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acquisition In a recent morning mail we received a listing of the 10 most ad­ mired men in a poll conducted by a leading magazine. It included some of the best known names in the world - President Reagan, Bob Hope, Billy Graham, Pope John Paul II, etc. In another mail there was a letter and newspaper clipping about a former McHenry man the writer placed No. I on his personal list of admired people. As we read the story, it was a reminder that all around us are men and women who deserve to be admired for their courage and per­ sistence in the face of great odds. This particular story concerned one Jack Huehne, who lived for 22 years in McHenry. Mr. Huehne is now a retired in­ surance broker of 73 years who has battled back from a severe stroke suffered in 1968. He proved the doctors wrong when he outlived the few days they had predicted for him. Huehne enjoyed life too much to give up. After nine and one-half years in a wheelchair, including hospitalization for a broken hip, he is now doing well with the aid of a walker. All the while, his biggest goal was to drive again - something he had done since the age of 12. After one failure, that dream was realized recently when he passed the driving test 100 percent following a 14-year wait. The next day, a nine-page, hand­ written letter arrived from Wisconsin. It carried a name unfamiliar to us but the writer said she had visited McHenry on several occasions. Oneof the many families hit hard by (Continued on pbg- 16) by Anthony Oliver After more than a year of debate and two defeats, McHenry Mayor Joseph Stanek's interpretation of the city code concerning water line ex­ tensions was affirmed by a majority of the council Monday night. The mayor's proposed amendments to the code passed by a 6 to 1 margin. At the Dec. 7,1981, council meeting, Ed Thennes asked the council to bring a water service line to his property on Front street. Mayor Stanek said that, traditionally, the city had required the benefitted property owner to pay for the extension. Thennes countered saying the city was to pay the cost of the extension from the water main to the property line. Thereafter, it was the owner's responsibility. Thennes' position was supported by Aid. Raymond Smith (3rd), who opposed the mayor on this matter. As written in the late 1950's, the code said, "The city shall install all service pipes from main to lot line." Stanek said there is nothing in the ordinance about the city paying for the extension. He said the owner is required to reimburse the city. Smith, on the other hand, noted in the same section, the code said, "All service pipes from the lot line to the premises shall be installed by, and at the cost of the owner of the property involved or the applicant for the service." The third ward alderman said the council, at that time, never intended for the resident to have to pay. At the Dec. 7, 1981 meeting, the council voted unanimously to approve Thennes' request and have the city pay for the extension to the property line. Mayor Stanek called for revision of the ordinance. The amendments proposed by Stanek, to "clear up ambiguities in the ordinance" specifically state, among other things, that the costs be paid by the owner or applicant for service. A veto of the Dec. 21, 1981, action was overridden by a unanimous vote of the council. A motion by Aid. Smith to require the city to pay for an ex­ tension from main to property line also passed unanimously. The proposed revisions surfaced in February and November of 1982, but no action was taken on the matter. At Monday night's meeting, Aid. William Busse said revisions were necessary to make the water or­ dinance consistent with the sewer ordinance. He also noted that all the utilities had installation charges which were paid by the owner and added that the city could no longer afford the cost of materials and labor. "Homes with city services demand a higher premium," Busse said. "It's an investment." The problem arises with homes constructed prior to the Subdivision Control ordinance which requires the developer to put in sewer and water stubs to all lots. "Why penalize someone from days (Continued on page 16) School Money Problems by James Blum The effect of decreases in state aid on McHenry Elementary District No. 15 were related last week in a "People -- think we're getting rich -- and we're hurting." discussion initiated by Gary Lock- wood, chairman of the board's Finance committee. "People look at our building and transportation funds and think we're getting rich", declared Lockwood. "They don't understand how a school district operates. The education fund is where the bulk of our expenses are,, and we're hurting". Bill Landis, business manager, listed areas of financial concern in­ cluding a decrease of 9 percent* in the rate of increase in assessed valuation with the new multiplier; a decrease of $53,000 in state aid; and a loss of $7,300 in special education funds. Dr. Farmer stated, "We'd expected revenues to exceed expenditures by $75,000. From what we're hearing from Springfield, that will not be the case." Good news reaching the board was a report from Valley View School Principal Ed Sobotkiewicz on his school's "Citizen of the Month" program. This program, in which the students in each classroom elect one student who has shown the best citizenship for that month, has grown to include other recognition and honors for good work and behavior. As Sobotkiewicz explained, "If you don't take the time to explain at­ titudes like generosity and integrity and kindness, and ask for those at­ titudes, you won't get them." Sobotkiewicz also explained the tf, (Continued on page 14) $180,535 For United Way Collect ion Sets Record Page 17 McHenry Dollar Days Special Supplement Jan. 19 Plaindealer RTA Route Changes For Bus Improvement Page 18 THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" A VOLUME 107 NUMBER 50 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19 , 1983 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 25* Pioneer Center Grant Application For Expansion Si • • t, by Anthony Oliver The McHenry City Council voted Monday night to act as applicant for grant monies on behalf of the Pioneer center (McHenry County Association for the Retarded). The unanimous vote ended discissions that took place at a special meeting held last Thursday and some discussion Monday night. Pioneer Center Executive Director Robert Lambourn said the grant was necessary to fund needed expansion of the Dayton street facility, in the Tonyan Industrial park. If successful, the grant would be coming from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (IDCCA). Under IDCCA guidelines, a "general unit of local government" must be the applicant for the grant. Lambourn said a private, not-for- profit organization, like Pioneer center, is not allowed to apply for the grant. The executive director pointed out that the vocational rehabilitation and training center, which started in 1979, had a maximum capacity of 216 developmentally disabled persons. "By June of 1983, we will reach that maximum," Lambourn said. "We need to look for additional space." Lambourn said the expansion project includes an addition of 12,000 feet to the 20,000-square-foot on Dayton street, of an adjacent lot, pur- of equipment and supplies and of the present parking 1987, we expect to serve another people," Lambourn commented. When the city agreed to sponsor the center, the city became the applicant and is required to hold a public hearing concerning the grant. The 11 also accept responsibility for ds and their disbursement and t an employee to ac* as liaison. intended to approach the local mental health board for 10 percent of the funds as a demonstration of com­ munity support. Community support will give the application more "points" with IDCCA, possibly giving the application a competitive edge over other grant applications. After some mihor legal matters were resolved, the grant question was brought to a vote. Aldermen Nolan, Pepping. Busse, Datz, Gelwicks, Smith and Serritella voted in favor. Aid. Meurer was absent. City Faces $116,500 Deficit by Anthony Oliver If the city continues spending at the present rate, it could be facing a potential net deficit of $116,500 at the end of the year, according to an analysis by Finance Committee Chairman Jack, Pepping (1st). Pepping reported Monday night the General Fund revenue projection of $1,899,600 for FY 1982-83 should be within $10,000, or 0.5 percent. "I feel the revenue projections are right on the money," Pepping said. He noted that the budget had a built- in deficit of $48,000 for capital ex­ penditures, which would be ap­ propriated from prior General Fund surpluses. At the beginning of the fiscal year, the total General Fund surplus tallied $109,415. In the year-to-date, revenues ex­ ceed expenditures by about $37,000, but this is not a comfortable margin, Pepping said." In the January to April period, expenditures generally exceed revenues by $20,000 to $30,000. Budget overruns by individual departments indicate an additional $68,500 deficit, 3.5 percent, if spending continues at present rates. Pepping said that if the eight-month ex­ penditure is multiplied by 1.5, a relatively accurate year end projection can be made. The General Administration budget marked the highest overrun, 14 percent. Pepping said most of the $20,000 overrun could be attributed to land acquisition of $14,000 and con­ tingencies of $5,000, neither of which were budgeted. The Park department was nine percent over its budget, primarily due to part-time help, gas and oil costs, office supplies and maintenance. The Public Works department was over by five percent, or $26,500, a majority of which was due to street repair. Pepping said $42,000 in ex­ penditures were made on a $20,000 budget. The Police department recorded a $5,200 budget overrun, 0.5 percent, but Pepping said that with nearly a million dollar budget ($945,700) it was "pretty doggone close." The City Clerk's office was right on target, with^ne Substantial budget overruns noted. "If we continue at the same rate, we'll have no reserves," Pepping said. "I hope we do better, but I felt obliged to present this to you." New EDC Brochure Promotes Assets Of McHenry County Fire Guts Home Fire fighters move in to tackle a blaze in Sunnyside that was sparked by gasoline fumes in the home of Roger Thompson, 4016 Riverview, McHenry. Firemen and equipment from four companies were called to the scene. STAFF PHOTO--WAYNE GAYLORD \ Fire gutted the Sunnyside area home of Roger Thompson, 4016 Riverview, Monday morning as Jie was cleaning a motor and parts with gasoline, fire officials said. "It started when he was cleaning a motor with gasoline inside the house," said Richard Woellert, assistant chief of Co. II, McHenry Township Fire Protection district. "The home was fully involved when we got there and flames were pouring from the win­ dows." Co. II was the first fire unit to respond to the 10:51 a.m. alert. Mutual aid was requested from Co. I and Co. Ill, McHenry, as well as a tanker from the Spring Grove Fire department. McHenry Fire Chief Glenn Peterson said about 40 fire fighters worked to extinguish the blaze. The Johnsburg Rescue squad transported Thompson to McHenry for examination and treat- (Continued on page 16) The Pion£fif center will prepare the grant application; comply with all IDCCA rules and regulations, assume liability for proper administration of the grant and reimburse the city for all expenses connected with the grant. Should the city opt to. apply for an IDCCA grant of its Own, the Pioneer center's professional grant writers will author the application. This measure was not part of the written contract, rather, more of a gen- tleman's agreement between the two organizations. The city is considering applying for a grant to make needed modifications and reconstruction of sewers along Green street. Lambourn said the Pioneer center "McHenry County Tope the State" is an original four-color brochure now ready for distribution by the McHenry County Economic Development Committee (EDC) and CETA. Together with the EDC's well received videotape, "The Quality of Life in McHenry County," the brochure will be used as a promotional aid to keep existing in­ dustry, to encourage its growth, and also to attract new firms. Through color photos, artwork and text the publication tells why McHenry county excels as a place to live, work and recreate. EDC was established last February (Continued on page 16) BUILDING DESTROYED--Firemen from Wonder Lake take on a big job as they try to extinguish a fire that broke out in a recreational building Sunday afternoon. Wonder Lake Fire department was assisted by Woodstock Rural, McHenry and Richmond. Damage was estimated at $70,000 and the cause is under investigation. STAFF PHOTO--WAYNE GAYLORD Make Water Line Judgment