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VOLUME 101 NUMBER 12 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1976 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 20* RECAPTURE AGREEMENT - Brittany Builders, represented by R.S. Robinson standing on the left and Attorney Jeffrey Ladd on the right, appear before the City Council Tuesday night to seek a Recapture agreement with the city. Brittany Builders offered to pay for the total cost of extending a city water line to its subdivision, Brittany Park, on Ringwood road. They asked that the rkv collect a previously agreed share of the project from the other two developers along the water line when they begin construction of their developments. Listening to City Attorney Bernard Narusis as he explains the necessary legal procedures are seated, left to right. Aldermen George Harker and James Wegener, Supt. of Public Works Fred Meyer and Attorney Narusis. STAFF PHOTO-BARBARA GILPIN More Lights For Aldermen James Wegener and Ray Smith informed the Council Tuesday night there is a "big problem with drinking" in the Pearl street park at night They have both received numerous complaints from residents in the vicinity of that park regarding the behavior of youths who frequent the location It was reported drinking and loud disturbances occur almost every night Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the park but there is no sign erected stating that. Wegener said. He felt signs should be put up and enforced. Chief Kenneth Espey said he and Fred Meyer "get very upset about the situation at the park." Meyer's department has to clean up the area regularly. Espey suggested more lights should be erected in the park especially on the west side along Court street. He said youths are throwing whiskey and beer bottles in the barrels at the park but "we can't prove they are doing it "We have to come up with some kind of solution to keep that park clean because people in that neighborhood are becoming very upset over that condition,' ' Espey reported Smith agreed with Espey and said it doesn't do any good to patrol tne area because the park is so dark it is impossible to tell if there are fifty or KM) people in there. He urged that more lights be installed Alderman Jack Pepping spoke for the Park committee and suggested that Fred Meyer be instructed to take care of necessary steps for more lighting in the park Everyone was in agreement. After lengthy discussion, the Council voted 5 to 2 to follow a recommendation of the Plan commission and allow platting of three lots on a triangular piece of land known as the Joe and Mildred Miller property It is located at the intersection of Washington street and First avenue Aldermen Pepping and Schaedel voted against the motion A stipulation was added to the Plan commission's recommendation by the Council. It stated that the front yards of the lots must face Washington street and the rear yards toward First avenue A prior motion by Pepping to deny the petition was defeated by a 4 to 3 vote Pepping. Smith and Schaedel wanted to deny the petition while Bolger. Harker. I)atz and Wegener did not Smith changed his vote after his recommendation to define the front yards on the proposed subdivided land was added to the Plan commission recom­ mendation. The main concern was a triangular lot which could have faced either street. Pepping and Schaedel disagreed with the required set­ back requirements on the corner lot. Stanek announced en • INTtiUi THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" Park thusiastically that the Pearl Street bridge agreement was ready to be signed indicating to the county that the city is willing to pay one-fourth of the total project or $226,610.01. The low bid of William Ziegler & Son oV Round Lake was submitted to the County Board Transportation vom mittee Aug 31.' It will recommend to the County board on Sept 21 that the bid of Ziegler be approved with the concurrence of the four governmental agencies who are financing the bridge project Ziegler's bid was $879,767 42 Including engineering and right of way purchases, the total project is figured at $906,440 04. The county's share is one-half of the project or $453,220.03; one-fourth for the city or $226,610.01; one-eighth for McHenry township of $113,305 and one-eighth for McHenry (Continued on page 20; Conduct Farmer Call-a-Thon Johnsburg School Equity About sixty-eight McHenry county Farm Bureau members plan a Call A Thon in early September to learn what far­ mers in McHenry county think of five matters of special concern. Information obtained in the Call-A-Thon will be combined with comments sent the Legislative committee during the year to provide the basis for resolutions to be proposed to the membership at the sixty- fourth annual meeting of the McHenry County Farm Bureau Sept. 20. Elmer Hill, vice-president and chairman of the Legislative committee, said four workers are being lined up in each of the seventeen townships. Letters have been sent all regular members of Farm Bureau, explaining the purpose of the Call-A Thon, listing the questions, and asking the recipient to an ticipate a call The committee will tabulate the answers, then prepare the proposed resolutions. The first question asks far mers whether they favor the present national farm program, which encourages a free market and a minimum of federal government in­ tervention The next two concern state issues and are prompted by comments from farmers and businessmen: "Do you favor branch banking in Illinois' ' and "Would you like to see grain grading standards re­ evaluated?" The final two queries concern issues of local interest One focuses on Farm Bureau's increased efforts to com municate more intensely with city people: "Would you favor Farm Bureau spending more money on Consumer In­ formation Programs0" The final question addresses a controversial matter before the special zoning committee. Farm Bureau has formally presented its view -to change the proposed minimum number of acres for farming for 5 to 35 acres The question is worded: "Are you in favor of Farm Bureau's position on 35-acre zoning" The 35 acres is a minimum acreage of a farm " The Farm Bureau in a regular meeting adopted that as a policy this year when the matter was under discussion at special zoning committee meetings *1,758,548 Funding Bond Sale Scheduled Green Street Problems Ponder Business Parking Reconstruction Of Ringwood Road Set The Illinois Supreme court's one-sentence decision knocking three legislative ethics amendments off the November ballot was disappointing to many. Failure to have the opportunity for these issues to be voted on must have proved especially frustrating to the 635,158 people who signed the Political Honesty petitions in the recent drive. But apparently not all favorable arguments are on the side of those of us who signed We have heard good citizen leaders - not politicians - applaud the decision to reject the amendments. We have heard they would undoubtedly prove to be un constitutional; we have heard they were poorly drawn up and would not serve the citizenry in the way intended. These arguments may be true, or they may not. Either way. we must assume this is a lost cause, even though the Coalition is planning to exhaust every possible legal appeal in a last ditch effort to put the amendments back on the ballot. What is important now, it would seem, is keeping a close watch to see if legislators will get the message. If the amendments were poorly drawn up - if there was a good chance they would have been judged unconstitutional, then our representatives in Springfield must act similarly, but more efficiently. When more than 635,000 people indicate they are not pleased to have state legislators receive their salaries in advance; to hold two or more public jobs * and to vote on bills in which they have a conflict of interest -- then someone had better listen. Strong citizen pressure can force politicians to take equally strong positions in favor of tough ethics laws. K.A.F. The McHenry Township Road district received bids Tuesday, Sept 7, for the reconstruction of Ringwood road, from Wilmot to Spring Grove road, and then accepted the figure submitted by Tonyan Brothers in the amount of $112,822.44. Other bids were Melahn Construction Co., $119,690.05 and Lakeland Construction. $135,495.60. The bids were opened and tabulated by Town Clerk Albert A Adams. Clarence Regner. McHenry township road commissioner. said the new road, which has been allotted in the contracts should be completed in sixty days Hills will be taken down and gutters and guard rails will be installed Width of the blacktop will be 24 feet. Greengard Engineering said this is a very low bid, for all the work to be performed The engineer estimate was $132,514. Tonyan will start construction in a week to ten days. Ringwood road will be closed during the time of construction, open to local traffic only. Discussion on the possibility of purchasing property from McHenry Savings and Loan for a city parking lot behind that building was again brought to the City Council's attention Tuesday night by Alderman George Harker of the Street and Sidewalk committee He explained that the McHenry Medical Group is interested in purchasing the property to use for employees' parking. It has plans for building on its present parking lot, it was reported. It was pointed out that if the Savings and Loan parking lot should not be available to Green street shoppers, there would be a problem. "Everyone has become complacent because they have been using that property,' ' he stressed. "There is going to be a rude awakening." Charles Adams of the Savings and Loan, asked Harker to bring the matter before the Council for an ex­ pression of whether or not the city was willing to participate in providing a public parking lot. When the proposition was put to Green street merchants once before, Harker said no one was willing to donate money toward the project and some would not even give easements where required. Schaedel commented it appeared Green street mer­ chants wanted the city to provide parking for their stores but other business areas were not being given that "little something extra". "Other business areas are all (Continued on page 20) Firearms Favored By Area Burglars In Theft At Home Ten-Acre Spring Grove Park To Be Dedicated On Sunday, Sept 19, at 2 p.m., the dedication of Spring Grove park will be held The ten-acre site on the banks of scenic Nippersink creek is located on the east side of Blivin street, near the bridge The park has been developed by the village of Spring Grove in cooperation with the McHenry County Conservation district A canoe landing is also being developed. Barbecue pits, picnic tables, playground equipment and washroom facilities are available. All families of the community are urged to come at noon and bring their own family picnic lunch, as well as lawn chairs. There will be free refresh ments and games and prizes for the children. Gates will be open at 9 a.m. Ken Fiske and the trustees of McHenry County Conservation district and Mayor Lyle Thomas will be present at this official ribbon cutting ceremony Guns and fishing equipment were taken during a burglary at the Richard Clark home, 6505 Wilmot road. Spring Grove. Sometime during the day the house was entered while everyone was away. Several areas of the home had been searched and the following items were taken: three shotguns, a rifle, a pistol, several gun sights in a carrying case, two bowls and many new fishing rods and reels. Charlene Brotherton of 4517 Hilltop, McHenry, reported the home she is in the process of moving into was entered last Wednesday by breaking the glass in the front door. Clothing belonging to Mrs. Brotherton and her children were taken from the premises Deputies investigated a burglary at Lost Valley Recreation, Inc., 1605 Route 12. Spring Grove, which took place last weekend. Entry was gained to the maintenance building, apparently through a window broken in a previous incident. Taken were a drill Dress, two electric motors and .some hand tools Tom Jackson of 416 Ridge road, McHenry, informed county police his home had been entered Thursday mor­ ning while no one was home. There was evidence several areas of the house had been searched. Determined to be missing was a color television set taken from the living room Thomas Merkel of 128 Valley View, McHenry, reported a station wagon stopped at his residence Saturday morning about 1:15 and someone stole (Continued on page 20) At the suggestion of President James Althoff, the board of High School District 156 last Tuesday night made official the action taken at a special meeting held recently. At that time the board acted to purchase the Johnsburg School District 12 equity in District 156 and resolved other issues, including the tuition to be charged This week, members decided on a ten-year bond retirement schedule and included $62,000 life safety sale and the $1,758,543 funding bond sale for Johnsburg The cost to the district to retire the bonds is expected to increase the school rate from the present thirty-one cents to over sixty cents. This represents the loss in taxes from the Johnsburg district plus the cost for the sale of the bonds The tuition per student for Johnsburg young people at­ tending high schoof in McHenry this year is $1,700. which will be paid by the Johnsburg district. In a separate discussion of the budget review, Business Manager Mike Kelly said it had been necessary to revise the Johnsburg student quota. Enrollment 'his year from that community is 575 students compared to 549 last year. Under the tuition figure set, this promises to add $977,500 to the District 156 revenue Other adjustments made since the budget was presented to the board in August included an increase in the amount originally budgeted for ad ditional staff; an increase in legal fees; addition of $15,000 for architectural fees; addition of police service costs to transportation; and addition of $4,000 for custodial- maintenance equipment Sandra Holstein. president of the Teachers association, appeared before the board to make a presentation in support of the association's request for a 6 percent wage increase. At present, the faculty is teaching without a contract. Ms Holstein told the board that from the year 1970 to the present, the cost of living has risen 37 percent compared to a District 156 teacher salary increase of only 24 percent. Althoff asked for a copy of statements made by Ms Holstein and promised to take them into consideration in further negotiations. Following an executive session, the board approved a salary increase for ad ministrators of 5 percent. At this time, Althoff asked the business manager to advise administrators and teachers that no purchases of school material would be allowed at places of business belonging to board members or teachers. After a second executive session, approval was given to a 5 percent salary increase for coaches and the same for department coordinators Members also agreed on a modified board policy regar­ ding paid holidays and vacations. Whereas this for­ merly applied to all employees, (Continued on page 20) Chamber Approves *1,000 For Holiday Decorations A variety of business came before the board of the McHenry Chamber of Com­ merce in meeting Tuesday. It included approval of $1,000 for utility pole holiday decorations. It has been the policy of the C of C to contribute a sizable amount each year toward replacements and to add to the number of lighted pieces owned by the organization. Business-Professional Club Seeks "Woman Of The'Year" For the third year, the McHenry Business and Professional Women's club will honor a McHenry woman who has distinguished herself in her community and through her career. The organization is asking again for nominations for the annual Woman of the Year award Anyone in McHenry who is over 25 years of age, has a working qareer. or is retired from a career is eligible. She should be someone who has made a substantial con­ tribution to her community, and equally important, to her career Recognition will be made Oct. 18 at the regular dinner meeting of the Business and Professional Women's club, to be held at Indian Manor. This concides with National Business Women's week Deadline to make a nomination is Monday. Oct. 8. Entries may be made with Mrs. Janice Notz, 385-0258. Nomination coupons are available at any of the city's financial institutions. The winner will be chosen by the Public Relations committee of the Business and Professional Women's club. It was announced that bills for membership dues will be mailed by Dec 1 for payment due Jan 1 The board discussed a con­ tinuing program in which members of the Chamber work with the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) at McHenry high school. This program initiated by the C of C, includes trips, as well as visits to local business firms, giving students an insight into business and industry. A reminder was given of the third quarterly meeting to be held Sept. 21 at Indian Manor on Rt. 31. A social hour at 6:30 will be followed by 7 o'clock dinner. Members of the Chamber and other organizations are urged to take advantage of an offer to show an informative film purchased by the C of C. called "The Day Business Stood Still". Alternative School Welcomes Forty-Five When forty-five students entered the Alternative school, formerly the white house kindergarten on Waukegan street, for the Fall term, they were greeted by this attractive new sign, made possible by two local business firms. This is the second year for an innovative program in which students, who for various reasons found it difficult to progress in a regular school atmosphere, are offered a different approach to learning. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD