DISTRICT 225 TO DECIDE BOUNDARIES

The Glenbrook High School Board of Education will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 22 to consider drawing new boundaries for students who attend GBS and GBN.   South faces serious crowding problems while North has excess capacity.  Possible solutions include construction of new classrooms at South or sending Glenview students from District 30 to North.

The Board has said it does not want to send students from the Glen to North because those kids would be separated from their middle school friends.  That's precisely the "problem" for Glenview students in District 30 who now attend Maple Middle School – then bid farewell to their classmates from Northbrook to attend GBS.

By shifting all of District 30 to North, that "problem" would be fixed, but opponents argue that the loss of those affluent kids could have a negative impact on cumulative test scores at GBS  and reduce the socioeconomic diversity of South. 

GOT A GRIPE ABOUT VILLAGE GOVERNMENT?
   
Glenview Village Trustees will host a town meeting on June 7 at Glenbrook South High School.  Board members will answer questions and take suggestions from area residents from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Lyceum. 

SNAKE ESCAPE

As construction continues at the Glen, hapless snakes are fleeing into other parts of Glenview.  On Rugen Road, one family keeps finding harmless garter snakes in their window well – four of them in the last 24 hours, and a participant in Saturday's "plant rescue" found a mother with several babies on land where Catellus plans to build. 

These gentle people carried their captives to the protected prairie preserve where we hope they will stay.  Should the snakes venture beyond Glenview's official prairie boundary, however, they might be squashed by heavy construction equipment working on the new Lehigh Road and a four-story office building on Willow.

GARDENING WITH THE BOARD

As spring moves toward summer, our local politicians are talking a lot about gardening.  At the last meeting, Trustee Donna Pappo insisted that Kimball Hill Homes plant perennials instead of annuals to assure a long-lasting look for their development at the Glen.  Trustee John Crawford agreed.  Shaking his head,  he confessed, "I hate annuals."

MATHEMATICAL MYSTERIES

Crawford also questioned a charge of $200 per acre for mowing open land at the Techny Basin – a giant dry detention area adjacent to Heatherfield.   Planning Director Mary Bak explained that the land is sloped making this a particularly difficult job. 

And how many acres will need to be mowed?  Difficult to say.  Early in the debate, Trustee Cook pointed out that Village Officials have identified the land as a 65-acre parcel in the past.  "This report refers to it as 46 acres.  I'm just wondering where those 20 acres went," she said. 

Bak thought maybe we got to 65 acres with the addition of Lot 16 – a 10-acre parcel purchased by the Village.  "The Basin itself is actually 46 acres."  She then launched into a detailed discussion of funding for maintenance of the land, ignoring the fact that 46 and 10 do not add-up to 65.

Later, Trustee Pappo said  the contract being discussed referred to 31 acres.  "If we want them to oversee 46 acres and it says 31 acres, I think we have a 15-acre problem."

   Bak said the apparent error in the contract would be corrected and agreed with Pappo's theory – that the vendor in question, Conservation Design Forum, was also hired to study the prairie and had, apparently, confused the size of that land at the Glen (officially set at 31 acres) with the land they'll oversee at Heatherfield.

Kemper Sports Management appeared before the board to explain why it's not seeking the highest level of Audubon certification for its golf course at the Glen.  Audubon has a formal program to discourage the use of pesticides and herbicides, to limit erosion and water pollution and to create wildlife habitat.  It wouldn't award its top designation unless the entire Glen met high standards for environmental protection, so Kemper said it was going for a lesser category – joining Audubon's Cooperative Sanctuary program.  The company pledged to preserve about 75 acres of maintenance free grassland, pine trees, wetlands and small lakes as part of its golf course and invited members of the board to tour its course in Long Grove.  Trustee Patton asked if he might bring his clubs.
   
GRRR

Patton also introduced a motion to get tough on vicious dogs.  State law allows a pooch one bite before being put down, but in Glenview there is no second chance.  If your canine bites a member of the public, the animal can now be destroyed.

NOTES FROM NEIGHBORS

The Daily Herald reports Algonquin shot down plans to bring more than 500 new homes and additional retail to that Village.  The planning, building and zoning committee unanimously rejected developments proposed by Kimball Hill Homes and O&S Development.  Members expressed concerns that lot sizes would be too small, there wouldn't be enough open space near the homes, and the development would have a negative impact on already crowded schools.  "More rooftops aren't a positive thing for the Village," said Committee Chair John Schmitt.

The state of Illinois will give Glen Ellyn $2 million toward the purchase of 25 acres of open space.  "Communities, such as Glen Ellyn, are working hard to preserve park areas and provide recreational opportunities to their residents, but they can't do it alone," said Gov. George Ryan.  (Glenview hopes to get a cut of the same pie for purchase of Lot 16 – a 10-acre parcel along the north branch of the Chicago River south of Target and Kohl's.)

FINALLY FROM LAKE COUNTY

An official from the Sierra Club in Lake County e-mailed members:  "You wouldn't know it from their horrible sacrifice of the Glenview Naval Airstation natural areas to development, but Glenview has an Environmentally Sensitive Areas Ordinance.  I have asked a couple of favorable Trustees in Vernon Hills to look into adopting it."

READERS WRITE ...

Last week's lawsuit and Village Attorney Randall's triumphant speech brought several letters.  From ND: "I wanted to puke when everyone made such a big deal about Randall doing his job – the job he's paid quite handsomely to do.  What was this, a roast?  Stop wasting my time." 

Regarding a call by Trustees Patton and Carlson to try and recover Village legal fees from the Plaintiffs for what Patton called a "frivolous suit" she adds,  " I'm very scared that these people make decisions for our town. Three of the plaintiffs are senior citizens!!!  I will be doing my best to remove these egomaniacs from their positions in the next election.  Hell, I may even run."

A local lawyer writes:  "I believe that Mr. Patton is an attorney.  If that is correct, then he should know that there are very few instances when you can countersue for legal fees.  I don't believe that this situation remotely rises to that level."  Referring to the fact that Judge Dorothy Kinnaird refused to stop construction of a road at the Glen without a $400,000 bond from the plaintiffs he added, "The burden for a TRO is an extremely difficult one, so the fact that the plaintiffs lost does not indicate that their actions were frivolous."

And Mrs. S says: "If the request for a temporary restraining order was so frivoluous as Patton suggests, why did the judge ask for a bond?  Bonds are required only when TROs might be granted.  Doesn't this mean that the court thought the plaintiffs' motion had some merit?"

Plaintiff Mike Luxem checked in to say, "Jeff Randall's so-called ‘victory for the people of Glenview' really is for the developers of The Glen.  I drove by this morning to see the fresh black prairie soil that has not been broken since the last farmers plowed in 1935 piled up to make way for progress.  The attempt to halt construction so that the ESA ordinance could properly work its way through the public hearing process was the only move we had left."
And AB was very angry:   "Just got done reading this C#@P!  How dare they use the term ‘frivolous' to describe the lawsuit.  It represented the wishes of MOST Glenview residents.  I hate attorneys, and Randall's comments are despicable. He says the court order was a victory for Glenview residents.   B#*&$H$T!!   We are trying to slow down the "progress roller coaster" so that we may be able to salvage a tiny percentage of what used to be our Prairie State....I don't know one person who is for this construction.  I really feel like not being a Glenview resident any longer.  I know several other suburbs are buying their undeveloped land.  Why weren't the residents of Glenview allowed to vote on such an important issue?"

JR writes: "A loud HOORAY for the victory in saving Wagner Farm.  We agonized over the thought of that beautiful piece of land being desecrated by more tract housing!  Norma Morrison and friends should get an award for their efforts.  If I have anything to do with it, there will be a HUGE parcel of land reserved for them in Heaven."  (Morrison says there should be enough room for everyone who supported the referendum and for the loyal, hard-working members of the COWS Board.)

Regarding plans for another shopping center and industrial park at the base, JR continues: "Enough already!  I know we live in prosperous times, but how many shopping areas do we need?  I really feel it has gotten out of hand, unless we want to mirror the villages of Schaumburg and Arlington Heights.  Trustee Patton said it all when he claimed that developers were `trying to further the best interests of this town.' Gee, how gallant of them.  They couldn't possibly be thinking of furthering their OWN interests!!"

Biff Thiele voices disappointment with the performance of Larry Carlson, President Firfer's recent appointment to the Board.  "Carlson was approved because he appeared to be an independent thinker – someone who would act on his own and not be influenced by politics --  someone who would relieve some of the tension up there by not playing the games.  Boy did we misjudge him.  He's constantly looking to Patton and Firfer for guidance.  This week, when Trustee Patton wanted a vote on whether or not to seek legal fees from plaintiffs in the suit against Glenview, Carlson jumped in to second the motion.  Two minutes later, Patton agreed to wait on the matter, and Carlson – looking like one of the little toy puppies with the bobbing heads that some people have in their cars – agreed.  Please, Mr. Carlson!  You got the job.  Now how about doing what you were put there to do.  Take some initiative.  Give us some originality."
And Ib Jorgenson – ever the original thinker – asks, "Why do we have a Chicago cow displayed on the sidewalk of Glenview Road across from the fire station?  That cow has the CHICAGO skyline painted on it.  I thought the Village Board wanted to promote GLENVIEW."

Actually, Ib, the cow was purchased by a private citizen – public relations man Merton Silbar who has offices overlooking the cow.  He bought it after last year's successful show in downtown Chicago and presented it to Glenview as a centennial gift.  It's called "Night and Day," and features the windy city's skyline before and after dark.  We agree that promoting Glenview is a good idea but doubt that an artist could do much with Glenview's skyline.

Art Wulf responds to our story "Nightmare on Willow Road":  "I find it laughable to discuss widening Willow Road.  For the past 20 years, every attempt to improve the flow of traffic on Willow has ended the same way – funneling into one lane through Northfield.  You could make Willow 12 lanes wide, it doesn't make any difference.  When it gets to Northfield, it slows to 30-35 mph, narrows to one lane in each direction, has no left turn bays except at lights, and the lights are not synchronized, so you have to stop at every one from Waukegan to the Edens.  How is it possible?  Who do they know?  Was Jim Edgar's house on Willow Road?  I don't comprehend. 

Actually, Art, the secret to Northfield's success appears to be good old community organizing, backed  by some serious money.  The Village set aside $500,000 to lobby against widening Willow.  Northfield also came up with a plan to add many more turn lanes and to close off some streets and driveways that now empty onto Willow – routing that traffic to other streets.  Those improvements should be completed in 2002. 

Former Governor Jim Edgar hailed from downstate Charleston, and we believe the coordination of traffic lights along Willow is the responsibility of the Illinois Department of Transportation. 

The topic of teardowns is still on some minds:  AL writes, "What about the homes that are being built on Central Rd.  You talk about super structures!!!  We have a home on our block that listed for $670,000.  How crazy is that?  And you want to talk about noise.  I know for a fact that the police were called on several occasions to get this company to abide by the very generous rules of Glenview.  They were told to stop but could be fined if they get caught again.  The fine – a whopping $10.  PLEASE!"

The approval of re-zoning for ABT brought this note from KM: "If ABT makes $80 million a year (which they say they do), why split the sales tax revenue with them?  Morton Grove did it to keep them from moving, and you see how well that worked!  Glenview does not need to waste tax dollars like this.  If ABT on Milwaukee is meant to happen, Glenview should keep ALL of the sales tax money and use part of it for open space or other local needs.  If Glenview shares the tax revenue with ABT, every business in Glenview (especially ones that have been paying taxes here for many years) should demand the same deal."

Stu Hamilton is also watching the Abt ball: "At first, I was happy to see that ABT was planning to move into the Zenith industrial park.  Now that I've read the Watch's coverage of Mr. Silver's comments and ABT's dream of tax benefits I am becoming disillusioned.  I, too, have a business in Glenview, in the soon-to-be-re-zoned Lehigh Triangle, and could also use some sales tax rebates.  The gall of ABT to think that it should get tax breaks is too much!"

On the subject of architecture at the Glen, Hamilton says, "My daughter bought a new house in the Ft. Sheridan redevelopment area.  It is beautiful up there.  No cookie cutter homes.  No big boxes of unimaginative design.  I find the Glen to be boring, lacking in design creativeness and any kind of beauty.  What a mess and at high prices too!"
   

YOUR TURN

What's on your mind? Drop us a line by e-mail at GlenviewWatch@aol.com or the old-fashioned way. We're at 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. Thanks for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors of The Watch.

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