The Huntley Farmside

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Volume 40 No. 11
Your hometown newspaper
Thursday, March 16,2000
© 2000 Press-Republican Newspapers
Agencies ask voters for more money in public referendum
by Donna Kupris Kelley
City editor
Three local agencies are asking Huntley residents for more money to fund improvements m a public refer¬ endum March 21.
The Huntley Fire Department is seeking an increase of the Ambulance Service Rate from .1356 percent to .30 percent, while the Park District is asking voters for a $9.35 million bond issue to acquire the old Huntley high school.
At "the same time, District 528 is asking that the tax rate be increased and established at 27 cents, up from 22 cents — a change voters will not see in their pockets because McHenry County College is retiring its debt from a previous bond issue at the same time this would take' effect.
This no-cost referendum would boost the services of the college, where more than half of the adults in the area have taken courses and about one-third of graduating seniors continue their education.
If voters approve the Ambulance Service Rate increase, the additional revenue would be used to hire additional firefighters and paramedics, and replace an aging ambulance.
"The men and women of the Huntley Fire District are dedi¬ cated, highly-trained profession¬ als who need the additional resources to provide the services this community expects us to provide," said David Veath, fire department chief. "Manning these new stations will reduce our response time for the en^re district, while keeping the insur¬ ance cost down."
The request for additional funding stem." from ihecriistruc- tion boom in town — a potential 11,750 homes could be built in approved Huntley annexation agreements.
. The Park District is asking for additional revenue to build a
"The men and women of . the Huntley Fire District are dedicated, highly- trained professionals who need the additional resources to provide the services this community expects US to provide."
-David Veath, fire department chief.
family aquatic center, purchase the old high school, 27 acres sur¬ rounding it and the bus garage.
"Other towns who've had the kind of growth we're experi¬ encing would kill to have this kind of opportunity," said Betsey Warrington, Huntley Park District recreation director.
The potential purchase would connect Deicke Park and Deicke Sun Valley Farm, giving resi¬ dents a 92-acre park in the mid¬ dle of the district.
"Deicke Recreation Center is bursting at the seams," park dis¬ trict staff members said. "The current population of the park district is 24,000 residents."
The referendum costs an increase of about $.085 to $.095 and works out to cost between $25 and $60, depending on the value of the taxpayer's home.
Also, the cost will decline as new residents move into the dis¬ trict and senior citizens have some property tax relief options available.
"The district's tax base growth will provide sufficient dollars to cover the additional expenses," according to the staff. "The aquatic center is expected to gen¬ erate sufficient funds through user- fees to cover operating expenses."        -
Cast your vote March 21 at your local polling place.'
Residents who are unsure of where to vote may call the coun¬ ty clerk office. Kane County res¬ idents call (630)232-5950, and McHenry County residents call (815)334-4244.
Huntley Firefighter Eric Hair checks the equipment in each of the compartments of the department's 1981 951 Horton ambulance.The Ford- chassis ambulance has logged 42,158 miles and is old by industry standards. "They are driven pretty hard," Hair said of the department ambulances.
Press-Farmside photo by John Cox
We need a Huntley/Marengo editor
Donna Kelley, editor of the Huntley Farmside and Marengo Press is leaving to spend more time with her infant daughter and family. Donna has been a great asset in helping organize and improve tire local news content of these papers. But now that she is leaving, We need a new city editor.
Our hope is to find someone from the area who has roots in the community, as well as a background in journalism. Our purpose is to provide our readers with
the best possible community newspaper. Job duties include organizing the con¬ tent of the newspaper, typing press releas¬ es, assigning photos, writing stories and designing the pages.
The office for both papers is located in Huntley.
_ If you are i.'iterested, you may call Executive Editor Rick Nagel at (630) 513- 5050, or send your resume to P.O. Box 3880, St. Charles, IL 60174, or e-mail him at edi- tor@press-rep.com.   .