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SECTION 2 - PAGE 5 - PI AINDE AI.F.R - FRIDAY. APRIL 13. 1979 Alderman!c Candidates Express Views WARD ONE Jack Pepping Jack Pepping, 3105 W. Virginia, is the only candidate for alderman in Ward One. He has been a resident of McHenry for 27 years and is employed by Illinois Bell as a District manager. He is presently the chairman of the city's Planning Commission, as he has been since 1977. Prior to that, he was an alderman representing Ward one from 1973 to 1977. Pepping served as chairman of the Horizons Committee, for the Bicentential commission from 1975-76, was a member of the forward planning committee for Shepherd of the Hills church in 1978, was a manager in McHenry Boy's baseball from 1972-75 and was the director of Youth. Inc.. in 1973-74. He and his wife Karen have three sons: Jerry, 20; Tom, 18; and Jim, 15. WARD TWO George Harker George L. Harker, 1108 N. Somerset Mall, is a candidate for reelection to the City Council from Ward two. He has been an alderman for the Ward for the past eight years. Harker, who is retired, has lived in the McHenry area for 13 years. Prior to his election to the Council, he was a member of the city's Planning Commission for 6 years. Harker is a widower with two grown sons living in Park Ridge and Crystal Lake. Michael Teta Michael Teta, 1129 Manchester Mall is the second candidate for Ward Two alderman. Hie is single and has resided in the McHenry area for 2 years. He is presently employed as a systems development supervisor for All State Insurance company. He has an extensive background in government service, having been long active with the Wheeling township political organization and served on the Township"Youth commission for several years, where he served as secretary. Teta was a delegate to the 1976 Republican State convention and has had extensive experience as an instructor and coordinator for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Action Course in Practical politics. In addition, he was coordinator for the Illinois Council on Economic Education course. WARD THREE Anna Mae Cuda Anna Mae Cuda, 3911 Clearbrook avenue, is one of three candidates for Third Ward Alderman. She and her husband, Chuck, have lived in McHenry since 1951 and have two sons, Frank and Steve. Mrs. Cuda is a homemaker and realty associate. She is has been a member of the McHenry Zoning Board of Appeals for the past two years and has been on the District 15 school board for the last nine years. In addition, she is a charter member of the McHenry hospital auxiliary, in which she has been an officer and chairman of the La Fashion Affaire. Mrs. Cuda is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the McHenry County Board of Realtors. She is a lector- commentator for St. Patrick's church and has been a Town and Country Room Chairman for four years. She is also a member of the McHenry Choral Club. Raymond L. Smith Raymond L. Smith, 1511 N. Park street, is a candidate for reelection to the Third Ward aldermanic position. He was first elected to the City Council in 1961 and has served as an alderman since then with the exception of two years. Smith has resided in McHenry his entire life and he and his wife Betty Lou have two married children, Randall and Rae Ellen Fenner. He is employed by Carey Electric Contractors, Inc., in McHenry as an electrician. He is a member of the American Legion Post 491 and the Catholic Order of Foresters. Michael J. Wieser Michael J. Wieser, 1402 Millstream drive, is the third candidate for alderman in Ward Three. He has lived in the McHenry area for 36 years. Wieser and his wife Dolores have three children, Beth, Julie and Loraine Schmitt. He is the president of Wieser, Amore Assoc., Inc., Realtors. WARD FOUR Len Abruzzo Len Abruzzo, 5201 Home avenue, is one of two candidates for alderman for Ward Four. He has lived in the McHenry area for four years and is currently employed by Eastern Airlines in Customer service. Abruzzo and his wife Pat have two sons, Mike and Len, Jr. He is a member of the Memorial hospital for McHenry county association. Ronald Meurer Ronald Meurer, 4814 W. Prairie, is another candidate from the Fourth Ward. He has lived in Lakeland Park for 20 years and Meurer and his wife Barbara have raised four children: one son who is now married; two daughters in college and a son in the Marines. He has been active in community affairs for almost all twenty of the years he has been in Lakeland Park, helping to develop the Little League there. He has also been a committee man for both cub and boy scouts and has helped manage a girls softball team. He worked on the committee for the annexation of Lakeland Park to the city and was appointed Supervisor of assessments for the sewer project. He has spent the past six years on the city's Planning Commission. How do you feel about the proposed community Building? Also, an outdoor pool? WARD ONE Pepping: "I feel that the ultimate decision must reflect the will of the people. A comprehensive survey of city residents should be taken to guide the actions of the Council. The city needs both facilities, but priorities must be established. Once we identify our priorities, a long-range plan should be developed to meet McHenry's recreational needs. This plan must address itself to ^ funding sources and the pace of development should be tied to the availability of funds. My personal preference is a pool, but that would be secondary to the expressed desires of my constituents." WARD TWO Harker: "At this time, the community building is just that, merely a proposal. It is by no means a certainty. In view of the established fact that our waters are increasingly contaminated, I would strongly support a properly located swimming pool." Teta: "To consider such a proposal, I would need to study both the cost of constructing and maintaining such a project and where the funds would be coming from. I would also have to determine the priority of this project in relation to the other needs of the city." WARD THREE Cuda: "I am not going to take sides in this matter. What I really feel is necessary is an assessment of the total recreational needs6 of the residents, and then an immediate program to see these needs are met. Research into the problem." * Smith: "It appears at this time from the information we have from surveys and talking to the citizens of McHenry, that more people favor an outdoor swimming pool. I'm not sure where it should be located. I really feel more information is needed before final decisions are made. I'm not against either the pool or building if we-1) can afford to build, operate and maintain; 2) give the people their choice (building or pool)$ 3) find the most advantageous location and method of operation. Wieser: "I am definitely against the construction of a community building. There are presently enough buildings either privately or publicly owned (such as schools) that are available for community use. The waste of taxpayers money to build 'monuments or memorials' is what I consider a 'mortal sin'. As for the outdoor swimming pool, I believe the citizens of McHenry should have a voice in that decision. My personal opinion is that if we can afford the pool, it should be built in a central location in the City. Polluted lakes and rivers make this a No. 1 priority for our young people." WARD FOUR ^ . Abruzzo: "I feel the decision on a community building and pool should not be made without the input of McHenry citizens. This project should be carefully considered so as not to duplicate any resources already available to us. I feel a pool would benefit the city. The community building as it is now proposed is too vaguely planned out to bfe seriously considered." Meurer : "One area I have long felt needed attention was park and recreational facilities. With the purchase and development of * Petersen park it looks like the city is on the right track. I fully intend to work for continued development." How do you feel about zoning, in particular, about the relationship between the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the City Council? WARD ONE Pepping: "As chairman of the Planning Commission, this is an issue which I am particularly close to. First of all, we must recognize the fact that all three of these bodies have separate and distinct roles. From time to time, it becomes necessary for all governmental bodies to get together to review their objectives and reach a common understanding on goals. I believed that we have reached that point now. The only way that we can achieve the goal of a well-planned community is for all of us to be pulling together in the same direction." WARD TWO Harker: "Under the law, the Plan Commission and the ZBA are in advisory rapacities to the City Council. They may suggest and recommend, but the City Council also under the law is under no compulsion to accept such recommendations in whole or in part, when the Council in its wisdom, or lack of it may disagree. The above merely states, in simplistic terms the bare facts of the law and in no way diminishes my personal admiration for these public spirited citizens who devote so much time and energy to an unpaid and thankless job." Teta: "I feel the City needs to re-examine its present zoning laws to provide a better inter-relationship among residential, industrial and open space areas. Public hearings should be held in accordance with legal statutes to take another look at our entire community and update our Comprehensive plan and zoning laws. Certainly, the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and City Council must work together to meet the goals of the city ." WARD THREE Cuda: "I think the whole concept of Planning Commision, ZBA and City Council relationship, responsiblity and authority needs to be reviewed and evaluated. Lines of communication might indicate a need for both. If a study of the city's needs was to be done by knowledgeable people in this area, I would certainly be inclined to follow such recommendations as priorities indicated. Communication among the three groups obviously needs improvement." Smith: "I see no serious problems with the relationship between the Plan Commission, the ZBA and the City Council. (Occasional differences, yes!)" Wieser: "My feelings on zoning are that we as a city must make every effort to encourage new business growth in our community. Business growth enables us to provide our citizens with additional services, that we may have to seek from other areas at this time. Business growth enables us to receive additional revenue from sales taxes collected from new business enterprises. Business growth along with industrial growth gives our young people who are graduating from high school and not going on to college, an opportunity to seek local employment. This local employment will also provide for additional jobs for people already commuting to other areas. As for relationship between the Planning Commission, ZBA, and Council, it seems as though the 'left hand' doesn't know what the 'right hand' is doing. First of all, I am happy to see that the Council has gone ahead with plans for an update of the Comprehensive Plan, which as everyone should know, is only a guideline and not absolute fact. In my opinion, most Comprehensive plans are outdated by the time they are issued. This is a real world we live in and it is subject to change rapidly. As for the ?BA, I believe that it should be changed in number from seven memOers to nine and that the law requiring five concurring votes for recommendation for either approval or disapproval remain the sa^ne, but that there be at least seven of the nine members present to constitute a quorum for a vote for approval or denial. In addition, I believe zoning board members should be paid for their attendance at meetings instead of strictly volunteering their time. This cost could be reflected in the filing fees paid by the petitioners of property to be rezoned. As our city grows, the ZBA is currently averaging approximately six meetings a month and this is more to ask of a volunteer than need be expected. As for our City Council's relationship toward zoning, their recent attitude has been for a no-growth business policy, with the exception of Planned Unit Developments. My recommendation would be to form a Zoning Committee comprised of three Council members, that would be the 'Liaison Team' between the Council and the ZBA and they could then keep the Council informed about current rezoning issues so that the Council would be able to act intelligently on recommendations sent to them by the ZBA. WARD FOUR Abruzzo: "When making decisions on zoning it should be kept in mind that land is scarce and we should base our decisions not only on the immediate effects, but also the future effects it will have on our city. The City Council need not always be in concurrence with the ZBA recommendations, but they should carefully consider each piece of information available to them without handing down a hasty decision." Meurer: "I will continue to strive for a good working relationship with all other taxing and governmental bodies that have an effect on our community. Good cooperation with other local agencies is essential to a sound city government and not only can but often does, save us tax dollars. How do you feel about City traffic? Ward One Pepping: "Traffic is one of our most serious problems. Unfortunately, it is a problem that gets a lot of lip service but little action. Traffic conditions have degenerated to the point where we need a professional comprehensive traffic analysis. The city must commit itself to solving the problem. This will involve not only the willingness to seek professional help, but a willingness to act on the recommendations. We can no longer afford prolonged deliberation. We have to stop waiting for 'simple' solutions. The problem won't be solved easily and it won't be solved overnight, but its important that we develop a plan and go to it!" WARD TWO Harker: "How I feel about City traffic is for- the most part unprintable. But to be serious, after eight years on the City Council, I know that McHenry cannot, on its own, finance a by-pass around the city. This would relieve our streets of those cars and trucks bound for someplace else. It would not, of course, relieve us of local congestion caused by growth." Teta: "The traffic in the City, particularly on weekends, is reaching crisis proportions. Action must be taken now to alleviate this problem. I would establish a blue ribbon task force to investigate short term solutions and present its recommendations for immediate action. For a permanent solution, professional help should be sought. These professionals working with the people of McHenry, should arrive at viable answers that will remedy the problem. WARD THREE Cuda: "Like everyone else in town, I think it is awful. It is my understanding that proposals to help with the traffic flow are being considered by the Council at the present time. One-way traffic would help." Smith: "The traffic in the City is a very serious problem which we must deal with immediately. We must obtain professional help from as many sources as possible to find a solution to this monster We have to take a good, strong, hard look at some major and serious changes. Something must be done. Wieser: "City traffic is something that will be with us forever. We are no longer the sleepy, little tourist and farm community of the 1920's, 30's and 40's. The City of McHenry is one of the fastest growing areas in the Northwest corridor of Metropolitan Chicago It would behoove us to work in conjunction with the Supervisors of the McHenry County Board and officials from other cities in eastern McHenry county to put some pressure on the state to complete the expressway known as Freeway Project 420, which would bypass our city to the north. In addition, we must expect that in the near future we could expect the bridge on Route 120 crossing the Fox River to be removed and replaced by an adequate structure, four lanes in width, of which we, the City of McHenry. would be responsible for two lanes of same. This cost could be borne in part by the usage of Revenue sharing funds, instead of spending such funds in perhaps a frivolous manner. "Additional traffic control in the form of traffic lights and the possibility of one-way streets in certain areas could be of additional help. There, unfortunately, is no simple solution to this problem and we as residents of a soon to become large city, will have to control our tempers and live with an ever increasing problem, that needs constant attention." WARD FOUR Abruzzo: "City traffic is^a major problem which will not be easy to handle. Outside help will be necessary. Growth is an asset to our city, we just have to be careful how we handle it. Additional roads and traffic signal controls will ea§e the situation. Meurer: "There is no easy solution, but recent years have seen some alleviation in our Ward 4. Shore drive continued to Ringwood road and it now looks like we'll soon have our long sought connection to the east with the completion of the core through the industrial area and then through McHenry Lakes Estates to McCullom Lake road. What do you consider the major problems (different from those already mentioned) which face the city? (Limit your answer to fiftv words.) WARD ONE Pepping: "Our major problem is coping with growth. Haphazard growth creates pressure on traffic, municipal services, recreational facilities, school systems, law enforcement agencies, etc. As the metropolitan area grows, these pressures will increase. The big question is, 'Are we going to control growth or is growth going to control us?"' * v. WARD TWO Harker: "Growth. Growth and the attendant problems that accompany it. That is the major problem that confronts us today. From the structuring of the above question it would seem that we have only one major problem, namely traffic congestion. Far more important are the problems of water supply, sanitary and storm sewers." Teta: "The major problem facing the city is how to handle impending growth and the problems associated with such growth (e.g., traffic, water, sewers, etc.). Another problem is getting more input from the community in addressing issues facing the city." WARD THREE Cuda: "Rate of growth and how it affects the city and its municipal services. How much growth can the city absorb before its services are taxed beyond capacity and growth becomes a liability rather than an asset?" Smith: "Aside from the already mentioned problems, I would say annexations would rank high. We have a fine city and it seems everyone wants to join us. This is why we have most of our problems. It adds to traffic, schools, and puts a strain on the police department and the utilities." Wieser: "Enlarging our present police department. We are presently five patrolmen short and statistics show that we need one patrolman for every 500 to 600 population. Considering a 6 to 8 member full-time fire department, assisted by the present volunteer department; full-time members to assist the McHenry Rescue squad." WARD FOUR Abruzzo: "Other problems that face the city include adequate lighting and traffic signs, and in Ward Four, a water supply which is of a very poor quality." Meurer: "We have our problems as do most growing communities. Traffic, schools, recreation facilities, work opportunities, taxes and our local water situation, to name a few." What are your ideas for meeting these problems? (Limit your answer to fifty words.) WARD ONE Pepping: "The updating of the comprehensive plan can be the necessary catalyst to bring the community together on goals and future direction. I am hopeful this process can be completed quickly with considerable public input and that we dedicate ourselves to carrv out the plan.'.' WARD TWO Harker: "As to traffic, ... The City has insisted that developers dedicate additional right-of-ways looking to the day when a by-pass road can become a reality at the least possible expense. Regarding sewer and water, ... as new areas annex and require an expansion of the sewer and water plants they should pay and not present residents." Teta: "The city needs to establish goals. On-going evaluation and revisions according to need must accompany changing times. Management is the key to handling growth and interface among the Council, Zoning Board and Planning Commission is essential. I would schedule regular meetings to hear from and listen to my constituents." WARD THREE Cuda: "The city needs to decide what kind of community it wants to become. If continued growth is the objective, then extensive research needs to be undertaken. Growth is complicated and the Council members deserve to have as much accurate and detailed information available in order for them to make responsible decisions." Smith: "We are in the midst of several solutions to all mentioned problems. We have the message from the public and are making sure that proper steps are being taken to insure developers pay their own way. Growth cannot be stopped. Acceptance of the considerations make it painful and costly to present and future neighbors." Q Wieser: "Upgrading the present pay scale for policemen so the department could be attractive for young men with families to seek such employment. Working with the McHenry Township Fire district and McHenry Rescue squad to solve the problems of ever increasing fire and rescue calls." WARD FOUR Abruzzo: "As for our water supply, we should again look into the possibility of purchasing the water company and take a good look at our pipes and our so-called newly-dug wells. The lighting and sign problem is fairly simple. Just acquire additional lights and signs." Meurer: "I can't promise a solution to any or all of the city's problems. I will make no campaign promises except to serve my community as best I can. I am willing to donate the time and effort to make McHenry an even better place to live, work and raise a family." McHenry Shores Seek Presidency DAVID M. GRIMES David M. Grimes, 3203 Hunter Path, is one of two candidates for the office of Village president in McHenry Shores. He has been a resident of the McHenry area for nine years and he and his wife Beryl have three children, Stephen, Aaron and Allison. Grimes attended high school in Kenosha, Wis., and went on to Racine-Kenosha Teachers College and Carthage College in Kenosha. He is presently employed as a night supervisor • of terminal operations for a nationwide billion-dollar transportation firm in Waukegan, Consolidated Freightways of Delaware, Menlo Park, Cal. He is currently a member of the Village Board of Trustees and was past president of the McHenry Shores Planning Commission Previously, he had been a school teacher in Wisconsin, served as chairman for UNICEF. CARE and Red Cross donation campaigns and currently serves as chairman for the United Way donation campaign among his fellow employees. Major Problems And Ideas For Meeting Them Public Health and Safety -Make this our number one priority Streets-Establish an organized total plan for safe and durable streets, then work the plan immediately. Sewers-Explore thoroughly all avenues available to obtain sewage facilities, then make it happen! Annexations-Encourage growth to provide for a balanced tax base, and maintain low population density. Finances-Establish a budget; Capital Improvement Piogran. and responsible accounting procedures for our monies ROSE I. LILLEGARD Rose I. Lillegard. a ten-year resident of McHenry Chores, <• seeking reelection to the office of Village President, an office shi currently devotes her entire time to. She resides at 717 S. Broadway and considers the village as her family. Ms. Lillegard attended Northwestern university for two years and has attended numerous public meetings on various subjects pertaining to local government over the past seven years She is the past president of the McHenry county municipal association, served on the McHenry county 208 Clean Water Steering committee for 18 months and has served on the McHenry county CETA advisory board for the past two years In addition, she was a past secretary of the McHenry county Municipal association, served on the Chicago Area Transportation Advisory board and presently serves as a Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) commissioner and also serves on the NIPC Governmental service committee that reviews funding for grants and has actively worked on the sewer project for the past five years. Ms. Lillegard has attended three Illinois State Municipal conferences and approximately seventeen seminars pertaining to various aspects of local government She has served as Village Clerk and treasurer for three years. For seven years, she was a federal Civil Service employee with the U.S. Army and Air Force with responsibilities basically related to cost accounting-analysis with respective engineering departments. For 2 '2-years she worked as a secretary in the Nunda Township assessor's office related to assessments, appropriations, levies and budgets. Major Problems Completion of our sewer project, roads, police department, community water supply and orderly growth of our community not only residential but the industrial and retail sales. Ideas for Meeting Them Dedication to the full-time efforts toward completion of ©ur sewer project. Road, police, and community water supply projects have to have definite goals and coordination established by the committees in charge. Cooperation with our adjacent towns of Prairie Grove and McHenry for orderly growth of the Fox Valley area. We must be able to function with sufficient expediency Ion such matters at a cost that can be afforded by our communfty Resident input on the standing committee level is a must for a true picture of community needs. OK WASHINGTON, LOOK OUT FOR ADA By Edwin Feulner Last year a usually mild mannered attorney here in Washington suggested a new national holiday: Bash A Bureaucrat Day. Modeled after Canada's controversial annual harp seal kill, BBD would be celebrated each April 16 -- the day after our income taxes are due. For one day. open season would be declared on Washington's army of grey bureaucrats, and the folks from places like Durham (NC), Clovis (NM), Ardmore (OK), Wheeling (WV), Cape Girardeau (MO), Eureka (CA), and the thousands of other cities and towns around the coun­ try would be free to descend on Washington, baseball bats in hand, and send the bureaucrats a message. For obvious humanitarian reasons, we'll have to be con­ tent with the fact that the BBD idea makes us feel good inside, since the watchdogs of public health at OSHA would probably outlaw such a day on grounds that it would be injurious to someone's health. A more practical approach to "sending the government a message" probably comes out of Ada, Michigan, where a group of citizens, supported by local businessmen, have started publishing a sprightly new newsletter. The Ada Re­ port. The editors say the newsletter (Ada Report, P.O. Box 5. Ada, Michigan 49301) represents the views of all those Americans living in Ada, Oklahoma; Ada, Michigan; Ada, West Virginia; Ada, Ohio; Ada, Louisiana; Ada, Minnesota; Ada County, Idaho, and all the other towns in America like Ada. They are sending their publication, each month, to the- President, Members of Congress, and the 50 State Cover nors. Ada Report editors say. "Reports written in Washington, by Washington and for W ashington are coming- out of our ears. W e think it's time for the pendulum to sw ing- the other way. Our logo's the pretzel --a long straight piece of dough that's all bent out of shape, twisted and contorted into a circular maze. We chose this symbol because it 's what too much government, maybe original!y for the best of reasons, is doing to us today. . . Each month the editors intend to present a government agency or public figure with a "Baked Pretzel Award" the (edible) baked pretzel symbolizing the bureaucracy 's usually twisted logic. Recent "winners" have included: • The Urban Mass Transportation Administration I his is for UMTA's $4.6 billion program to update all rail mass transit facilities so they can be better used by the handicapped -- a laudable goal. The only trouble is that a UMTA survey has shown that of the 13.(XX).000 handicapped or elderly i people in the country which the program is intended to assist. » only 3.900 of those who live close enough to subwavs say they would like to use them. This means the government will spend $ 1.749.487 for each and every one of these people w hi' might use the subways on occasion. As Ada Report editors suggest: Maybe "the government (should) buy them a limousine and hire a chauffer--it would be much cheaper for the taxpayer including millions of handicapped who pay J taxes." • The U.S. Postal Service. This award was presented for ' the postal service's incredible level of efficiency. According to Ada Report, for every first class letter, it now costs mail users eight cents for delivery , and seven cents for storage. The five-pound baked pretzel was sent to the Postal Service Board of Governors by United Parcel Service. Ada Report editors noted, to "ensure" delivery W atch out Washington, the people in Ada are keeping an eye on you. (Feulner is president of The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based public policy research institute ) t