Village President Larry Carlson, who seemed uncertain about the merits of pedestrian gates at railroad crossings earlier this month, is now demanding they be installed on Glenview Road.

During the last village board meeting, Carlson said he was anxious to discuss the matter with Metra after an 11-year-old boy was struck and killed while riding his bike across the tracks at Glenview Road. Trustee Mike Guinane pressed for immediate action, but Carlson had doubts.

"If you put pedestrian gates down there, and those gates stay down the whole time a train is loading and unloading, which could be five minutes, people are going to walk around those gates," he said. "If, however, those gates are only down while the train is moving past that intersection, and they come back up when the train is motionless, I think people will not tend to walk around the gates."

"At times when a train is unloading, you might have an express train coming through," warned Guinane. "That’s the purpose of having those gates down the whole time." Noting that the village had paid for pedestrian gates at Lehigh and Chestnut Avenue, Guinane wondered why the village would not install them downtown.

"That whole [Chestnut Avenue] crossing had to be redone," said Carlson. "We have existing vehicle gates at Glenview Road, but you can’t just hang a pedestrian gate on there. You have to take the whole thing out, [add] new controllers, new parts, the whole bit."

Carlson ally and Trustee Jeff Lerner then jumped in to defend the village president. "I think what President Carlson is saying is the railroad made that decision," said Lerner. "They own the right-of-way, and I think what he is saying – and I don’t want to put words in his mouth – is we’ve requested that the railroad help us solve this problem. We don’t run the railroads."

"We have a grade school there. We have a library there," Guinane began.

"We all recognize this is a tragedy," Lerner replied. "But this isn’t about making soundbites."

Two days after hundreds of parents marched to the railroad tracks demanding pedestrian gates, Carlson was providing the soundbites. He told the Chicago Tribune, "We’re not going to fool around. This is going to get done!"

Editor’s note: This is classic Larry. He was all for the sale of guns at The Glen until Trustee Guinane raised objections and the public weighed-in. Then, suddenly, Larry was firmly against the idea. Carlson is a follower, not a leader, and he’s done nothing about an even greater risk to every child who rides a bike in Glenview. In many places between their homes and The Glen there are no sidewalks or bike paths. They’re forced to share rutted pavement with fast-moving trucks and cars. Nowhere is this more evident than on West Lake Avenue – a route used by kids every day. The sidewalk ends just beyond the industrial property owned by Larry Carlson. A path could easily be paved, but Carlson says there’s nothing he can do, because the county is responsible for West Lake. Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin says he’d be glad to collaborate with Carlson, but the village president won’t even get on the phone to create a pedestrian safe route from west Glenview to The Glen. Already, more than 200 parents have signed a petition asking that all neighborhoods in Glenview have a safe way to walk, skate or bike to amenities at The Glen. Will it take the death of another child to address this danger?

Metra says gates can be installed this summer with no disruption to traffic, but spokesman Judy Pardonnet warns there’s no evidence they stop people from crossing the tracks. "There’s always a way to get around them or under them, and we have seen fatalities even with gates," she explains.

Carlson says Glenview is prepared to pay the $100,000 tab for gates. Pardonnet says they’re likely to cost $150,000.

– PACE will soon add The Glen to routes 422 and 423. The former travels from the Linden Avenue CTA station in Wilmette to Old Orchard, the Wilmette Metra station and the Edens Plaza. Route 423 goes from the Linden Avenue station to the Winnetka Metra stop, New Trier East and Kraft in Northfield.

– On June 15, traffic on Lake Avenue will experience new delays as extensive lane closures and construction begin between Patriot Blvd. and the tollway.

– Metra says it will not staff the Glen of North Glenview station so consumers can buy tickets until ridership from that stop increases. Tickets can be purchased for no additional charge on the train.

– A delivery truck driver was hospitalized Wednesday after plowing into a building on Waukegan Road at Chestnut. The man said he was southbound on Waukegan at around 7 a.m. when a car pulled in front of him. As he swerved to avoid a collision, he lost control of the vehicle and hit the building housing Premier Fitness and the Dry Cleaning Factory.

Village Manager Paul McCarthy announced plans to retire seven months ago, and at the end of July he plans to leave for a new home in South Florida, but Glenview’s trustees have yet to name his replacement, and with several major projects pending, the village could face trouble. McCarthy has helped set policy and make decisions for more than two decades, but he has not groomed successors. Deputy Manager Joe Wade has played a quiet, administrative role while executives Mary Bak and Don Owen have confined their attentions to development.

In a memo to the village board, attorney Jeff Randall points out that no one at Village Hall is even empowered to act in an official capacity. Toward that end, Randall will ask the trustees Tuesday to designate Wade, Budget Chief Dan Wiersma and one other staffer to take care of official village business.

In a study designed to demonstrate that building a new library downtown will not cost much more than building at The Glen, consultant Mesirow-Stein warns that the total price tag at either location will be higher than expected. Stein says a building on Patriot Boulevard would cost about $29.9 million while a building near Glenview Road and Lehigh will run about $30.9 million.

The analysis values the current site at $2.25 million and assumes that would be counted as revenue if The Glen site were chosen. On the other hand, Stein said the sale of the Patriot Boulevard lot could bring more than $5 million from a developer of town homes – a use the consultant recommends.

The projection for downtown construction includes $1.2 million to relocate the library for one year, $700,000 to purchase Epco paint, and $21,300 for each of 120 underground parking spaces. The cost of surface spaces at The Glen would be just under $4,000 apiece.

Relations between Village Hall and Glenview’s library board have been chilly since the trustees announced they would provide funding for a new building only if it were located at the current site. Most members of the library board preferred The Glen, arguing it would be cheaper and easier to build on a five-acre lot on Patriot Blvd.

Even before that announcement, letters exchanged by Library Board President Mark Grant and Village President Larry Carlson suggest a deep split between the two camps and a surprising degree of hostility, condescension and arrogance on the part of the village.

Nearly a year ago, Carlson wrote Grant to say he would not accept the findings of a library poll regarding future locations. "I do not believe that our Board of Trustees will be comfortable relying on a telephone survey to measure community support," he wrote. "There is a difference between statistical relevancy and political relevancy. . .A poll should be broad based and allow the opportunity for participation of all of Glenview’s voting population. Whether or not they choose to express their opinion is, of course, their business."

Editor’s note: Was Carlson saying the library board should forget about the views of a cross-section of residents and listen, instead, to a powerful and vocal political block such as residents of Swainwood who have strongly backed a downtown library and turned out the vote for Carlson’s party every two years? And who is the real author of this and other letters signed by Carlson, a man prone to simple, folksy language and metaphors. We suspect the cerebral tone of this and other letters to Grant came from the pen of Village Manager Paul McCarthy.

Last month, Grant asked Carlson for the chance to address the board about the new library. Carlson (or McCarthy) replied that he looked forward to a meeting between the trustees and the library board but made it clear that no dissent would be tolerated.

"So we have a perfectly clear understanding," he wrote, "the sole purpose of such a meeting would be to discuss ways to assist you in redeveloping your current site. If these ground rules are understood, please contact us when you have the appropriate documentation ready."

Specifically, the village wanted a justification for the 110,000-square-foot building the library board had planned, along with architectural renderings, a construction budget, a time line for the project and "a financial forecast that assure us [you] will have the wherewithal to support the facility once it is built."

Grant replied with a request for specific information that might help the library board plan. First, he wondered if the Epco store adjacent to the library should be considered for use by the library. Glenview wants to condemn the property, but condemnation proceedings are now the subject of a court suit by Epco, which contends Glenview is taking the property illegally.

Grant also asked whether the post office site behind the library might be added to the parcel. "Our understanding is that the Village has had certain negotiations with the Post Office which have not been productive," Grant wrote. "If you believe that there is a likely breakthrough in your talks with the Post Office, please let us know."

Since building at its current site would necessitate moving to temporary quarters for at least a year, Grant wondered if Village Hall had any possible locations in mind for the local library. Finally, he said, "It has been reported that the Village already has conceptual designs for the current site. Obviously, it would be helpful to our architects and us to have the benefit of these designs and plans."

In a two and one-half page response, Carlson wrote that the Epco property would be available. He suggested the library’s attorney contact the village attorney for details of the case.

"You’ve expressed skepticism over the Village’s ability to acquire the Post Office site. Our Board does not share that pessimism and remains committed to working with the Post Office to achieve our objectives," Carlson wrote. "Since this is a real estate acquisition issue and taxpayer dollars are involved, the Board has always, and will continue to conduct such negotiations confidentially until such time as an agreement has been reached and can be announced."

"You’ve asked for Village assistance [with] a temporary site," Carlson continued. "I know that the Library Board has previously considered options which included temporary relocation, [so] you may wish to consult with your current architect, . . .Northbrook, Niles and Evanston, all of whom have conducted successful temporary relocations. I’m sure they would have some valuable insights."

"You’ve asked whether the Village has conceptual designs for the current site. Actually, you have conceptual designs for the current site, since they have been part of the menu of options you have considered for years. Frankly, what we have done from time to time is to take your own work and reconceptualize it at various locations and at various building sites. It’s nothing more than what your architect could do within an hour and fax to you."

Editor’s note: When Larry Carlson ran for the office of village president, he described his Unite Glenview as the party of civility and blamed his political opponents for dissension at Village Hall. If Carlson is, in fact, the author of these letters, it’s clear that civility is not his strong suit. If, on the other hand, Paul McCarthy is the man behind the throne, Glenview should rejoice at his imminent retirement. McCarthy is a control freak who views any opposing efforts by individuals, community groups or duly elected boards with hostility.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Glenview’s insurance broker, Arthur J. Gallagher & Company, is at the center of a legal battle over what the insurance industry calls "contingent commissions" and what some critics call "kickbacks."

"The fees are central to a sweeping probe of the industry recently undertaken by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and California insurance regulators," the Journal wrote. Here in Illinois, Gallagher has been sued by a south suburban village over money the broker collected from an insurance company to whom it had referred Orland Hills.

"You expect a level of straightforwardness and honesty," said Orland administrator John Daly. "The village doesn’t know how much Gallagher received in payments from insurers, but. . .this is a slap in the face of the general public."

Glenview’s Village Hall says our agreement with Gallagher bars the firm from accepting such payments. Arthur Gallagher is a Glenview resident.

In a report that suggests Glenview’s newest shopping center may be highly successful, Crain’s Chicago Business reports large malls are losing their appeal with shoppers. Retail sales from Northbrook Court, for example, were down 6.6 percent last year, but Glenview’s sales rose 24 percent. Crain’s credited Home Depot, Costco and The Glen Town Center which was only open for three months in 2003. Reporter Sandra Jones neglected to mention the real retail bonanza here – Abt.

Two regional malls, Old Orchard and Woodfield, remained strong with rising annual revenues, but Jones says big box retailers and open air lifestyle malls like The Glen are increasingly popular with shoppers.

NEW RESTAURANT HAS OLD FASHIONED NAME

Patrons of The Glen’s newest pub may ponder the name of the place while downing one of 130 kinds of beer. In a press release, Yard House says its moniker came from the early colonial tradition of serving beer in 36-inch tall glasses to stage coach drivers. The California-based chain does, in fact, offer yard-tall glasses as well as pints and will feature some unusual blends of ales and lagers including Chocolate Chuck – a combination of Woodchuck and Young’s Chocolate Stout and Snakebite – the classic British mix of Wyders Pear Cider and Harp.

Mystery still shrouds the case of Glenview’s School District 34 and Total Music – a local company that has provided band and orchestra instruments to students here for more than 20 years. The trouble began when Assistant Superintendent Phil Collins launched an evaluation of "our current working relationships with vendors in the area of instrumental music." Collins asked a dozen different companies to bid on the business and list services they would provide. He gave no explanation for the move, but district spokesman Brett Clark says Collins was concerned because it appeared Total Music did not provide loaners to students whose instruments were being repaired. This, he said, was the practice of other vendors, but it had forced District 34 to spend thousands of dollars to purchase back-up instruments for Attea Middle School.

When Total Music heard it might be replaced as the district’s preferred vendor, its owners were alarmed. Loss of local patronage would surely put them out of business. They wrote to Glenview parents, asking for support, and assured the district they had always made loaner instruments available to customers.

Total Music was puzzled by claims the district may have spent money unnecessarily. Co-owner Frank Scaletta said schools normally purchase bigger instruments for kids – tubas, xylophones, drums – because they’re difficult to transport, and they routinely supply exotic percussion instruments – bells, gongs and tambourines. A list of more than 100 instruments purchased confirms that point. All but a few were percussion.

Assistant Superintendent Collins did not return our call, but after letters and calls began coming in from parents concerned about Total Music, administrators arranged a meeting with the long-time vendor and assured the company that the district will not be recommending another supplier of instruments.

Commissioner Gregg Goslin is pushing a plan to better track county spending. Right now, officials go over the books at the end of the fiscal year – a practice Goslin says leaves too little time for thoughtful analysis of agency revenues and expenses. He is asking the county board to approve mid-year reports on spending to better control the county’s $2.5 billion annual budget.

Goslin also wants the county board to get its lobbying act together. Right now, five county officers hire their own lobbyists to push for things they want in Springfield. The tab is paid with tax dollars. Goslin says this system creates confusion over the county’s legislative priorities and desires. Joining with four independent commissioners, Forest Claypool, Anthony Peraica, Mike Quigley and Larry Suffredin, he’ll introduce a resolution to consolidate lobbying activities.

Republican Congressman Mark Kirk has described himself as a moderate on social issues and a fiscal conservative, but Kirk changed his description recently in defending a vote for the Bush administration's budget despite an earlier threat to oppose it. "I've taken on this role to be inside the tent, to be the midway point between the moderates and the conservatives on this issue," Kirk told the Washington Post.

Lee Goodman, Kirk's Democratic opponent in the November election, said Kirk's statement illustrates the narrow range of Kirk's viewpoint. "It's like saying that the mid-point between one and ten is eight. There is more to public policy than just extremely conservative and somewhat conservative," Goodman said.

He also attacked Kirk for spending $250,000 in tax dollars to send two separate mailings to district residents. One, addressed to senior citizens, described Kirk’s top priorities as "protecting retirement nest eggs, upgrading veterans’ health care and modernizing Medicare." At the same time, younger voters received a mailing that did not mention any of those things, instead touting the Congressman’s concern for children, the environment and drugs. Said Goodman: "It’s outrageous to use public money in such a manipulative way."

Glenview’s trustees will soon debate whether to begin policing Lake Glenview – enforcing our own catch and release ordinance to prevent over-fishing or letting the Illinois Department of Natural Resources do the honors. Assistant Redevelopment Director Amy Ahner and Naturalist Robyn Flakne suggest fishermen be allowed to keep any carp they catch but be banned from using spears or bows and arrows, emptying bait buckets in the lake or using more than one pole. Waders would also be prohibited during fishing season – May 15 - November 15. Signs would be posted to keep fishermen in designated areas, a state fishing license would be required, and Glenview’s police department would handle enforcement. You can comment on the proposal during Tuesday night’s board meeting which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the board room of Village Hall or send your thoughts to Village President Carlson – LarryVillage@aol.com

– Glenview’s park district has decided not to spend the extra money needed to provide solar heating for the water at Flick pool and electricity generated through sunlight for the building. Commissioner Judy Beck had pressed for that technology, saying grants might be secured to cover the extra cost, but Director of Leisure Services Bob Quill says no grant money was awarded and the park board could not justify the added expense for a facility that’s used just three months each year. Quill said the district would still seek LEED Design status – a stamp of approval from the National Council of Green Builders. Among other things, the district will use environmentally-friendly building materials and create a rain garden in the parking lot – a place where water can pool and drain naturally through the soil.

– Glenview’s Natural Resources Commission is looking into possible violations of the village’s tree ordinance. Residents complain that mature oaks were removed from the Haverford development site near the corner of Willow and Waukegan roads. They also note that a silt fence around the condo construction site east of Gallery Park actually extends about ten feet into the park, and trees within that area could be jeopardized by the stress of construction around them.

Mark Dolce thinks village officials have been remiss when it comes to railroad crossing safety: "It was only a few months ago that the website for the Village of Glenview featured a plea for residents to click on a link to the federal government and record opposition to extra safety measures which would include a requirement for all trains to blow their horns at every crossing. If you visit the village website now, in the wake of a tragic accident that might have been prevented by a train whistle, the instruction and the link are gone. I’m not sure if the comment period for the new rules ended or whether this was just another example of the current village leadership (Carlson et al) trying to cover-up a tragically misguided policy. Does Glenview still oppose the proposed rules? While perusing the debate of how to improve safety and relieve congestion at the Glenview Road crossing, I wondered if anyone in a position of responsibility in local government has thought of petitioning Amtrak to move its station to the North Glenview site? Moving Amtrak to North Glenview together with installing pedestrian gates and instituting mandatory train whistles at every crossing would vastly improve public safety in the village."

The Watch replies: Amtrak has expressed a willingness to discuss moving its Glenview stop north, but Village Hall has been silent on this subject.

R.M. responds to the village board's discussion of pedestrian railroad crossings downtown. "It definitely isn't a question of how long the gates stay down. It shouldn't be a question of cost. It shouldn't be a question of how recently something was put in and why? It's all about the volume of traffic, vehicular and pedestrian, at this dangerous intersection. The volume is clearly heavier here than at any other rail crossing in this village. Let's not look for excuses to keep this problem from being solved. Those pedestrian gates should have been there already. It is insulting to even attempt to justify any kind of excuse not to have them there. Let's roll on this issue!"

S.F. was surprised by Village President Carlson’s remarks on this subject: "I had no idea Larry Carlson was such a jerk. That man has got to be voted out of office and soon. I was appalled by his comments regarding pedestrian gates at the crossing where Victor Olivera lost his life. To actually say that those gates should go up as soon as the train passes has got to be one of most idiotic, inane and clueless statements I have ever heard. Does he really realize what he is
saying? In a way, one hopes not! As a Glenview Metra commuter, I am looking at that crossing with opened eyes these days. I stand there as trains whip by me, and I realize there is not
one thing between me and the train. Of course a gate would not stop anyone from crossing the tracks if they really wanted to. But people are cattle and will stop (and at a SAFE distance) if the gate is down. It also teaches our children that we stop at lowered gates. Why are there gates at all four sidewalk crossing points just a block away at Dewes Street, where I'm sure there are far less pedestrians, and not at Glenview Road? No one can say whether Victor would be alive today had there been a lowered gate to block the sidewalk, and it's a tragic thing for all of us that it takes a child dying to spur us to action, or even to thoughts of action. Installing additional gates should be done not only to prevent another tragedy, but just because every pedestrian crossing should be gated, should be safer, and because it's the right thing to do."

Kim has a related question: "I am curious to know if there are designated crossing guards on Glenview Rd by the train station after OLPH is dismissed?"

The Watch replies: We’re told OLPH has guards at the intersections of Glenview and Harlem, Waukegan and Church streets but not at the tracks.

TM is concerned about traffic safety: "I sent an email to the Sgt Perlini, of the Village Traffic Committee about a year ago (July 8, 2003) concerning traffic in the downtown; specifically at Glenview Road, Dewes Street, and at Pine street as it extends through the parking lot of Glenview House and then along [East] Railroad Avenue. Sgt. Urbanowski has since replaced Sgt Perlini on the Village Traffic Committee and says that the village had consultants come and do a traffic study regarding my concerns. The consultant concluded no changes were warranted as no traffic accidents had happened at the corner of Dewes Street and Railroad Avenue. At 3 pm, just a few minutes before the fatal accident at the Glenview St crosswalk, a fender bender did occur at Dewes and Railroad Avenue. (My neighbor saw the minor accident from her window, and told me about it). I make this trip everyday, as I have no choice, living at Optima West. Something needs to be done here -- I believe the traffic study is flawed."

And Bob Sherman is taking action to assure that the words uttered to honor veterans are heard: "Unfortunately, Glenview is under an O’Hare flight path. This fact was painfully evident on Memorial Day, when the speeches were drowned out by jet noise, along with chattering children and other background noises. The sound system provided by the village is designed for an indoor auditorium, not for a large outdoor gathering. I hereby offer to chip in one hundred dollars of my own money toward the cost of a very loud public address system for use on Memorial Day. I have already E-mailed this offer to Mary Bak. I urge others to do likewise. I hope that on Memorial Day in 2005 people on the fringe of the crowd will hear every word."

Tom Andicopulos asks: "Could you please tell me what development is under way at the northwest corner of Greenwood and East Lake Ave.?"

The Watch replies: The Canaan Presbyterian Church, north of the site, is building a parking lot.

KR asks about the likely location of a new library: "Are we 100% positive the library will stay downtown or do we the people in Glenview still have a chance to voice our opinions?"

The Watch replies: Village President Carlson has said the consensus of the trustees is to keep the library downtown. A change of heart seems unlikely, but we suppose a court ruling against the use of eminent domain to take Epco paint or big bucks from a developer for the current library site could put The Glen site back into contention."

CK asks about the Farmers’ Market held each Saturday in the Metra parking lot adjacent to Jackman Park: "Who do I to contact regarding setting up a table at the Farmer's Market, what the fees are, and any restrictions of what can be sold?"

The Watch replies: The market is operated by the Glenview Women of Today. For more information, contact Sherri Sloat at 312-996-2765.

CL thinks Glenview could learn from Evanston’s new library construction experience: "Evanston: "Evanston kept the same site for its library. The library had a design competition, awarded design to a young guy in 1991 -- didn’t cost much and got a great design.
They moved stuff to temporary location, tore down old building and began new building in January 1993. New building opened in October 1994 -- with underground parking so dreaded by our library."

Evan Craig of the Sierra Club comments on the park district’s practice of putting live goldfish into Flick Pool –- a topic to be discussed at its next meeting, Thursday, June 17: "I am not familiar with Flick Pool, but the practice of releasing goldfish into any public water should not be popularized. There was a disturbing ad on TV recently suggesting that "freeing" a goldfish into a wetland was a noble act. In fact, the release of goldfish or other non-native fish into our waters can be extremely damaging to the aquatic ecosystem." Craig also had this observation regarding increased rates for garbage collection in Glenview: "Whenever a village negotiates rates with a trash hauler, the terms should consider the amount of garbage, not just the frequency of pick-up. Some haulers offer a selection of different sized garbage receptacles, and those who choose smaller ones pay less. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Call your village."

Jennifer Sheridan asks area residents to join her in a battle for the Alaskan wilderness: "I wish every child in Illinois could take a field trip to a virgin redwood grove. I believe anyone who did would care about how the national forest service is managing the nation’s trees. In Alaska’s Tongass National Forest – the largest temperate rainforest in the world, our federal government is selling 600-year-old spruce trees for $10.26 and parting with giant Alaskan yellow cedars for $24.49. This giveaway amounts to an enormous subsidy for the U.S. timber industry while damaging a national treasure that draws hunters, fishermen and tourists from around the world. Congress could stop this travesty by passing the Chabot-Andrew amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill which will come up in the next week or two. Please let Congressman Mark Kirk know how you feel by making a quick call to 847-940-7143 and urging support for the amendment.

JR reacted angrily to news that local folk were gathering to work for a ban on smoking in public places: "Damn communists should be run out of town. I may go, take names and keep a list."

The Watch replies: Chill, J. Glenview’s ultra-conservative village board is unlikely to approve a change, although you may want to keep an eye on that commie free market. We suspect most restaurants and large workplaces in Glenview are already smoke free.

YOUR TURN: Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. If you haven’t already done so, please consider making a contribution to support The Watch. Non-deductible checks should be payable to Glenview Watch. Thanks for your support and for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors.

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