The Huntley Farmside

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The
Thursday, December 2,1999
Farmside
A Press Publications newspaper mf serving the Huntley community
Volume 29, Issue 48
Huntley mourns leader's loss
Village president's death signals end of 14-year reign
By Christopher Petersen
Press Publications
Huntley Village President James C. Dhamer, who had seen the village through an unprecedented time of growth, died Nov. 24 at his home. He was 69.
Dhamer died of what doc¬ tors speculate was either an embolism or aneurysm as he slept Wednesday. He had been recently hospitalized for unrelated intemal bleed¬ ing.
Dhamer came to Huntley in 1961, after serving in the Korean War, where he ear¬ ned three Bronze Star awards. The native of Men- dota later became a member of Huntley's Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commis¬ sion, eventually becoming a trustee and then village president.
He came about the posi¬ tion of village president in a very unusual maimer, ac¬ cording to friends. After an election for the office failed to draw more than 80 voters.
James C. Dahmer, who died Nov. 24 at his home, was Huntley's village president for 14 years.
it resulted in a tie. Dhamer ended up winning a coin toss to determine the rightful winner. He held the office for 14 years, until his death.
The village grew by leaps and boimds under Dhamer's
leadership, with the addition of the Prime Outlets shop¬ ping center and Del Webb's Sun City retirement com¬ munity among the additions Dhamer   oversaw.   Even
though he was a very busy man with his numerous re¬ sponsibilities, Huntley resi¬ dents and officials remember Dhamer as a considerate man who always had time ¦   DHAMER, Page 2
Dist. 158 Board fills its vacancy
By Christopher Petersen
Press Publications
District 158 has named a successor to Ann Leslie's seat on the School Board.
After a fmal interview on Nov. 18, the board selected Matthew Zender as Leslie's replacement. Zender is a resident of Lake in tiie Hills, where Leslie is also from, where he works as an insur¬ ance consultant.
Leslie announced her res¬ ignation from the board sev¬ eral weeks ago without an explanation, and the School Board had eight candidates lined up to be interviewed for the position.
"It was a refreshingly dif¬ ficult decision," said Superin¬ tendent J.R. Hartley of the board's vote to elect Zender. They felt he would bring an interesting perspective to the board which is needed right now.
Old library building still up for auction
By Christopher Petersen
Press Publications
The old Huntley Hbrary building will have to wait a little longer before a use is found for it again.
The 1,500-square-foot build¬ ing failed to draw a sati¬ sfactory bid during an auction of the building and property two weeks ago, so the whole parcel will go back on the auction block in the spring, said Head Librarian Virginia Maravilla.
"This time the library will leave no stone unturtied look-
T/iJS lime the library will leave no stone
unturned looking for a buyer. We
thought we could possibly appeal to a
wider audience."
Virginia Maravilla
head librarian
ing for a buyer. We thought we could possibly appeal to a wider audience," Maravilla said.
The library will extend its advertisement   of  the   build¬
ing's availability further than last time, including the city of Chicago along with the northwest suburbs. The high bid at the last auction made for about $223,000 by Crystal
Lake chiropractor Warren Wolschlager, who intended to use the building for office space. The library felt that the bid was not what they either expected nor needed for op¬ erating expenses.
"We hadn't put an exact figure on it, but we think it's worth more than that," Mar¬ avilla said. While the library has not released an appraisal of the property, commercial land in that area has sold for around $10 a foot, and the en¬ tire lot is about 39,000 feet. Even though the library still has other options for the old building,   state   law   requires
that if it is to be sold, it must be sold at auction.
Maravilla said she was pleased with the board's decision to keep the building on the block.
"I think the board all agreed that it was in the taxpayers' best interests," Maravilla said.
The old Huntley library building is located on Al¬ gonquin Road, two blocks east of Route 47. Maravilla said that there were a few several offers to buy the building be¬ fore the auction, but those making the offers did not ap¬ pear at the auction.