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THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER ^ "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 Stoarb Winning .Hctospaprr 1978' Illinois Press Association ('ontrsi VOLUME 103 NUMBER 32 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1978 2 SECTIONS 24 PAGES 20' School Concerns Stem From Fatal Bus Crash Concerns stemming from the recent fatal school bus accident predominated at the regular meeting of the board of School District IS Tuesday night. Presented to the board for consideration were eighteen ideas for increased safety of riders, accounting for passengers, and for records systems to provide medical and home information in an emergency situation. Board member Anna Mae Cuda, noting the implication in the numerous suggestions that the school district had not done all that it could in safeguarding bused students, asserted that the record of past years indicates that regardless of the new ideas being implemented, "we're not lax in what we're doing." She singled out for special praise Mrs. Micki Becker, secretary to Dr. Richard Farmer, superintendent of the district. Ms. Cuda reported that following the accident Mrs. Becker fielded difficult questions from parents and media under very trying circumstances with the "utmost grace". "She was marvelous," Ms. Cuda said. Another board member phrased it, "Yeoman work in time of extreme stress, in spite of being upset". Dr. Farmer urged the board to soft pedal the praise; that many of the school staff were involved in the post-accident action and felt that it was the least they could do in that tragic situation. Board members discussed the value of further public meetings on the subject. Board member Tim Althoff noted, "It's not fair to say we've done all we can," and urged continued meetings for public input. Ms. Cuda disagreed and pointed out that they already have a citizens' committee and are working with persons from the hospital (regarding accident procedures), and she believed that people were not being "shut out". Althoff assented to no more committees, but insisted that the board continue to accept suggestions. Dr. Farmer observed on the positive side, "I've found more resources in the community than I ever knew were there, but did it the hard way". Board secretary Dorothy Vick asked if a study group might get more newspaper publicity and draw more suggestions from people who were really interested in bus safety rather than just working on ideas that originated "in house". Board president David Cain thought that persons who were really interested had already contacted them. Board member Frances Larsen, in reference to a previous day's meeting with parents, wondered if their questions and the replies of Richard Glawe, director of transportation, would get in the paper. She was concerned with the charge that bus drivers; were timed on their routes and had to drive fast to make their schedules. Dr. Farmer said that the only time they fuss at drivers are when they get children to school before the people who are responsible for supervising them arrive. He said there is no problem in adjusting bus schedules forward or backward to "cure timing". Ms. Cuda noted that since the accident that a number of people have complained of bus drivers speeding. She believed that people should report such instances so that supervisors can check out the alleged practices. Dr. Farmer noted that there had been no complaints regarding Joan Kowalek, driver of the bus in the fatal accident. Ms. Cuda asked if they could obtain buses that are better constructed. Glawe answered in the affirmative. He said there are seven or eight firms that manufacture them, however, to remain competitive they meet wily minimum (safety) standards. A new federal regulation (1975) now specifies that buses be "double riveted" (every 3 inches instead of 6). However, this is not retroactive for existing buses, he said. Dr. Farmer also noted that his staff can estimate the costs connected with the various safety suggestions which will be submitted to the board as they consider what additional actions they should take. Dr. Farmer listed the suggestions already submitted by staff and citizens and commented on their practicality: 1. - Seat belts for students - thoroughly investigated earlier by various groups and has some advantages but also some risks to users if improperly adjusted. 2. -.Roll bars - useful only for complete rollovers and buses now have roof strength requirements. 3. - Motor or accelerator governors - Glawe said buses now are so equipped, but the top speed limit could be reduced if required (now set at less than 65 mph). 4. - Transportation aides (paid). 5. - Transportation aides (volunteer) - either or both could be provided if the board authorized them. Aides could check children on and off and help them to cross the road at hazardous areas and aid in controlling traffic. A disadvantage would be in lengthening the time the bus was halted on a busy street to the detriment of other traffic. 6. - Mechanical counter (for how many passengers on and off a bus at any point) to aid rescuers in determining how many passengers are to be accounted for In the recent accident considerable time was used searching for children thought to be in nearby swamp area. Presently there is no way of accounting for children who miss bus or are home sick). 7. - Attendance check-off list for driver or aide (same problem). 8. Medical and I D. card file by bus route - currently being implemented by school district and to be amplified to include information for other possible disasters with files at each school and with bus. 9. - Assigned seats - illegal except for discipline reasons 10. - Strobe lights - useful for poor visibility situations (not applicable to recent accident). Glawe said he was not convinced of their usefulness 11. - Automatic radio distress signal on FM communication system which would kick in on severe impact or rollover of a bus 12 - Periodic and irregular on-route surveillance by school authorities in trailing auto. 13. - Financial incentives for drivers with perfect safety records - Dr Farmer noted that anything less than a perfect record was unacceptable and that all drivers who were retained would qualify for an award 14 - Smaller buses and more routes increased costs for more drivers with doubtful benefits 15 - Let RTA doit - suggested by Rep Cal Skinner. Jr 16. - Invite parents to ride buses to understand problems 17 - Automatic noise level alert when level in bus reached certain level of decibels driver or aide would be warned, stop bus and quiet children before proceeding 18 - Automatic ignition cut-off - would shut off ignition in case of rollover or crash reducing danger of fire Dr. Farmer said the board should appoint a committee of staff, parents, citizens and officials to review the recommendations. President Cain said he had met with the Emergency Medical Services coordinators for their own critiquing of their handling of the accident. He said these people did not spare themselves, but he believed they did an exemplary job Their conclusion was that the experience will better equip them for another such disaster should it occur Cain also complimented the hospital staff for what they did to and for the children involved Also, the hospital staff risked loss on insurance deductibles rather than bill parents of children cared for All bills were routed directly to the insurance company and the insurance carrier assured the board that they would be covered Doctor bills will come in later as there is less control over them, Cain noted Dr Farmer added that some parts of the investigation had not been released yet These included copies of reports made by the Illinois Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety administration, and by Northwestern university for the McHenry County Sheriff's department. These may not be available until Nov 27 following a hearing on traffic violation citations issued to the driver Also pending is a report from the Highway Safety Research institute, a research group which is doing a study on the accident 3 Planner: RDG Financial Impact To Be Favorable The City Council, Mayor Stanek and over 100 persons attending Monday night's continuation of the RDG-Backhaus farm annexation public hearing and Joint conference, listen as Robert Due he k submits a fiscal impact study and traffic impact study. Duchek, of the firm of Harland Bartholomew and Associates, explained the report that his firm had been hired by the city to complete on the proposed annexation. He stated that the overall financial impact of the development would be favorable to the city of McHenry when it was completed, producing an annual operating surplus of 1200,000. He added that the traffic created by the development would present no problems if signalization of intersections already proposed by the citv take place. STAFF PHOTO-JOE DEHN The financial impact of the proposed Residential Development Group-Backhaus farm annexation will be 'fcvurable to the City of McHenry, according to a report ^ heard at Monday night's public hearing and joint conference continuation. At the conclusion of Monday night's hearing, the City Council voted to adjourn the public hearings and joint conference and send the annexation proposal to the Planning commission and Zoning board for their recommendations A spokesman for Harland Bartholemew and Associates, Robert Duchek, told those in attendance that the revenue generated by the proposed development would exceed the expenditures attributable to the development The firm had been hired by the city to complete the fiscal study and a traffic impact study Duchek explained that the study was conducted under the assumption that the level of services being offered wouldn't appreciably change and that the dollar figures used were in 1978 dollars According to the report, "when completed, the development will produce Revenue Sharing Prospects Dim $ 1 3 M i l l i o n C o u n t y B u d g e t O k a y e d "We do please suggest you take a train out of McHenry just once! Where is our money going'" That was the question asked by some riders on the Chicago k Northwestern railway out of McHenry and they directed it to Rep. Cal Skinner, Jr., in a letter The letter apparently con­ tained an article from a newspaper in which the writer had complained about dirty windows The McHenry commuters said they wished that was their only concern. Their big complaint is the condition of the tracks between McHenry and Crystal Lake and they remind that these were to be repaired when the RTA bought the service. "We expect our train to jump track any day -- rails up in the air -- they are so bad and we fear for our well being" The riders decided maybe the railroad figures it's cheaper to pay for injuries if an accident happens than to fix the tracks The legislator tells us McHenry riders should know the RTA board has already sold the service from McHenry to Crystal Lake "down the river". Skinner contends that Dan Baldino, a former local resident and RTA board member, admitted at a debate between the two men at McHenry County college that the Illinois Commerce com­ mission mandate for the railroad to upgrade the tracks to and beyond McHenry was traded away during the negotiations for a puchase of service agreement and the purchase of equipment. The legislator said also that if the county were not in the RTA. commuters could again file a complaint before the Illinois Commerce commission and perhaps get the ICC to order the C&NW to upgrade the tracks Witn the RTA in the driver's seat, this isn't possible And so. as winter approaches it appears there is little chance that anyone with an open ear will hear the cry of McHenry commuters for "HEIV"! KAF , Changes in the tentative budget given an okay last month by the McHenry County board were viewed by mem bers in a special meeting Tuesday, followed by final approval of the document The total was $13,882,318. up $3,500 from the tentative figure The increase represented money allotted to the Zoning Board of Appeals so that County'board members will be able to receive full information on zoning hearing results well in advance of the day they are to 1h> voted upon Members have complained in recent months that they must act on the Zoning board's recommendations without sufficient time to study the findings and make their determination The levy to be approved next month is expected to reflect the fact that prospects for receiving revenue sharing money are dim A Revenue Sharing Advisory service from Washington, D C . disclosed that not only did the House fail to act on the current extension bill, but it did not provide any substitute program The most recent letter stated that further chances appear slight that Congress will bring this issue up again in the 96th Congress which convenes in Januarv of 1979 Tom Huemann of Johnsburg questioned the use for an ad ditional $12,000 appropriated for Environmental Health Ervin Walters responded Young McHenry Man Faces Burglary, Conduct Charges RKt'Yt'l.lM; dr ive McHenry s Recycling Drive, to be held Saturday. Nov 18. will be sponsored by the American Field Service Paper, glass, and cans mo bi metal > will be accepted from 9 a m to 5 p.m at the Market Place shopping center on Route 120 The McHenry county Sheriff s department concluded its investigation into two McHenry area burglaries by arresting a 20-year-oid McHenry man on various of­ fenses Terrence T Preston, 3718 Fillmore drive, was taken into custody Monday, in connection with the Nov 3 burglary and a burglary that occurred on Nov 5 Preston has been charged by police with two counts of Name Officers Of Shaw Firm Benjamin T Shaw, publisher of the Dixon Evening Telegraph and chairman of the boordef the B F Shaw Printing Company corporation, has {•pounced the following cor­ porate officer elections which took place at the company's recent board of directors meeting in Dixon Douglas Shaw. Grand Detour, was elected vice- chairman of the board, and chief executive officer of the company. Shaw had built and managed the Dixon Publishing company until its sale in 1976 E K Shaw. Newton. Iowa, was elected president of the company Shaw is the publisher of the Newton Daily News and formerly had been general manager of the B.F. Shaw Printing Co William Burfeindt. Wood­ stock. was elected to the board of directors and was named general manager of the com­ pany Burfeindt is the publisher of the Woodstock Daily Sen­ tinel Ben T. Shaw said that he was pleased with the board's action in these recent elections because the company plans for a growth-oriented future "Broad-based and professional management will serve both our needs and the needs of our communities much better." said Shaw The B F 4»haw Printing Co publishes twelve newspapers in Illinois and Iowa, including the McHenry Plaindealer burglary, theft and indecent liberties with a child He was scheduled to appear in court Thursday An automobile stolen in McHenry was stopped in Walworth county, Wis , Saturday, and a McHenry man was arrested in connection with the theft Larry Braidman was taken into custody by Walworth county Sheriff's police and charged with a variety of traffic offenses Police later determined that the car Braidman was driving was stolen from Buss Ford on Main street in McHenry In addition to the traffic offenses in Wisconsin. Braidman is charged with theft of auto by McHenry police McHenry county Sheriff s police are investigating the theft of a pickup truck, reported stolen Tuesday. Don March of McHenry told police that his truck broke down Nov. 5, and he left it parked along Althoff drive He indicated that a McHenry auto dealer was to pick up the truck for repairs, but he discovered that they hadn't and the truck was missing Stolen was a brown 1978 Chevrolet '2-ton pickup Mitchell Przetacznik, N Pleasant street, notified Sheriff's police Monday that sometime during the early morning hours Sunday, someone gained entry to his locked van The van had been parked at the McHenry Moose lodge on Route 120 Taken by the intruder were an AM FM radio and tape player combination and two speakers and eight tapes Rosette Maggi of McHenry (Continued on page 17) that after the next En­ vironmental Health committee is appointed, members will see what direction will be taken in the study of septic system problems in the county There was further discussion, after which Huemann declared. I'll vote for it i the budget > now but a year from now I'll ask what was done with the t, money \ Copies of the new budget are /available now at the cour thouse The general subject of zoning brought heated response from some board members, but two local petitions were approved One of these was the request of Victor and Florence Miller for an amendment from "F" Farming district to "B-3" Business district for 12 acres w ith frontage on Rt 31. north of McHenry The property is improved by a house moved onto the north 2 acres The southern portion is improved with farm buildings and a home The second approval granted Peter J and Cleo C Schneider their request, which was to reclassify 6' 4 acres from its present "F" Farming designation to "E 2" Estate district or "R" with variation The 34 acres are located on Riverside drive The "E 2" zoning was granted The controversy came up as (Continued on page 17) No Hunting, Trapping In Conservation Areas The McHenry County Conservation district reminds the public and potential hunters that all areas maintained by the district are closed to hunting and trapping activities All boundaries of the district's property have bOen properly posted to avoid accidental trespassing. Conservation district areas will remain open for camping, picnicking and hiking activities Further information may be obtained by contacting the McHenry County Conservation district, 6512 Harts road, Ringwood, 60072, or calling the district office at 338-1405 annual estimated city revenues of $563,917, while the annual e s t i m a t e d o p e r a t i n g expenditures attributable to the development would be $361,434." The estimated totals would produce an ann'ial operating surplus of over $200,000 Duchek stressed that the report was based on the proposed completion of the project in twelve years and that the fiscal study was only for the RDG annexation He added that capital costs a n d i m p r o v e m e n t s necessitated by the development would benefit the city as a whole Six major categories of potential funds were considered in analyzing the revenues available to the city from the project The six categories were real property tax. income tax, vehicle stickers, building permits, motor fuel tax and sales tax Approximately 30 percent of the revenue would be generated by the commercial development of the area The report indicated that "a significant source of revenue for capital improvements is the various non-recurring fees " Those fees are the various developer contribution fees and capital development fees required by the city for library, schools, parks, sewer and water Mayor Stanek expressed his suprise at the results of the fiscal study, saying that he was of the impression that residential developments aren't usually profitable for a municipality ' The City Council is to be commended for putting the developed contribution fees and capital development fees in line to make developers pay their way," Stanek said Alderman Datz questioned Duchek, calling the report "glowing" and asking if the city could afford the development. "Serving the development should not increase the tax base of the city." Duchek answered In the traffic impact study, Duchek explained that 10.000 daily trips will be generated by the development "It is expected that approximately 55 percent of the traffic will use Crystal Lake road, 35 percent will use Curran road and 10 percent will use Bull Valley road," listed the report 9 ' Duchek explained that 24- hour volumes generated could (Continued on page 17) C OF C ADDRESS CHANGE The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce will have a change of address, to 1257 N. Green street, effective Monday, Nov. 20 The mailing address and phone number will remain the same Establish Memorial Fund For Crash Victim A fund has been established in memory of Paul Davison at the McHenry State bank The recipients of the fund will be Fdgebrook school and Walk Phillips' Neediest Children's Christmas fund Contributions may be sent to Paul Davison Memorial Fund McHenry State Bank 3510 West Elm Street McHenry Paul was the 10-year-old boy who died of injuries suffered in the Oct 30 school bus crash Any questions or comments may be directed to Dan DeRoche. assistant superin tendent Educational Services. District 15. 385-7210 Major County Drug Supplier Arrested A major supplier of Phen cyclidine tPCP> in McIIenrv county has been arrested by Sheriff's police on a variety of narcotic violations PCP has been the cause of several overdoses in the younger population in the county It was recently upgraded to a Schedule I drug abuse designation The Sheriff's police narcotics unit, assisted by the Lake in the Hills police department, arrested Mrs Vicki I) Fhlers, 25, of Lake in the Hills Nov 9 Several thousand dollars in drugs, monies and narcotic paraphernalia were seized by the arresting officers Mrs Ehlers was charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance <PCP> and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance 1 Bar bituatesi 1 She was also charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance <PCP> and four counts of possession of a controlled substance 1 Bar bituates > Mrs Ehlers has been released on $4,000 bond '̂ 1