PRESIDENTS CLASH OVER LIBRARY PLANS

The annual State of the Village dinner, hosted by Glenview’s League of Women Voters, is usually a staid affair with the village president sharing his or her rosy reflections on local affairs, but this year some new guests were invited, and things got interesting.

Following Larry Carlson’s predictable claim that, “The state of our village is great,” Library President Mark Grant gave a candid account of the conflict between Village Hall and his board. All but one of the library board members had voted to build a new library at The Glen, where the village said it was holding a piece of land for that purpose.

Soon after that vote, Carlson and the trustees held a closed-door session, then announced they would not provide funding for a library at The Glen.  Following the advice of consultants who said the library would be an important anchor for downtown redevelopment, Carlson decreed that the library would stay at its current location.  He then offered the same Glen land to the U.S. Postal Service along with $3.75 million for construction of a new post office there. 

Grant attacked the board for making its decision in private and called for more public discussion.  “There have been disagreements, and it’s better to explore them than to ignore them,” he said.  The library board president warned that a new building downtown would be far more expensive and would necessitate moving operations to another building while the old one is demolished and replaced.  He cited the need to build costly underground or garage parking downtown and warned that the library would have to wait for the post office to move before beginning construction. 

That could push building costs above the current estimate of $40 million, Grant said, adding that the new facility might not be complete until 2009. 

CARLSON TALKS BACK

Carlson was not deterred.  He returned to the podium to say ground could be broken for the new post office this spring.  Addressing the concerns of Glen residents who predict a fleet of mail trucks will mean increased traffic congestion, the village president said those vehicles would use Shermer Road rather than Patriot Boulevard.  He pledged extensive landscaping and high berms to protect residents living in adjacent properties and said it would not be possible to move the mail processing function of the post office to an industrial area, since the postal service was unwilling to divide its functions.

Families living on Independence Boulevard, adjacent to the proposed post office site, have hired Winnetka lawyer Todd Stephens to protect their interests.  He questioned Development Director Mary Bak about plans for the post office, wondered whether tax dollars should be used for a project that could have a negative impact on residents’ quality of life and asked if the land might still be used for a library.

Afterward, Stephens recounted the conversation to his clients. “[Bak] stated that moving the library was never even considered or discussed at the village level. Apparently some library employees independently discussed the idea and had a proposed model of what a library at The Glen might look like. This model has created some unnecessary turmoil, due to it never being an option. The funds being used to build the new post office are TIF (tax incentive financing) monies. Thus not directly your tax dollars and a permitted use under current law,” the attorney concluded.

Bak told The Watch that land was held for the library after initial plans for a post office move collapsed, but she insists the trustees never seriously debated use of Glen land for a library.

Editor’s note:  Earlier this month, Redevelopment Director Don Owen dismissed Glen resident concerns, saying the community had known for 11 years that the site would be used for a post office. Now Bak is joining the puzzling movement to rewrite history.  Are public officials worried about a lawsuit that might delay post office construction? Are village staffers under pressure to make things happen before the next local election in April 2005?  Does Carlson’s party feel vulnerable, having promised revitalization of downtown, anchored by a new library, when he first ran for office in 2001?  Does the village fear The Glen will organize to support a library but not a post office in its midst?  And, finally, shouldn't the director of development be honest about TIF dollars?  They come from the taxpayers and are, therefore, tax dollars.

THE POST OFFICE POSITION

Glen residents wonder why mail sorting and distribution functions could not be performed in a part of town zoned for industry while customer service facilities are opened downtown and at The Glen.  Carlson says the postal service was offered space for mail processing at the Johns Industrial Park but refused to divide its operations because doing so would mean increased expense.

Postal service spokesman Tim Ratliff says it’s “fairly common” for communities to separate those operations, since processing requires a large amount of space for parking trucks.  “It’s more cost-efficient for us not to split operations, but in some cases that isn’t an option.  In Glenview, we are able to house both operations at The Glen.”  Ratliff predicted ground breaking next summer if all goes well.  “We’re still working through the process,” he warned.  “Building a facility is complex and involves a lot of people.”

LARRY’S RECYCLED CONCLUSION

Having completed a laundry list of accomplishments during his administration, Carlson ended his speech by telling the league and its guests that he believes in recycling.  Therefore, he intended to use the conclusion from last year’s speech again this year.  Noting that there had been many changes to the village since he moved here as a boy, the president recalled remarks by some foreign exchange students who recently visited Glenbrook South High School. 

“People are so friendly here,” they said.  “They smile at us when we walk down the street.  They ask how we are and what they can do for us.  They make us feel at home,” Carlson said.  “That is who we are and who we will remain.”

Editor’s note:  Does Carlson miss the eloquence of a ghostwriter, former Village Manager Paul McCarthy, who loved words and frequently wrote remarks for village presidents’ public appearances?

PARK BOARD PRESIDENT SET TO OVERSEE GALLERY PARK

For years, village government has carried the costs of maintaining Gallery Park and the Air Station Prairie – paying consultants and landscaping firms to restore wetlands and fields of native plants.  The park district was reluctant to take responsibility, recognizing the complex and costly nature of those properties, but at the league dinner, Parks President John Winand signaled a new willingness.

“It’s inevitable,” he said.  “The park district ought to be involved in Gallery Park.  The maintenance standards are higher than in our neighborhood parks, but the village is paying a lot of money to third-party contractors.”  If the trustees were willing to shift those resources to the park district, Winand said, “We’d certainly look at it.”

Winand added he would not approve the transfer of Lake Glenview, a man-made body of water that may pose ongoing problems for the village.  Sources tell the Watch that a costly dredging of the lake will be needed to remove large amounts of silt.  “That’s an engineering function that we’re not interested in getting involved in,” Winand said.

The Air Station Prairie is also troubled by failed village efforts to recreate wetlands along Lehigh Road.  Construction crews are now at work, removing more soil so a second attempt can begin.  The village board is expected to approve plans for a nature center at the site this week, and Winand said the park district might also be willing to take responsibility for that property.

Editor’s note:  It’s about time someone in government took control of the prairie for the benefit of this community. Steward Kent Fuller and his wife Jerry have devoted hours of their own time to weeding and seeding and involved a regional group – the North Branch Restoration Project -- in those efforts, but they’ve neglected the needs of Glenview residents and failed to involve this community in prairie maintenance.  They didn’t bother, for example, to call local scouts, the Pioneer Press or Glenview Journal when planning the latest work day on the prairie, and Fuller says tours for Glenview school kids will have to wait until a park district takeover of the property. He, however, arranged private tours for a school in Wilmette and collected a fee for his services. While we think it appropriate to pay knowledgeable naturalists like Fuller for their time, any future funds coming into the publicly-owned Air Station Prairie should go through the government agency responsible for managing that property. 

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD CHOOSES NEW GBS PRINCIPAL

A national search drew about 60 applicants from around the country for the job of retiring Glenbrook South Principal David Smith, but the board of education opted for a familiar face – voting unanimously to promote Associate Principal for Curriculum Brian Wegley to the top job. Wegley will start July 1 and will earn just under $130,000, including retirement contributions during the first year of a three-year contract.

Wegley began his career as a teacher in St. Charles, then came to Glenview to teach physics in 1995.  He served on the District 225 technology task force and coached football before returning to St. Charles to take an administrative job.  In 2003, he came back to GBS as an associate principal.  In that capacity, he helped to develop a teacher orientation and mentoring program and reviewed new course proposals.

Among Wegley’s biggest boosters is Superintendent of Schools David Hales.  He told the Pioneer Press, “Brian knows our values and traditions, and he has tremendous pride in our school.”

Wegley said he was thrilled and honored and pledged “to make a fantastic place even better.”

GLEN IS HOT WITH THE PRE-SCHOOL CROWD

A new survey at The Glen shows more than 1,200 kids call that neighborhood home, and about half are under four years of age.  One in four is likely to attend a private school, but the others will head for District 34 schools.  After opening a new middle school and shifting younger students around, the district has been able to accommodate 379 new students from The Glen so far, but with the number of students outside The Glen also rising, a spokesman for the system says administrators are keeping a close eye on projected enrollment. 

Consultant Ehlers & Associates says it was not easy collecting data from The Glen, since 27 percent of residents did not respond to a mailed census form or door-to-door visits.  Ehlers said its projections involved averaging to factor in those missing families.

FOCUS GROUP WANTS MODEST PLANS DOWNTOWN

Thirty-two people, including residents, business owners and representatives for the park district, the chamber of commerce and Kraft Foods packed a conference room at Village Hall last week to discuss their feelings about downtown redevelopment.  Two of those invited to share their views said they wanted more residential and retail development, but many more said new apartments, condos, town homes and stores would only mean more traffic.  They told village consultants that downtown has plenty of retail but needs marketing assistance and could benefit from some new tenants: restaurants and boutiques.

Speaker after speaker suggested retaining a suburban feel, preserving historic buildings and protecting the scale and charm of the existing downtown with tax incentives or financial assistance for existing businesses.  Parking was a common concern, but with several lots located off Glenview Road, some speakers thought signs directing drivers to parking were all the community needed.

Some focus group participants also called for a change in the timing of a traffic light at Waukegan and Glenview roads.  Right now, they say, there’s too little time for pedestrians to cross.  Some also proposed lowering the speed limit on Glenview Road and getting rid of the median to create space for angled parking.  Veteran village-watcher Norma Morrison thought the wide sidewalk along the 1800-block should be narrowed to bring the storefronts closer to passing traffic and allow for additional angled parking. 

The consultants are still waiting for survey results from about 250 area businesses.  Some owners have balked at answering detailed questions about their operations. 

NEW COP SHOP ALARMS GLEN NEIGHBORS

Independence Ave. residents whose backyards abut the site of a new police station are increasingly uneasy about that project.  They say the village has failed to inform them of plans for the site and appears to be violating its own ordinances.  Witnesses say construction crews took down about 120 trees before starting work on police headquarters near the corner of Lake and Shermer, and on Sunday morning they started work at around 6:30 a.m. Village code bars construction before 9 a.m. on Sundays. 

President Carlson was upset by the early morning disturbance.  “That’s something I’m very sensitive to,” he said.  “There are fixed hours for construction, and we’re going to enforce them.”  Carlson said the loss of trees was inevitable on a heavily-wooded lot,  and those that came down were of low value.  By law, high quality trees which are taken down during construction must be replaced with new plantings.

TRAIN STATION PARKING GOING UP, SCOOTERS GOING DOWN

Glenview trustees will meet Tuesday to discuss a significant increase in the price of a train station parking permit.  Residents would pay $300 per year, up from $180.  The non-resident rate would rise to $400.  Officials say they need a rate hike to cover the costs of parking lot maintenance, estimated at more than $600 per space downtown.  Because the current cost is relatively low, Glenview had been able to sell more than 1,000 permits for 600 parking spots.  Planners admit the increase could end up costing the village money if occasional users of station parking opt to switch from an annual pass to a daily fee of just $2.

The trustees are also expected to ban motorized scooters from village sidewalks, streets, parking lots, bike paths, parks and private property.  County law will make them illegal on January 9, but Glenview must decide what kind of fines to impose for violations.  A proposed ordinance excludes all police and fire vehicles and motorized wheelchairs but does not address the use of the segway – a high-tech scooter that was supposed to revolutionize the way Americans get around. 

Editor’s note:  If the new policy is to make parkers pay their way, we wonder when folks shopping at The Glen will be asked to chip in for those ultra-expensive parking garages.

FENCE MARKS THE SPOT

Local officials have designated a spot along Waukegan Road in front of the Village Hall / police department complex for public display of holiday symbols, surrounding a section of grass with a small white picket fence.  So far, only one person – a local rabbi – has applied for a permit to erect a mennorah. 

GLENVIEW GOES FOR BUSH, TOWNSHIP FOR KERRY

While the western part of Glenview and the southern section in and around Maine Township were blue this election year, residents of the eastside and The Glen tended to vote Republican, giving George Bush a win in Glenview. This week’s edition of the Glenview Announcements included a detailed analysis of voting patterns in Northfield Township and declared it to be Kerry country.  He got 22,671 votes to Bush’s 20,409, a difference of more than 5 percent.

Former Village President Jim Smirles, a Republican, expressed disappointment over the geographic split in Glenview.  He told reporter Irv Leavitt, “We worked really hard to unite the two ends of town by [consolidating] the water systems, thing like that,” he said.  “We really wanted there to be just one Glenview.”

Editor’s note:  Really, Jim? Like having one water system would somehow bring us together politically!  What have you been drinking?

THE DOMINOES FALL

While the northern suburbs used to be predominantly Republican, Northfield Township Democratic committeewoman Elaine Nekritz notes a shift toward her party. “It started in Evanston Township in 1992, and New Trier followed.  Next it may be Wheeling.”

On the other hand, the 10^th Congressional District remains firmly in the Republican camp with incumbent Mark Kirk soundly trouncing opponent Lee Goodman.  Incumbency tends to be a huge advantage in such races, and in 2000 the district expanded to include a large Republican section of Palatine. Those advantages aside, Kirk had an enormous war chest -- $1.6 million, while his challenger had a paltry $83,000 to spend.

VILLAGE DEBATES LIMITS ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PARKING

The Glenview Plan Commission spent nearly two hours debating how to change a local law barring commercial vehicles from parking in driveways or on public streets overnight.  With a growing number of small trucks and SUVs being used as company vehicles, local officials thought some easing of restrictions might be in order.

The commission agreed that large trucks and fleets of company cars should not be parked in residential neighborhoods but differed on how many pickup trucks or vans should be permitted. 

Commissioner Linda Witt thought at least one vehicle with commercial lettering would be okay, but she balked at the idea of three.  Chairman Howard Silver agreed, as long as the vehicles were no bigger than a full-sized pickup truck or van.

Commissioner Steve Bucklin worried about family businesses, arguing a father and son should be allowed to park two vehicles in their own driveway. 

After struggling with the issue for more than an hour, the commissioners agreed to continue their conversation on December 14. 

NEWS FROM THE BLUES

-- Glenview's fire department spent more than an hour battling an early morning blaze at the Auto Center of Glenview --1725 Chestnut Ave.  The fire destroyed 19 cars and a motorcycle, and 13 cars were damaged next door at Alpha Custom Detail.  “This is going to be a large loss,” said one fire department official. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

-- Chicago Harley Davidson, still under construction at 2929 Patriot Blvd., was hit last week by a graffiti artist who sprayed paint on the east side of the building, a dumpster and two construction trailers.  Police estimated damage at $1,000.  The store, which was supposed to open in 2003, is now hoping for a grand opening next summer.
 

-- And finally, there was this mysterious report from The Glen – a possible sign of poltergeists in our midst: A Langley Circle resident reported finding a coat moved from one room to another on November 3 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Police found no signs of forced entry. Their report indicates nothing was taken from the residence, and nothing else was disturbed. 

DISPOSE OF OLD PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Traces of many prescription drugs are turning up in Great Lakes drinking water, and unused antibiotics that are flushed away can interfere with effective sewage treatment or damage septic systems.  What’s more, police say identity theft can occur when prescription bottles are thrown away. That’s why 20 Jewel stores, including the one at Pfingsten and Willow roads in Glenview, will accept bottles of expired or unused medication from 6 a.m.-1 p.m.Wednesday, November 17.

THE GREEN SCENE

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 17 naturalist and science writer Connie Barlow will speak at The Grove on the evolution of many native animals from the time of the extinction of dinosaurs, about 65 million years ago, to the arrival of humans in North America. Barlow is the author of four popular science books on evolution and ecology and writes for Wild Earth magazine.

SAVE THE DATE

-- From 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, November 20 Glenview will host a computer auction at Village Hall, selling used PC’s, monitors, printers and more.  Proceeds will benefit Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook . For more information, call Chris Westgor at 847-904-4350.

-- The Rotary Club of Glenview-Sunrise presents a special holiday concert on Sunday, November 28^th at 3 p.m. at Glenbrook South High School to mark the 100^th anniversary of Rotary International.  Maestro Kenneth A. Bartosz will conduct the Glenview Concert Band, the Attea Middle School choir and many special guest artists.  Come at 2 p.m. to enjoy other activities: a silent auction, a community sing-along and a special appearance by Santa Claus!  Tickets are $10 or $30 for a family of up to five.  Get them at the door or write to The Rotary Club of Glenview-Sunrise, Post Office Box 382, Glenview, IL 60025.  For more information, call 847-509-0060. 

LIBRARY LORE

There are still openings in Basic Internet Navigation on Thursday, November 18 at 2 p.m., or Intermediate Internet Navigation on Tuesday, November 16 at 9:30 a.m. (Both workshops require experience using a mouse.) If you have experience using the Internet and are interested in finding authoritative health information then you'll want to sign-up for Consumer Health Information Online on Thursday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m.

Two lecture/demonstrations will be offered this month in the Maynard Room at 7 p.m.  Keep up with the latest changes in online genealogy sources by attending A New Era in Genealogy on Monday, November 15. Investment Club Data Online on Tuesday, November 30 will help you and your investment club find stock prices, annual reports and business news online.

Call the Information Desk at (847) 729-7500 ext. 112 to sign up for any of these programs. If you would prefer personal assistance, the library also offers 45-minute individual tutorials on many topics and online databases. Sign up with our online request form or call the Information Desk.

The Glenview Public Library now offers free wireless Internet access to patrons with appropriately equipped wireless devices. Coverage includes the main reading room and the table areas of the mezzanine above. Laptops, and other devices, should be equipped with IEEE 802.11b compatible wireless network cards. There are no printers configured on the wireless network, however, work may be saved to a disk and printed from any of the library's public computers. Disk dispensers are available in the lobby.

Sign up now A Musical Biography of Irving Berlin at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 28. Musician Lee Bassett tells about America's most prolific songwriter and performs some of his classics. He'll be accompanied by several vocalists with some favorites like "White Christmas" and music from Holiday Inn. Basset himself performed in combos and big bands in the 1940s and continues to play today!

Register for these programs at the Information Desk, call 847-729-7500 ext. 112 or use the online registration form.

READERS WRITE

Brian Duff Jr. agrees with our contention that mail processing functions of a new post office should go somewhere other than The Glen:  “The new post office and its fleet of trucks is more appropriately located in an industrial area, not in the midst of residential and retail.  With new stores and restaurants continuing to open, along with additional residential development, we should be more concerned about pedestrian safety as well as the overall impact a mail processing center would have on traffic.”

Sam wants more village spending on the east side of town: “Reading about the millions Glenview will spend on capital improvements makes me once again ask the question: When is the village going to spend some money resurfacing our very worn and very patched streets on the east side of Harms Road? We have petitioned and taken photos of what Arbor Lane on the south side of Glenview Road looks like into Carlson’s office months ago and there is still nothing being done.”

The Watch replies:  Communications Director Janet Spector Bishop says she “can't provide final answers until the village board votes on the 2005 budget next month. If you're looking for more information, check the capital improvements budget (CIP) on our website: www.glenview.il.us .  I can tell you that resurfacing Arbor Lane was included in one of the proposals submitted to the board.”

BH offers praise for the high school board of education:  “Chalk one up for District 225.  They recognized a good thing and hired from within to replace Principal Dave Smith when he retires next year.  That kind of redeems some of the bad judgment calls that have been made this year. Too bad the village board lacks that kind of acumen.  They passed over the best choice – Joe Wade and his 20 plus years in Glenview government – to hire an outsider who has no knowledge of Glenview and only a couple of years administrative experience.  Brilliant thinking!  I really admire Wade.  He graciously welcomed the newcomer to the job that should have been his.  Shame on the board of trustees.”

BP agrees with another reader who said Glenview’s School District 34 is far from perfect: “District 34 leaves a lot to be desired, especially in teaching mathematics.   Numerous tutors for a now GBS junior and a college sophomore attest to that!    Many parents we know are in the same boat.”

Mike writes about fishing at The Glen: “My kids and I go there about 2-3 times a month on warm weekends and love it. We have caught, and released 3-5 little sunfish each trip. We saw one guy catch a 14-inch large mouth. It was thrilling. It's a great addition to our suburb around the big City.  The reason we go is to get away from the rat race and spend time with kids doing something outside that's pretty unusual around Chicago. We don't live in the country where this is a common outdoor activity. Your note in this edition implies it's outsiders who don't catch fish and residents don't get value from the investment. To me, a life time resident, it's a great addition.”

JS asks: “Why do they allow the Cook County Sheriff’s buses to park in the turn lane on Glenview Road at Harms while they go into White Hen?  It blocks traffic  and makes turns more difficult.  You and I cannot do that!”

The Watch replies:  A spokesman for the police department says the village does not allow bus drivers to park there.  Please call 847-729-500 and hit zero to report future infractions.  An officer will be dispatched to issue a ticket.  

Mrs. M writes about our difficulties locating Sleepy Hollow Park: “The Park District had a firm policy of locating parks in locations known only to locals.  This was a tactic to prevent outsiders from using our parks. Johns Park is one of the exceptions.”

And JK writes about the downtown focus group meeting with consultant Steve Friedman: “The look on Friedman's face was priceless when shopkeeper Rob Hauff of Hauff Hobbies in the 1800-block of Glenview Road said Village President Larry Carlson had told him his store was history.  Friedman did an extreme double take.  Of course, this was on top of some other startling allegations about Village Hall shenanigans.”

YOUR TURN:  Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60026. 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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