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PMti<2 THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1980 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 20c VOLUME 104 NUMBER 50 City Of McHenry Promise Plan Draft 1980 Vehicle Stickers Due City Clerk Barbara Gilpin watches as McHenry Police Chief George Pasenelli applies 1980 vehicle sticker to his auto. The 1980 stickers must be purchased and displayed by all city residents for each vehicle owned by Jan. 31. After that date, a fine will be issued and police will be issuing tickets to offenders. Stickers can be purchased at the city clerk's office, 1111 N. Green street during the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. week days and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD The McHenry Planning commission accepted no testimony or considered no plat proposals at its regular January meeting. However, commission members up­ dated their planning notebooks and heard planning consultant Robert Grossman present a number of, conclusions and findings with a promise of a look at the first draft of the new sketch plan <for the city Wednesday, Jan. 30. Testimony by Faestel In­ vestments for the proposed Valley Brook annexation (corner of Bull Valley and Crystal Lake roads) was deferred until the Feb. 14 meeting of the commission at the urging of commission chairman, Jerry Bunting. Representatives of Valley Brook were present and sought to give the com­ mission members an ex­ planation of the development and annexation proposal. However, because the plat and related information were not presented to commission members within the two weeks before meeting deadline. Bunting Are you among the sidewalk sleuths who have done your homework in an effort to predict what kind of a January and February we'll have in '80? Have you studied the fish and the bears, or even the busy little squirrels in the yard and made your decision? Will we have another nightmare of snow as we did in 1979? Or will the cold be as bitter as the previous two years? Long before satellite photos and computer generated models, weather forecasters studied animal behavior to predict the onslaught of winter. When squirrels begin gathering nuts, winter won't be far away. When geese pack up and head south, cold weather is sure to follow. Even the thickness of fat beneath the skin of grizzly bears has been used to predict the severity of the coming winter, although we don't know who was brave enough to get that deep. But the experts tell us the most famous animal forecasters of all are not the squirrels, the geese, or even the mighty grizzlies. They are the fresh water perch and the "wooly bear" caterpillars. And even they aren't acting out of smarts, we're told. Perch normally head for deeper water to prepare for the'long winter, but it isn't true that the deeper the fish make their winter home the more severe the winter will be. It's just that as the ice cover thickens, a higher concentration of carbon dioxide develops and the fish are sent deeper in search of oxygenated water. They are reacting to a condition but have no way of knowing ahead of-time. Some insects are ex­ tremely reliable short-term weather forecasters and for good reason. Their survival depends on accurately predicting immediate changes in the environment. One example is the honey bee, which stays near the hive and doesn't forage if (Continued on page 10) County-State Contract On Flood Insurance Review In a brief monthly meeting held Tuesday morning, the McHenry County board entered into a contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation concerning planning assistance for the National Flood Insurance Program in the county. The services of the county are outlined in the contract, including its review of each of the 24 McHenry county community Flood Insurance Studies (FIS) and the county FIS provided to it by the state department. For services to be per­ formed by the county as specified.in the contract, the department will pay a maximum sum of $1,400, based upon the rate of $15 per hour. An ^approved Tran­ sportation committee report included the information that three state projects affecting the McHenry public were among five for which bid letting would be held Jan. 25 in Springfield. Although only two .maps were available following a meeting held the previous day, Edward Buss of McHenry, a County board member, was able to peruse one and said he was not satisfied with several of its provisions. The report also contained discussion at a meeting earlier this month regarding the Chicago and Nor­ thwestern Transportation company's plan to abandon service (freight) on its north line from Ringwood to Lake Geneva, Wis. Arnold May, Richmond builder, asked county support in seeking to maintain the freight service. He pointed to a 44-lot in­ dustrial park now in the stage of development north of Richmond which is dependent on the freight service. May said there is at present, a major national company interested in building a plant that would handle in the area of 700 ingoing and outgoing cars of freight per year. Among appointments, A1 Collins of Wonder Lake was named to a term on the McHenry County Board of Health Hearing committee through December of 1980. asked the commission to defer hearing testimony until they had time to review the material offered. Grossman volunteered comments on the question of eliminating a possible golf course brought up by Residential Development Group in connection with proposals for land development west of Whispering Oaks. He said points to consider included: "Did the people who bought property in Whispering Oaks really think it would be there? Was it to be public or a private course? Was the prospect of a golf course a sales tool?" Grossman said he didn't know enough about golf courses in McHenry county to know if this would have been a viable enterprise, but in some other areas existing golf courses have been redeveloped for other uses when they were not suc­ cessful as a commercial enterprise. Grossman noted also that most of the land in question is marginal if not un- buildable. Also, he asked whether perhaps in the public interest the land in question should remain open and clear, and reminded the commission that the developer is probably going to put his highest density areas closer to the amenities. Member George Cole asked why the city could not have a municipal course. Grossman noted that golf is considered by many as an "elitist sport" requiring a considerable investment to play. Most communities don't want to spend that kind of money (millions) to make recreation available to a limited number of people. Other "things would have a higher benefit ratio for the community, he asserted. However, a number of commission members ex­ pressed concern that another golf course is needed. Among findings developed by his consulting firm, Grossman said that McHenry has the highest per capita retail sales of any city, in the county in spite of it not having a big shopping center, which indicates that it is the focus for spending by a large area population. He said that they found com­ mercial functions along Route 120 practically un­ changed since 1969 when they took their last survey. About improving the traffic situation, one 'of the major problems listed, he indicated that there are not too many options because of "geographic limitations." Grossman said that the park and recreation op­ portunities are infinitely improved over the past 10 years. He also noted more o v e r l a p p i n g o f municipalities (influence areas) in the county which gives more chance for agreement and for disagreements. And there (Continued on page 10) Mental Heal th New Crisis Line Serves Area Beginning Jan. 21, the new toll free Mental Health Crisis Line for McHenry county will begin service at 8 a.m. The number (800) 892-8900 has been established by the McHenry County Com­ prehensive Mental Health Service system, an organization made up of six mental health and social service agencies in McHenry county. Systems director, Dennis Smith, commented that the toll free crisis line has been a long needed service for the county. The system has funded this toll free number in the hope that mental health service can hen­ ceforth become more readily available to all residents of McHenry county. The toll free number will act as a central clearing house of mental health crisis calls. Trained professionals will man the phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These professionals will talk with persons in distress and assess what Specific mental health services are needed to assist the person who calls in. In cases where immediate help is needed, telephone professionals will then (Continued on page 10) Knox Park Features Johnsburg Community District 12 will be surveying all district residents regarding the 1980-81 school calendar in the next few weeks. District officials are hoping for a sizeable return of surveys to provide a good cross-section of opinions. The survey can be returned with any student attending Johnsburg or St. John's schools or by mail. The deadline is Friday Feb. 29. Surveys will be distributed in the Info 12 Newsletter. St. John the Baptist school will be participating again this year in a dual enrollment program with District 12. Grades 7 and 8 will participate in Math, Physical Education, Foreign Language and Band. Grade 6 will participate in Physical Education and Band. booklet and counseling, they are able to make better decisions about high school planning/ Dr. Andreas questioned the 22 credit requirement for graduation in 1984, stating that the lack of state funding may force the district to reduce thai requirement in the future. The district now requires more credits than many other districts, but may have to cut back as all districts are feeling the money "crunch". District 12 has nominated Dave Rigby, Junior high Science teacher, as a can­ didate for Environmental Education Teacher of the Year in a statewide contest. Rigby has been working with the student Outdoor club "to establish nature trails and other worthwhile en­ vironmental projects. Bob Gough, high school assistant-principal, reported that the new system of high school registration for high school students is working out well. Eighth graders will be registering this week. Students are handled on an individual basis, and with tiic utiip un informational --The gifted program has- been reviewed by I.S.B.O.E. (Illinois School Board of Education) with the following recommendations: 1,-The district shall con­ duct a needs assessment specific to gifted education. 2-The district shall redesign its identification and assessment format for gifted reimbursement programs other" than the three to five grade level program. Pat Bingman, Middle School principal, §aid that Mr. Morrison, of the I.S B O.E.. was very com­ plimentary about the gifted programs in progress at Johnsburg. Dr. Andreas slated, "There is becoming an in­ creased interest in the gifted programs not only from parents, but also legislators as well as educators. If programs are set up for the gifted they will become the leaders of tomorrow. Ex­ citing things will be hap­ pening in this area in the future and we have a good start." Some discussion was held on the need for proof nf in- district groups or certain events. An update on the telephone bills indicates that a con­ servative approach has led to a downward trend in expenses. A dialogue on the purchase of $1,570.90 for I wire mesh partitions in the\new high school shop area resulted in a suggestion by board member Gerald Sobiesk to investigate the possibility of using chain link fencing as a more economical material. The board agreed. Steve Pollock, vocational coordinator, reported that interest is high in the adult education program and he is hopeful all classes will have the minimum of twelve students. Three new classes have been added: Micro­ wave cooking, Auto mechanics and Tailoring. surance for groups holding major events on school property. The board felt it did not want to discourage community interest in use of district buildings, but some need for proof of primary liability or an additional premium fee may be deemed necessary for out of Pollock aslo slated that a program sponsored by CETA will be offered to aid in th§ instruction of qualified adults for special job training programs. The General Vocational Advisory council met at the Johnsburg high last week. ^ . - Johnsburg Schools In Survey KNOX PARK MASTER PLAN CITY OF MCHENRY McHENRYi ILL The Master Plan" for Knox park shows some of the facilities that will be built. A pair of Softball fields, shown in the upper right, will be built. Planning for these diamonds includes lighting for one of them. A smaller practice field and a football-soccer field are proposed and are indicated in the upper left part of the Master Plan. Other facilities includ lighted tennis courts, .a swimming pool, a concession area .tear the baseball diamonds and the pool, and two lary parking lots. Also, jogging and hiking trails wind th r way through the entire 34-acre park site and there v 1 be ample room for picnicking. For winter recreation, areas are designed for sledding, tobogganing and skating. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Called the largest tran­ sportation program ever carried out in McHenry county, John D. Kramer, Illinois secretary of tran­ sportation, announced Monday afternoon details of a $105 million, four-year highway improvement program. The disclosure was made at a press conference held at the Woodstock Opera House. The money for the projects is part of $2.2 billion resulting from funds at one time designated for C h i c a g o ' s p r o p o s e d Crossttfwn Expressway and Frankin street subway. The funds were also made, available by the tran­ sportation package ap­ proved last Fall by the Illinois Legislature which ^gives Chicago half of the money and the five collar counties the other half. The plan calls for upgrading the county's major arterial highways and major improvements at computer rail stations, in­ cluding McHenry. More than 45 miles of highways and streets will be repaired or reconstructed, and two bridges either rehabilitated or replaced. Twelve traffic^ intersections wi)l '^Be im­ proved. Highlights of the con­ struction as it affects the local public include the following: ...Allocation of $1.5 million to improve Rt. 120, including replacement of the Fox River bridge, modernization of intersections at Crystal Lake road and Ringwood- Draper road in McHenry, and at Industrial drive, as well as work in other county communities. ...Construction of a 4-lane highway, Federal Aid Primary 420, from Rt. 12 north of Volo to* the Wisconsin border. Between $40 and $70 million has been earmarked,, for this project. ...For intersection im­ provements on Illinois Route 31 at Pearl street and with Illinois Route 120 and High street, McHenry. Includes traffic signal modernization, resurfacing, and widening. Estirriated cost is $390,000. ...For 3.02 miles of resurfacing on U.S. Route 12 from Illinois Route 31 to the Illinois-Wisconsin state line. Estimated cost is $970,000. ...For intersection im­ provement at Illinois Route" 31 and Johnsburg road, west of Johnsburg. Estimated cost is $265,000. Bids on the last three projects will be taken Jan. 25. r mm-*.