The Decatur Daily Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 16

PAGE SIXTEEN THE DECATUR DAILY REVIEW Decatur, Illinois, Tuesday, April 18, 1978 Bus contract awarded rhino A $1.3 million contract for 14 buses was awarded to Grunnan Flexible Corp. by the Decatur City Council at Monday night's meeting. Delivery of 14 buses to the Decatur Public Transit System could come as early as January. Two of the buses will be-equipped with wheelchair lifts. Mass Transit Coordinator Robert Reed said the contract calls for the buses to be delivered within 52 weeks, but production begins on them in January and they might be delivered then.

The council also approved applying to the. federal government for a mass transit planning grant. A public hearing on the mass transit system is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Decatur Public Library auditorium. Citizen comments and suggestions on the operation of the system are being sought.

In other action, the council approved an agreement with three developers to contribute financially to street and sewer improvements to serve a 65-lot subdivision Cresthaven Estates. The developers will give the city $31,211 toward improving MacArthur Road and $3,990 toward the cost of building a storm sewer large enough for future development. Nobody appeared at a public hearing on the proposed $36.5 million city budget for the next fiscal year which begins May 1. The budget for next year is expected to be formally adopted Monday night. In other action, the council: Annexed 27 acres on McKinley Avenue east of Oakland Avenue.

Rezoned property at the southw est corner of William Street Road and 32nd Street for a multi-family residential development. Rezoned property at 3411 N. Wood ford St. for commercial uses as a wholesale and retail radio and tape player installation shop. Rezoned property near Arbor Drive for a 125-lot subdivision called Cresthaven Park.

Rezoned property at 3300 W. Main St. for a residential subdivision. After the meeting, Councilman William F. Oliver asked if some consideration could be given to beefing up police coverage in the near northeast side of the city, which experiences a high crime rate.

City Manager Leslie T. Allen said the addition of five patrolmen next year will cut down on response time and may help the area. Allen also told the council he will gather more details about a tourism promotion being prepared by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has asked the city for $5,000 to help finance a promotional film. if'" Forsyth issues permit sjfe.

WMtt jJi.il? XlJ for Bergner store Staff photo by Doug Gaumon Water and sewer system construction plus a harsh winter has created road problems in Harristown. Governor aide looks at roads; Lyons angered by all the fuss By Ron Ingram A building permit for foundations for the $2.7 million P.A. Bergner Co. store in Hickory Point Mall was issued Monday night by the Forsyth Village Board. Cosntruction will begin soon, said Bob Mullins, representative of The Law Company Inc.

of Witchita, contractors for the building. Site preparation work has begun, Mullins said. Approval of the permit was given contingent on the firm submitting the remainder of the store plans as soon as they are finished. Village architect James Upchurch said a problem with the heating and ventilating system not meeting village building codes caused a delay in completion of plans. The estimated cost of the Bergner store brings to more than $10.4 million the cost estimates for the mall shell and the three major anchor stores Bergner, Carson Pirie Scott Co.

and J.C. Penney Co. other mall-related business, the board approved a change in its ordinance governing amusement arcades at the request of Michael Campbell, attorney for General Amusements Inc. of Chicago. old ordinance prohibited youths 4 volunteers win awards Four Decatur area American Red Gross volunteers won awards at the recent Heart of Illinois Division of the Hrd Cross conference in Peoria.

Ur. Herbert J. Bavor won the award fw administration, Mrs. Robert H. for outstanding contribution to the blood program, Mrs.

Roger Grohne fljr community volunteer programs and Mrs. Chester Johnson for nursing and health care programs. Bavor began as first aid instructor in rjo. He has held chapter, state and Midwest chairmanships and been a member of the national board of governors six years. Mrs.

Mueller was involved in formulating a Red Cross blood program for Decatur community in 1948 and has served as chairman of the blood program since that time. Mrs. Grohne, Volunteer of the Year in 03 for the Decatur area, has served on the- chapter board of directors, various committees and division advisory board Mr her 19 years as a volunteer. Mrs. Johnson, a 30-year Red Cross member, is currently the office of volunteers chairman.

She has served as Fwrsing services chairman and vice Chairman of the board of directors. reana to end Storm cleanup -Oreana Village residents may place tree limbs next to the curbs in front of their homes to be picked up through Etiday by village Street Department porkers. Village President Jack Page said Monday. age said cleanup in the village has Seen continuing since the March 24 ice storm, but will end Friday. After today, broken limbs will be the responsibility of property owners.

erris fined 3Seorge A. Ferris, 24, of 839 W. North Sjr has been fined $300 and costs in Circuit Court on a marijuana possession charge. referred the gubernatorial aide to the village engineers. Architectural Engineering Service Corp.

of Decatur. "This is the first week the contractors could work," he said. "We've been trying to keep the roads so people can use them, and we have done so." There is only about two months until the water and sewer projects will be completed, Lyons said. The contractors will put the roads back into shape and the village has money to work on them, too. The village isn't broke as some people have implied, he said.

Lyons attacked local news media, saying they have blown the road situation in Harristown "all out of proportion." While Peerless Construction Co. of Mattoon has been involved in a dispute with the village involving withholding of payment until road improvement work was finished, three other firms working on the utilities installation projects also have responsibility for road work. Also involved in laying sewer mains are Calvert Myers Construction Inc. of Edinburg and Smith-Montgomery Inc. of Springfield.

Roy Brothers Contractors Co. of Cecilia, is installing water mains. The village's problem with Peerless was solved Friday in a meeting between Lyons and the contractor. The village president said he anticipates all the contractors will be back on the job soon because wet conditions prevailing earlier this spring are subsiding. Village residents who began the campaign to get the streets improved re mained unhappy Monday.

Sharon Kennedy, one of the residents who began a petition drive last week, said there appears to be little chance a special village board meeting to discuss the road problems will be called. About 25 residents last week requested a meeting. In a phone conversation with Lyons, she was told records of the utilities projects could be viewed at the next board meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, Mrs. Kennedy said.

Operation set lor mobile intensive care A mobile intensive care program for Decatur with St. Mary's Hospital as the 'resource hospital is expected, to be in operation by May 15. The paramedics involved in the program now are participating in simulated advanced life support training to get accustomed to the equipment and procedures involved. Paramedics are trained to provide support needed to sustain life of the patient prior to hospital arrival. They will perform these advanced techniques under the indirect supervision of the emergency room physician through radio and telemetry communications.

Four emergency medical technicians, Steve Beck, Bob Gessert, Steve Dan-enberger and Robb Rennix, have successfully completed the state-approved paramedic course offered by St. Mary's. They are employed by Decatur Ambulance Service. The ambulance service owns and staffs the advanced life support vehicle which is equipped with a defibrillator and radio and telemetry communications systems. The mobile intensive care program has been aided by a grant from the state and a donation from the Millikin University Interfraternity Council.

Both St. Mary's and Decatur Memorial hospitals will have the communications equipment to facilitate the program. St. Mary's, however, is resource hospital for all training programs for Decatur. Such programs already are in operation in Chicago, Champaign and Springfield.

One is beginning in Bloo-mington. Work began in 1976 to bring the program to Decatur. State approval was received last summer. Miller president of state college association Dr. J.

Roger Miller, Millikin University president, has been elected to a two-year term as president of the Associated Colleges of Illinois. Miller previously was on the ACI executive committee and had been vice president since 1973. The ACI is an organization of 28 private colleges and universities. The organization provides a united fund-raising program through which corporations, foundations and individuals can support member institutions. The ACI also develops ways through which members can jointly to improve the efficiency of their operations.

Junior Achievement honors bestowed Janet Baulos and Tim Haworth were honored as Miss Junior Achievement and Mister Executive at the executive ball of Junior Achievement of Decatur Inc. Friday night in the Holiday Inn. Miss Baulos, 17, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Baulos of 3059 Olympia Drive.

The Eisenhower High School senior is secretary of her JA company, A.I.R., sponsored by WSOY Radio. Haworth, 16, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Murray Haworth of 143 Point Bluff Drive.

The Eisenhower High School senior is president of A.I. R. There were 10 finalists in each category. Other stipulations set by the Zoning Board included fishing only during daylight hours, landscaping to screen the property from nearby residences and a dust-free surface on the entrance drive and parking area. When Harrison filed his original petition in July 1976, numerous objections to it were raised by neighbors.

In other matters Wednesday, the Zoning Board will hear the petition of Robert D. Lourash at 9:50 a.m. He seeks a change from R-l residential to M-l light industrial for a tract 24 miles east of Airport Road on U.S. 36 so he can expand his construction business. Five other petitions also will be heard Wednesday.

under age 18' from operating amusement devices unless accompanied by or having written permission from a parent or guardian. Campbell asked for a change in the ordinance to provide only that no person or firm operating amusement devices would allow persons under age 18 to use the devices during school hours or after the hour of any municipal curfew. The board also accepted the resignation of Village Clerk Janet Brunner effective June 1. Mrs. Brunner said she wishes to devote more time to her family.

She suggested the board set regular office hours and a new salary for the clerk post before appointing a successor. The person appointed by the board will serve until the next municipal election in April 1979. Also Monday the preliminary plat of a 41-acre subdivision Stevens Creek Estates was approved and the area annexed to the village. It is being developed by Warren Hagan, a Decatur engineer, and other partners in a land trust. Located north of Weaver Road across from Hickory Point Golf Course, the subdivision will contain 57 lots on which homes valued between $100,000 and $180,000 will be built, Hagan said.

Amy Ploeger Amy Ploeger gets fine arts camp scholarship Amy Ploeger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ploeger of 7 Millikin Place, has received the $500 Dorothy S. Corson scholarship to apply toward tuition at the National Fine Arts Camp, Interlochen, this summer. The scholarship comes from Dorothy Corson, who donated funds for the Corson Center for Performing Arts.

The drama department at Interlochen makes the scholarship decision. Last summer. Miss Ploeger was run-nerup for outstanding female drama student at Interlochen for her role as the nurse in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." She is a junior at MacArthur High School, where she Is a member of the German Club, National Honor Society and speech team. In December, she played in Theatre 7s "Story Theater." Work closes intersection The intersection of Division and Warren streets will be closed through Thursday because of work to lower a water main, according to the city's Engineering Division. Harrison's rejection of the conditions was the primary reason the board recommended against granting the special use permit.

Chief among the conditions set by the board was removal of nonconforming residential uses from the property. Harrison has two mobile homes not on permanent foundations, a log cabin home in which he resides and two mobile homes on foundations on the property. The mobile homes provide him with rental income. Harrison Indicates he will dispose of the two which are not on foundations, sell the cabin and move into one of the remaining mobile homes himself, Riley said. That leaves only one mobile home to be accounted for.

Citizens unit to back school referendum By Ron Ingram After a tour of Harristown on Monday, an aide to Gov. James R. Thompson said road conditions there were worse than residents had outlined in a letter to the governor last week. Richard Mowery, director of the governor's information agency, made the tour to check on residents' complaints. Construction of water and sewage systems for the village coupled with severe winter weather brought about the road problems.

"I don't know how those people got in and out this winter," Mowery said. "I'd like to sit in on a meeting with the village board and the contractors to see what their intentions are to help the citizens." Mowery said he would contact village President James R. Lyons and the contractors concerning a meeting. Lyons expressed anger and frustration Monday about the criticism village officials have received in the past week stemming from the road controversy. When Mowery called, Lyons said he Civil Division hours extended The Macon County Sheriffs Office's Civil Division now is operating on expended hours.

Sheriff Stephen D. Fisher said instead of closing at 4:30 p.m., the office will continue open until 10 p.m. daily. The division will serve attorneys wishing to file subpoenas and other notices for service, landlords filing eviction notices for service, insurance agents seeking copies of accident reports and similar business. Fisher said he does not expect the office to be exceptionally busy during the extra hours, but that they should be of convenience to enough persons to justify them.

Personnel on duty during the extra hours also will use the time for filing and similar work, he said. Fund-raiser Thursday for child care centers A pay affair to benefit the Anna Waters Head Start Center and Longview-Community Day Care Center is scheduled Thursday night. The fund-raising event will be from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Longview Place administration building, 406 Longview Place. There will be games, refreshments and prizes.

Tickets are 10 cents each, or 11 for $1. They may be purchased at either center. Radio station WDZ promoting city Proclamations declaring this week "I Love You, Decatur Week" are to be presented to the Decatur City Council and to the Decatur Chamber of Commerce by radio station WDZ. According to Jeff Bierig, WDZ news director, the week marks efforts by the station to promote the city and to focus on city events and personalities in WrDZ news coverage. A Save Our Schools Citizens Committee has been formed in the Blue Mound-Boody School District to support a proposed tax referendum this fall.

On Monday, Carol Brown and Dave Zimmerman, both of Blue Mound, were named chairman, and vice chairman, respectively, of the committee. The committee will meet with the board in the high school library at 7 p.m. May 16. Also on Monday the school board authorized a study by Mid-State Banking of Aloomington on the feasibility of issuing working cash bonds. Superintendent Frank C.

Green told the board, the district can expect a $271,000 deficit in its education fund at the end of the next school year unless additional funds are forthcoming. Its deficit will be $60,000 after this year. The district's maximum legal debt limit is $275,000. Green blamed inequities in the state's resource equalizer formula, inflation and an increase of state-mandated programs which the state does not finance for creating the district's financial troubles. If the board issues $275,000 worth of working cash bonds, the district would not reach its debt limit for at least another year.

But a tax referendum must be approved this year for the district to remain under its debt limit for the 1980-81 school year, Green said. The board's other options to remain under the debt limit are curriculum and( staff cuts or consolidation with district. Green said neither of those alternatives is being considered now. A $275,000 working cash bond issue-would raise taxes 25 cents per $100 of, assessed valuation in the district. Tax payers now are paying the maximum of $1.60 for the education fund, he said.

5 lation was "emergency Only bills with this designation can bei considered in this session of the GeneraH Assembly, in addition to budgetary and? appropriations measures. 22 Decatur lost $89,000 lasf year be cause of the transfers the bill is meant-to eliminate, according to Bennett. The mass transit bill is part of package of transportation bills unveilect by Republicans a month ago. The House Transportation Committed is expected to consider the bill in early" May. There are three co-sponsors to Bennett's mass transit bill.

Fishing lake permit asked again Bennett predicts passage of transit funds measure Dale Harrison is trying again to get a ounty special use permit for a fee fish-22j operation on six acres southwest of Decatur off Brozio Lane. Un March, the County Board denied Harrison's original petition for a per-fijf, upholding a county Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation. THarrison has filed a new petition. The Zoning Board will conduct an on-site Hearing about it at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday.

iThe owner of Dale Hallow Lake has igSicated he now is willing to accept a number of conditions the Zoning Board originally set for issuing a permit, said Hebart H. Riley, acting county zoning administrator. State Rep. Allen Bennett said Monday he thinks his bill to ensure that mass transit revenues are not put to other uses will pass the House. The Decatur Repbulican is sponsor of the.

bill, which he says is designed to encourage downstate mass transit systems. The reason for Bennett's optimism is that the bill, which would prevent the state from transferring downstate Public Transportation Funds into the General Revenue Fund, cleared the House Rules Committee by a 16 to 1 vote. The committee also decided the legis.