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Subscribers " • • ' --i-- (McHenry Shores Annexation) LIZ NOLAN RON MEUEER JACK PEPPING MEVW *"V * " \ ^ i iiL f f •N RAYMOND SMITH MIKE WIESER Against. . . EDWARD DATZ GEORGE HARKER CECILIA SERRITELLA THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 106 NUMBER 62 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3. 1982 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 25' Opposition To Annexation by Anthony Oliver Noting bad timing and a lack of forthcoming information, six of eight McHenry aldermen took a vocal stand against the possible annexation of McHenry Shores at Monday night's regular council meeting. Alderman Jack Pepping (1st ward) said, "First of all, I am totally against the question of annexation in the form in which it was presented." He commented that the village was not in good financial condition. Regarding financial information given to aldermen at the beginning of the Studies - those time-consuming occupations that rarely net much action - continue to occupy many of the people whose salaries we are paying. They're often undertaken to deter­ mine something for which there is no money even when a remedy is found. Studies bear a resemblance to our laws in some respects. So many are put on the books that a substantial number of them are never implemented. The current project of the Illinois Department of Transportation is collecting data from school districts and school bus operators to determine if imy action can be taken to reduce the number of stop-arm violations when school children are boarding or leaving The Illinois Transportation depart­ ment tells us that state law requires motorists to stop before reaching a school bus which has stopped to load or unload passengers. That's what we thought, but we've been trying to find out for almost two years why one McHenry school bus driver stops and extends an arm and another does not, each under almost identical circumstances and in the same location. The confusion among drivers is nothing short of amazing at points where traffic is heavy. We have noticed befuddlement most dften on Washington street. Seldom is the arm of a bus extended although the very youngest students are leaving the bus. For a time, approaching drivers were (Continued on page 18) meeting, Pepping said, without being able to study the data, he could challenge some of the figures. "There are stated liabilities and latent liabilities (the roads, sewers, etc.)," Alderman Pepping said. "Presented in the fashion of we take it or leave it, it becomes the liability of my constituents." Pepping expressed dismay that there had been no opportunity for negotiation or agreement. "I cannot accept it under those terms," he added. "The best thing would be to turn the thing down in the form it is in." Pepping i«kl tie****** Con»imwd ^ die annexation would be good for the overall welfare of the City of McHenry. He commented that it was typical of the manner in which the issue was presented that the aldermen received further financial information minutes before the meeting started. "My recommendation is 'no'," Pepping said. Alderman George Harker (2nd ward) said the decision to annex was hasty and added that this was not something that had to be decided on the 16th of March. "I question their financial ability to finance a collector system even with federal money," Harker said. Harker commented, in a letter to the Plaindealer, "As to the matter of whether to annex or not, I have given the matter much thought and it is my considered opinion that the disad­ vantages far outweigh the advantages and also that the liabilities are greater than any disceraable assets." An opponent of the annexation from the beginning, Alderman Edward Datz (2nd ward) said he did not agree with the method that the question was presented. "There should have been discussion and negotiation," he said. "I am very concerned about the sewer problem." Datz said he was not happy with the "11th hour" presentation of financial information. Alderman Michael Wieser (3rd ward) said, "The facts are hidden. Just what is the cost to the citizens of McHenry if McHenry Shores is annexed? There are so many factors the public is not aware of." "I would vote no," Wieser said. "The public has not been informed as we have not been informed." The third ward alderman reiterated a position held by many councilmen that negotiations should have been held. "I am totally against the an­ nexation," said Alderman Raymond Smith (3rd ward). "I think the people are telling me that. If we had all the facts, it would guarantee that there would be no annexation." "Why would McHenry Shores be better if we governed them?" Smith asked. "It's like them saying you solve our problems for us. They can settle their own problems." Smith said it would have been proper to negotiate the annexation. He noted ti%at McHenry residents paid a good deal of money for the park system and asked what contributions have been made by the Shores residents. Alderman Cecilia Serritella (4th Ward) said the main issue was the , timing of the referendum and she disagreed with a parallel made at an earlier meeting that the issue was similar to the Lakeland Park an­ nexation. "To use Lakeland Park as a parallel is not true," she said. "There were many meetings before the annexation and many problems were worked out." The most vocal proponent of the annexation has been McHenry Mayor Joseph Standi. He said the timing for the annexation "could not be better," in that a March 16 passage would place the property on the tax rolls without a nine-month lag that would accrue if the matter was approved in the November general election. "If we annexed McHenry Shores, we would control it," Stands said. "Not negotiating allows the city to have sole power to regulate the destiny (of the village)." The mayor said the money was a minor matter. The largest single debt appears to be a $41,000 engineering bill for the road program which was ultimately scrapped. "If you have a blighted area, it becomes contagion and spreads," the mayor said. "We must lend a hand and try to jointly eliminate the problems." Stanek pointed out that Lakeland BEN ADAMOWSKI DIES Ben Adamowski, 75, active in Cook county politics for a period spanning six decades, died Monday, March 1, in Presbyterian-St. Luke's hospital, Chicago. A former McCullom Lake resident, he served five terms in the Illinois General Assembly as a Democrat and was the Republican Code county state's attorney from 1956 to 1960. Park had poor roads, septic problems and no assets when it was annexed to the city. The mayor said that the Village of McHenry Shores does have river frontage property, the village hall property and a variety of assets in the public works department. He also said the financial condition "shows black" except for the engineering bill. Stanek said he had a letter from the Shores police chief, William T. Mullen, which acknowledged the village's right to terminate his employment without cause. Two full-time officers were furloughed in February for financial reasons. SUmete also commented that state departments in Springfield were waiting for the matter to be decided before taking action concerning grants, etc. "I don't want to see this become another Round Lake, with five chiefs of police, five water departments, five sewer departments, etc.," Stanek said. "I see this on the horizon. If we fumble the ball today, I don't know if we'll be able to pick it up." Aldermen Elizabeth Nolan (1st ward) (Continued on page 18) Gifts For New Subscribers The McHenry Plaindealer is offering to new subscribers a different type gift during the month of March. With the purchase of a new, one-year subscription, the newspaper will offer a free coupon booklet worth up to $300. The booklet offers a variety of items, some as gifts and others with substantial savings on purchases. The offer does not cover renewal of subscriptions. The price of the subscription is 40 percent less than readers pay on the newsstand. For that price, the Plaindealer offers news, sports, local columns, features, advertising and more on Wed­ nesday and Friday. In addition, complete TV listings appear in the 'Double Vision' supplement each Friday. The offer is good from March l through March 31. Details appear in an advertisment on Page 15 of this issue. There will be sampling of both city and rural routes throughout the month so that non- subscribers will have an op­ portunity to see the newspaper. Sampling will be undertaken March 3 on the City of McHenry routes. The following schedule will be observed for the remainder of the month: March 10-12, Rural Routes 1-7; March 17-19, Rural Routes 8-14; March 24-26, Wonder Lake boxholders on Routes 1, 3 and 4, Ringwood boxholders and Spring Grove boxholders. School Emphasis On Vocational Training by Marion Olsen mwti^oflhehigh ^SoomitrlCt 186 board reflected recent emphasis on the vocational training program of the local high schools. These actions highlighted an otherwise routine meeting. Surrounded by a vocational program display on the walls of the board room, members approved the following program-related motions. -The purchase of three microcom­ puters and two tractor printers at a cost of $3,378.84 from low bidder, Uarco, Inc. ofJ}eKalb. The purchase wiH be funded by an Illinois Suite Board of Education Vocational Movable Instructional Equipment grant of $3,346. The equipment will provide East campus with an installation comparable to one already being used at West campus. -A continuation of a Vocational Joint Agreement resolution with other county schools. The agreement established an exchange program in order that county students would have opportunities to (Continued on page 18) Child Drowns In Creek Homicide Verdict In Albanese Case SHAW MEDIA NfWS SCtVtCE A coroner's jury has returned ver­ dicts of homicide in the deaths of the three family members Charles M. Albanese, of Spring Grove, allegedly murdered. After hearing evidence presented during Friday afternoon's inquest in Lake county courthouse, the jury ruled that the deaths of 69-year-old Michael J. Albanese, 89-year-old Mary Lambert Mid 69-year-old Marian Mueller were caused by "arsenic intoxication (poisoning)" due to ingestion of "large quantities of arsenic." Albanese was charged in November by McHenry police authorities with the arsenic poisoning of his father and Mrs. Lambert, his wife's grandmother. Lake county police charged Albanese with the murder of Mrs. Lambert's daughter, Mrs. Mueller. All the victims were residents of Leisure Village, Fox Lake. The 44-year-old accused man is 1 held in McHenry county jail, Wc stock, on brads totalling $3.5 million. He has also been charged in con­ nection with the attempted murder of his brother, 34-year-old Michael Jay Albanese and on two counts of felony theft. • •? At the time of his arrest, Albanese was president of Allied Die Casting corporation, McHenry, of which his father was the founder and his brother an officer of the firm. ' ^ Train Service Survey Youth Back Local N»*d Forensic pathologist Dr. Ellen Young of Greenfield, Wis., testified at the inquest there was evidence of arsenic having been given the victims over a period of time. McHenry County Coroner A1 Querhammer, the accused man's wife, Virginia, and a Lake County police chemist all testified at the joint inquest, conducted by Querhammer and Lake County Coroner Robert Babcox. Judge Henry Cowlin set March 25 and 26 for pre-trial hearings in 19th Judicial Circuit court, Woodstock, on the McHenry county charges against Albanese. The trial was set for April 12. Lake county authorities set March 17 for a status hearing, with a June 1 trial date. Divers search Nippers ink creek, near Fox Lake, for the body Wonder Lake Fire department and the county Emergency of Christopher Sundiand, age 6, of Fox Lake, who fell through Services and Disaster Agency took part in the recovery thin ice behind his home Thursday afternoon. Divers from the operation. JACK WEBER PHOTO Master Frank Bush, said the body of Christopher Sundiand was recovered at 3:05 p.m. Saturday, about 150 feet from where he had fallen through the ice. SHAW MIDI A NEWS SERVICE A search that began late Thursday afternoon, ended Saturday with the - recovery of the body of Christopher L. Sundiand, age 6, of 527 Kingston, Fox Lake, from the icy waters of Nippersink creek. According to Fox Lake police, the ^ youth and a companion, Heather W. Harris, age 6, Kingston, also of Fox Lake, had been playing when both children went through the thin ice at about 4 p.m. Thursday. Heather managed to get out of the water and ran to her nouse. Christopher never reappeared. The search for the boy began Thursday afternoon as divers from the Fox Lake area, the McHenry County Emergency Services and Disaster agency and the Wonder Lake Rescue squad responded to the call. At about 8 p.m. Thursday, darkness forced an end to the search. The recovery operations resumed at 5:30 a.m. Friday and continued until nightfall. Fox Lake Fire Chief Stuart Hoehne, who conducted the operation with Dive The Fox Lake fire chief said that 113 divers and support personnel from 23 separate agencies responded to the mutual aid request from Fox Lake. He commended the Wonder Lake Fire department and McHenry County Emergency Services and Disaster agency divas and personnel for their participation in the recovery operation. Ski Club Ready For Summer Exciting Plans Tag* 5 Primary Absentee Ballots Now Available Page 18 * i \