law because the PUD concept is only about 20 years old. Another problem, Narusis said, is that the Illinois statute regarding PUD's say nothing. Narusis said he thought the Fun Before School /uyone wno Minna a utile ram can aeier teenager* irom an evening oi inn are mistaken, even though weather threatened to spoil the Back-to-School dance sponsored by the City of McHenry in the Pearl street park Wednesday night, 400 young people and some adults decided to give it a try. Before the dance was scheduled to start, at 7:30, the rain had stopped and the evening was stamped a staccess. Supt. of Public Works, Fred Meyer, representing Mayor Stanek and the City Conncil, addressed the large crowd briefly and expressed pleasure that the young people had taken advantage of the Invitation for an evening of fun before returning to classes. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLOED ions law indicated that nothing was static regarding land use, and conditions could change with time. If this be the case, three options are available to choose from. The City can allow RDG to petition for a zoning change- which will include ZBA meetings, public hearings, Plan commission meetings and Council approval. Or, the City can stand by the PUD or­ dinance, in which case either the golf course will be built, or the land will lie fallow. Tuesday night's meeting was cancelled because of concern that the Council was usurping both the ZBA's function and the rights of any citizens who may wish to appear as objectors. Because it was to be an in­ formal meeting, there was no requirement for notice to be published and many people who will be affected would not have known about the meeting. More Comment On Land Use The •> McHenry County Regional Planning commission and Land Use committee have extended the time during which comments on the proposed Year 2000 Comprehensive Land Use plan will be received. Written comments postmarked by Aug. 31 will be given the same consideration as those received at the public hearings earlier this month. Director of the Planning (Continued on page 19)