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Santa to Heather Kathan. Top Man eyed five-year-old shows her admiration for him during a visit by Head Start children to the McHenry Public library. Heather received one of 52 hand puppets made by Dorothy Kirk of the Willing Workers. Previously, the children at Head Start had received cookies and handmade hats, scarves, mittens and doll clothes made by these volunteer ladies of the community who work at the library. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD A second proposal from the Finance committee regarding a proposed salary increase for the mayor met with ap­ proval from three-fourths of the McHenry City Council at Monday night's regular meeting. Alderman Jack Pepping prefaced a motion to increase the mayor's salary to $1,250 a month, ($15,000 a year), by saying that the dissenters from the original proposal of $1,000 a month felt the mayor should be paid more. Pepping, who is the Finance com­ mittee chairman, has been steadfast in his view that the position of mayor should not overlap with that of the Superintendent of Public Works. Proponents of raising the mayor's salary further, argued that the mayor should shoulder some of the ad­ ministrative duties of the Public Works superintendent. "The Finance committee did not feel it could justify any higher salary," Pepping said,"primarily because we see the mayor as separate and distinct from the Superintendent of Public Works." Pepping noted that the Finance committee should discuss other benefits that might accrue to the position, such as insurance benefits, etc., but commented that this should be taken up as a separate item. The motion to increase the mayor's salary to $1,250 a month passed with Aldermen Schooley, Adams, patz, Harker, Nolan and Pepping voting in favor. Aldermen Meurer and Wieser voted against the measure. Mayor Stanek announced that he intended to appoint Richard Weber to the position of Superintendent of Public Works. Weber is presently serving as the shop foreman in the department and has worked for the City for eight years. Stanek said the formal appointment would come at the next Council meeting. In other action, the Council voted unanimously to leave the four ward boundaries the same for the upcoming election. The Council decided to approve a memorandum of agreement which was presented by Attorney Donald Truckenbrod, who represents Edward Neumann, Jr. Neumann is developing a health and recreation center on a 10- acre parcel located just north of the Route 31-McCullom Lake road in­ tersection in the Falcon development. The memorandum is the first step in the issuance of commercial revenue bonds which provides low-interest money to developers because, in essence, the bonds are issued through the municipality - McHenry. City Attorney Bernard Narusis ex­ plained that the use of the City's name for the bonds in no way affected the indebtedness or the liability of the City, should the issue fail. In a similar request, the City voted to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Jacob Kahan company that is planning to build a shopping center at the intersection of Ringwood road and Route 120. Representing the development company, Eugene Faigus told the Council that negotiations were being THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 105 NUMBER 40 WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 17, 1980 2 SECTIONS 24 PAGES 25* Verbal Axe Falls On RTA Predictably, many of the 51 citizens who signed up to speak at the John- sbucg. hearing on proposed RT±, rate increases and service cuts Dec. 11 advocated elimination of the agency, and most protested the RTA proposals. Walter Morris, Whispering Oaks, McHenry, characterized the hearing as a waste of time. There were many good suggestions, Morris emphasized, but he predicted that none of them would be accepted. More than 100 persons attended the hearing and only about 30 of those requesting to speak actually went to the microphone. Speakers were limited to 3 If you didn't have sympathy for President Carter on Nov. 4, you can remember him with kind thoughts at Christmas. While the rest of us send out an average of 40 to 50 Christmas cards, he and Rosalynn are preparing to put 100,000 in the mail. Should you not find yourself on the list, it probably means you voted for Ronald Reagan or John Anderson. Our own first card, directed to the Musin' and Meanderin' desk, was from Biff Meyer and his wife. Like all that preceded it, this one wasn't for wall hanging; it was unique enough to qualify for a spot among our office decorations. These decorations, unfortunately, have only had their start this seven­ teenth day of December. The spirit is there, but something happened to the clock. It has moved so fast we find Christmas at our front door before we can get all the garlands hung in back. Everyone should have noticed by now, the City of McHenry and the Chamber of Commerce have furnished the populace with enough events to assure that the spirit of the season permeates not only the immediate community but stretches far beyond. More Pearl street park programs are in the plans for this weekend. And wouldn't the old alma mater be surprised if West campus cafeteria should be crowded with old grads Friday morning, Dec. 19. Every year the school hosts an alumni breakfast which draws heaviest from the most recent graduating class. Of course, everyone who ever roamed the hallowed halls is invited. It might make for interesting reading if graduates of a half century ago should converge on these new matriculation grounds for a morning of reminiscence. Christmas is a time for "anything goes" and it usually does. We realized this when a co-worker told us she had reduced her gift list (Continued on page 14) minutes each, which caused more audience dissatisfaction. Prominent among the protestors were the mayors of five McHenry county muncipalities. McHenry's mayor Joseph Stanek asserted that the choices of raising taxes or cutting service further were both unacceptable. He recalled that when RTA was established county residents were told that if they didn't join they would miss the boat on federal subsidies and other benefits. Since then railroad service worsened with the removal of traffic from McHenry to the state line, and now the RTA is threatening more cuts. Stanek remembered that railroads formerly assumed some losses in passenger traffic against the profit they made on freight. He said lines which used to pay taxes on their earnings are now getting tax money as subsidies. Stanek urged that fares be raised, but not taxes because other prices were rising and taxes are already high. He contended that much of the state and federal aid to the transit authority and tax money was supporting outrageously high salaries in the RTA. Mayor Franches Kuhn of Woodstock said (in part) "We object to the proposed rail service reductions due to their negative impact upon rail ac- cessability in the entire RTA region. If fare increases are necessary to keep revenues in line with expenditures, then they should be instituted in reasonable amounts." She cited schedule changes which, if effected, "RTA rail service to Wood­ stock will be reduced to those com­ muting to and from Chicago. The valufe of the railroad to the elderly and others who are unable to secure alternative modes of transportation will be vir­ tually eliminated." Mayor Kuhn also questioned RTA Chairman Lewis Hill's budget projection in which a four-quarter period was compared with a five- quarter period which she said created an illusion of a much more substantial decrease in projected revenues than actually exists. President Gus Alexakos of the village of Cary said that trains were the only transportation available to the 600 or 700 people in his area that use it to go to their jobs. He objected to any decrease in that service. & Other interested citizens also made statements and the following are some excerpts indicating what people were telling the RTA about their proposals and service: Campbell G. Dewey, Crystal Lake, predicted that the fare increases would put 1,000 McHenry county commuters back in their cars. Dewey claimed that the service cutrwould put what was a first class service under private management back to second or third class. He pointed out if anyone wanted to stay in Chicago for evening theatre, with no trains out after 9:30 p.m., he would have to spend the night in a $75 hotel room. Dewey claimed that the RTA has Jailed. The 40 to 50 buses in the county run around with three to six people in them. Ten or 12 could do the same job. He asserted that the service could be better provided with rail cars. Dewey warned the proposals by the RTA will not insure its survival. He said the system was in decay and represented a betrayal of the people whom they had promised to serve. Ed Datz, alderman from McHenry, claimed the financial problems of the RTA was due to the CTA. He wondered when the CTA would lose the distinction of having the highest paid bus drivers in the country. John A. Green of McHenry said he questioned a few things about the RTA. They had recently spent $816,000 apiece •for new locomotives - that- other (Continued on page 14) finalized with Jewel-Osco for a store at that location. Alderman George Harker asked whether the company was going to locate at Ringwood road or Industrial drive. Another developer, Charles Margosian, presented a memorandum of agreement at the last Council meeting regarding a Jewel-Osco store at the Industrial drive location. Alderman Harker was simply told that the company was "in negotiations." James Berg, vice-president of Residential Development Group, ap­ peared to clarify reasons for a site plan change and ask for approval of the second phase of the Winding Creek development The Council withheld approval of the second phase at the last meeting because a north-south road in the development that was originally shown to be 34-foot, a major collector street, was now shown to be a 27-foot street. Berg said that the decision to go to the lesser width was based on the projected traffic volumes, which did not warrant a 34-foot collector street. Berg told the Council that both the Plan commission and the City engineer, Dr. Haljmar Sundin, had concurred with this view and noted that any decision to require the increased road size was basically a policy decision of the Council. He also commented that the decision should be based on "engineering fact" and pointed out that wider was not necessarily better as it increased the cost of construction and maintenance. Dr. Sundin reported that the one mitigating circumstance which might require a wider road - development to the west •- would probably have a "relatively minor" effect on traffic in the subdivision. Alderman Michael Wieser asked, "Do you (Sundin) anticipate a future collector street in that location?" "No," Sundin replied. The motion was made to approve the second phase of thg Winding Creek development with the 27-foot road. It passed unanimously. In a related matter, David Faestel, of Faestel Investments, Crystal Lake, the developer of the proposed Valleybrook subdivision located just south of Winding Creek, voiced his interest in the development of the commercial area of the development. Faestel said that, if possible, he would like to connect at least the 11- acre commercial area of Valleybrook into the City water system. Dr. Sundin said this eventuality (Continued on page 14) Set Early Deadlines Because of the Christmas holiday, Plaindealer deadlines need to be moved ahead for both issues next week. The deadline for display advertising and news will be Friday, Dec. 19, at noon for the first issue and Tuesday, Dec. 23, at noon for the second issue. Classified deadlines are 4 p.m. both days. Correspondents for the first issue must have their columns in the office by Thursday, Dec. 18 at noon. Transit For Handicapped Vote Set A plan that would provide public transit for handicapped persons in northeastern Illinois will be up for final action Thursday, Dec. 18, when the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) Policy committee is asked to approve the plan for submittal to the federal government next month. The plan represents what is termed 'alternative compliance' with federal regulations. This means that less severely handicapped people - basically, those who can use steps-will be able to use the whole system. Parts of the system also will be made ac­ cessible to wheelchair users and others whose mobility is severely limited. However, some separate, specialized service will be provided as well so that those who cannot get to and from a bus stop or train station will have public transporation. This was one of three approaches developed for the estimated 240,000 disabled persons living in the region - Lake, Code, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, and Will counties - by CATS, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Regional Transportation Authority, and the Mobility Limited Advisory committee which includes service and advocacy groups as well as disabled individuals. The three options were presented to the public in November at a series of five public hearings. Most of those commenting at the hearings, favored the provision of special service for severely-handicapped persons. There was strong opposition to locating wheelchair lifts on buses anywhere but at the front. Operators say they may have to ask the federal government to change its rules on this matter. The plan leaves open some (Continued on page 14) Plaindealer Notice Saves Young Boy From Rabies Shots Notivity Ten-year-old Brian Hoven of 5219 W.Victor, Lakeland Park, was spared the painful rabies shots when the family pet was returned as the result of a small notice in the Plaindealer last Friday. Brian was playing with the dog in the house a few days before, and in the rough scuffle, the tooth of the young German Shepherd dog pierced the skin of the boy, near the eye. The family was advised to keep the dog confined and watch for any sign of illness. However, he managed to get outside and disappeared. When he failed to return after several days, Brian was told he would have to un­ dergo the rabies shots if the dog was not found. But luck was with the Hoven family. LeRoy Tatara, of 5210 W. West Shore drive, some distance from the Hovens, read the notice in the Friday Plain- dealer and immediately called the family. He told them the dog had come into his yard and jumped into his van in a friendly manner. He kept the animal until he could learn the owner's name. Tim Fandre, left, works on the crib as Dan Clark positions the likeness of Joseph In the manger at the intersection of Front street and Rt. 120. Both are students in the Building Traded class at McHenry high school. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD McHenry high school students in the Building Trades classes of Industrial Arts and teacher Bill Winkel worked long hours during the past two weeks to design and construct a manger scene for the City of McHenry. This addition to the city's holiday decorations has been set up next to the new pine tree recently planted near the intersection of Routes 120 and 31. The stable and nativity figures were built upon request of the McHenry Public Works department. According to Winkel, "The construction of the manger scene was a rewarding experience for my students " He indicated that the students appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the holiday spirit of McHenry. In addition to the involvement of the Building Trades students, Art students under the direction of Kevin Klopfenstein primed and painted the nativity figures used in the scene. Older Americans Speak Out Conference On Aging Section 2, Page 1 Readers Express Views Public Pulse Section 2, Page 6 License Deadline Sticker Display Section 2, Page 7 Mayor's Salary $15,000