The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

I f • • . • - . . ' ' • ' a ; - THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER VOLUME 107 NUMBER 34 'SERVING THE CHAINS)-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23. 1982 1 SECTION 16 PAGES 25' CL Dedicate Dam Gates A half-million dollar dam repair project on Wonder Lake, which spurred controversy over the creation of a parte district and the equity of the dues structure, is nearing completion. Included in the $500,000 price tag are the replacement of east and west sluice gates, an engineering survey and the installation of gabions, which are designed to protect the em­ bankment. Dedication ceremonies have been scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 28. The time was unavailable early this week and will be published in the Friday Plaindealer. A part of the engineering flood study of the Nippersink creek watershed, the dam repairs were recommended to the Wonder Lake Master Property Owners association (WLMPOA) in August of 1981. If the association had let the matter go, the state could have asked the Army Corps of Engineers to breach the dam, as happened at Lake Marian, in the Dundee- Carpentersville area. The association received a warning in October, 1961, from Ralph Fisher, dam safety specialist with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Water Resources. Fisher warned the WLMPOA not to attempt to repair the dam in a piecemeal fashion and to undertake an engineering study. The next month, a proposal was made to form a park district to help pay for the dam repairs. It was argued that, as a governmental body, the park district would have the power to tax the public as well as have greater credit power, if needed. On the other side, some members of the association said the residents were unaware of the power such a district would hold. The members also contended that larger subdivisions may monopolize the voting process. The park district question came to a vote of the WLMPOA on Dec. 13,1961. The vote ended 40-37 against the form jtjgn, * ?*>*•<- * ^ mm.wmrn. ***** * Residents of two subdivisions, Highland Shores and Indian Ridge, which voted unanimously in favor of the park district, charged that six proxy votes had been erroneously included in the vote. Suit was filed in 19th Judicial Cir­ cuit court, Woodstock, in August. The .plaintiffs said the proxy votes were not shown to the presiding officer nor were they noted in the minutes. In November of 1982, Judge Leonard Brody granted a motion to dismiss the suit. Later the dues structure came under fire with five subdivisions being delinquent in payments of the in­ creased dues. As of November, 1962, Deep Springs Wood, Deep Springs Woods I and II, Sunny Oaks and In­ dian Ridge subdivisions are still outstanding in dues payments. The property owners are charged $10 per year per lot, regardless of improvements and $10 for un- subdivided acreage. Each Thanksgiving season, as a grateful nation we take time to remember our personal treasures that, put together with others, provide the very reason for observing the day. Sometimes those blessings are small, but for everyone there are reasons to be thankful. This year, however, there will be thousands who will need to search long and hard to find them. They are the out-of-work, out-of-food families who may count the recollection of happier holidays as their greatest Messing. For those of us who are more for­ tunate, and who will share from our comparative abundance, there is time for thoughts of thanksgiving, some serious, some not. We are thankful for a Thanksiving dinner invitation with no strings at­ tached - no dish to pass, just our presence. We are thankful for the gift of an old bottle with screw type lid into which we put the contents of all child-proof covers. f We are thankful that McHenry is ftill sufficiently small that someone thought of naming a big machine for a faithful employee. "Ralph" does a good job of keeping city streets clean. We are thankful for the people who have set as their goal the beautification of our city with trees and flowers. This is in spite erf oc­ casional condescending remarks by (ContlBwwl on p«g« 14) «lr phase, a diver (above) of Illinois _ construction of cofferdams. TUf cofferdams would then be pumped dry so work could be done on the sluice gates. Cranes and other heavy equipment (left) were used to finish the sluice gate repair. Dedication of the gates, both east and west is set for Sunday, Nov. 28, at a time to be announced. STAFF PHOTOS--WAYNE GAYLORD Holiday Hills Heated Debate Over Village Hall Over the protests of a number of residents in attendance, the village board of Holiday Hills authorized president, Patricia Hughes, to negotiate for a contract for the pur­ chase of a residential building to be used as a village hall and community building. That action was taken at a meeting Thursday, Nov. 18. Many of the 30 visitors present spoke of the need for better roads and other community facilities as more urgent than a village building. Some termed the proposal a misapplication of village funds. Village officials defended the proposal as necessary to provide a secure place for village records, an established meeting place for the trustees and committees, and an operating base for the police department. Following an executive meeting to discuss the recommendations of the committee appointed to investigate possible properties for purchase, the village board reconvened to approve an ordinance authorizing the president to negotiate and contract for the purchase erf the property. A restriction was made of no more than seven percent interest on any balance carried by the owner. Two trustees, Donald Peterson and Ms. Ireta Jimmie voted "no". In the limited time allowed for residents to express views on the purchase, many claimed the village should have other priorities. Jerry Johnson said the village roads were in bad shape and needed work. He maintained they should have a long range plan for roads and all facilities, and this should be their first priority even if it meant a tax increase. Jack Kohler supported this view saying they needed roads now and later should start on sewers. They didn't need a village hall. Joe Henderson said he agreed with the letter (distributed by the village board explaining and urging the purchase of the property) but he wanted to hear the other side. He also wanted to hear reasons for the pur­ chase. John Anderson added that he didn't see the need for a community house. The problem with the streets were the road beds, he commented, as the village contained very unstable ground. He suggested they could get government loans to correct this all at one time for the village (instead of a phased program over a period of time.) He asserted the board could continue to use Casey's hall for meetings or people could offer their homes for this purpose. Russ Cashmore, owner of the water company supplying the village, pointed out that they didn't have "the Library of Congress" to house and the most urgent need for the village is roads. Also, Cashmore said he didn't like the way the board tried to sneak the proposal through. Charles Dubsky reported that he has seen superficial improvements on the roads. But they have a poor base and don't hold up, he maintained. He also protested that it is not ap­ propriate for appointed members of the village board to vote on a subject such as the village hall. The opinions of many others were also expressed. President Hughes then opened the floor to board members to respond to the visitor comments which had run their course. She announced, "You can now hear the other side which you asked for." Ms. Hughes explained that the committee for the purchase of a village property had investigated properties available in the range of under $60,000 and a vacant lot which was listed at $5,000. She reiterated that the village needed a place for records. About secrecy in the transaction, Ms. Hughes explained that the board couldn't discuss prices in open session because of possible effect on negotiations. They had investigated other places but it was difficult to establish market values and professional appraisals cost money. She claimed the board was frugal and that is why they can afford to buy a village hall. Ms. Hughes said that the $29,000 spent on the roads this past year is a drop in the bucket for what they need. She noted that taxes from real estate only furnished about $13,000 in revenue and they had to get income from other sources through the state. This included sales and income tax, MFT funds, vehicle tags, and others for use on roads. ^ About security needs, the president 1 pointed out the past loss of records as .* occupancy of village offices changed, * and with meetings held at homes, the problem of host liability. She said the proposed hall would be easily ac­ cessible to the people as 85 percent of them pass it every day. "It's reasonably priced and the owner is anxious to sell. If the doesn't buy it, it will go on market," she noted. About roads, Ms. Hughes said they couldn't guarantee durable roods even if they spent a million dollars on (Continued on pogo 14) Recommend Zoning Request Okay Keen Interest In Aldermanic Seats by Anthony Oliver The McHenry Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) voted last Friday to recommend approval of four variations and denial of one requested in a petition concerning property at 4104 W. Elm street, in McHenry. Ostensibly, the petition was brought by owner Thomas P. Mathews, of 3145 E. Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake, in order to bring the existing structures and use of the property in line with the amended Zoning ordinance. ' Hie two-thirds acre parcel is im­ proved with two buildings, commonly known as 4104 and 4102 W. Elm street. The westerly building houses McHenry County Realty and We Design. The easterly building was formerly a gas station, but is now vacant and leased to C. Elliott Everett. The variations sought concerned uses of the property and various setback requirements which were non-conforming to the 1-1 Industrial zoning classification. Mathews testified that his tenant, Everett, was planning to open a "custom" pizza operation in the smaller building, 4102 W. Elm street. He pointed out that, to his knowledge, there would be no oven at the location and people would come in, order what they wanted of the pizza and it would be prepared there. Then the people would take it home and cook it. In response to a question from ZBA member Harold Semrow, Jr., Mathews said he owned none of the adjacent or abutting property. Matnews also said he was con­ templating no new construction and was merely seeking the variations that would make the use consistent with the ordinance. ZBA Chairman James Fouse queried whether the petitioner had considered changing the zoning classification to B-l business, which would allow professional offices. The petitioner's attorney, Thomas D. Nuelle, commented, "Unless the whole area were to be redone, it seems to be consistent to keep the parcel industrial." Semrow, Jr., noted the Zoning or­ dinance prohibits industrial zoning classifications from fronting on Routes 120 and 31, and the Crystal Lake blacktop. (Continued on pogo 14) Indications from petitions in cir­ culation in all four of McHenry's political wards are that heated races will take place in the spring aider- manic election. Voting will take place April 12. Five candidates have expressed interest in Ward 1, including former Alderman William J. Bolger, 906 Allen, who held that position for 22 years before making a decision not to seek reelection. His place was taken by Jack Pepping, who is retiring from office when his present term ends. Others with petitions out in Ward 1 are John Cunat of 415 Dale, Thomas E. Miller of 1205 S. Broadway, Nina Keen of 3206 Biscayne and Bryce Klontz of 409 Timothy. In Ward 2, where George Harker resigned recently for health reasons, there may be three candidates. William Busse of 107 N. Augusta, who is now filling the Harker office through appointment, has indicated interest in a full term. Others are Harold Sanford of 813 Wiltshire and Donald "Butch" Meyer, Jr., of 5107 Sandburg drive. Ward 3 may have four candideates, including the present alderman, Michael Wieser, of 1402 Utj Mil 1st ream. Others with petitions out are Frank McClatchey of 1623 Riverside drhi£ Dave Gelwicks of 3817 W. Waukegan road, and Harry Semrow of Crestwood. Ron Meurer of 4814 W. Prairie 1 to be returned to his aldermanic in Ward 4. If their petitions are file he will be opposed by Ernest Schooley of 5219 W. Victor, a form$& alderman in that ward who lost seat to Cecilia Serritella at the time^ the last election, and by Gary Snelt2j£ 4512 W. Ramble. The first day for filing is Dec. the last day, Dec. 13. VT<« Christmas Supplement Holiday Gfft Ideas In Today's Plaindealer Withdraw Zoning Request Youth Home Relocation Page 14 Tips pn Buying Turkey From Heart Association . Page 2