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Sflhurb tthnimtg wlufmui 1980 School Lunch Week Observed Students continue to fill McHenry school cafeterias in this, National School Lunch week, as they do daily throughout the year. At East campus, parents had a taste of the fare served their children when mem­ bers of the East campus Parent School Information Forum enjoyed lunch and a tour of the building being restored through life safety work. Improved service in a cafeteria that now seats 300 was enjoyed by the visitors. Much of the work being done was requested by the State to meet health requirements and is being accomplished through life safety funds. Starting this week, senior citizens who attended the Meet and Eat center in the Moose lodge until its closing, will enjoy noon meals at the school if desired. The center is expected to reopen in November. (Continued on page 18) Municipal Leaders To Meet Oct. 22 Mrs.Becky Strong of McHenry County college will speak on the college education program, and about municipal elected and appointed officials and (Continued on page 18) Although voter interest has been aroused by TV cameramen focusing on national elections, we tend to forget that McHenry, too, will be electing officials in the near future. 1981 is the mayoral election and is the first under the new consolidation of election laws which reduces the number of trips to the polls We in McHenry will be electing a mayor, a city clerk, a treasurer and four aldermen, one in each ward. Our understanding is that the city ballot will top the ticket. On the same day we also will be voting for township and school of­ ficials. In places where they are established, voting in­ cludes the park and library districts, and special referendums can be included as well. Signs of growth became even more evident with a discussion following a recent Council meeting in which greater respon­ sibilities were assigned tb K men in the Public Works department. This was to compensate for the loss of the department's director, who left Oct. 1 for another position. The question arises as to whether a new superin­ tendent is to be named, or whether the Council may select to go to a full time mayor. In the latter cpse, he might have time to act^n a supervisory capacity as well as carry on the other work of mayor. The question is in­ teresting. The answer is complex, and there will doubtless be much debate before the issue is decided. Neighboring Fox Lake made its decision to go to a full time mayor on the eve of the election last year. In spite of charges of illegality over the late action, relatively new legislation deemed that the procedure, while subject to debate over propriety, was not illegal. It is doubtful whether the McHenry Council will make such a hurried decision. Instead, we who are served by the city government will probably have much time to express our views. One thing is certain. Although the forms ' of municipal government differ even within McHenry county, there is no denying that the top position is many times accompanied by a salary that marks it definitely as a part time job. With the growth of recent years, some are questioning whether we need more in McHenry. There are arguments on both sides, and until they are presented in detail, citizens can only begin to address the subject personally and wait for more facts to be presented. KAF The McHenry City Council this past week pondered a proposal for self-insurance in a pool arrangement of­ fered by the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management association, an offshoot of the Illinois Municipal league, the lobby group for city and village officials. . Association represen­ tatives, Stan Murray and Gary Schirmer, appearing at the committee meeting, claimed that participation could save the city up to 25 percent of its insurance costs. James Gault, representative of Arthur J. Gallagher, Inc. of Rolling Meadows, which presently handles the city's insurance package, took exception to some of the association's claims and, following their presentation, questioned the ability of the association to deliver on their promises. Murray explained to the Council that die risk pooling plan had been devised at the request of a number of municipalities which couldn't get the proper amount of coverage needed or afford to pay the rates asked. In most cases these cities had no other places to go for insurance because of the limited number of companies offering coverage. The alternative is self- insurance through a pooling of municipalities. Murray claimed that many large corporations handle their losses through self insurance and a number of small municipalities can equal this size by combining their insurance needs. This, he claimed, would decrease their costs, give them better control over losses and improve their coverage with greater flexibility. The first year charge for each city or village participating would be 75 percent of their current insurance costs, he said. Charges for subsequent years would be based on a formula that would Ibe corrumied a^yjgj^ the operating expenses in Ine budget of the municipality involved, Murray explained. Pool costs for members who initially entered the plan with inadequate coverage would be corrected at that time, Murray claimed in response to Council questions about the inequity of the first year's charges based on existing coverage, which for many municipalities, it was alleged, is only minimal. Stanek inquired what would happen to a city that would leave its present insurance company and then, being unhappy with the pool, want to return in the next year. He asked if this could hurt their position in the (insurance) market because only a handful of companies offer such coverage. Murray said that short rate cancellation refund losses, except for workers' compensation, would be minimized by the 75 percent charge for pool coverage. Council members asked about good risks such as McHenry paying for the losses of "bad guys". Murray noted that this is true of all insurance but noted that in this program good performance would result in a 20 percent credit while bad performance would cost a municipality up to 20 percent more. He explained that the pool would also have a detailed loss control program to aid in managing insurance losses and also the association would not let the "bad guys" mess up the fund, i §tanek noted the present "^ood service McHenry received from its insurance agents. Could the association equal that? Murray said they felt their service could be personal and efficient and noted that they would give the city an "800" number to call. Schirmer explained the loss management program in which each member must participate. This would include a manual for guidance and risk management information all designed to reduce each local government's exposure to loss. The city would ap­ point a coordinator to receive information and to run the program. Poor performers (municipalities with bad loss experience) would receive guidance in a three-phase program and be warned by letters of a possible "con­ dition status" when their loss ratio reached 40 percent and a frequency rate of 14. If the increase of loss continued, a safety engineer would be assigned to audit the village's observance of r i s k m a n a g e m e n t techniques. If the village continued to be un­ cooperative, Schirmer said, it would be referred to commercial insurance companies for coverage, should the board of directors recommend such action Murray noted (hat the frequency of loss would be the key factor since municipalities could not control catastrophic losses such as from tornadoes. George Harker, alderman, wondered if like the present service, the association would be responsive to claims. Murray claimed that Martin Boyer, a well known workers compensation adjustment firm, is the contractor for processing claims and would be aware of the need for immediate action. Marker also asked if the coverage would equal what is in the city's present policies, parts of which he said had been "man- uscripted" by Gault, the current agent The 2!> percent "savings" in the pool would be lost if they had io go out and replace some of the coverage. Murray said he couldn't compare the coverages because he didn't know what ( C o n t i n u e d o n p a w I H ) Johnsburg Slates Referendum Citizens in Johnsburg Unit School District 12 will be asked to vote Nov. 22 in a referendum which will seek public opinion on the direction to be taken for the future. If the referendum is not approved, the ad­ ministration will either have to cut programs and per­ sonnel or borrow money to maintain the present level of programs with a relatively balanced budget. On Thursday, Oct. 9, members of the ad­ ministration and school board held an informational meeting concerning the referendum. Approximately 100 people attended the meeting. According to the District 12 superintendent, Dr. Duane Andreas, "With the present financial base, it is Students Meet Candidates National Newspaper Week October 12-18 An audience of about 400 students and faculty from both East and West cam­ puses listened intently as three incumbent legislators and four candidates for legislative offices fielded questions at a "legislative assembly'.' held at East campus Wednesday mor­ ning. In attendance at the assembly, which was sponsored by the American Studies class at East, were Sen. Jack Schaffer, who is seeking another term in November, and Reps. Cal Skinner, Jr. and Thomas Hanahan. Skinner lost his bid to Congressman McClory in the primary and will not be running in November for the U.S. Congress. He also will not be be a candidate for the state office he has held for several terms. Hanahan, a democrat, is seeking re­ election to the legislature. Candidates seeking their first terms to the Illinois legislature who appeared at the assembly were GOP candidates for state representative. Jill Zwick \ and Richard Klemm; Democratic candidate for state representative, Jack McCrary; and Democratic candidate for senator, Gus Alexakos. Alexakos, wbo is running against Sen. Schaffer, was not able to attend and was represented by his campaign manager, Diane Veeneman. In nearly all of the opening remarks, the candidates stressed .to the student audience the importance of participation at the voting booth "You (the ^students) should be interested in what we're (the government) doing for you - and to you," Sen. Schaffer said. Jill Zwick commented, "If you don't like the way government is going, it is up to you to vote us in or vote us out." Rep. Thomas Hanahan said, "People. Ordinary working people need to be represented in the legislature. You can't beat government by staying away from it." A panel of three students very difficult to maintain the present system." Andreas mentioned the "Johnsburg Style" of education which includes individualized curricular programs, speech teachers, learning centers, closed circuit television ex­ periences, etc., and noted that some of these programs would have to be. cut if more money is not forthcoming. The Nov. 22 referendum will offer the voters three proposals to either approve or deny. The first calls for a $.47 increase in the E d u c a t i o n f u n d authorization, from $2.58 to $3.05 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation (EAV). Another proposal would raise the authorization in the Operations, Building and Maintenance fund $.20, from $.55 to $.75 per $100 EAV The last alternative would raise the Transportation fund authorization $.08, from $.12 to $.20 per $100 EAV It was estimated by assistant superintendent Ken Falkinham, that if all three measures were ap­ proved, the monies generated by the increases would total about $346,820. "We are at the point in time where we are coming back to the public for some help," Falkinham said The administration, both Falkinham and Andreas said, was reluctant to fund the present level of programs through either deficit spending or cutting personnel and programs. The need for the additional monies, the administration said, was due to "skyrocketing inflation and energy costs " The ad­ ministration also said that energy conservation and c o n t a i n m e n t p o l i c i e s enacted within the district have helped to reduce the ( C o n f m u e d o n I H ) asked each of the political aspirants two questions. Sen. Schaffer was asked about the constitutionality of the state providing aid <tp parochial schools. Schaffer noted that a recent bill provided state money for the transportation of students of both public and parochial schools, par­ ticularly along hazardous roadways. He commented that this was a little different than the consitutional doctrine of church and state separation. "Our job is to provide for the general health, safety and welfare of the people," the senator said. If the state provides the money for the public schools, Schaffer said, we must also do it for the parochial schools (regarding this particular bill) Democratic candidate for state representative. Jack W. McCrary, faced a question dealing with which of the energy plans put forth by the presidential can­ didates was the best. (Continued on page 18) y~ i T I Cathy Nolan and Lynn Donarski construct EjTlCOUraae LJOOK bulletin board at the McHenry Public library to " remind the public to examine the is«ueH before At Vote Issues voting. STAFF PHOTO-WA Y.N'F OA YI/)KD A Candidate's night will be presented by the McHenry Business and Professional Women's club f)ct. 20 at Andre's Steak House in Richmond. Candidates for the 33rd Legislative district. Richard Klemm. Thomas Hanahan, Jill Zwick and Jack McCrary, will be present to answer questions from the audience about the many issues facing local voters in this year's election. Also in attendance will be State Senator Jack Schaffer and his opponent in the 33rd District Senatorial race Gus Alexakos, and United States Congressional candidates from the 16th district, Lynne Martin and Douglas Aurand. Some of the issues the VOLUME 105 NUMBER 23 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1980 2 SECTIONS 26 PAGES 25' THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 Self-lnsutance Study By City Evaluate Alternative transportation Ideas National School Lunch week is in full swing, and these six east campus juniors took the noon hour to eat, study and talk in the newly refurbished cafeteria. Missy Dowe, Lisa Benoy and Laura Lambourn, (left side) join Debbie Mortell, Tracey Burgess and Stacey Fox in Wednesday's menu of tacos and hamburgers. The girls agreed in general that the food is "not too expensive" and that there is a good selection to pick from. One girl did confess, however, that she had never bought a lunch there yet. Below, an unidentified student files past the cashier on his way to a seat. STAFF PHOTOS-JOEL WAKITSCH All interested residents of McHenry county are invited by County Board chairman Richard Klemm to attend a meeting sponsored by the Special Transportation committee of the McHenry County board to examine and evaluate alternative transportation concepts for McHenry county. The alternatives were developed from tests for transportation afeortfalls which exist ffresently or which can be expected with the county's predicted growth. "The purpose of the meetings", said Klemm, "will be to identify the most Advantageous im­ provements for the county for inclusion in McHenry county's year 2000 Tran­ sportation plan." The first of the three meetings, all of which are oriented toward tran­ sportation problems of the area in which the meeting is conducted, is for northeast McHenry county, Thursday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. at McHenry high school, West campus auditorium. Others are for western McHenry county, Wed­ nesday, Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m. Opera House in Woodstock and for southeastern McHenry county, Thursday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m. Cary Grove Community high school cafeteria. Chairman Klemm and the Special Transportation commiteee hope that all interested residents will be able to attend the meetings and participate in the transportation planning process For more in- department, courthouse, formation, contact Karen phone. 338-2040. extension Karpawich, Planning 140. Fire interrupts Phone Service A small fire late Wed­ nesday afternoon in­ terrupted telephone service for approximately 2,900 Wonder Lake customers of General Telephone, a spokesman for the utility said. The customers involved, the spokesman said, were those with telephone prefixes of "653" and "728." The fire, which occurred at about 4:40 p.m. Wed­ nesday afternoon, was caused by a malfunctioning relay which overloaded wires and ignited the in sulation. The "contained fire" was extinguished by employees at the Wonder Lake telephone switching office. According to the utility spokesman, customers could still place calls, but the damage prevented calls from being received The replacement parts were obtained and checked and service was restored at approximately 2 a m