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ir •• >.'v: THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER " S E R V I N G T H E C H A I N - O - L A K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 8 7 5 " VOLUME-107 NUMBER 17 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1982 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 25' by Marian Olsen Contract talks continue bet­ ween District 156 board and teacher negotiating teams with the 24th session scheduled for Sept. 28. Mental Health Ask Specifies fir Lopping Budget "If the finance committee (of the County board) decided who is to be cut, we would consider it," promised Dirk Voetberg, chairman of the finance committee of the McHenry County Comprehensive Mental Health Service System (706 board) in a report to the 708 board. His statement came after he was advised that the county was asking that the budget be reduced 10 percent from last year. Robert Schneider, board president, added, "We worked on this budget for three and a half months. I don't see where the county can arbitrarily whack off 10 percent." Dennis Smith, 706 System director, advised that the request is actually for an 18 percent cut in the $1,208,365 budget as presented this year. This would mean total reductions of $200,000. In addition, the county is asking a 10 percent cut in their use of In everyone's mail box there has been placed a small brochure which confronts voters with the fact that an election is almost at hand. On Nov. 2 we will be going to the polls to make our decision on the men and women who will direct our political destiny on the county, state and federal levels. But the pale blue brochure is something apart from our selection of candidates. It asks us to make a decision on a proposed amendment concerning prison bail. Under the present system, everyone is bailable by sufficient sureties ex­ cept for capital offenses where the proof is evident or the presumption great. The amendment asks that in addition to capital offenses, the ex­ ception also be made for offenses for which a sentence of life imprisonment may be imposed as a conseeuence of conviction. Backers of the amendment include almost unanimous support in both houses of the Illinois Legislature. In both there was only one negative vote. The amendment came out of what a growing number of people feel is a need to protect the innocent. Supporters believe it will ensure that persons charged with serious crimes don't avoid prosecution. They also feel it's an important step in (Continued on pogo It) the federal allocation (National In­ stitute of Mental Health act grants) which the state in its block grant distribution had already reduced 10 percent. J Smith noted further that the two big local agencies, Pioneer center and Family Services and Mental Health center, would be hurt worst if the cuts were applied across the board with reductions in financing of 1$80,000 and $45,000 respectively. Smith said that the federal funds in the grant were targeted mostly toward the mentally ill (MI) population and couldn't be used for the developmentally disabled (DD). As a result, more of the 708 (local county tax supported) budget was apportioned to Pioneer center for the (DD) population to compensate for that fact. Lou Anne Majewski, member of both the county board and the 706 board, reported that the 706 budgets had been approved by the county's health and ag committee and ac­ cepted by the finance committee but with a suggestion for a 10 percent reduction from the past year's total of $1,119,761. The projected budget for the 1983 year had been increased by the 708 board, by 8 percent. But this would not increase the levy rate, Smith predicted, if the assessed valuation continued to expand. The 706 board had knocked 10 percent out of the proposed budget for administration and there was no further room for cutting in this area, Voetberg in­ dicated. Schneider recalled that a con­ troversy over another county board's attempt to reduce a (special fund) budget submitted by the mental health board had been resolved in favor of the mental health board. He believed the county couldn't force the reduction they asked. Voetberg said that if the county would say which agency was not wor­ thy of receiving the money it asked for, the 708 board could act on the cuts. Schneider said the board would want the agency representatives to come and talk about their needs, otherwise they would have to cut each the 18 percent without their input. From the 708 board's standpoint this would be unreasonable, Schneider said. Smith noted that the county request for the 708 board to cut its budget for spending the federal grant money by 10 percent would mean that they would have to give that portion back to the state. Members wondered about county board interest in the federal money. Board member Jan Marsh asked what would happen when the county board got their message (reaction to request for cuts). "Is there any precedent for this?" she asked. Smith said that in previous years there had occasionally been minor changes asked for by the county board. Attorney John Bolger said that his reading of the statute covering the budgeting and levying authority in­ dicates the county board shall levy and appropriate moneys for mental health based on the 708 board recommendations and the five-year plan of the board. • ~ • Smith said that lie had rechecked the plan and found that the proposed budget is $4,000 under the revenue projected for the affected year. New Focus On Seniors Dan Malone, executive director of the McHenry County Senior Citizens council, announced this week that the survey being conducted by John W. Buckner and a host of volunteers is nearing completion. One of the main areas targeted for the survey was people 75 years of age and over. The program, fully funded by a grant from the federal government, has had two purposes. One is to get more people to eat at the meet and eat centers of the county or use the homfc-delivered meals program provided throughout the county. The second goal is to get more seniors to utilize the various services Majewski noted that the levy rate for 1982 would probably not exceed .076 per $100 of assessed valuation. On a board motion, members voted unanimously to support their present budget proposal until the county advises specifically how and where cuts should be made. Regular school business became hospital business at Tuesday night's board meeting of High School District 156. / A school district-related strip of land is muddying up the title to the present McHenry hospital building, according to Supt. Robert Swartzloff. The three-foot strip is a portion of a storm "sewer easement held by the school district and providing drainage from East campus to Boone creek. The Bollman addition to the hospital is built on three feet of the easement. In order for the hospital to sell bonds for the new construction on Route 31, a clear title is needed for the old building. Therefore, a disclaimer to the three feet of easement lying under Bollman pavilion must be obtained from the school district. Swartzloff indicated the district's attorney had okayed such an action but had suggested that the board might want to obtain a comparable three-foot strip along the opposite side .oflhe storm sewer easement in order to insure adequate access to the sewer if repairs become necessary. School engineers had also established that the sewer itself did not lie under the building. Board President; Edward Neumann said, "We want to ac­ commodate the hospital but we want to protect the district's interest as well." Following further discussion, the board voted to disclaim the three feet in question with the understanding that three feet along the opposite side of the sewer would be added to the remaining easement. In other business, President Joel ^Boeka and President-elect Sharon (Continuod on pogo II) offered at the meet and eat centers, where the older senior citizens will serve as the base of concentration. The Nutritional Outreach program seeks out the hard-to-reach senior citizen who is often overlooked by senior service organizations. It will provide personal contact with the hard-to-reach seniors in their own environment. This program will be accomplished through home visits and follow-up to coordinate the many services for seniors and older persons who are in need of them. The final results of the survey will be listed in a future issue of the Plaindealer. It's "Incredible In anticipation of their upcoming trip to the Netherlands, Ed and " Irene Wittrock take a look at a Eur ail map of northern Europe. A winner in the "Incredible Dutch Experience," a week of their trip will be paid for by the Dutch government. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD by Anthony Oliver When word of something great comes along, most people can tell you in detail everything about the moment it arrived. Not so with Ed Wittrock, of 1829 S. Orchard lane, Mchenry, who recently was a winner/of "The Incredible Dutch Experience" contest held recently in the Chicago area and across the nation. "I was on a fishing trip in Two Rivers, Wis., when word was sent I had won," Wittrock said. "Irene received the letter Monday, but I didn't get home 'til Tuesday night. The fishing trip wasn't too successful but the return home ..." The "Incredible Dutch Experience" is an all expenses-paid week-long trip to the Netherlands, which leaves the United States on Oct. 2. Wittrock explained that the trip is sponsored by the Dutch government, which has invited 1,000 Americans to Holland in celebration of 200 years of --\ (Continuod on pogo It) Fall Sports '82 MCHS • Johnsburg - Marian Today's Supplement • FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition Hospital Program Volunteens A Summer Of Serv ice . Page 17 Hear Tapies In Wonder Lake £ase SHAW MEDIA NEWS SERVICE As the Plaindealer went to press Thursday, representatives of two Wondei*Lake subdivisions were slated to be listening to tapes of a Dec. 13 meeting. A roll call vote concerning a park district formation is the focus of interest. According to Emil Giertuga, delegate from Indian Ridge, those tapes were turned over to David Gervais, lawyer for the Indian Ridge and Highland Shores Improvement associations, by the attorney for the Wonder Lake Master Property Owners association. Six stray votes at a December meeting are the" basis for a lawsuit facing the Wonder Lake Master Property Owner's association and a deeper question of information ac­ cessibility. The vote at the association meeting last December concerned the for­ mation of a Park district to assist in the financing of Wonder Lake dam repairs. The vote failed by a margin of 40-37. When acceptance of the association's December meeting minutes came to a vote at the last meeting, few, if any, of the delegates and directors attending were ready to approve them. Delegate Craig Pfannkuche, of Highland Shores subdivision, pointed out that although the record showed 71 available votes at the beginning of the meeting, a later vote showed 77. "What is it with these extra six votes and where did they come from?" Pfannkuche asked the chair. Association President Ed Bearc^did not know. Former secretary Jim Gunning; did not know. No one there knew./^ James Widen, of Lookout Point subdivision, commented the answer could "open a keg of nails. That record should have been kept. Let's liave proof that those people did show up at the meeting." To try to sort out the facts, Frank Higgins, of Wonder Center sub­ division. made a motion to table the minutes until the secretary could review the tapes. He wished to find out the number of proxy votes and when they were approved during the course of the meeting AnHrew Mizurkiewicz, president of Lookout Point, suggested a committee be formed to verify the tapes. "There is a lot of feeling back in here that the board is prejudiced in what they want to do," Widen added. The crowd applauded. "I'll be happy to form a committee to review the minutes and report back at the next meeting," Beard said. The compiittee was incorporated in the motion and it passed. The six votes are the basis behind a lawsuit filed against the master association by Indian Ridge and Highland Shores Improvement associations. The suit asks the court to declare the December park district vote to be invalid and to declare the measure passed. Both Gervais and Indian Ridge Director Emil Giertuga said they have no plans to pay the remaining (Continuod on pogo 18) Disclaim Land Strip For Hospital Site Packing Pleasure Into Just One Day Cancer victims come in all ages, but for the very youngest it means being deprived of many Of the joys of childhood. To pack a variety at the pleasures into just one day, 250 victims of the disease came to Johnsburg last Sunday for an outing. Some of them are shown enjoying a stagecoach ride which was one part of the entertainment offered. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Children with cancer are deprived of many of the joys that belong to youth. But last Sunday more than 250 of them were treated to some of the pleasures of childhood at an outing held in Johsnburg. They were the children of the Chicagoland Candlelighters, a sup­ port group for parents of children suffering from cancer. The Johnsburg outing had its start with Brian Jonas of May avenue, who has a young relative stricken with the disease. He talked to a neighbor, Dick Radtke, a member of the Johnsburg Community club, who expressed an interest in the plight of these children. Later, when other locations for an outing failed to materialize, the club offered-use of its building and grounds through a contribution from the club's . recent golf outing. From that point interest soared. The City of McHenry had park ben­ ches taken to the club grounds. Business people, service groups and individuals entered into the spirit of the occasion. A rock band was on the premises for the teenagers. For small cancer victims there were balloons and clowns. A stagecoach was an at­ traction for all ages, as was the trampoline act provided. And when it was time for lunch, it was the favorite of kids everywhere - hotdogs. i • Two months of preparation went into the event, but the many who contributed of their time and labor felt nothing was too much to provide a few hours of pleasure for these cancer- stricken youths. The children who came to John­ sburg last Sunday, from babies to the age of 18, were afflicted with the disease in various stages. The Chicago Candlelighters was founded in April of 1980 by the president, Tony Lascio, after the death of his son, Paul, from cancer. It is a non-profit organization which is entirely dependent on donations.