Experts say there are only a few facilities like NIPSTA in the United States, and the academy could prove fairly profitable marketing services to national, state and local police, fire and paramedics as well as private sector security personnel. 

Located near the new Park District golf course, a transitional facility has already trained thousands of FBI, Illinois Emergency Management and other public safety professionals.

Editor's note: The NIPSTA proposal is an exciting one, and it could be a real feather in Glenview's cap, but there will be substantial investment of our tax dollars, and we're puzzled by the fact that preliminary discussions will be held in private. State law allows our Village Board to hold executive sessions when discussing the sale or purchase of real estate, but we can't believe that will be the exclusive focus of Tuesday's talks. Will village management be reminding the trustees that they spent $1.2 million to clean this land to residential standards and argue that Glenview needs revenue to balance The Glen books? After all, there are plenty of private developers who would give us millions for 20 acres and the right to construct multifamily housing at the site where NIPSTA wants to build. Unfortunately, the public may not be part of that discussion, but the Watch thinks it should be.


NEW TOP COP IS ON THE BEAT

Glenview's new police chief William Fitzpatrick finished his first week on the job and intends to be back on Monday. "It's a very nice community with an interesting mix of stability and growth," he says. "I imagine that's caused some changes, and we'll have to see what the service demands are going to be when it's built out, how the new areas will work into the normal patrol patterns and what happens to traffic volume."

Fitzpatrick has met many village leaders but intends to spend his second week getting to know people on the police force, "getting their impressions because they're on the ground. I want to reconcile their views with what the city fathers think."

Already, the chief feels recruiting new officers will be a priority for Glenview, and he knows the current police station must be updated or replaced. "This building makes me want to break out my old leisure suit," he told The Watch.

WHAT THE ANNOUNCEMENTS DOESN'T SAY

A citizen recently wrote to the Glenview Announcements about the Village Board's debate on downtown zoning or "D-1." Larry Carlson had argued against having public discussions on that subject since the up coming election might "politicize" the issue.

"You bet the downtown issue is political," said the citizen. "President Nancy Firfer admitted to a reporter in May 2000 that her party suffered defeat in the 1999 election because the voters disapproved of the high-density downtown developments that were going up. She said her party `violated the code with residents to maintain the quality of life in the Village.' Are the UG handlers reigning in Carlson and his slate on downtown issues for fear of political fallout?" The Announcements, which often supports development in its editorials and makes a bundle on real estate ads, said the decision to cut that paragraph was not a sign of political bias. Editor Cathy Backer claimed she made the change because her paper could not include information that was not previously reported by the Pioneer Press. 

In that same edition, she included another letter claiming that Trustee Donna Pappo wanted to spend money to lobby against widening of Willow Road. Not only was that information false, but the Announcements had not reported on the Willow Road meeting where Pappo supposedly made her remark.

Editor's note: Based on its past performance, don't expect a fair and balanced approach to the election from the Announcements. Editor Backer seems to make up her rules by the day, editing some letters and burying others on the back pages.

UG ISSUES WISH LIST

Unite Glenview has issued a one-page position paper claiming its candidates will work together to bring "civility and cooperation back. We pledge to make decisions based on what will benefit the majority of our citizens. We will work with all elected officials in a civilized manner to move Glenview forward."

UG says it will revitalize downtown by establishing a citizen-village work group, promises to attack traffic problems and ensure that Willow Road stays at four lanes. The party's candidates Larry Carlson, Mary Beth Denefe, Michael J. Guinane and Jeffrey M. Lerner also claim they'll control development and growth, provide new and better services, improve village communications and work cooperatively with the schools.

Editor's note: The problem in Glenview is not a lack of civility. People are generally polite. There is no name calling, no screaming, but certain trustees like Carlson will not cooperate or compromise when it comes to new ideas. Why should they? They're in the majority, and they have been for the last 35 years.

What Glenview needs is more than civility. What Glenview needs is intelligent, open-minded people who understand diversity, know how to listen and to work toward consensus.

As for the other pledges, we wonder where have these candidates been?

Carlson served on the Plan Commission for 15 years and the Village Board for more than a year. Nancy Firfereven appointed him last fall to head the Comprehensive Plan Commission. In any of these jobs he might  have led the charge to revitalize downtown. Instead, he has watched as downtown businesses continue to close.

To improve communications, UG says it will "establish a trustee service office to answer questions." This plan was proposed by candidate Mike Guinane when he ran for the board in 1999. Since his defeat, he has not appeared once before the Village Board to press for establishment of the trustee office. In fact, we don't thin  he's addressed the board on any issue.

As for supporting our schools, UG is likely to tout candidate Jeffrey Lerner's experience on the District 225 School Board. Alas, to our knowledge Lerner has never appeared before the Village Board to advocate for our schools although, as a lawyer, he did appear before the Plan Commission on behalf of a developer.  Finally, we are amused by UG's campaign promise to "consider merits of a leaf pick-up program." May we suggest that the party also consider the merits of shoveling everyone's driveway, sending chocolates to taxpayers on Valentine's Day and serving a free lunch at Village Hall.

SNOW LETS GBS STUDENTS BE LIKE MIKE

Bad weather took a toll on Glenbrook South, but the freshmen basketball team wasn't complaining. During December's heavy snow, players were dunking the ball with ease. At first, their coaches were thrilled, but then they realized that the basketball hoops were no longer ten feet from the ground but eight and a half. The student hoops were mounted from the ceiling of the dome that covers the GBS gym, and according to the student newspaper, the dome was sinking under the weight of so much snow.

Principal David Smith summoned a structural engineer who said there was no immediate threat since the dome was designed to handle heavy snowfall. Still, Glenview's fire department was asked to use their high-powered hoses to remove snow from the roof.

FIRFER AND HACKNEYS HEADING SOUTH

Glenview's downtown must not be growing fast enough for Village President Nancy Firfer. She has been living, part-time, in a luxury Chicago condo for more than a year. The "mayor" reportedly has too little privacy here in Glenview and enjoys the anonymity of city life. Her River North hideaway is located in a new building at 33 W. Huron where units sell for up to $800,000.

Also heading for the city is Hackney's. The suburban restaurant chain that began on Harms Road in 1939 will open another place at 733 S. Dearborn this spring. According to the Tribune's INC. column, the Printer's Row restaurant will offer more contemporary dishes like pasta and fish in addition to items on the menu in Glenview onion rings and burgers that one restaurant guide called "a cardiologist's nightmare."

VILLAGE BOARD PREVIEW

The Trustees meet again Tuesday, February 6. Tune in at 7:30 on cable
channel 17 as they discuss:

Limiting the size of new homes on big lots in neighborhoods of small houses

Village payments to ensure that Home Depot builds at The Glen

An $800,000 contract for maintenance of public lands at The Glen

New places for sushi and karaoke in Glenview

Editor's note: Put on some coffee. This could be a long meeting. The agenda is an extraordinary three pages, using every letter in the alphabet to list the topics.

Larry Carson recently said he thought things could "be run much more expeditiously and more conveniently so people don't have to be there until one in the morning." As a member of the board, Carlson is free to publicly object to ask the board's president for a manageable agenda, but he has sat through many long meetings without a word. Is he reluctant to criticize Nancy Firfer his political ally and the woman who appointed him? There's no time like the present.

PAYING THE BILLS

The Trustees are also expected to sign off on a long list of mysterious bills. There's one for $794.40 described as "food for retirement party." The Watch wonders who retired and why the public wasn't invited since we paid the bill. In other branches of government, use of tax money for parties is prohibited. If they want to celebrate a birthday or retirement, folks take up a collection or go "Dutch" to a restaurant.

We also wonder who sponsored the Village as a guest at the North Shore Country Club where the public paid $5668.05 for the elected officials' holiday dinner? Which village official spent more than $2,900 on travel? Kimball Hill Homes billed us $295,615.01 to move the old Navy chapel at The Glen. What was that one-cent for? And Metro Self Storage is getting $21,120 for keeping files from our crowded Village Hall. Pray tell could we save that money by storing the files at the chapel?

A CORRECTION

In reporting on candidates for the library board, we mentioned incumbent Richard Cagen. The board member's name is Robert Cagen. We regret the error.

READERS WRITE:

Bill Budris asks if Glenview will offer relief from gas pains: I recently saw that other nearby communities are considering providing some form of tax-relief to residents for the windfall in natural gas taxes they have been collecting. Glenview apparently imposes a 5.15% clip. Has there been any public discussion of this before the trustees?

The Watch replies: There has been no discussion to date, but with an election just two months away and two of our Trustees running for Village President, we'd bet the subject will come up soon.

M Quinn asks an important question for snow birds: "Do you know if we can vote by absentee ballot for the Glenview elections? I am in Florida not returning until after the elections and was wondering how I would go about getting an absentee ballot."

The Watch replies: Assistant Village Manager Joe Wade says Glenview will offer absentee ballots, but he's not sure when the county will have them printed. Watch the Watch. We'll let you know.

HJC wonders why we're paying highly skilled firemen to grocery shop: "Any particular reason on duty fire personnel and equipment are dispatched' on shopping trips to local food stores in Glenview. What's the hourly cost to operate one of those big fire trucks that sit outside the store? Hasn't the department heard of Peapod or other web-based delivery options?"

The Watch replies: Glenview's fire chief, Joe Robberson, says the guys and gals are in service, even when shopping for groceries, and they bring the truck in case they get a call. "Sometimes they're closer to the fire. They're already on the street, ready to roll, so it doesn't hamper response times." As a matter of morale  Robberson doesn't want to dictate how the firefighters do their shopping. After all, they're spending their own money on the food, and some may enjoy squeezing the tomatoes. What's more, he doesn't know of any fire department requiring computer shopping. Finally, the Chief says it's good public relations to have our publi  safety people out in the community where they can answer questions and let children know that "the fireman really is your friend." 

Kathy Schulte longs for a cozy place to cultivate the mind: "Take a look at the front page of the January 29, 2001 Chicago Tribune (ChicagoTribune.com), and you will find an article entitled Popularity Boom Speak  Volumes About Libraries.' Reading this article woke me up to what is happening with libraries in other communities. If we are going to spend money on building, renovation or updating our library, let's be smart about it. Wouldn't it be great to have a comfortable place to go that is designed for internal recreation -- reading, thinking, pondering, imagining? (Yes, adults can dothese things.)

"We have many sports and recreation facilities, and they're great. But let's exercise our creative minds and think about a library that is a community magnet -- a place people want to linger -- not just run in and out. I have spent a few hours in Barnes and Noble looking through books on subjects I normally would not pursue, encouraged to do so because of the set up of the space and the atmosphere. This is the ultimate luxury -- time spent pursuing ideas not associated with the everyday chores and responsibilities we are all caught up in. So, if we're spending money, let's do it right. Oh yeah, and keep it in the downtown area."

AJZ thinks seniors deserve a break for being seniors: "Your response to the concern of MMC, who wondered why the Park District offers no senior discount at its new recreation center, sounded like it came from the typical bureaucratic manual 101. You cite the building expenses incurred and the need to generate revenue by limiting discounts. That position is admirable, but most seniors are on fixed incomes, and as a community we should acknowledge their past contributions with a reduced rate."

And MK has a concept that could be a first for health club members: "Maybe the Park District could offer a shared membership with each share being for a specific day of the week. This could result in a significant reduction in cost and would suit people who only want a workout once or twice a week."

Ib Jorgensen is not satisfied with medical assurances that chemicals in public pools kill bacteria: "My wife encountered a piece of toilet tissue floating in her lane while swimming laps at Park Center. It was not a very nice experience, and it might not have happened if people were forced to shower before swimming. Chemicals or no chemicals, Dr. Walter Campbell [Glenview's Public Health Officer] should know this is not acceptable, and I'd like the village health department to talk with the Park District about improving swimming pool sanitation."

WLS thinks we raise a lot of bogus issues in The Watch: "Some of your recent comments from residents and village leaders over the possible widening of Willow Rd. are amusing. I have never, repeat never, observed a student who resides in Glenview but goes to a Northbrook school cross Willow.

The Watch replies: It may be that moms who shuttle their children to and from Maple have enough trouble crossing four lanes of traffic in the mini-van without tackling six lanes, and if few kids are walking now, you can be sure none will walk or bike when Willow becomes a highway.

WLS continues: "As far as downtown Glenview goes, I would ask, What downtown?' That's about as big a joke as the comments from those trustees and readers concerning the development of Moore's Nursery on Landwehr Rd.-- the need for more parks and the burden of more kids in our schools.

"The only thing being developed in this village is unaffordable residences for people with no kids, old folks homes that no one can afford, and parks Gallery Park at The Glen, West Fork Park at Heatherfield and more.

"Why don't you report on why the police department hasn't kept pace with the build out and annexations of the village? How about that new train station? Why are there no pedestrian warning lights or bells? Wait until that first pedestrian gets hit by a non-stop Amtrak!"

The Watch replies: Fair enough, W. Tune-in next week when we will report on why we have no bells and whistles where pedestrians cross the tracks. As for the cop shop, Glenview's new police chief thinks manpower is sufficient, but he's reserving judgment until he talks with officers and shift commanders.

It's more difficult to say whether other aspects of the operation are keeping pace. For a decade, Glenview applied to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies or CALEA and received their coveted stamp of approval. It goes to the nation's premiere police forces those considered innovative and top rate. Administrators say departments that meet CALEA's tough standards "strengthen their crime prevention and control capabilities" while improving service and cooperation with other agencies. Accreditation can also mean lower insurance rates, a stronger defense against lawsuits and greater community confidence.

In May 1998, former Police Chief David Kelly decided to withdraw from the program. In a letter to CALEA, he explained Glenview "has experienced a period of unprecedented growth." Some officers who had worked on the accreditation process had retired and Kelly did not want to train a new team. "I needed to retain focus on our expanding responsibilities in the community," he told the Watch.

GPN checks in with another complaint about snowy sidewalks: "Is there an ordinance that sidewalks must be cleaned of snow? For the past month, the sidewalks on both sides of Grove between Waukegan and the train station have been treacherous. I normally walk to the train from the Bonnie Glen area, but since the first of the year it has been too dangerous. After the heavy December snowfalls, the sidewalks were packed with snow, and it subsequently melted and froze every day. It has been a sheet of thick ice with foot prints. The only safe place to walk is in the street but only when there is no traffic -- which isn't the case when you're going to catch a train."

The Watch replies: There are 142 miles of sidewalk in the village. Only 58 are plowed using three pieces of equipment. There is no ordinance requiring that sidewalks be shoveled. We're sorry and wish you a safe drive to the station.

Your Turn. What's on your mind? Send us an e-mail. We are Sandy Hausman and Dean Schott – GlenviewWatch@aol.com.

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