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Gas Lines A Laugh Electric car is page out of yesterday's fiction risino a litt 1P rniioh in 7#»rn nnH suh- Anothpr answpr hari tin hp A oil The designer and builder of the CEV-WAR, Ray Rlemland, no longer puts gasoline into the tank of his car. Instead, he simply plugs it into the wall. The 12 batteries that power the CEV-WAR*s electric motor are charged about once a week, according to Rlemland. In addition to the non-existent "mile per gallon" rating, the CEV-WAR requires little maintenance. _ STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD THE MGHENRY PLAINDEALER V "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875' VOLUME 104 NUMBER 48 FRIDAY, JANUARY 11. 1980 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 20c -- 1 . •* • -- * Zoning Amendment May Emerge From Talk In a time of» rising petroleum price'^and questionable supply guarantees, imagine being able to laugh as you motor past a gas station filled with frustrated customers. * y Like something out of a Jules Verne novel, the CEV- WAR lets you do just that. Short for Commuter Electric Vehicle-Wayne And Ray (the perpetrators), this front- wheel automobile operates solely on the electrical output of 12 lead-acid bat-' teries. . An electrical-mechanical engineer by trade, Ray Riemland, of 1907 Knoll avenue, McHenry, and his "partner in crime" Wayne Stewart, of Aurora, 111.., started designing the car about a year ago. According to Riemland, I he car - formerly a Honda Civic 1 hat died at 92,000 miles (with the gas engine) -- has a top speed of 50 mph and can cruise from 40 to 45 mph for 50 miles before it needs to recharge. The CEV- WAR operates best at 35 mph as the amperage draw is lowest at this speed, he added. car accelerates from 0 'to 30>oplj^in 15 seconds and while this won't win any drag races, it is enough for in-iown driving and short trips to Crystal Lake. Like many of the gasoline powered cars today, the CEV-WAR reaches speeds of 15 mph in first gear, 25 mph in second, 35 mph in third and 50 mph in fourth. Riemland also admitted that, like a gasoline powered vehicle, the CEV-WAR runs a little rough in zero and sub­ zero temperatures -: until it gets warmed up. The idea for the car was generated in 1977 at an electrical vehicle show in Chicago, but the actual work did not start until early in 1979. "When the Honda died," Riemland said, "we pulled out all of the gasoline equipment and hauled the car down to the machine shop at work." "We had to build an adapter for the transaxle, one for the clutch and flywheel and another to mount the motor," he continued. After getting the electric motor installed, the two started building the "battery box" which would hold the 12 batteries used to power the motor. "We got everything put together, got in, but the car in gear, stepped/on the gas (figurative.) and went -- backwards," Riemland said. "The Honda^orks counter- clockwise^o we switched two wipK," he explained. InUtally, the car worked on vne premise that parallel and series switching for sending different voltages to the motor would produce different speeds. One could go so many miles per hour at 24 volts, so many at 36 and top speeds were attained at 72 volts. As the car was first set up with 12 continuous duty electric vehicle solenoids (an electrical conducter), if one or more burned out, the car would still operate, but at reduced voltages, hence reduced speeds. Another answer had to be found. "We discovered by testing that the car operated rarely at 24, 36 and 48 volts and operated best at 72, so we * decided to go with 72 volts all the time. , The two men mounted a "contactor" whiph would allow for direct voltage to the motor. "Now, operating at 72 volts all the time gives you full power the oinstant you step on the gas," Riemland pointed out., "It was reliable and the car ran," he said. Other setbacks arose but wefe solved in due course. With 840 pounds of batteries positioned behind the driver, the rear suspension had to be altered and air shock ab­ sorbers alleviated the extra weight problem. A blower had to be in­ stalled for ventilation because of the hydrogen gas produced by the batteries during charging. To let the driver know that everything is either in proper working order or that something is wrong, sensors were put in and attached to the "idiot lights" already in the car. "To let you know, visually, that the car is ready to go, the 'fasten seat belt' light is always on (but without the execrable buzzer)." A sensor in the motor lights the "oil light" if the motor is overheating so that "when the oil light comes on, you stop the car - the same as if you were driving a gasoline automobile," he explained. A charger was built into the trunk and the car requires charging about once a1 week. There are two deep discharge batteries located in the front of the auto which provide power for the car's accessories. These batteries are charged once a month. Riemland said. "The only maintenance involved is checking the water levels of the batteries : - no oil changes, no spark plugs, no tune-ups," he pointed out. Riding in the CEV-WAR is a joy. Stopping at an in­ tersection, the motor is not running so there is neither the rumble or purring of a tuned gasoline engine nor the coughing, stuttering and sputtering of an engine out- of-tune. "People have walked out in front of the car because they can't hear it running," he said. Plans for the CEV-WAR's future include a change to a new type of battery. Seven of the new nickel- zinc batteries will replace the 14 lead-acid batteries presently powering the car. The new batteries are ex­ pected to reduce the overall weight of the CEV-WAR by 500 pounds and. as a result, will increase the car's range and acceleration. How much did all this costj? Riemland said the HorT^eharger. batteries, wiring, miscellaneous parts and pieces cost $f,831.41. "We wanted to make it s imple, re l iable and easy to operate ." he said. They, did Three questions were put to the City Council at Monday nights regular me^^^Hllllllll^Which could lead ultimately to an amendment of the City zoning ordinance. The "toughest" of the three questions, posed by Attorney Dan Curran who was representing the McHenry Lakes Estates subdivision, concerned the one building per lot requirement of the "R-4" multi-family zoning classification. The developers of the McHenry Lakes Estates subdivision have a 6.07 acre tract at the southwest^orner of the McCullom J^ke road and Route 31 intersection upon which they would like to build three multi-family buildings holding about 95 units in all. As the ordinance presently reads, all 95 units would have to be in one building. Curran said that the wording of the ordinance is ambiguous. "The ordinance says 'one main building or one main use and any incidental buildings' and this is subject to interpretation," Curran contended. City Attorney Bernard Narusis did not agreei with Curran's interpretation and cited a portion of another paragraph in the ordinance. "The ordinance also says that 'in no case shall there be more than one building per lot.' The 'or' does not give us an out," Narusis said. Two alternatives faced Curran and his clients. Either .they can appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and seek a variation on the "R-4" classification which would allow them to build the three buildings, or, they can go before the zoning board and attempt to get the ordinance amended (change the text) to void the one building per lot requirement. There are some problems with both alternatives. Seeking a variation on the "R-4" classification is not an easy alternative because the developers would have to meet six stringent requirements which are spelled out in the ordinance. ZBA Chairman James Fouse was present at the meeting and said the developers would have to show the ZBA that their situation is unique (one of the requirements). "We'll turn it down if the conditions are not unique," Fouse said. "It's just not cut and dried." Narusis commented that If you think you were confused in 1979, wait until 1980 rolls along a bit farther. The new sales' tax promises to provide enough involvement to keep the gray matter functioning well into the year. In fact, at this moment, sales personnel are probably vowing there must be a better way to make a living than trying to figure out the carefully drawn definitions. = • For instance, under the rules, foods purchased at markets, dairies, delicatessens and bakeries (unless that food is heated for immediate consumption) qualifies for a 1 percent state sales tax reduction. Alcoholic beverage and food served at restaurants, coffee shops or fast food establish­ ments .do not qualify . Does this mean that the sweet roll, fresh ffom the baker's oven - and warm - has its tax reinstated if you suddenly decide to pop it in your mouth as you leave the counter? Or if you have a yen for a roll at the coffee shop, consider the pocketbook. Better get up early and eat it at home and save the tax. Medicines and drugs (which also receive a 1 percent reduction) are defined as "a pill, powder, potion, salve or other preparation intended by the manufacturer for human use and Which purports on the labeHto have medicinal qualities". HojW about the manufacturer whose commercials say the shampoo will leave your hair lovely and shiny? If he's smart where it counts, he'll transfer the emphasis to a shampoo "that is healthful to the scalp". And when someone questions the claim? Then it may well go to a panel of experts (or even worse, take the agonizingly slow procedure of the courts) to decide whether the shampoo will make the head beautiful or healthy. --In the meantime-, the - elated consumer over a tax / reduction announcement in/ 1979 becomes a frustrated, shopper in 1980. And all the while the poor sales personnel go a little bit crazy trying to figure it all out. K.A.F. • getting a variation was similar to getting a "pass." When a variation is granted, he explained, the City is not requiring of them what is required of everyone else," Narusis said. In order to make a textural change in the ordinance, a petition would have to be brought before the ZBA, public hearings would have to be held, notice of those hearings would have to be published so many days in advance, and "then the Council would have to pass it. Also, making a textural change to eliminate the one building-one lot rule would require "much study", in the words of Aldermen Weiser and Pepping. City Attorney Narusis pointed out that if the City granted a variation on the tract and then discovered that it had made a mistake, the mistake would be con­ fined to the one tract of land. On the other hand, if the City changed the text of the or­ dinance and then found that it had made a mistake, the entire City would be af­ fected. "Dan, it's up to your clients, we could not even begin to give you a timetable," Alderman Wieser said. Another difference of interpretation arose when Curran pointed out that the ordinance had no guidelines for calculating the number of units that would be allowed on a single tract. The ordinance requires so many square feet per unit, but it does not specify the use of gross or net acreage for the calculation. The gross acreage in this case is 6.07 as opposed to the 5.49 net acres, The dif­ ference is the amount of land which is either granted to the City in an easement or dedicated to the City as £j right-of-way. Curran said that the^an-^. v nexation hearings had been based on the gross acreage figure of 6.07. Mayor Stanek said the crux of the matter was City ownership (dedication) or easement of the property used for roads and utilities. "The City has always required that the right-of- way be dedicated," Stanek said. Narusis added, "I'm of the opinion that they are locked into net acreage." Alderman Wieser added his support saying, "If dedication of the right-of- way has always been the policy, then let's stick with it." The last question raised by Curran met with little or no opposition and concerned a5 part of the ordinance which limits the number of habitable stories to two. Curran was asking for a Council reaction to the construction of a three-story structure if the building stayed under the 35-foot height requirement. The reaction was generally one of acceptance. "Well, two out of three isn't bad," Curran said as he ended his presentation. Amended Ordinance Out Contributions To Spells School With the rapid develop­ ment of area land as a basis for action, the board of Elementary School District 15 Tuesday evening passed an ordinance amending a section of the Village of Prairie Grove ordinance concerning assistance to schools. The change con­ cerns the dedication of park lands and school sites, or for payment of fees in lieu of the land gift. The small amount of property in question is off' Barreville road, south of State Park road. The inter­ governmental agreement was requested by Prairie Grove village. The new language of the ordinance calls for the dedication of land for school sites, as well as for other uses, or cash contributions, or a combination of both at the option of the village. The ultimate number of students to be generated by a subdivision or planned unit development bears directly upon the amount of land required to be dedicated for school sites according to a ratio that is defined in the ordinance. One criteria states that where the. development is small and the resulting site too small to be practical, or when the available land is inappropriate for a school site, the village will require the subdivider or developer to pay a cash contribution. These contributions are held in trust by the village solely for use in the acquisition of land for a school site to serve the immediate or future needs of children from that area or for the improvement to any existing school site which already serves such needs. The cash contributions in lieu of land are based on the "fair market value" of the acres of land in the area improved that otherwise would have been dedicated as parks and recreation and school sites. The present value has been determined to be $25,000 per acre. Two parents were present to voice complaints on the handling of an emergency situation at Valley View school last Monday, when the closing of the building toqk place. The procedure taken by the school was outlined, which included discovery of Longevity Issue Dies With No Override Of Veto With no motion at Monday night's Council meeting to override the Mayor's veto of the longevity . measure passed, Dec. 17, it appears that the issue has been laid to rest, After the motion to give longevity benefits had passed, MayoF Stanek an­ nounced his intention to veto and in a letter dated Dec. 21, the intention became fact. In the letter . Mayor Stanek said that "ihe annual con­ sideration of pay increases has served us well in the past " The mayor added that he thought the City would be "in a financial posture that would justify fair and equitable pay raises." . Rescue '50': Think Snow Local snowmobile club members are highly op­ timistic this v^eek and expect good weather conditions for the fifth annual RESCUE '50' snowmobile marathon Sunday, Jan. 13. The recent change in weather patterns after the mild holidays promises sufficient snowfall to run the drive to raise funds for the local rescue squads. In spite of this optimism, the sponsors of RESCUE '50', Harmony Snowmobile Sunday, Jan. 13, prove less than ideal, the event will be postponed to Jan. 20* the following Sunday. If con­ ditions appear marginal, participating snowmobilers are urged Jo call the County Trails Hot-Line 385-0258 for the latest information. Co-organizers of RESCUE '50', Mr. and Mrs. Walt Low "and Mr and Mrs. Roy Roadman, report en­ thusiasm and support running high. Over 100 snowmobiles are expected to club members recall prior \ytVaverse the county, with events also had indecisive more than 170 pledge cards weather right up to the distributed among the planned date and sometimes various local clubs, United had to be postponed. Should with Harmony Snowmobile club are the McHenry Sno- Ballers, Moose Sno-Birds, Polar Pairs, Sno-Trackers of Harmony riding for the Johnsburg and McHenry rescue squads; and the Richmond Trailblazers. Spring Grove Sno-Grovers and Hebron Penguins for their respective squads. -- The riders jre out asking- for pledges and a spokesman suggests, "Call your snowmobile friend or local club to contribute for the volunteer rescue squads who deserve our support." RESCUE '50 ' will assemble at 8 a m at American legion grounds on Ringwood road The letter went on to say that the City could establish job grades, or classifications which would not give the employee a pay raise based strictly on tenure. Citing present benefits offered « by the City, i.e. longer vacation time, in­ creased pension benefits and medical insurance. Mayor Stanek said that longevity was not needed as incentive to keep younger employees "I don't feel that (Continued on page 16) the furnace out Monday at 7 a.m. A heating expert was called and determined that one "phase" of the electrical power was out because of a broken line across Rt. 120. The notification of Com­ monwealth Edison company brought a promise of repair as an emergency priority. Because it was too late to stop the busses, which were then-enroute. and too late to notify homes through radio news programs, the busses were diverted enroute to Parkland school, where a program of supervision and organization took place. A telephone chain was started by the Valley View PTO to call homes and alert them that beginning at 10 a.m. the busses would begin returning children to their homes. Parents were ad­ vised they could pick up their youngsters at Parkland if they chose. Factories were also notified to alert workers with youngsters in the school. The dissatisfied parents, whose children Were 6 and 8 years old, complained that their girl, the 6-year-old. was brought home hut their son travelled on another bus He remained with a classmate and called home several hours later. Then, the mother said. it was necessary for him to walk two miles in the extreme cold. They asked for a guarantee that the ex­ perience would not be repeated, to which Supt Richard Farmer responded that this would be im­ possible. Board members stated their views and " it was generally agreed that an attempt would be rriade to revise emergency plans to serve families in the best^ way possible. Board members learned that no bids were received for tax anticipation warrants; thus, the ad­ ministration will advertise again for bids. Of interest a lso in regard to money matters . Business Manager Wil l iam Landis told members the school had earned $46,000 in interest f rom money deposi t ied in banks for the f i rs t s ix months of the school f iscal year The f i l ing per iod for hoard candidates was announced from Feb. 27 to March 21 inclusive. Bal lot posi t ions for a l l those who present pet i t ions a t 8:30 a .m. the f i rs t day for f i l ing wil l be determined by a lot! in a publ ic drawing \ Two members wil j l be elected to serve for ful l terms and one to f i l l the remainder of an unexpired term at the Saturday. Apri l 12. e lect ion Approval was given to the requested per dol lar al locat ion for next year so that planning within the individual bui ldings can proceed The f igures were the same as for this year $29 for each kindergarten s tudent . $34 for Grades .1-5. and $40 for Grades 6-8 Susan Unumb was em­ ployed as a Val ley View teacher . Among classif ied s taff employment . David Hogan was named custodian a t Hil l top and James Sobacki was employed as a bus dr iver Florence Koran was granted a leave of absence from her work as Learning Disabi l i t ies teacher a t Hil l top unt i l June 30 of 1981 The resignat ion of 'Randal l Mencel . Hil l top custodian, was accepted The membership sup . ported the nominat ion of Barbara Slater of the high" school board as a delegate to the Sedom 'Special Educat ion Distr ic t of McHenrv Countv) board Bucket Seat Baby O.K. Ask any prospective mother and she would probably not list a bucket seat of a sports car as her favorite place to give birth. That's what Karen Jargstorf of 3722 Buchanan road, Johnsburg, would have said prior to Dec. 28. And that's what she repeats today, two weeks after the arrival of. her newest son. It was 3:25 in the morning when Karen and her husband. Paul, accompanied by a clcee friend, Margie Domski, were enroute to West Lake hospital, Melrose Park, in anticipation of the birth. When the birth was imminent, Jargstorf pulled off at a service station on Rt. 12 but it was closed. Ms. Domski called for paramedics from a nearby phone booth, and soon afterward she and the expectant father used the station lights to assist in partial delivery of the baby. Paramedics soon arrived to complete the delivery, after which they took mother and <baby to Good Shepherd hospital, Barringtoci Christopher Scott, who weighed in.at a healthy 8 lbs. 12 oz., can t store up the excitement oi the evening among his memories, but he will probably go through life being reminded of the unusual circumstances-surrounding his arrival into the world