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The
Glenview Watch |
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Glenview's postmaster is investigating an embarrassing situation for District 34 schools. Somehow, its not-for-profit bulk mailing permit was used to send campaign materials for the referenda to build and operate a new school. By law, school districts are barred from spending tax dollars to influence voters, and Superintendent Dot Weber says District 34 "did not authorize the use of this permit and had no knowledge that it was being used in this way."
Universal Press, the company that printed the pro-referenda flyers at no charge, accepts the blame for this "clerical error," claiming that campaign materials were "inadvertently mailed using the not-for-profit permit for Glenview District 34."
Universal's top executive Jory Siegel, whose wife Katie is an active volunteer in the schools, blamed the error on his production operator. "She probably needs a little more supervision," Siegel said. Referring to the Citizens for Great Schools for Glenview, he added, "They had nothing to do with this. We screwed up. There was no intent or malice."
Siegel thought his company's mailing house might have had the schools' bulk mailing number on file. Superintendent Weber said neither Universal Press nor its mailing house had done work for the district in the past. She was unsure how the printer could have gotten the bulk mailing number but pointed out it appears on all materials sent by the schools.
Postal officials say Citizens for Great Schools for Glenview would probably not have qualified for the not-for-profit rate. If the postmaster finds an error was made, additional postage of about $750 would be due. Weber says Citizens for Great Schools for Glenview will pay that bill.
MYSTERIES OF THE LIBRARY
Glenview's Library Board is about to begin the search for an architect to design its new building. The challenge planning a building without knowing where it will be or how much it can cost.
Library leaders still don't know whether they're going to The Glen or expanding downtown. Plans for the new Glen post office are not final, and until that domino falls, they don't know when they might get the site for future expansion and/or parking.
The jury is also out on how the public feels about moving the library to The Glen. Executive Director John Blegen will present possible questions for a public survey Wednesday, October 18 at the Library Board's meeting.
There's also some mystery about the source of the money. Will the public pay for downtown expansion or new construction at The Glen? The board hopes to put a referendum on the ballot next spring.
EXTERIOR DECORATING
At one of her public "listening sessions," Village Board President Nancy Firfer blamed METRA for delays in opening a new station at The Glen, but sources at METRA say it's the village that has held things up over a matter of exterior decorating. METRA says it was poised to build a temporary train station when someone at Glenview Village Hall raised a red flag. The limestone that METRA planned to use didn't match the stone used for Glenview's train station. Getting the proper stone delayed construction by several weeks.
Glenview has also tangled with METRA over a name for the station. Village officials want to call it "The Glen of North Glenview," but the transit authority thinks that's a mouthful for any conductor and will hog space on the schedule.
LOYOLA HOPES TO SCORE AT LUTTER LANDFILL
Loyola Academy was set to unveil its plans this week for a new athletic complex atop the 60-acre Lutter landfill near Johns Drive and Chestnut Road. The private Catholic high school in Wilmette has run out of room for sports and wants to create 10 playing fields for soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball, a building for concessions, a shelter with restrooms, two buildings for maintenance and storage plus parking for more than 450 cars.
Also on the drawing board, a 70,000-square foot ice rink. School officials aren't sure about that project and would have to raise money to build it. Might the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks and father of a Loyola alum put up cash for the "Wirtz Center?"
ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
While the bulk and scale ordinance proposed by the Plan Commission and Zoning Board won preliminary approval from the Village Board at its last meeting, the rules governing new homes that replace teardowns may be changed before they take effect.
Trustee John Crawford says the Plan Commission/ZBA formula would allow new homes to overpower existing ones in some neighborhoods, and he's drafted an alternative. Trustees Donna Pappo, Kent Fuller and Larry Carlson voted for the ordinance, but each has expressed concern about the impact of replacement homes on neighborhoods and could consider Crawford's proposition. People faced with the prospect of oversized houses in the neighborhood may also be back to plead their case.
BOARD MEETING PREVIEW
Also on the agenda for Tuesday, October 17 a report from AT&T on what they're up to in Glenview, more talk about trees, a plan to expand Village Hall and another appointment to the Comprehensive Plan Commission. The Chamber of Commerce representative, Ralph Lynch, has resigned after moving to Northbrook. In his place, the Chamber has asked President Firfer to appoint Dr. Chris Krueger, a local dentist and life-long resident of Glenview.
PLAN COMMISSION TAKES A POWDER
After weeks of wrangling over the new bulk and scale ordinance, several members of the Plan Commission took the night off Tuesday. Linda Witt, Joseph DiMattina and Gary Wendt didn't show up for the meeting, and with former Chairman Tim Doron's seat empty, there were only three commissioners available to tackle the week's business too few for a legal meeting.
Members of the public and folks hoping to build in Glenview were, no doubt, surprised when they arrived at Village Hall to find an empty board room, and their next visit could entail a very long wait. Last week's agenda must now be added to the business scheduled for October 24.
Editor's note: One month after Board President Firfer called for blanket reappointment of the Plan Commission, its chairman has resigned and three members can't make the meeting. We can't help but wonder how well Firfer did her research before extending everyone's term and whether some fresh new appointees might have more enthusiasm for the job.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Patrons of Glenview's public library have noticed lots of activity in the alley. Ameritech is installing a larger generator to accommodate more lines here. The original generator was assembled in the basement and is not easily removed. Crews are now digging a hole to get it out.
Work is supposed to be done by mid-December.
After building an addition to its main technical center near Waukegan and Glenview Roads, Kraft spent this week tearing down an older section. The company plans to replace it with a heavily landscaped parking lot.
BUILDING THE SIDEWALK TO NOWHERE
The idea provoked a storm of protest from residents of Glenridge Meadows, a small subdivision near the intersection of Willow and Landwehr, but the village said a sidewalk must be built on Landwehr, and trees behind homes in the subdivision would have to come down to make way. The neighbors wanted to keep their trees and pointed out that there is no sidewalk to the south, so a new sidewalk would connect to nothing.
Representatives from District 31, including the superintendent, disagreed. They argued that kids could not walk safely to Winkelman or Field schools (on the east side of the street where a partial sidewalk has already been built) unless a sidewalk was built along the west side. Board President Nancy Firfer admitted that a west side walk might never be complete since some right-of-way lies in unincorporated Glenview, but a majority of trustees voted to proceed.
This fall, the neighbors had a meeting with county and village officials to discuss location. They agreed the sidewalk could be built a few feet from the road. Construction of the sidewalk took place this week, and not a single tree was cut down.
Editor's note: The trustees, who have now proven their commitment to safe pedestrian travel, have still done nothing to connect Glenridge Meadows and many other neighborhoods to the new community park and recreation center at The Glen. If you rode a bike from Nancy Firfer's house on Lizette to The Glen, you'd risk your life on Lake Avenue which for much of the way has a paved shoulder but no sidewalk and no barriers between high speed traffic and pedestrians. Willow is even worse with a complete absence of sidewalks from Shermer to Patriot Boulevard.
WHEATON
FINDS NOVEL SOLUTION TO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
West suburban Wheaton has been wondering what to do about North Main
Street a four-lane road that gets crowded during rush hour, backing up
when cars need to turn left. Residents feared a move to widen the road
because dozens of mature trees would have to come down. Now, the town's
traffic consultant suggests a novel solution. Congestion could be reduced
by going to three lanes two wider lanes for through traffic and a
center lane for turns. A similar solution is proposed for Willow Road
through Northfield.
A TRAFFIC STOP FOR JERRY
Glenview's village president isn't the only one to boast a clean traffic
record in her own town. (Nancy Firfer recently explained that she drives
slowly here to avoid appearing in the police blotter.) Northbrook's former
board president, Gerald Friedman, has never been ticketed, so he was
startled, recently, to see a police car with flashing lights in his rear
view mirror. Friedman pulled over on Dundee Road, rolled down his window
and turned to see a smiling face. "Hey, Jerry," said the
officer. "I just wanted to say hello."
JODY'S COMPLAINT
Statehouse candidate Jody Wadhwa tells the Glenview Announcements that
he's gotten a rotten reception from some residents. The 65-year-old native
of India has lived in the U.S. since 1956 and received citizenship in
1967, but when ringing doorbells to ask for votes, Wadhwa claims some
people have told him to "Go back to your country." Others have
called the police or slammed the door in his face. A successful
businessman and a former member of the Oakton Community College Board,
Wadwha laughs about the situation and suggests that only a small
percentage of voters in the 57th district "don't like the way I look
or sound." Wadhwa is a Democrat challenging Republican State Rep.
Beth Coulson.
DISTRICT 34 WANTS YOU
The search is on for folks who'd like to be on the District 34 School
Board. Caucus spokesman Sandy South says three seats are up for grabs.
Prospective candidates who want caucus endorsement should call 729-9076 to
get a questionnaire that must be turned in, along with a resume, by
November 17. The election is April 3. Winners would begin serving in
November 2001.
GOVERNOR'S APPOINTMENTS
Gov. George Ryan made the following appointments of Glenview residents
last week:
Sandra Tristano, 49, general counsel with PACE Suburban Bus Service,
was named to the Illinois Labor Relations Board. If confirmed by the
Illinois Senate, she will receive $77,230 a year.
William Braden, 56, chief executive office of the American Red Cross
of Greater Chicago, was reappointed to the Illinois Commission of
Volunteerism and Community Service.
Sheila O'Brien, 44, an Illinois Appellate Court judge, was reappointed
to the Juvenile Justice Committee.
Braden and O'Brien receive expenses only for their state service.
HOMECOMING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Glenbrook South High School just celebrated homecoming weekend, and we
note that traditions persist. Young men were required to wear sport coats
to the event called, "Wish On a Star," and a school flyer
advised, "It is customary for the boy to purchase a corsage for the
girl." On the other hand, that same flyer tells parents that some
students will be traveling by limo, and all vehicles are subject to
search.
READERS WRITE:
Glenview resident Deano Vass responds to BFC who complained about school
crowding in last week's Watch:
"Having just completed my job on the Fact Finding Committee of the
District 34 Referendum I cannot stress enough the importance of a
Facilities Committee report which expresses the need to redistrict
[drawing new boundary lines that would send some children to less crowded
schools within the district]. Although redistricting is never a pleasant
process, it is a reality. We cannot build the new "Great Park Middle
School" and expect it to solve our intermediate school overcrowding
problem. The third grades will be moved to the intermediate schools when
the 6th grades go to the middle schools. Therefore, we end up housing the
same number of kids (or more) no matter how you look at it. Hence, the
mobiles appear at those schools once again, and parents' frustrations
continue.
"It's disturbing to me that our Board has had a Facilities Committee
in place for years and its recommendations continue to be ignored, and
further, fill our crowded schools with programs not required by the state,
such as At-Risk Preschool, At-Risk Kindergarten and the Wesley Day Care
Center all wonderful programs, but not when we don't have room for our
own students' needs.
BFC should understand that she will continue to see children being taught
in the hallways even if the referendum passes without redistricting."
Editor's note: Superintendent Weber says the board will consider
redistricting and moving special programs, but its members are waiting to
assess the full impact of The Glen rather than draw new district lines and
be forced to redraw them one or two years from now. Is school crowding an
emergency situation? We don't know, but we took note when the
superintendent informed us enrollment at Springman is now "911."
PG responds to last week's letter claiming extreme crowding in District
34:
"Please tell me specifically which classes at Springman (the school
most to benefit from another junior high) are taught "in hallway's or
staff rooms." We have two students there, and I have not seen this in
many trips to the school. Much (too much) is being made of temporary
classrooms as if this is slum schooling. Many of us had the experience of
using those buildings to no ill effect in the past. Finally, the claim
that "it's only $300 on your tax bill" is disingenuous as all
get out. With a single digit CPI for ten years our portion of the tax bill
for education has tripled in ten years and shows no sign of abating
anytime soon.
"If you think your house is a money pit, spend some time in your
local school as a volunteer. It really is terrific to have qualified
personnel at our schools, but do we need a janitor with a CPA at Pleasant
Ridge? Citizens of Glenview should be asking tough questions now."
The Watch replies: The custodian at Pleasant Ridge was not hired for his
accounting credentials nor is he being paid CPA rates.
MLH wants the Trustees tucked-in at bedtime:
"Should the Board consider having meetings weekly or adding meetings
as needed? Or perhaps the trustees should alternate 'general' meetings
with 'Glen' meetings? Both the trustees and the individuals waiting to
speak at these meetings are being done a disservice when time gets away
from them: it's a well-established fact that it's harder to think clearer
the later it gets, and I'm presuming that most of those people have day
jobs that they should be awake for the next day."
The Watch replies: We think the board should meet more often to avoid
these late-night proceedings. Clearly the press of business overwhelms
them and does not contribute to good government. We also think it's time
to pay our trustees something more for their trouble. Right now they get
$35 per meeting less than $1,000 a year. Northbrook gives its trustees
$5,000 annually. Evanston offers $10,000 a year. These payments don't
fully compensate elected officials for the time they invest, but it's
important that citizens offer a suitable token of their appreciation and
recognize that not everyone who wants to serve on a Village Board can
afford to work for peanuts.
BH thinks maybe those late hour pleadings are strategically timed:
"When there's a bottomless well to tap, why worry about cost overruns
or unexpected problems at The Glen. Just ask for another hand out when the
board is weary and the cable audience has gone to bed. Harza Engineering
(our consultant) should be doing the soil sampling and boring. That they
are not is another measure of the inexperience of the so-called developer
the village.
"Developing should be left to professional developers who have their
own dollars at risk and not to local government and its consultants. I
thought at the outset that the village being its own developer was like a
defendant in court acting as his own attorney a losing proposition.
But then there are a lot of things wrong at The Glen."
BB finds some of those giant replacement homes in existing neighborhoods
to be well, nauseating. He writes:
"If the old houses are tear-downs,' are new houses
throw-ups?'"
AB thinks the village should protect its trees:
"One thing that people who are against saving trees constantly argue
is that there are more trees today than in the past. Technically, they are
correct. In reality, the trees they are cutting down are very old ones
being replaced by saplings. We have lost touch with what is important all
in the name of development."
And MQ will keep working out in Niles, thank you very much!
"Regarding senior rates for the fitness center at the Glen. Did you
say $350 for seniors between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. is a reduced rate?
"I'm going to the Niles Fitness Center which is available to me seven
days a week and offers non-resident seniors a rate of $224. Resident
seniors get a rate of $165 a year. And by the way, if I go to Florida in
the winter or cannot use the center for a three month period, they will
extend my membership covering those three months. Every day of the week
their swimming pool and fitness programs are free to their members. They
have free towels and new facilities, having just celebrated their first
birthday. But then Classic Residence by Hyatt isn't exactly geared to the
majority of Glenview's seniors, so why would they be considerate of
seniors at the Glenview Fitness Center?"
The Watch Replies: We apologize, M. We misread the chart and reported
non-resident rates for Park Center. Glenview seniors will actually pay
only $265 for their annual membership. That is less than a regular
membership ($375) but more than the average for senior memberships in this
area -- $189. You could, of course, get closer to the rate you pay in
Niles by taking advantage of the early bird discount ($25), but you'd
still be restricted on when you could use Park Center's facilities. (The
limited membership is for folks who can work-out between 11 a.m. and 3
p.m. Monday through Friday. It cannot be used on weekends or holidays.)
One other point for cost conscious residents. Use of the indoor track at
Park Center will be free at all times.
GN is a romantic and thrifty soul:
"Is there a special membership for husband and wife?"
The Watch replies: Yes, a two-person family membership is $550 $525
with the early bird discount. You can call Linda Lewensky at the Park
District for more information. Her number is 657-3249.