Glenview’s library board has hired an architect and is now searching for a company to build its new building. While no decision has been made on a location, the new library would be 110,000 square feet – more than twice the size of the existing building, according to a request for proposals issued on October 10.

The board intends to interview qualified contractors the week of November 5 and to announce its selection on November 21. The winning bidder would then prepare drawings and other materials to help the board sell its plans to the voters. A referendum would appear on the ballot in April to raise money needed for construction. The library board estimates costs at $15 million - $21 million.

Four days after Glenview’s Plan Commission began a review of storm water management policies in the village, Glenview was hit by flash flooding. More than three inches of rain fell Saturday, forcing many residents with rakes to wade through standing water in an effort to clear leaves and debris blocking storm drains.

Plan Commissioners reached no conclusions about the best way to prevent such flooding. Village engineer Steve Jacobson said 60-70 percent of residents rely on storm sewers, and there are 226 detention basins supplementing that system, but more needs to be done.

Harza Engineering has developed a plan, but Jacobson described it as a "very expensive game plan [that] isn’t funded."

Right now, the village pays for some major projects, including new sewers for Glenview and Shermer roads. Developers of subdivisions pay for storm sewers and pass the cost on to buyers, and people who live on lots of half an acre or more are required to provide their own detention if they build new or increase the size of their homes – a policy that has provoked cries of protest from some homeowners planning small additions.

The commissioners considered changing the policy to allow anyone building onto an existing home or building new to pay a fee proportional to the amount of land being covered. That payment would go into a fund for more comprehensive storm water management – recognizing the village-wide nature of the problem.

Another possible solution – creation of a storm water utility that would impose a tax on every homeowner to cover the cost of new sewers. Village staff also hinted that stronger limits on the size of houses would be helpful, but Chairman Silver wouldn’t go there. A complex new bulk and scale ordinance remains controversial.

Editor’s note: This weekend’s rain filled the Techny Basin to capacity, pushed Lake Glenview to record levels, closed intersections and flooded basements around town, but it was not a "hundred year storm" according to Public Work’s Director Bill Porter. In 1987, Glenview tallied seven inches of rain in just 16 hours.

This week’s meeting of the Glenview Village Board at 7 p.m. Tuesday could feature sparks as the trustees tackle some old controversies. They’ll discuss how much the village should contribute to neighborhoods wanting storm sewers and whether Glenview should restrict window signs in stores.

The trustees will be asked to hire Consoer Townsend Environdyne to design and engineer improvements to Lake Avenue between Laramie and Patriot in 2003. The board will also vote on employment of Glenbrook Excavating and Concrete to lay 127 feet of steel pipe and dig a 2,450-foot drainage ditch on the northern triangle, north of Willow Road near Patriot. Once that $606,000 construction project is done, work can begin on a new shopping center to house Home Depot, Costco, Harley Davidson and other retailers.

The trustees will also be asked to approve payment of some new bills.

– Road and sewer work on Prairie and Lincoln streets is still not complete, but Mauro Sewer has submitted a bill for more than a quarter of a million dollars.

– We paid AAA Lock and Key $575 to repair a door and spent $2,400 to fix the spring on a door at Glenview’s fire station 6.

– You think your cellular bill is high? We don’t know how many months it covered, but the trustees will okay a payment of $2,847 to Cingular Wireless.

– The Pioneer Press is collecting $39.95 for a subscription to the Glenview Announcements. We wonder when the village will be sending us a check. We know you’re there, Mr. McCarthy. Time to pony up. Send your voluntary contribution to Glenview Watch, 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025.

– Gallery Park isn’t open yet, but the bills are coming in. Integrated Lakes Management collected more than $8,700 – $3,838 for water quality collection, $2,475 for water quality monitoring, $1,530 for water analysis and $900 for trash removal.

Editor’s note: Are we paying a premium to have a company of trained scientists collecting garbage at The Glen? Isn’t there someone on the village payroll who could do the job for less?

VILLAGE BOARD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Glenview’s trustees will hold three executive sessions in the next three months to discuss real estate matters involving The Glen. Detailed minutes are not available from these sessions, but that could soon change. A measure requiring a verbatim transcript or tape of executive sessions is making its way through the Illinois Senate. The House approved it during the last session when supporters argued that without a record of these meetings there’s no way for citizens or a court to know if trustees are talking about things in private that they should be discussing in public. The Senate Republic Caucus and the Municipal League have opposed the bill. To let your senator know what you think, call Kathy Parker at 441-0077 or come to the League of Women Voters open house 7:30-9:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 16 at Patten House, 939 Harlem Avenue. Parker, State Representatives Beth Coulson and Jeff Schoenberg will speak and answer questions. For more information, call 998-6510.

At the last meeting of the board, the trustees considered a request from Viccino’s Pizza to open a new eatery at the Plaza del Prado. Owner Doug Denenberg already operates restaurants in downtown Glenview, Northfield and Libertyville. Not yet 30, Denenberg plans to expand his empire with a place that would seat 40 at the Plaza and allow him to serve a variety of pastas, pizza, beer and wine.

The petitioner was not on hand, and that usually prompts the board to postpone action, but Trustee Mike Guinane was ready to roll. "Seeing how it’s got unanimous approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals and we are trying to attract new businesses into Glenview, especially restaurants, I’d like to move for approval of this," he said.

"Second," said Trustee Pappo. "I’m really excited about this."

"Mr. President, I’d like to say they have good pizza," quipped Trustee John Crawford.

The board then gave nearly unanimous support to Viccino’s. Trustee Jeff Lerner recused himself "for professional reasons."

What the trustees didn’t know when they took their cheerful vote is that Viccino’s will apparently be doing business beside an empty storefront – the former home to Breadsmith Bakery which had been at the Plaza del Prado for six years.

Franchise owner Keith Dudek says he got behind on his rent, but when he tried to pay up, Mid-America Real Estate refused to cash his check. Instead, its lawyer sent a note saying his lease had been terminated. Perhaps, Dudek thought, the landlord wanted to raise the rent or find a tenant willing to share a percentage of the profits. Maybe the new tenant, Viccino’s, wouldn’t want competition from Breadsmith which sold 80 kinds of bread, rolls and pizza. Whatever the reason, Mid-America gave Dudek just 30 days to get out, and the timing could not have been worse.

Dudek has a daughter in college and a son in the Marines, fighting the war on terrorism somewhere in the Middle East. Business had been good for Breadsmith with a steady stream of retail customers and wholesale clients like Sunset Foods, Carrot Top and Pantry Place. Dudek was even considering an offer from a Skokie baker to buy the business when Mid-America pulled the plug.

Now, Dudek says, his head is spinning. He hasn’t ruled out finding another place in Glenview, but it’s a tough job on short notice. "I’ll probably just liquidate, meditate and move on," he says.

Editor’s note: At the start of the year, we reported on another long-time merchant at the Plaza del Prado who was booted out. Ted Kaden, proprietor of Kaden’s Shoes, said the landlord wanted more rent and was in no mood to negotiate. When he tried, Mid-America told him to pack up all 14,000 pairs and leave. Eventually, the landlord relented – allowing Ted and his son Neil to stay in a temporary space for six more months. They sold footwear from a storefront that had been occupied by Sue’s Hallmark – another local merchant unable to pay more rent.

At the time, we wrote: "There is probably no legal role for the village in this situation, but local leaders who are committed to attracting and keeping small business might have stepped in, bringing their clout to bear on the landlord or helping the Kaden’s find another location. Unfortunately, the resources of the village have been diverted to The Glen, leaving the Kaden’s and their customers to fend for themselves."

The same could now be said for Keith Dudek and Breadsmith. While Village President Carlson has been chasing donuts from Deerfield, plenty of existing businesses are getting the cold shoulder from Village Hall. Isn’t it time to appoint an economic development director whose office would support existing businesses as well as new merchants?

In a surprising move, Plan Commission Chairman Howard Silver used a little-known provision from Robert’s Rules of Order to cast a tie-making vote Tuesday and send Prestige Auto Leasing away without approval to build a new building and enlarge its lot on Waukegan Road across from Village Hall.

Last week, it looked like Prestige would get a green light with votes from Commissioners Peter Brinkerhoff, Gary Wendt, Jim Patterson and Jack Bevington, but with Wendt absent, the vote was three in favor and two opposed. Silver joined Commissioners Linda Witt and Joe DiMattina who think the building would be too modern and too much for the site.

Prestige could take its case directly to the Village Board which might ignore the Plan Commission’s advice and approve the car dealer’s plans, but first Prestige needs an okay from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Plan Commission again considered suitable regulations for extended stay hotels in Glenview and heard from a representative of the Georgia-based company that hopes to build a Staybridge Suites Hotel at The Glen. "I’d like to remind you of one thing," Chairman Howard Silver told the visitor. "Sunday – Bears 31, Atlanta Falcons 3."

The news didn’t get much better for Staybridge as the commission debated how long guests should be allowed to stay, how many people should be allowed to stay in a unit and how many folks could fit in a bed. Silver thought eight people in a two-bedroom apartment with five double beds was too many. Commissioner Jim Patterson, whose brothers each have six kids, disagreed. In the end, the commission decided to go with fire department limits on how many people could occupy a given space and agreed to ban the use of an extended stay hotel as a legal residence – effectively assuring that guests would not send children to our schools or vote in our elections.

Long-time County Commissioner Cal Sutker, who represents southern Glenview, Skokie, Evanston and two wards in Chicago faces a serious challenge in the Democratic primary this spring. Lawrence Suffredin, a 53-year-old lawyer who’s been active in party politics, plans to challenge the 78-year-old incumbent. Suffredin will cast himself as a progressive running against the old guard, pledging more support for acquiring open space and greater efforts to control taxes. He complains that too much money is spent by the county on its court system and proposes to try and make the state pay more. Sutker touts his own environmental record in opposing the sale of forest preserve land to Rosemont and reminds voters of his attacks on County Board President John Stroger for awarding contracts to his friends and relatives.

After two weeks of discord in Deerfield, that community’s mayor told a crowded meeting of the Village Board that they’ll now begin with the pledge of allegiance. Scouting troops and veterans will be invited to lead – a practice already in place in Glenview.

The controversy erupted on September 19 when, in the middle of a meeting, citizen Ken Werner called on the trustees to pledge. The mayor promised consideration of the idea at some future point, and Trustee Jerry Kayne expressed concern that some residents might be offended by the "under God" portion of the pledge.

In fact, one World War II veteran told the trustees that forcing people who don’t believe in God to pledge was reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Photographer Art Shay told the Deerfield Review that the "under God" line had been added to the pledge in 1954 in response to Senator Joseph McCarthy’s attack on the "godless communists."

Meanwhile, Glenview’s Plan Commission Chairman Howard Silver chose to begin this week’s meeting with a moment of silence rather than a prayer. Two weeks ago, he announced that a different commissioner would lead the group in prayer at each meeting until our period of mourning was over. Later, Silver was advised by the village attorney that prayers at a public meeting might violate the Constitutional mandate for separation of church and state.

Volunteers who want to clear brush from Miami Woods have petitioned Cook County President John Stroger, who imposed a moratorium on such efforts five years ago. Stroger acted after city residents complained that prairie restorationists were taking down trees in Chicago forest preserves. Those trees – mostly buckthorn – grow rapidly, crowding out native plants. The Morton Grove group says there are several rare species in Miami Woods that could be lost unless Stroger allows them to remove brush again.

Northbrook is struggling with plans for a river walk – trying to figure out where it should go and how much should be spent. Bids range from $118,000 to $2.8 million. The trustees await a report from their consultants before making a decision.

Meanwhile, Glenview has won a $515,000 grant to build a pedestrian/bike path along the south side of West Lake Avenue – connecting to Gallery Park, the new METRA station and the Techny bike trail. That project should be complete by fall, 2002 when the inevitable fight will begin between cyclists and pedestrians.

Editor’s note: Ideally, sidewalks and bike paths should not be one and the same, and given Glenview’s once-in-a-lifetime chance to build at The Glen, it’s a shame to make this mistake. On the other hand, it comes as no surprise. Unlike neighboring Northbrook, Glenview has no commission devoted to pedestrian and bicycle safety. If you’d like to lobby for better bike paths, call your favorite trustee and go to www.bikelib.org/roads/survey.html .

Planning consultants from Milwaukee were startled to learn that the village has no place to put a sidewalk connecting Chestnut – the eastern entrance to The Glen – with the new METRA station and shopping area to be built north of that intersection. Land on the west side of Lehigh Road is owned by private companies while land on the east side is owned by METRA.

At a Comprehensive Plan Commission hearing last week, village planner Amy Ahner said pedestrians could use bike paths leading from The Glen to the train station or the village might be able to negotiate an easement with business owners on Lehigh, but many of them sit on narrow lots, using the property in question for parking and signs. Had the village realized the need for a sidewalk sooner, it could have given Glen land west of the businesses in exchange for an easement on the east. Ahner also detailed plans for construction of the new Lehigh Road – a three-lane affair that will be bid by January and take two years to complete.

Business owners in the area disagreed on whether it should remain an industrial strip. Several expressed interest in enlarging their buildings, but one has reportedly received an offer of $4 million from a residential developer, and another thinks new residents of The Glen will press for rezoning. "The people who bought million dollar houses don’t want to drive by Red’s Auto Body," she said.

Crews have begun tearing down Rugen Center on Shermer Road in preparation for construction of the new Swenson Park. Glenview hopes to get a state grant that will allow plans to be drawn this winter. Construction could get underway this spring with completion by the end of summer.

Also from the Park District comes a clarification. Last week, we reported that District 34 had decided to cut field trips to The Grove to save money. Those trips were actually cut from this year's budget. The kids went, but their parents picked up the tab. The school board has not yet decided what it will do next year.

The Glenview Symphony Society will present seven concerts in this season, beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, October 28 in the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1850 Chestnut. Music for flute and guitars will be performed by Michele McGovern, Steve Edwards and Philip Simmons. The program will include works by Bach, Carulli, Faure, DeFalla, and Ibert. Admission is free, with reserved seating for members of the Glenview Symphony Society. For more information call 475-4819.

Other programs are scheduled in Glenview on Dec. 8 (A Do_It_yourself Messiah with the Community Players of Chicago Orchestra), Feb. 10 (The Glenview String Quartet), March 5 (The Phoenix Consort), April 5 (William Warfield), April 29 (Margarita Solomensky and Jenny Polinovsky) and June 2 (Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra).

SOME ENCHANTED MORNING

When a construction crew accidentally cut the cable at Park Center last Wednesday, about 20 people in the midst of their morning work out found themselves facing nine blank tv screens. Unwilling to let them suffer in silence, a senior member of the fitness center staff, Bob Goldstein, seized the public address system’s microphone and began crooning a medley of his favorite songs including Some Enchanted Evening and The Girl From Ipanema.

Some drivers have been doing double takes as they whiz past 1120 Glenview Road. Was that a cow in the front yard? Indeed, it was. Homeowners Philip and Gerri Wicklander acquired the cow from their friend, the artist Samuel Akainyah. He had painted it for Chicago’s Cows on Parade and named it Mooet after the noted impressionist Monet.

AMUSEMENT PARKS, HALLOWEEN HAUNTS AND THE INTERNET

You can register at the Info Desk or call 729-7500 ext.112 to sign up for these free activities:

The library presents Remembering Riverview on at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 16 Ralph Lopez managed the "Chutes" at Chicago's famous amusement park until it closed in 1967. Share his memories of the historic park that opened in 1907.

Learn how to use Internet search engines at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 18 in the Maynard Room.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, the library hosts a special Halloween program on Chicago Haunts. Join author Ursula Bielski for a talk about the real people, places and events that lurk behind Chicago's haunting legends.

And you need not register to take part in public hearings on the 2002 budget. Just come by the conference room of the library at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 17. Copies of the draft budget are available at the reference desk.

The Glenview Public Library’s executive librarian John Blegen writes: "In your October 7 edition you print a communication from "TGW" about the Village's choice of a firm called FGM for the construction of two fire stations. TGW warns that FGM has "done a number" on Northbrook in the construction of the Northbrook Public Library and has similarly misled the Glenview Public Library Board in our space planning process. TGW has confused FGM with the architectural firm of Frye Gillan Molinaro. FGM Architects_Engineers is unrelated to Frye Gillan Molinaro. FGM (website: http://www.fgm_inc.com/), founded in 1945, has several offices in Illinois and experience in several areas, including public safety buildings (and specifically fire stations). Frye Gillan Molinaro (website:http://www.fgmarch.com/), founded in 1983, specializes in libraries and has designed library projects in Northbrook, Niles, Arlington Heights, and Gurnee, among other communities."

Informed of his error, TGW sends apologies "to FGM Architects_Engineers who were recently awarded a contract to design two new fire stations for Glenview. They are not affiliated in any way with the firm Fyre Gillan Molinaro. That does not lessen my suspicion that Fyre Gillan Molinaro has overestimated space needs for a new library. Every Glenview taxpayer should be concerned about a plan to expand to 110,000 square feet – too large and far too expensive."

JAS applauds "the prayers that were offered at the Plan Commission meeting. At times like these, there is room for prayer everywhere."

But DC disagrees: "Separation of church and state should be carefully guarded at all times, even these. We need no further proof of the danger of mixing the two than Afghanistan where a radical Muslim government has brought loss of liberty and freedom of expression. Also, with our economy in a slump, this seems a poor time for the Village of Glenview to invest in a real estate development (especially with my money). Retailers will be struggling to survive in the present climate, and it is my guess that there will be empty stores in town as there were in the last recession."

JAS says Glenview’s changing in costly ways: "I read about the Von Maur department store in this week’s Announcements – elegance, style, couches, mirrored columns, fireplaces and a classical piano. I’ll bet this mall is someplace the average family won’t be able to afford. Downtown Glenview is going to hell in a hand basket, and everything else is being focused on the upper bracket. What a beautiful place this used to be, and now all anybody sees is dollar signs."

A friend of Fritz is not pleased to hear that Village President Carlson will be talking with Glen consultant Mesirow Stein about a possible TIF downtown: "Great. Just what we need: another TIF district designed by Misery and Stein. They are the ones that made a mess out of the base redevelopment and made the Lake Street entrance to The Glen look like a downtown Kabul warehouse for old folks, while TIF-ing our way to school bankruptcy."

MG writes from Evanston "to see if there's any truth to a rumor my sister heard about plans to turn Wagner Farm into a soccer field once the last of the cows dies off."

The Watch replies: "Absolutely not," says the parks’ Executive Director Tom Richardson. Extensive plans are being made for a visitors center that will detail the history of agriculture in this region, a director has been hired, the old farm house will become a museum, and through it all Wagner will remain a working farm where people can see that milk does not actually come from plastic cartons.

And CM asks if we "know who has purchased the Nicor property on Shermer? There have been a lot of cars and activity around the parking lot, and I have noticed that the ‘For Sale’ sign has been taken down."

The Watch replies: We suspect those cars you’re seeing belong to members of the construction team now widening Shermer Road. If and when there’s a buyer for the property, he or she will probably want to rezone the land for residential use, and that should prompt village hall to post a sign telling you about the public hearing that must be held before an industrial site can become residential.

YOUR TURN: Share your views on local issues and news. E-mail to glenviewwatch@aol.com or snail mail to 3537 Maple Leaf Dr., Glenview, IL 60025.  We look forward to hearing from you and consider readers' remarks an essential part of our newsletter. Thanks for reading!  – Sandy Hausman and Dean Schott

To read past issues of Glenview Watch, Click Here