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Propose RTA Replacement 6y Joanne Springman Shaw Media News Servicev "Die most important thing is far ue six counties to get together on a system that win work for us," said Woodstock Mayor Frances KuhA, referring to a tran­ sportation plan under consideration by the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) board. Mrs. Kuhn said a proposal for a transport tkxi agency to supplant the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) has been in the works for several months. The tentative proposal is a result of combined efforts by municipal mayors who serve on regional councils of the CATS Council of Mayors. "We think the package we propose will be fair and more workable than the system we have now," Mrs. Kuhn said. Due to populations, she added, Cook and the five collar counties of McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage and Will are represented by regional councils. The mayors who comprise that membership have been working on subcommittees dealing with various aspects of the transportation plan. Mrs. Kuhnn, who serves on a policy subcommittee with the mayors of Wilmetten Franklin Park and Evergreen Park, said the CATS Executive committee is seeking completion of a final proposal in time for presentation early in the spring to Gov. James Thompson, Chicago Mayor Jane' Byrne and the Legislature. While there is no specific title for the proposed transportation agency as yet, Mrs. Kuhn said it is to be governed by a seven- member "umbrella board." The members are to include three representatives from Chicago, two from Cook county and two from the five collar counties. According to the plan: No collar county may be represented by more than one board member; Chicago representatives will be appointed by the mayorg Cook county represen­ tatives will be appointed by Cook county members of the Council of Mayors; C o l l a r c o u n t y represenatives will be ap­ pointed by collar county members of the Council of Mayors; and Board members will serve for three years without salary except for specific expenses incurred in at­ tending board meetings. Regarding expenses, Mrs. Kuhn said an amount of $1,000 annually for each board member has been discussed but not officially proposed. She added that amount is estimated as adequate to cover tran­ sportation expenses and necessary meals for 10 meetings each year. The umbrella board would employ an executive director to hire staff and administer the agency comprised of a Chicago Transit Authority service board, suburban bus service board and commuter rail service board. Mrs. Kuhn said the director would be a "non­ partisan, professional transportation expert," and the three service boards would function as depart­ ments for their particular aspect of the planned agency. Proposed as a policy­ making body, the umbrella board also would have authory to: review e board budgets and withhold those funds; receive and disperse state, regional and federal operating funds to the ser­ vice boards, based on for­ mula set by law; budget and contract for auditingn legal, marketing and public in­ formation services; maintain a liasion from its membership with each service board; and adopt an administrative budget, personnel policy and organizational chart. In addition, the umbrella board would be limited to expenditures of a maximum percentage of any tax for­ mula and would have limited borrowing authority for short-term operations. Regarding funds. Mrs. Kuhn said there are no specific proposals for a budget or financial structure or funding formula as yet, although there is speculat qion that some financing will come from tax revenues. Referring to Thompson's initial reaction to preliminary plans, Mrs. Kuhn said, "He says, 'That's fine, but where's the money?' We haven't gotten that far yet." In addition to hiring and managing support staff, the executive director's ad­ ministrative duties would include: monitoring service board budgets, formulating and administering the ad­ ministrative budget, and responsibility for contract performance of auditing, marketing and public in­ formation services. Mrs. Kuhn said CATS officials meet periodically with Mayor Byrne, who "appears amenable to some of the proposals." Although there is some concern about represen­ tation on the umbrella board and agency control, Mrs. Kuhn said it is impractical to think any plan feasible without the support of Chicago's mayor. Past 65 Budget Restrictions May Mean Less Road Maintenance Many areas across the country will not have the money they've had in the past to cope with traffic [; control and roadway "maintenatiea Sgeared to winter conditions. , This prediction was voiced by Richard Tippie, manager of the National Safety council's Traffic Safety department. "Revenue reductions and their related budget cuts," Tippie warned, "are sure to curtail the customary level of manpower, equipment and materials needed to keep vehicles moving on winter clogged roads." Economic downturns, reduced gasoline and user taxes and curtailed finding at all levels - federal, state and local - are the culprits, Tippie contends. He em­ phasizes that these restrictions place an even greater burden on every driver's know-how to overcome adverse winter road conditions. Tippie views these economic and legislative trends from the vantage point of the National Safety council's Committee on Winter Driving Hazards and its years of research related to driver and vehicle problems created by win­ ter's deadly tricks. According to council skid testers, poor traction and reduced visibility create the major difficulties when winter weather turns treacherous. These ^problems are compounded when main­ tenance and traffic control operations are curtailed or delayed. Sliding off the road, skidding into intersections, and rear-end collisions in­ crease. Tippie reviewed 'precautions recommended by the council's committee to help make winter driving as trouble free as possible: Take precautions in case you do encounter traffic tie- ups. ...Safety check your trunk. Emergency gear should include at least a glass scraper-snow brush; booster cables, flares or emergency lights; a shovel; sand, rock salt or traction mats; a tow chain or strap; extra wind­ shield washer fluid; blankets; and tire chains. ...Keep your exhaust sytem, battery and emergency equipment in dependable condition. ...Keep your gas tank reasonably full at all times. Practice common sense winter driving know-how. ...Anticipate situations that require reduced speed - slick road surfaces, turning maneuvers and intersections. ...Increase following distances. ...Use extra care in signalling other drivers who seem to be following too close and who may be unable to stop. ...Always buckle-up your safety belt. ...Guard against over- confidence in yourself. ...Sharpen your winter driving skills even more. ...Keep a constant check of weather and road conditions wherever and whenever you must drive. .j.Stay off the roads, when you can, until they can be cleared. ...Guard against over- confidence in your car. ...Make sure defrosters and windshield wiper blades can clean slush or wet snow off your windshield. Replenish antifreeze fluid in windshield washers. ...See that your car has needed tune-ups and thorough mechanical checks. ...Use good tires with proper treads for your driving conditions. ...Have brakes checked for equalized braking. If you msut drive during severe snow and ice con­ ditions, tests by the council have demonstrated that reinforced tire chains far outperform any other traction equipment. They provide from four to seven times the pulling ability of regular tires of climbing icy grades or for going through deep snow. "Remember", Tippie concluded, "thorough preparation and a healthy respect for winter's hazardous driving situations are two important ways to offset traffic control and highway maintenance cut­ backs." Controlling Weeds Although we are well into winter, many area producers have already begua to plan their weed control strategy for next growing season. In any weed control program, herbicide incorporation is a critical factor and timeliness, placement, and uniform distribution are key elements in successful in­ corporation How soon a herbicide should be incorporated depends on the herbicide and existing conditions. A her­ bicide can be lost faster from moist soil on a hot, sunny, windy day than from dry soil on a cool, cloudy, quiet day. The sooner the incorporation after application, however, the more herbicide there will be available in the soil for weed control. When delays are unavoidable, some compensation might be made by using a higher application rate within the allowable limits. For msny msjor her­ bicides and weed species, placing the herbicide so that H can be absorbed by the emerging shoot of the weed seedling is of prime interest. In such instances, the key is to have the herbicide in moist soil. The top inch of soil can dry out quickly, so incorporation into the top two indies is best. However, deep incorporation should be avoided as it dilutes the herbicide in the zone where it is most effective. When applying herbicides, producers should strive for precision, accuracy, and uniformity. Unfortunately, accomplishing these goals does not necessarily guarantee good weed con­ trol. While a uniformly applied herbicide which has been followed by rain shortly after application may ap­ pear to give "picture book" control, weed seedlings can emerge without absorbing a lethal amount of the her­ bicide if the soil surface is dry. For this reason, moving the chemical into moist soil mechanically can improve performance with less dependence on the weather. "Two-pass" incorporation can result in more uniform distribution, but many growers want to reduce the by Carl Riblet Jr. Q. "I am 26 and a widow who receives checks from Social Security for both myself and my six-year-old daughter. I am engaged to a man 41 who is divorced I know that after we marry I will lose my SS benefits. Now, if my new husband dies I know I will receive a monthly check. Will his ex- wife receive a check on his account? She is three years younger than he. Will his three children ~ receive checks? "If the ex-wife remarries before he dies, or even after he dies, will she receive checks? Can his ex-wife collect on him if she has remarried? What if my new husband and I get a divorce, can I go back and collect on my first and dead husband's account? What if I should die after we marry, will his three children who live with their mother, his divorced first wife, receive checks? I am trying to anticipate all points for the future." - S W A. Yes, the ex-wife will receive checks on his ac­ count if she was married to him for 10 years and is under 60. His three children will receive benefits. The ex-wife will receive benefits from the dead ex-husband's ac­ count under the same con­ ditions described above. Yes, the 26-year-old widow will, when she is a second wife, be entitled to receive benefits from her first husband's account. She will receive an amount that isihe greater of the benefits from her second husband's ac­ count and her first husband's account. Yes, the three children by the first wife will receive benefits from the account of' their father. The young widow needn't bother her head about the ex- wife's benefits because they do not affect her benefits, and she might as well forget about the benefits for the three children. If S.W. goes to the Social Security office in her city, they will spell it all out for her. Q. "Is there some place I could write for lists of retirement homes, with at least two meals a day and intermediate and full care facilities? I know of many in my area but most of them are too expensive or otherwise unacceptable." - H.B. A. H.B. can go to his county's Council on Aging for information. They will tell him where to write for an up-to-date list. Q. "About a month ago I sent you 25 cents and a stamped envelope for a copy of your list of reliable in­ surance companies. The letter must have been lost or someone needed 25 cents because I have not received the list." - Fred G. A. I'm sorry, Fred. We are far behind in mailing out the lists for the reason that the number of requests overloaded us. You should receive your copy within the next week. Q. "I am on Social Security disability and Medicare. I am not yet 65. It seems that insurance companies are not equipped to handle supplementary if you're under 65. That doesn't seem logical." - Manny G. A. It is logical for the in­ surance companies. Q. "My wife contemplates retiring at 62 and going on Social Security. Will she get the same amount if she retires at 63 or 64 as she would receive at age 62?" - L.C.S. A. No. She would receive more at 63 and even more at 64 and 65. Write to Carl Riblet Jr. with self-addressed, stamped envelope at Box 40757, Tucson, Ariz. 85717 for answers on the problems of aging. No identities are revealed. II • PAGE 13 - PLAINDEALER - FRIDAY, JANUARY 22. 1M2 from HISTORY'S SCRAPBOOK OATES AND EVENTS FROM YESTERYEARS January 25,1N5 • Honorary American citizen Winston Church­ ill dies. January 26, 1S3# - Daniel Webster, in the Webster-Hayne debate, delivers his greatest oration. "Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable.** January 27, 1SS0 - Thomas A. Edison obtains patent for an electric incandescent lamp. Initiative' Petition Drive Over 100,000 Mark The Coalition for Political Honesty has collected 100,000 signatures in its campaign for the Illinois Initiative amendment. The Illinois Initiative is a constitutional amendment that would permit Illinois voters to pass laws by petition and referendum. The Coalition must collect 252,000 signatures by May 2, 1962, to put the initiative proposal on the general election ballot in November as a proposed constitutional amendment. Twenty-two states across the country permit initiative lawmaking, including Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio in the Midwest. Illinois currently has only a very limited initiative process which permits voters to change the structure of the legislative process by direct petition and referendum. "We hope to make the power of initiative the single most important issue in Illinois politics in 1962," said Thomas Quinn, Coalition spokesman. "Full-fledged citizen initiative is the key to breaking the stranglehold of lobbyists on state govern­ ment and giving average citizens more control over the legislative decisions that affect their lives, jobs, and families." Quinn said the Coalition's other " 1982 legislative priorities include the following: -- promoting the adoption of recall at the local level to allow voters - in municipalities and counties the right to remove in­ competent politicians before their terms are up; - campaigning for a law prohibiting doubledipping. the Illinois practice per­ mitting legislators to be on more than one public payroll; - petitioning for local advisory referendums on whether the members of the Illinois Commerce Com­ mission should be elected rather than politically ap­ pointed. and -- overhauling the property tax system including reforming the assessment appeal process and how county tax multipliers are computed Anyone interested in passing an Illinois Initiative petition or in getting more information about the Coalition's legislative agenda should contact the Coalition at Box 706. Oak Park, 111.. 60303 or call 312- 524-1978. PUBLISHING CO . jj(HW^6R FUNNYSIDE WANTBD INQUIRE mwe trips across the field and fuel costs. Single-pass in­ corporation can give a d e q u a t e u n i f o r m i t y , depending on such factors as the type of equipment used, speed, soil moisture, soil texture, and the physical condition of the soil. The volatility and solubility of the herbicide in use are also factors. Generally, her­ bicides that are more volatile and soluble have more lateral movement. • > » s e » » » e e e BUILDING PERMITS Building permits were recently issued by the McHenry County Depart­ ment of Building and Zoning to: Mr. and Mrs. Nycz, 6006 Fox Lake road, McHenry, to construct an approximate 930,000 addition to existing residence in McHenry township. Homes 11 2 Townhouse Units 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths Brand New 1961 Construction Crystal Lake 75,900 •och unit Horn* No. 3 1 Bedroom 1 Bath Ideal Starter Home 32,300 Home No. 4 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths Waterfront with Concrete Seawall 67,500 THERE'S STILL TIME! We're Offering Horn* No. 5 2 Bedrooms 1 Bath Great For Beginning Couple or Retirees 37,000 Homo No. 6 Townhouse Unit 2 Bedroom 2 Baths Full Basement Recent Construction Contemporary Cedar Crystal Loke 79,900 Home No. 7 2 Bedroom 1 Bath Handyman Special Needs Superficial TIC 24,000 8 AVI FIRST YEAR FINANCING ON THESE REMAINING HOMES FROM McHENRY SAVINSS & LOAN! All because McHenry Savings and Loan wants to reduce its inventory of repossessed homes im­ mediately. We are therefore inviting offers on these homes with special unprecedented financing to qualified buyers for a limited time only. Tom: 10% Dovs* laterest lato: 0% First Year! 5% Second Year! 10% Third Year! Balloon Note After Three Years (Average Rate 5%)% Service Charge ("points") 0 * Private mortgage insurance required. If unavailable. 20®o down payment required Payments will be based on a 29 year amortized loan at 10%. Of course since little or no interest will be charged, purchasers will reduce their loan balances by 10.6% in the first year and almost 20% by the end of three years, something which at 17% would normally take 19 years to accomplish! This may literally be a once-in-a-lifetime oppor­ tunity for you to own your own home. Offer will end promptly on January 31, 1982. No brokers. Coll James Mcirinangel At 395-3000 For More Information. McHenry Savings W »eo IOA9 ftiMCtniiee W 170* North Street McHenry IIS 305-3000 10520 Mom Street R.chmond 815 678 2061 10402 North Vine Street 'Huntley Center on Rowte 47; Huntley 312 669 3333