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The Glenview Watch
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POLICE PLAN ROADBLOCKS AFTER MORE DUI ARRESTS
Crime statistics for 2004 show progress on two fronts. Home break-ins were down 22 percent, and arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol nearly doubled from 2003. Police say cooperative efforts with other suburbs enabled them to stop two serial burglary rings, and a fully staffed traffic unit meant 181 more DUI stops. Deputy Chief Kirk Filipowski said intensive enforcement of laws against driving drunk would continue with roadblocks set up around the village on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, and March 18th.
All told, traffic-related offenses were up 25 percent, and calls involving endangerment of children rose from 5 to 13. Filipowski credits increased public awareness of laws protecting kids.
Reports of deception also increased 23.5 percent from 2003 with 205 cases of people using stolen credit cards, passing bad checks, altering stolen checks, committing forgery or computer fraud. That trend is likely linked to a rising number of businesses in town, Filipowski said.
With a new emphasis on enforcement of laws banning drug and alcohol use – especially by minors -- police reported 100 marijuana arrests, up from 74 last year and 119 liquor law violations, up from 101.
Officers handled more than 25,000 calls, mostly for services rather than law enforcement. They quelled 52 neighborhood disputes, conferred with owners of 98 barking dogs, put a stop to 80 loud parties and helped more than 1,200 people who were locked out of their homes.
TRUSTEES OKAY GALLERY PARK WALK-A-THON
The 10th annual Miles for Smiles walk-a-thon will take place May 22 in Gallery Park, raising money for pediatric brain cancer research. It will be the first public event of its kind at the 142-acre site, and village trustees will be watching to see how it goes before committing to similar gatherings.
Next month village staff has agreed to recommend the number of events that should be allowed and what percentage should be reserved for Glenview groups. Already, the park district has asked for permission to host a soccer tournament on June 18, Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook hopes to hold a benefit on June 26, and the Pathways Center plans to host a walk-a-thon on May 22.
During a special workshop on the subject, Trustee Jeff Lerner worried that public gatherings were not in sync with the original vision for Gallery Park. “It was designed so you could walk around the lake or do other things if you were a resident. It wasn’t designed so that when you went to the park, the streets were blocked off and there were tents and food,” he said.
Trustee Kerry Cummings disagreed, saying she thought the park could accommodate multiple uses. Organizations holding events in the park will have to pay for a permit and the costs of providing police, fire, sanitation and public works’ services.
OWEN GETS NEW TITLE – NEW TASKS
With work on The Glen winding down, Don Owen – the chief point person on that project – has been handed a new title and a new job description. He’ll serve as head of the capital projects and planning department – keeping in touch with the state and county on road work involving those branches of government. The Glen is still on Owen’s list of responsibilities, but he’ll also oversee work on the new police station and may be involved with the new post office. Owen, who now works out of a trailer at The Glen, may move into the police department’s space on Waukegan Road once officers relocate to their new digs at Lake Avenue and Shermer Road.
Soon after taking over as village manager, Todd Hileman asked Glenview’s finance director to assume responsibility for revenues and expenses at The Glen – moving people who had been keeping the books for Owen to Village Hall. Relieved of fiscal responsibility, Owen was free to take on some new jobs, Hileman said. His assistant, Amy Ahner, will also be part of the new capital projects office. Neither will see a pay raise as a result of the shuffle, and while both will work on projects outside The Glen, they'll still be paid with Glen/TIF dollars.
HIGH SCHOOLS RAISING FEES
With revenues failing to keep pace with expenses, School District 225 has voted to increase charges for behind-the-wheel driver’s education from $75 to $250 – helping to cover the $2050 cost to educate each student. School Board Member Elias Matsakis went along with the increase, saying he hoped it would prompt more families to sign-up for private driving lessons. Already, about 45 percent of Glenbrook students rely on private companies that charge about $500.
Next year’s student parking passes will cost $225, up $45; the charge for a bus pass will increase by $25-$45, and Glenbrook’s pre-school program will cost $25 more per semester. The district will also charge a $15 materials fee to offset its costs for paper and other supplies. Board member Karen Long voted against the hikes, and Matsakis warned the district could not continue to finance its operations “on the backs of people who have kids in school.”
SWIM PASSES FOR SALE
With two new pool complexes opening this summer and season pass holders required to have photo ID’s, the park district has begun selling passes early. At the height of their popularity, Glenview’s outdoor pools had sold 9,000 summer passes, but by last year the number had fallen to 5,000. After spending more than $16 million to replace the aging Flick and Roosevelt pools, the district expects renewed interest this summer and is gearing up to hire more than 300 people to staff the facilities.
KOREANS PLAN COMMUNITY CENTER
The Canaan Presbyterian Church, a large Korean congregation on Greenwood Road, is planning to build a community center on 5.6-acres south of Lake Avenue on the west side of Greenwood next to a small church now used for children’s religious services and educational programs.
The new facility will include a gym and rooms for music lessons, art and Korean culture classes. The church said it did not expect much growth in the size of its congregation and felt certain the proposed parking lot with more than 200 spaces would be adequate.
Members of the plan commission expressed concerns about the size of the building, its distance from nearby homes and its proximity to an already busy intersection – Lake and Greenwood. Discussion of the project will continue on April 12, one day after the zoning board of appeals rules on whether the center is appropriate for the neighborhood.
PLANNERS TO SET ZONING FOR NEWLY ANNEXED BLOCKS
Now that homes and apartment buildings south and east of W. Lake Avenue and Greenwood Road are part of the village, the plan commission must decide what kind of development can go on there. Look for areas the county zoned for multi-family housing to be designated R-8, allowing up to eight units per acre while blocks of single-family homes are zoned for houses. An industrial area north of West Lake has also been annexed and is likely to be designated for industrial use.
ON THE BEAT
A swanky address is no guarantee of classy behavior. Glenview police report a resident of the high-priced Glen apartment complex known as Aloft was arrested for obstructing justice after she gave false identifying information while detectives were arresting her for a violation of her bond. She’s awaiting trial for battery.
And some people just don’t get it. Police stopped a Fairlawn Lane resident and discovered she was driving even though her license had been suspended. The woman then attempted to beat the rap by speeding away. She was stopped again and cited for both violations.
POLITICAL PATTER
-- Maine Township Republicans are set to duke it out Tuesday in a rare primary election. There are two teams seeking the posts of township supervisor, clerk, collector, highway commissioner and trustees. The incumbents include Supervisor Bob Dudycz of Niles and Trustee Carol Teschky of Glenview. The opposition is led by Mark Thompson who accuses Dudycz of hiring relatives and political pals for township jobs. Among those running with Thompson is Halina Biewlowicz of Glenview.
-- Glenview resident Jillayne Rock is the new chief of staff for state Senate Democrats. The niece of former Senate President Phil Rock was chosen by the current president, Senator Emil Jones. Jillayne Rock has worked in the Senate since 1988. She’ll oversee a staff of 65 people.
-- The Unite Glenview party which is running four unopposed candidates in the next municipal election has opened its campaign office at 1121 Depot St. Residents are invited to visit with the would-be president and trustees from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays until Election Day, April 5.
-- The New Trier Democratic Organization will hold a community forum on social security and other timely issues from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, February 27 at the Winnetka Woman’s Club, 485 Maple St. Speakers include Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky and Mellisa Bean. Schakowsky recently won her party’s number two spot in the U.S. House – the job of minority whip.
SAVE THE DATE
-- Park Center hosts an open house on February 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can swim at Splash Landings, use the fitness center or take an exercise class at no charge. The Grove will have a display featuring turtles and snakes while Wagner Farm will show off its goats. Staffers from the tennis club and golf course will demonstrate their respective sports, and participants can get program information for pre-schoolers, seniors and everyone in between. For more information call 847-724-5670.
-- State Rep. Elaine Nekritz and State Sen. Susan Garrett will host a town meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 22 at the Northbrook Public Library. The public is invited to ask questions and share views.
-- Celebrate Presidents Day at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 22 by learning about the state's new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. Spokesman David Blanchette has been involved with this project for over 10 years. He'll talk about the recently opened Library and the museum set to open in April. Sign up at the Information Desk at (847) 729-7500 ext. 112.
-- You can also sign up at the library for a couple of programs about Chicago. At 7 p.m. March 2, Bill Hinchliff will talk about Chicago's North Shore, and at 7 p.m. Tuesday March 8 you can learn about the new Millennium Park from Ed Uhlir, director of design for the park.
NEWS FROM THE NEIGHBORS
-- Northbrook is set to approve bids for development of the new $8 million Anetsberger Park. The park district has cut a number of frills from original plans – things like colored concrete, a golf shelter and two of five fishing stations around a pond. The park will offer a new nine-hole golf course, two new soccer fields, a skate park and batting cage.
-- With an increase in tolls along I-294, officials say traffic on the Edens Expressway has increased. A state police spokesman said drivers may eventually decide to pay the tolls rather than tangle with traffic on the Edens. In the mean time, more state squad cars will be patrolling.
-- Wilmette has won a $40,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation for five new traffic programs. Officers there hope they can better enforce laws against speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without fastening seatbelts.
-- As many as 10 boys from Wilmette Junior High could face short-term suspensions for creating a website with sexually graphic comments about female classmates. The school held an assembly to make it clear that any student who was aware of the online activity had a responsibility to report it. Superintendent Max McGee acknowledged that the programming was done away from school but stressed the district expects good character and integrity from its students at all times.
-- Menard’s has withdrawn its request for a permit to allow a betting parlor on its property near Oakton and Lehigh in Morton Grove. Neighbors had opposed the plan, and Menard’s said it had not been able to agree with Inter-Track, the company that would have operated the parlor. Supporters said the project could have brought as much as $400,000 per year in new tax revenue.
-- A man who dumped four emus near the Skokie Lagoons last fall was fined $225 and placed on court supervision. Isidoro Lujano-Gonzalez had been keeping the birds in a tent behind his Elmwood Park apartment complex but was ordered to remove them. The emus were rounded up by Glencoe and Winnetka police and taken to a wildlife preserve.
READERS WRITE:
On hearing that Manager Hileman was sending an audit team to look over OliverMcMillan’s records, WS wrote: “Maybe our new village manager feels the developer created his books at the 80 percent off book store in The Glen.”
Our favorite British reader, a local official from London, writes about Glenview’s entanglement with developer OliverMcMillan: “Can you tell me where and how a comparatively small community like Glenview obtains sums of money the length of telephone numbers to lend to developers? I suppose it must be legal, but it would frighten the life out of me spending public money like that. Here in the U.K., local authorities would not be allowed to lend money to developers. In fact, developers must pay us for the right to serve our communities.”
JLo is back with reflections on the generous terms extended to the developer and Von Maur at The Glen: “It seems to me that if businesses downtown and those thinking of opening there could get the kind of monetary support and long-term forgiveness for repayment, our downtown would be a thriving location with people lining up to open ventures. I sure would like to open a store with a huge loan from the village and repayment based on my profitability. Sounds pretty no-risk to me. I have a bunch of ideas if the powers-that-be want to back me in a shop or two. And isn't it interesting that we had to get The Glen to get a sidewalk? Lots of folks have been wanting to bike or walk down Lake Avenue for years.”
Business leader Jennifer Kozicki responds to readers who did not like consultants’ plans for downtown Glenview: “Joel Cahn hits the nail on the head. Glenview’s consultants are proposing things that may have worked for other communities but will not work for us.
“Barb Palmer asks who will pay to have Glenview Road repaired after all the construction the consultants propose. Alas, the taxpayers will pay that tab. It is frightening that our money is spent with such abandon.
“She asked how the consulting firms are hired. Village Hall puts the word out that it’s looking for a company to do a certain job. The job we describe determines the kinds of companies that apply. If you advertise for a gunslinger, that is what you get.
“JLo is just what the village needs -- a woman who speaks her mind but can’t find words for what consultants have proposed to do here. I urge her to attend meetings and share her views or send thoughts to the Strategic Plan Coalition c/o jenglenvw@aol.com. We will help ensure that your feedback is not disregarded. ‘Saving us from ourselves’ is exactly what our organization is about.
“And finally, JC makes a very good point about Glenview’s reliance on consultants. Public comment is disregarded, and then another consultant is hired to persuade us. I'm very proud of our community for questioning these methods.”
RA takes us to task for failing to cover the political scene in Maine Township: “Although you occasionally cover issues from neighboring villages, I have not noticed any coverage of the Maine Township elections, in which there will be (for the first time) a Republican primary which has generated a fair bit of mail and (apparently) division. Have I missed your coverage of this?”
The Watch replies: We regret that with a small staff of volunteers, we are unable to cover all of the important goings-on in this area. That’s why we appreciate letters like yours. We want The Watch to be a two-way street with readers debating with and helping to inform other readers.
Mr. T was surprised to read about raises for library staffers: “Library employees may be underpaid, but they’re probably not over worked. Since 1993 the number of patron visits has declined from 484,851 to 461,309 in 2003 – that despite a 14 percent increase in Glenview’s population. In contrast, the number of full-time employees has increased by 28 percent!
“Reference transactions also fell from 1993 to 2003 by about six percent. Circulation did increase by one half of one percent each year, but that’s hardly enough to justify a 28 percent increase in staff.
“And how about the library’s new executive director, Vickie Novak? Unless I’m mistaken, the board didn’t put a gun to her head to make her accept their offer a year and a half ago. Apparently, Ms. Novak thought it was fair and square, so why in the world does the board feel the need to increase her salary by almost $25,000 just 18 months later? I’m willing to bet that at $114,495 a year, she’s making twice as much as she did running Calumet City’s library.
“Let’s hope Ms. Novak’s extremely generous raise will encourage her to do what she should have done from the start: conduct a patron seating study that will shoot down the board’s plan to double the size of the existing library once and for all.”
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.