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s ! THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1 8 7 5 VOLUME 101 NUMBER 43 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1977 2 SECTIONS 26 PAGES 20' Blaze Damages Home Salary Negotiations Teachers In Reluctant Agreement board Monday evening, the latter refused to set up a committee to determine if the problem of unequal pay bet­ ween McHenry high school and elementary teachers could be solved in three to five years. "The board also expressed its unwillingness to make a move toward providing equal pay by failing to grant District 15 teachers the same pay raise for 1976-77 as the District 156 teachers received", a Teachers' association spokesman said. A statement issued by the association expressed the situation this way: "We clearly felt that the board's final salary offer was an outrage. We are surprised that the board was Unwilling to pay us on the same scale as the high school teachers." Teachers' spokesmen again stated that the average dif­ ference in pay between a high school, and an elementary teacher is approximately $1,000, and elementary teachers usually put in a longer day on the job and teach more children. Teachers said they had even more concern over the fact that the board refused to attempt to equalize the salaries of all the teachers in McHenry. "The board has often said that they are not in a position to deal with this problem", ac­ cording to Ray Kaulig, MCTA president. Continuing, he said, ./'The board has not asked for a referendum to meet rising costs during the past ten years. The board of education has been unable to present the teachers with any plan to meet money shortage problems that are affecting both the quality of education in McHenry schools and the teachers' family welfare." In a reluctant decision to agree to the board's final offer, teachers reiterated comments people provide such care for made previously that, "our their employees' families, first concern is the individual District 15 teachers point out child in the classroom. But that their employer has shown there is a growing concern no interest in providing the best among us that the financial and possible health care The life personal needs of our own insurance - benefits of families cannot be avoided any elementary teachers are longer" minimal. We have made sin­ cere efforts to inform the In conclusion, the people of the community of our association, through its concerns. Deep and sincere president, issued the following appreciation Of the enormous statement: J community support we have received is indicated by the "We have frequently asked many cards, letters, "phone the board of education to calls, petitions and personal provide -health care for contacts that have expressed members of our families. The sympathy, concern and support employers of most skilled for our position." \ --. . • . i Set New Minimum Home Size Name Hospital Head To State Research Council, The attic of an unoccupied home owned by Charles Fritzsche, located at 605 Columbus, Fritzsche Estates, was damaged by a fire of undetermined origin early Wednesday afternoon. Firemen from Companies I and III brought the blaze under control. Members of the two companies are shown at work. _ _ STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYtORD Last Monday night the City Council, by almost unanimous action, laid to rest the issue of city clerk's fee collections which has plagued meetings since late last summer. To this we add our merciful "Amen" to those of our readers. This is a delicate subject on which to comment, yet we feel a postscript may be in order before the topic seems destined to go into well earned and per­ manent retirement. Most people would agree that apart from requirements of the state Constitution, the time had come to change an old custom. McHenry has grown dramatically in the past twenty years, and the amount of time expended in carrying out the duties of fee collections has grown accordingly. Like Topsy, a mushrooming process has taken place within our community while those of us who moved with it were relatively unaware it was happening. For this reason alone the custom of fee collections remaining with city clerks is not as valid today as it was ^^some years back. Salary scales nclve also become., very respectable to add impels to Constitution only demands something with which most aldermen and most citizens would agree. Unfortunately. however unintentional, shadows have been cast unfairly on two highly respected residents of the community in the process of change. The question of repayment of fee collections has been an­ swered by aldermen, favoring the clerks. But the decision was in opposition to a recom­ mendation of the city attorney, based on an Appellate court decision in a similar case of the city of Freeport versus Schultz. But let's consider the role of Attorney General William Scott, who failed to make a direct answer of "yes" or "no" to a question by the city of McHenry directed to this very issue. Did Scott believe the Freeport-Schultz case told the whole story? Or did he choose the familiar role of political silehce to allow individual communities to make their own judgment? Whatever his intention, Council members chose to dispose of the subject through decisive action Monday night. The books have been closed. K.A.r LeRoy E. Olsen of McHenry, president of McHenry hospital's board of directors, has been selected for mem­ bership on the Council of Research and Development of "the Illinois Hospital association. Olsen is the only member of the statewide Council who occupies a non-salaried hospital position; thus he represents the many citizens who serve on hospital boards throughout the state. As long time president of McHenry Hospital's board, he is regarded by the IHA as "ex­ perienced and knowledgeable" in dealing with "those internal and external factors which affect hospitals." LEROY E. OLSEN The areas which the Council are now investigating, ac­ cording to Olsen, relate to cost- containment and improvement in the delivery of health care. The thirteen-member body expects to provide Illinois hospitals with "alternatives for the future." To avoid costly duplication of physical plants and equipment, shared services and regionalization of health care systems are being studied, Olsen said. "In evaluating alternate methods of delivering health care, we are investigating systems of outpatient service, home care, alcoholic (Continued on page 8) Response To School Task Force Request Encouraging Response to the appeal for citizens interested in serving on a Task Force committee for High School District 156 has been encouraging. That was the assessment of Supt. Richard Swantz as he addressed the instructional meeting of the board Tuesday night. He had asked for in­ terested persons to volunteer their time and ideas, on a short term basis, to meet problems that will arise with the with­ drawal of Johnsburg district 12 students. He is planning a meeting later in February. The superintendent spoke of an administration-faculty discussion period held on the same subject last week. Swantz c meet this week with architects employed to present recommendations on the best usage of campuses and possible construction. These ideas, he emphasized, will be brought to both board members and teachers for further con­ sideration. Swantz also said he would soon present his policy recommendations concerning a needed Reduction in Force (RIF) when the new Johnsburg high school takes several hundred young people away from District 156. Member Dave Benrud, in a discussion of the Career center, said an ad hoc committee of three had met with the McHenry County college board for a discussion and study of reasons for failure of the (Continued on page 8) i o n n/t 'k/ McHenry Teacher Selected Judge For MCC Recognition Wonder Lake Thefts Under Investigation court, McHenry. reported to McHenry County Sheriff's police Sunday night that sometime since the previous day, the boat cover was stolen (Continued^on page 8) Jack Vick, McHenry teacher, is among judges named for the 1976-77 Student Achievement Recognition program at McHenry County college named by Jim Gilmour, SARP campus coordinator at MCC. The other judges are Esther Blodget, Harvard; Iris Bryan, Dr James O'Laughlin and Tom Cosgray, Crystal Lake and Sue Dodds, Marengo. The six judges will review applications and interview each candidate individually in order to select one man and one woman winner from McHenry County college. Final judging is set for Feb. 9. The deadline is Monday, Feb. 7, for entry applications for the program, Gilmour an­ nounced. He said applications may be submitted by students, by members of the community or by faculty and administration sponsors. They are available in the Office of Student Services at the campus and should be submitted to Gilmour at that location. The two MCC winners will receive $100 each, and in March, they will compete for $250 cash awards in one of seven district competitions with the winners from the other forty-nine community colleges in Illinois. Fourteen finalists will be selected, one man and one woman from each district competition, to compete in state finals in April for two $1,000 cash awards. To be eligible for the com­ petition, students must be in good academic standing and enrolled in a community college with nine semester hours or 12 quarter hours completed by Mondav. Feb. 7. The student competition aims to focus more public attention on the Illinois community college system by giving local, regional, and statewide (Continued on page 8) Valentine Greeting Offered By Newspaper "Send happy words of love to your Valentine". That's the invitation of the McHenry Plaindealer in an advertisement appearing elsewhere in this issue. On Friday, Feb. 11, the newspaper will publish a special valentine greeting page in the classified section of the Plaindealer. Those who choose to use this novel approach to greeting a favored friend may select from two sizes. A handy coupon is included in the advertisement on which to compose a valentine ad and bring or send to the newspaper office, 3812 W. Elm street. The deadline is Feb. 8. Be sure to see Page 13 of this issue for details. At 3:15 p.m. Sunday, county police investigated thefts at the Wonder Lake Launder It, 5406 E. Wonder Lake road, Wonder Lake. During the past two days, someone had broken into two large washers, taking an un­ determined amount of quarters from the coin box. The offender(s) also damaged two smaller washers. Apparently there were no witnesses, but area youths are believed to be responsible. At 9:50 p.m. Friday, county police investigated a burglary at the home of Norman Langdon, 2702 Michael, Wonder Lake. Sometime between 4 and 5 p.m., while no one was home, someone entered the unlocked home and stole a dog-shaped bank containing about twenty dollars in change, and a block of checks. Police are continuing their investigation of the incident Ernest Heide, 1203 Circle Third Filing For Ward I Alderman Latest to file for an alder- manic post is Grace C. Blake of 3903 Oak avenue. She seeks to fill the office in Ward I to be-left vacant by the decision of Jack Pepping not to seek reelection Mrs Blake is the third to file for the office in that ward Other candidates are Elizabeth Nolan and LeRoy Guntner. Anyone planning to construct a new home within the city limits will now have to comply with a new minimum ordinance on size, following action taken at Monday night's City Council meeting. The aldermen voted, by a 7-1 margin, to adopt an ordinance within the building code stating that a home must have 1,000 square feet of living space in order to be constructed in the corporate city limits. Previously, there was no minimum size, with the result being that any number of "crackerboxes" could be constructed. The smaller type homes have a lower tax base, and don't generate the type of revenue which is needed to run the city. Homes presently under the 1,000 square foot limit will not be forced to enlarge their houses. Alderman Jack Pepping made the motion to adopt the ordinance with the 1,000 square foot living space after sub­ stantial discussion on the topic. The original plan would have set the minimum at 950 feet, a figure which proved too low to satisfy the present needs. Alderman Edward Datz, who had done extensive research into the developing of the or­ dinance, gave the Council his views of establishing a minimum footage. "There's nothing wrong with establishing a 950-foot limit," Datz said. "But there's much more that goes into it. With the present ordinance, you could put a 500-foot dwelling on top of another 500-foot dwelling and be in compliance with the or­ dinance," he added. "Therefore, the ordinance should also consider the type and style of the home. We probably have some very at­ tractive homes that don't fit the requirement right now," he explained, "but because of their design and style, they look nice. "There should be more put into the ordinance than just minimum square footage," Datz concluded. "If a home has more than one floor, then there should be a minimum limit on each floor." Alderman George Harker then brought forth a pertinent question. "Would we, in effect, have an appreciable number of lots in the city that would be unbuildable if we increase the minimum footage?" he asked. Alderman William Bolger pointed out that there are many homes, "especially in Cooney Heights and other areas that are under the minimum square footage as proposed." "If a house is established before the ordinance, the owner won't be forced to increase the size," Supt. Fred Meyer ex­ plained. "But any additional remodeling that is done would have to increase the square footage of living space so that the .home doesn't become more nonconforming." "This ordinance has been hanging since 1974," Mayor Stanek explained. "And quite frankly we've been imposing the minimum requirements illegally. "What we're really saying," he added, "is let's put this ordinance in the building code temporarily just so we have something to go on." "I don't disagree with the basic concept of the or­ dinance," Datz said "But I see many problems coming up." Nevertheless, Datz supported Pepping's motion to establish a minimum at 1,000 square feet of living space, with only Raymond Smith voting no. Living space in a home does not include the garage, nor does it include hallway space. Also, the ordinance applies only to single-family dwellings, and does not affect apartment buildings, duplexes, etc. In other Council action, the aldermen agreed unanimously to expend money for a test boring for a sixth well in McHenry. Mayor Stanek stated that he believed, "we should consider dropping a well next to well No. 5 because we are getting some complaints of rusty water." The problem with well No. 5, loqated on Beach street in Lakeland Shores, is that the well site was moved from the test site due to some rock formations. Thus, the well was drilled in essentially an un­ tested area, which has caused some problems to the city. "I would like to at least drill a test hole next to No. 5," Stanek said. "Then we could send the samples to a committee and hopefully have a new well by July 1." The cost of the sampling would not exceed $1,000 and may be less Alderman Bolger, noting that the test well for No. 5 turned out to be somewhat wasteful, suggested the money could be better spent if devoted to drill ing a real well "We know there's water there so wouldn't we do better putting the money into the well ' '" he asked Fred Meyer explained that "the purpose of a test well is to take samples and let engineers determine what kind of soil is there, and whatnot." Bolger then stated that. "It 's been pretty well determined by our committee that we want another well." He then motioned that the city allocate up to $1,000 for a test well , a motion which carried unanimously. Elsewhere, the Council gave final approval to the proposed annexation of the Wheelock property, south of Rt. 120 off Draper road. The Council had given tentative approval at the previous meeting, and the final approval was a formality. In an annexation sidelight, the name of the proposed subdivision has been changed to "Glacier Ridge" in honor of the cold spell which has struck the city. The streets in th,e subdivision will all bear names of massive glaciers which at one time adorned the North American continent Jerry Sharp, representing the McHenry Youth Baseball league, appeared before the Council with a pair of requests. First ,1 Sharp was seeking permission of the city to pillow some Little league games to be played on the new Little league field at Peterson park Second, Sharp asked that the Council make a $1,500 donation to the VFW for maintenance and care for the fields which the Youth league will continue to use for games. On the first request, the city gave approval for the league to use Peterson park on Sundays and four weekdays for games and practices On the matter of (Continued on pace H) Craig Butler, left, stnd Laura Higgins are among students participating in Rotary's Youth Exchange program. Laura, of Wonder Lake, will leave in February for Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, where she will spend one year attending school. Crai', om the suburbs of Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, arrived this January for one vear an v <il h»> Rotary In Youth -- j *• *i ' •••»»•• • W» • •» VM »iuo •» UIIUUI J • "1 iMit T to I a 11 • «!• ur Pmnrmm *"e,u!ing West campus His initial stay is with Mr. and Mrs. Ph.l Barman of LjXCnange I rOU.rClrn johnsburg. Issuing a welcome to Craig and a goodbye to Laura is Ken Bruce, president of the McHenry Rotary club. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD In arriving at a difficult decision presented to the McHenry Classroom Teachers' Association of Elementary District 15 Tuesday, Feb. 1, teachers said they were "voting to temporarily set aside their own* goals of financial equality." This meant acceptance of the board's "final or best offer" (a 6.9 percent increase of the total salary budget over last year's figure of $1,712,655). The alternative was to withhold their services. Last week the boarj|? of education expressed optimism for a settlement. But teachers said in their meeting with that