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Parents Tell Concern ' Parents of elementary school /chtydren concerned over possible cuts of school programs urged the board of Elementary School District 15 to schedule a referendum for a tax increase before June, This suggestion was made at the board meeting Tuesday, Feb. 5. A r t N e w b r o u g h , spokesman for the '90 per­ sons attending the meeting, said parents would be willing to work with the board on the referendum andthey should be successful if they work together. Parents also wondered at board inaction although apparently aware of the impending situation as early as last June. Numerous suggestions for cuts in other than personnel were also offered. Gary Lockwood, board chairman pro-tem, warned that if no action was taken during 1980 the debt would rise to $950,000. He pointed out the difficulty in making cuts pnly in educational supplies such as some parents were suggesting. "This is only 20 percent of our $450,000 annual budget," Lockwood noted. He said 80 percent of the money goes for people, and abolishing the supplies would remove the tools with which the teachers and students work. Somewhere along the line, Lockwood insisted, jobs are going to have to be cut. The tentative budget approved by the school board Aug. 14, 1979, showed a deficit of $658,813 for the year 1979-&0 in the Education fund and an accumulated deficit of $975,003. This was amended in October to show an accumulated deficit of $805,003 by a transfer of $170,000 accountability between the Education fund and the Operations, Building and Maintenance fund fthich deficit was increased from $22,377 to $192,377. . At the August meeting. Dr. Richard Farmer, district superintendent, noted that they had been in an im­ proving deficit situation during the two past years. Now the situation had reversed itself dramatically and the board should con­ sider a referendum with projected dates for fall or winter. (However, the teachers struck at the opening of school and ap­ parently the problem of the deficit was overlooked in the pressures and emotions of those several weeks until October). ; Lockwood, backed by data supplied by Bill Landis, assistant superintendent for operational services, ad­ vised parents that a suc­ cessful referendum by itself would » not solve their problems. The 30 cents maximum levy increase that they could get would only produce about $395,000 in taxes. There were many variables, he said, such as the state not coming through with aid as in the past. The "trailing deficit" of around $300,000 has been with the district since 1971, but this year, Lockwood said, $600,000 has been added to it. Dr. Farmer noted that the projected, deficit for next year would be $750,000 even Some of the large group of visitors assembled at Tuesday night's business meeting of Elementary School District 15 are shown prior to making known their concern over possible cutbacks in school personnel to reduce the deficit. When the crowd became too large for the administration office on Main street, the meeting was transferred to Parkland school. STAFF PHOTO-LLOYD BURGER with cuts. Landis pointed out that the state aid problem is due to the "equalizer for­ mula". As the real estate assessments go up, the state aid goes down. This year $350,000 in aid was lost for the Education fund. Landis said that the formula penalizes school districts in just this one fund. (Continued on page 18) THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER Stoarb Banning ihtospaper " * 1979---- . W. 1 p/ Illinois Press Association * \ Newspaper Contest VOLUME 104 NUMBER 56 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1980 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 20' City Hikes Parking Fines It's Catholic Schools Week The balloons soar, and where they land these young students at Mootini Primary center will know only when the finders return a request form contained in each of them. In commemoration of Catholic Schools week, which started Feb. 3, the first through fourth graders released the balloons Monday afternoon, each containing the name and address of the sender. Finders are asked to mail hack the information sheet within the balloon and a prize will be given to the student who receives an answer from the farthest point from takeoff. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD McHenry area residents can expect to pay sub­ stantially higher fines if their vehicles are cited for non-moving violations - like overtime parking - as a result of action taken by the City Council at Monday night's regular meeting. Recommending the in­ creases, the chairman of the L i c e n s e c o m m i t t e e , Alderman Wieser cited increasing costs of writing and processing citations as grounds for the measure. McHenry* Police Chief George Pasenelli told the Council that the cost of writing and processing an overtime parking citation was more than three times higher than the amount presently charged. The present fee for parking overtime in a metered zone is $.50. The new fine for parking overtime is $2 if the ticket is paid within three days. After 72 hours, the fine is in­ creased to $5 and if a final notice is received, the fine is $10. The Council also voted to increase to $30 the minimum fine that a court could im­ pose for traffic violations. This measure serves as an inducement for people with tickets to: a) pay the fine promptly and b) not take the ticket to court. Previously, a judge could impose a fine of between $5 and $500. For non-moving violations of parking in a prohibited area, parking on the wrong side of the street, ob­ structing traffic, leaving a motor running, and parking on the street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., the ticket will now cost from $5 to $20, depending on when the fine is paid. 4 Fines for parking in a fire lane, in front of, a fire hydrant or in one of the soon- t o - b e - d e s i g n a t e d h a n ­ dicapped parking spaces range from $10 to $20 to $40, depending on when the fine is paid. Driving without a valid vehicle tag will also cost from $10 to $40, depending both on the type of vehicle driven and when the fine is paid. The motion to increase these fines was approved by a five to three margin. Aldermen Meurer, Schooley, Adams, Wieser and Pepping voted in favor of the in­ creases. Aldermen Nolan, Harker and Datz opposed the measure. The Council voted unanimously to establish specially designated han­ dicapped parking spaces on Green Street, Riverside drive, Elm street and Main street tfjgpiriaions in , the new ordinance call for han­ dicapped people, including heart disease victims and the arthritcally han­ dicapped, to present a doctor's certification to the City Clerk's office and obtain a handicap decal. The decals are free and according to City Clerk Barb Gilpin the City is hoping to have the stickers ready by March 1, 1980. After some discussion, the ordinance was amended to include provisions for a color-coded temporary handicap sticker for those people suffering from a broken leg, for example. The City Council also voted unanimously to raise liquor license fees, but not without some debate. Alderman Nolan and Mayor Stanek both questioned the proposed 57 percent fee increases, from $700 to $1,100. Alderman Wieser said that this was approximately the fee charged in other cities near McHenry. Wieser also said that alcohol contributes to domestic quarrels and problems in saloons, both of which occasionally require police intervention. The increased fees would help to offset these costs. M^yor Stanek said, "A $400 raise in one year is a pretty hefty chunk," and sympathized with owners of the smaller taverns. A l d e r m a n A d a m s suggested raising the fee to $1,000 instead of $1,100. Alderman Wieser's motion to raise the fees for class A and Class F liquor licenses to $1,100 was amended to read $1,000 by a five to three vote. Aldermen Adams, Datz, Harker, Nolan and Pepping voted in favor of increasing the fees to $1,000. Aldermen Meurer, Wieser and Schooley voted against the measure. The fees for Class A and F licenses were raised to $1,000; Class G. from $450 to $700; Class H, from $350 to $550; and Class B, from $200 to $325. The License committee also recommended raising City vehicle sticker fees, but this motion was defeated by a five to four vote. A l d e r m a n N o l a n questioned raising these fees but Alderman Wieser said that people using McHenry's roads should help to pay for them. Mayor Stanek said, "I object. I don't think the fees should be raised. We're in a (Continued on page 18) Art Newbrough, as spokesman for about 90 persons attending the Distrtrict 15 school board meeting Tuesday night, urges the board to hold a referendum for a tax increase. Action of the parents followed a recent decision of the board to consider drastic cutbacks as the result of a largely increased deficit. STAFF PHOTO-LLOYD BURGER Honor Among Thieves Even among thieves there is honor and dishonor. Last weekend a considerate thief borrowed two snowmobiles from a Wonder Lake residence. Later, he returned them. William Burns, of 3502 Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake, reported to Sheriffs police that someone had stolen two snowmobiles from the garage. Sometime later they were returned and neither „ was damaged, A not socohsiderate thief cut a fence at the rear of Adams Lawn and Leisure, 2301 Rt. 120, McHenry, and stole a snowmobile. It was not returned. Among other thefts, Jerry Krause, of 2703 Manitou, McHenry, reported that someone had taken his new snowplow blade from the front of his pickup truck. Someone entered an unlocked van belonging to a Gene Mosier, of 7715 Beverly Way, Spring Grove, and stole a camera and a bag of three lenses, a flash attachment and a battery charger. More Charges, $6,000 Bond For County Jail Inmate A routine search of an inmate in the McHenry county jail left the man facing three more charges and $6,000 bond. The search yielded five pills wrapped in a facial tissue and a quantity of what was suspected to be can­ nabis. The inmate, Kerry Johnson, 18, of Lake-In-The- Hills, said the pills were cold pills and could not explain the "cannabis"' taped to the bottom of his left foot. The pills were determined to be controlled substances and the cannabis was verified. Johnson was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of cannabis and bringing cannabis into a penal in­ stitution. Two men and a woman were arrested in Wonder Lake last week after they were seen syphoning gas from a parked auto. William Spence, of 7210 Seminole. Wonder Lake, saw someone syphoning gas and when he opened the door, the offender fled on foot. Spence called the Sheriff 's police and gave them a description of the man: A search of the area failed to locate the offender, the report said. Later, the police found an abandoned pickup truck partially in a ditch along McCullom Lake road. According to the report, while the police were waiting for a tow truck, two men and a woman arrived and one of the men matched the description provided by Spence. An investigation deter­ mined that all three were involved in the gas syphoning. Theodore Horn. 18. of 7104Chippewa. Wonder Lake, was arrested for theft under $150 and driving with an expired safety sticker. Bond was set at $1,035. Elizabeth Hignight, 18, of 715 Lillian. McHenrv. struck at the police and was arrested for theft under $150, aggravated battery and resisting arrest. Bond had not been set. Ronald Penix, 24, of Marengo, was arrested for theft under $150 and resisting arrest, with bond set at $2,000. The Sheriff 's police were also called to investigate a report by Robert Barnett. 20, of 8518 Shady lane. Wonder Lake, that a man had come to the Barnett home and displayed a shotgun during a dispute. John Wagner. 36, of Crystal Lake, was arrested for possession of a firearm without a firearm ownership identification card Bond was set at $1,000. Another weapon-related report brought the police to Wonder Lake last week. Someone had called and reported that a rifle and ammunition had been found (Continued on page 18) 5-3 Vote Backs Zoning Board We're big, and we're getting bigger, but we won't know just how big until the government takes its census this Spring. This is 1980 and the bureaucracy thinks it's time to delve into the households of America and get the new population figures. They'll find out a bit more about us too, but it's all confidential. With a few exceptions, April l is to be known as Census day. The 1980 census marks the twentieth time that we have counted ourselves. It all started hack in 1790 when C o n g : a p p o i n t e d Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to do the job. He delegated the respoiioioiiity to the 17 U.S. marshals, who in turn hired as many assistants as they needed. They were paid between one-third cent and two cents for every person counted in the 16 existing States. Un­ derstandably, the rate will be bigher this year but we couldn't find an offer among the reams of paper that accompanied a sample questionnaire. In the early days enumerators travelled by foot, boat or horseback. Maps were scarce, and the superstitious or untrusting citizens were uncooperative. There are still known to be un trusting citizens and the (ContliMMdonpftt* 18) The McHenry City Council rejected by a vote of five to three a petition to convert a 17-unit apartment building at 3705 W. James street, McHenry, to condominiums at Monday night's regular meeting. This was the first such petition in McHenry. Attorney James Bishop appeared to persuade the City Council to override the Zoning board's recom­ mendation to deny the petition. Bishop said the Zoning J" board fan into problems with the area standards under the "R-5a" classification of the zoning ordinance. Bishop argued that the standards today, regarding density and area requirements, were not as ^stringent as they were 15 years ago when the building was built. "We do not want to change the existing density, nor do we want to change the existing use of the building," Bishop said. "We are asking for a change in the form of ownership." Bishop further pointed out that, economically, further maintenance of the building a* rental basis was not feasible. Alderman Pepping said the general condition of the building was bad, both from an upkeep and an engineering point. "in my opinion, a piece of nice property has been allowed to deteriorate," Pepping said. Pepping added that a c h a n g e i n t h e f o r m o f ownership would probably upgrade the condition of the building, but he said a p r o b l e m w i t h t h e m a i n ­ tenance was not sufficient reason to change the zoning or the form of ownership. Alderman Nolan voiced her support of the proposed change to condominiums. "Normally I put a lot in what the zoning board says," Ms. Nolan said. "But, if this petition is granted, it seems to me that this would upgrade the City." Alderman Wieser wis decidedly against me petition saying that the Council should look very carefully at the request for a variation from the required area standards. City Attorney Bernard Narusis explained that the zoning ordinance requires 5,500 square feet per unit under the '"R-5a" classification. The petition asked for a variation to allow approximately 1,600 square f e e t p e r u n i t Alderman Wieser said. •"Our ordinance would require more than two acres of land for the 17 units. You have just over a half acre. On this point alone I think thai granting 'he petition would be a big mistake." With ihat. Alderman Wieser moved to uphold the findings of the Zoning Board of Appeals and deny the petition Voting for denial of the petition were Aldermen Meurer. Schooley. Adams. Wieser and Datz. Voting against ihe denial were Aldermen Harker. Nolan and Pepping McHenry Police Chief George Pasenelli reported lo the Council that the police department had received a $106,000 grant from the state to start a Comprehensive T r a f f i c E n f o r c e m e n t P r o g r a m t C T E P 1 i n McHenry "This does not mean speed iraps or an attack on the community." Pasenelli said "It does mean community education and a program to reduce the number of ac­ cidents in McHenry " The program will involve the hiring of two more patrol officers who will be schooled in traffic problems and analysis and then they will work primarily in traffic enforcement Pasenelli said that if. for example, there was a s t o p l i g h t a t s o m e i n ­ tersection that was routinely violated, the officers will then take steps to rectify the situation "This is not a violation; c i t a t i o n a p p r o a c h . ' ' (Continued on page 18)