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f PROTESTERS HEAR PLANS FOR NEW McHENRY BRIDGE (Continued from page 1) Rice estimated the life of the proposed bridge at an "ab­ solute minimum of seventy-five years". He also explained that it would cost approximately $15,000 to tear down the old bridge. This was included in the total cost of. the project. Stanek declared the city did not go into this with its eyes closed. "We understand the nostalgia, historical significance and sentimentality of pie people," he said. "We considered the alternatives but none, in my opinion, were feasible," Stanek continued. He mentioned a suggestion the bridge crossing should go on Waukegan road. This would involve running the road through the sewer plant into someone's back yard, Stanek said. Another suggestion was to extend Washington street. It was explained the road on the east side of the river would have to go through a private subdivision and would end up on the same road (Lincoln) which now handles bridge traffic. Stanek said either of these alternatives would probably cost four times as much as the proposed bridge. Walter Dean told the audience that officials realize there is public sentiment to hold on to the old bridge as an historical landmark. Last year, he said, county, township and city officials looked at the bridge with the thought of MUSIN' AND MEANDERIN' (Continued from page 1) audience. We thought the fellow who started the whole discussion with his first Public Pulse letter had a right to know. Out of this hassle two facts emerge. One near fact is that regardless of public opinion we're going to have a new Pearl street bridge. Okay, fellows, but would you mind expressing more reassurance to us tax­ payers who are footing the bill? When asked if you're sure this is the right thing to do, don't say (as someone did Tuesday night) "If we make a mistake, we have to live with it." The other fact is heart­ warming. Historically, we understand there has been a traditional, built-in feeling of aqpipsjty between public .of­ ficials and the press. Now that's not always true. We never felt any animosity - and we don't now. But something strongly resembling it seems to be growing up on the other side. Could it be that after lo these many years in the business we are finally making the grade? They tell us it was an in­ teresting meeting we missed. But gentlemen, we think you protest too loudly! KAF salvaging it. However,' they were informed by engineers that the bases were not in good enough shape to withstand any more wear and tear than they were getting right now. At the present time, it is estimated that approximately 15,000 cars a day cross the 120 bridge and 4,000 a day on the old bridge. The traffic count of vehicles on the old bridge was taken April 1, 1974. A member of the audience mentioned the fact that a new bridge might allow anojther 15- 20 thousand cars a day to enter the city in the future. He asked Stanek if he wanted that many more cars entering the city at the Pearl street location. "We have no choice," Stanek replied, "they are here and we have to serve them." He also noted that at the present time, the shopping area population of McHenry is 40,000. They depend on McHenry for their services, the Mayor said. A man in the audience asked, "If you go ahead and build a new bridge and when it's all done and it's not right, what happens then?" • Stanek and Buss replied in unison, "you live with it." Stanek continued, "We are living with a lot of mistakes now." When the same man asked why the matter wasn't straightened out now instead of going ahead and possibly making a mistake, Stanek said, "We can't". He stated the bridge had been planned since 1973 and felt it was well plan­ ned. "We think we are doing the only thing possible at this time." Stanek argued. "We are the elected officials and our judgment will be vindicated at the polls. It's as simple as that," he concluded. The Mayor commented that he did not understand this "spontaneous put-pouring" at CURRICULUM SUBJECT FOR PRESENTATION (Continued from page 1) the latter had knowledge of only the metric. Mr. Solo interjected his personal experience in which he learned both systems. It was generally agreed that this is the best method. Lester Smith noted that the principals had confined their remarks largely to the basics of education. He expressed a curiosity as to whether some of the subjects, such as Social Science, might be receiving less emphasis than in recent years. He asked whether media presentations might have in­ fluenced their thinking in the area of basics. The principals said other subjects are still important, but there was an acknowledgement that it is necessary to know the basics before other subjects can be understood. this time since the project was fully publicized about a year and a half ago. Stanek admitted he had received letters from school children and William Howenstine. Several alter­ native approaches had been suggested. However, pone were feasible in his opinion. Howenstine is a local resident who represents the McHenry area as one of five trustees on the McHenry County Con­ servation board. He also is a professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at Northeastern Illinois univer­ sity. Howenstine, who had suggested the Waukegan street extension, asked the Mayor where the cost estimates came from that the Waukegan and Washington street alternatives would cost four times what is proposed now. Stanek said it was a figure he took "off the top of my head." Howenstine then suggested that if an engineering study were made, very different cost figures might result. Howenstine explained that he had written his letter because he felt McHenry could be planned to make it a much more exciting city. He felt the old bridge should be looked at as a "source instead of a dreg" on the market. Jle. agreed that the traffic situation needed improvement but argued that no definite plans for alter­ natives were presented to the people. ' Howenstine felt the old- bridge was putting traffic on the west side of the bridge on Pearl street which would have to stop three times before it reached Route 31. "It seems to me that feeding several thousand cars into that -4-block area is a real en­ cumbrance," Howenstine said. "While I can appreciate the desire to have a better bridge there, it looks like that really isn't going to meet the ob­ jective," he added. Howenstine suggested that a bridge at Bull Valley-Idyll Dell road would help alleviate traffic through the city when it was revealed by Rakow the number of cars that use the 120 bridge to travel in the following directions: about 4,000 per day to River road south over the bridge; about 15,000 on Route 120 east over the bridge and about 2,000 travel north over the bridge. Rakow explained these were estimated figures. No precise traffic studies were made regarding origin or destination to determine how many of the people are coming into McHenry to shop, Rakow said. One of the reasons was because the city of McHenry asked for it and it was in ac­ cordance with the com­ prehensive plan of the city. "That's why these alter­ natives weren't precisely considered because they weren't in that comprehensive plan adopted by the city in 1962 which has been updated in 1970 and 1973", Rakow explained. In answer to Howenstine's question, Rakow estimated LOOK TO MARENGO FEDERAL FOR HIGHEST ALLOWABLE INTEREST ON YOUR SAVINGS Minimum Minimum Rate Annual Rate by Term Balance per annum compounding Regular Passbook None *5.00 5.25% 5.39% 90 Day Passbook 90 days *500 5.75% 6.002% Certificate l|r. *1,000 6.50% 6.81% Certificate 2Vi yrs. '1,000 6.75% 7.08% Certificate 4 yr. *1,000 7.50% 7.9% Certificate 6yr. *1,000 7.75% 8.17% Interest -compounded deily on all accounts i -can be mailed monthly, quarterly, annually -can be left in account to compound to earn at rates shown above. In the event of withdrawal from certificate accounts before maturity, earnings on the amount withdrawn will be paid at our current passbook rate for the period held, less 90 days interest Ooen or add to your account today--in person or by mail. MARENGO FEDERAL SAVINGS and loan association 200 East Grant Highway * Marengo, Illinois 60152 Phone: 815-568-7258 A $52,000,000 Mutual Association serving McHenry County Since 1925. xxxrxxxx that the approximate cost of a bridge on Bull Valley road would be two million dollars. However, he felt it would be about 10-15 years before that would be a reality. Buss said the construction of a bridge in that area was dropped when the village of McHenry Shores informed the County board it did not want the road or bridge going through its village. A young man in the audience asked if the county would stop building the proposed bridge if the people didn't want it. Buss replied it would have to come from a "body politic", people who were elected to represent a city, village, etc. Discussion was held on an interchange on Federal Assistance Project (FAP) 420 at Chapel Hill road. The county has been trying to convince the state to do this for the past five years. Stanek said he had written the Northeastern Illinois Planning commission (NIPC) to urge that body to also work on an interchange at that location. Howenstine pointed out that a bridge at Bull Valley road over the river would relieve traffic through the city south and east bound when the county com­ pletes its plan to extend Chapel Hill road to River road. Stanek said the city couldn't wait because before another five years, "we will strangle to death in McHenry because we will probably have 4,000 to 5,000 more people here." Other comments from people in the audience included complaints that precise traffic counts weren't taken, the city wasn't considering the aesthetic value of the bridge, building bridges one block apart wasn't good planning and building a bridge north of 120 instead of south where most of the traffic is located didn't make sense. Mrs. William Howenstine asked why the Route 120 bridge wasn't widened to four lanes as long as it needs repairs now anyway. She was told there were no such plans. No one answered her question, "Why not?" Alderman George Harker expressed the city's concern for public safety in regard to getting fire, police and rescue squads to places east of the city in time of emergency. He said the location of the two bridges was "a fixed geographical Characteristic" and could not be changed "Nostalgia is a very nice thing if you can afford it," Harker said "I am all for saving landmarks if possible but when you have to choose between life and safety as opposed to conserving a land­ mark. the landmarks will have to go in the interest of con­ venience and safety." Harker stated The meeting ended abruptly after a young man in the audience asked if another meeting could be held so the people using the bridge could have something to say about it te He continued speaking to present his suggestions but was interrupted by Mayor Stanek who said "it didn't make any sense to hold another meeting because it had been discussed enough previously by county and city officials." Notice of the meeting was not received at the Plaindealer office until Saturday morning, two days late for publication in the paper When a Plaindealer reporter asked why the paper had not been notified in time to publish it so interested persons could attend, she was told by Ed Buss that an agreed date had been set last Wednesday between Mayor Stanek and himself. Notices were sent out Thursday afternoon to city officials, county board mem­ bers and township board members. "Four or five notices were also sent to the media," Stanek advised The reporter related that about two or three weeks ago Buss had told the publisher of the Plaindealer that he was planning a meeting for Tuesday. Feb. 24. She asked a reason for the delay in mailing meeting notices. Buss jumped up to explain that he had not been able to set a firm date before he left for Hawaii about two weeks ago. When James Rakow in­ terjected that he thought the meeting was just for agencies concerned with proposed bridge construction, Stanek agreed with him. Originally, it was not in­ tended to be a public meeting but a hearing "to afford the participating agencies an opportunity to discuss all aspects of the 'Old McHenry Bridge project' ". Even though the meeting was not publicised in the paper, Stanek glanced around at the crowd and said, "The presence of the people in the audience here tonight indicates to me that the paper did get out to their people that we ware having this meeting " Stanek also remarked he waa very upset that the editor did not pick up the telephone and ask for his opinion or obtain facts regarding the bridge project Stanek's caustic remark seemed to give Buss the in­ centive to stand up and also make a public attack on the Plaindealer editor. Buss took exception to a comment in the editorial "Musin' and Meanderin' " column that no city, county or township official had made a reply to the Public Pulse letters printed in the paper. "That was a lie," Buss said emphatically ' He mentioned that he had two witnesses who had to wait 45 minutes to see him because he was talking on the telephone to the editor about the bridge project. Buss said he offered to hold a special meeting with the County Road and Bridge committee so she could attend and get the facts. However, he was told to present the facts in writing and the article would be printed in full as he presented it. "I may be dumb but I'm not that dumb," Buss said loudly. "I am not going to sign my name to something like that and have fifty people write letters to me about it." he concluded. Stanek was asked to explain an earlier comment that the paper had "challenged him to a written debate in the paper". He said he was referring to an item in the editorial column which mentioned no officials involved in the project had submitted any information. "I didn't feel it was in­ cumbent on me to do the thing because it was a combined effort by four bodies, road district, county, city and township," Stanek replied. "I don't back down away from a fight when I feel I am right and 1 thought this meeting would be the proper approach to a hearing," he declared. PAGE t - P* M.FR County* board members present at the meeting were Chuck Weingart. Bill Simms, Tom Huemann. Dick Klemm. Alfred Collins. Bin Beese and Buss. Present from the McHenry Township board were Albert Adams. Tom Bir- mington snd Walter Dean, who is township supervisor and County board chairman Alderman George Harker. who is chairman of the Street* and Sidewalk committee, appeared with Stanek to represent the city. To make a word longer by subtracting two letters, try 'shorter*. miDAY. FFRVtt 4RY 17, IVTt Making Land According to reports by the Itoted States Geological Survey, land subsistence, or sinking of the > land surface. « taking place in many parts of the nation and could become more prevalent in the fifture One report notes that « least 4.300 square miles of * California s San Jooqtan Valley has subsided more than a foot swce the Ittt's. Similar sub­ sistence problems in vary big . degrees have also been observed m parts of Ixiuisiana. 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