The Huntley Farmside

              SERVINC; THE PEOPLE OF HUNTLEY SINCE 196U
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HUNTLEY, ILLINOIS
THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1994 ¦
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 10
USPS 580-360
Watering Warning
By Jim Dhamer Village President
I would like to warn the residents of Huntley to use water sparingly and conserve whenever possible, due to the shortage of rainfall in the area. The Village of Huntley's water capacity and wells are good, we just don't want to overburden our system with unnecessary watering of lawns.
Huntley Legion To Conduct Rag Burning —
The Huntley American Legion will hold a flag burning ceremony on Flag Day, Tuesday, June 14th at 7:00pm. The ceremony will take place at the Legion Hall. Flags may be dropped off at the Hall through June 14th. Call the American Legion at (708) 669-8485 for more information.
Jaycees Fill Sand Boxes This Sunday
Summer is here and it's that time for the sand box to be topped off with fresh sand. The Huntley Jaycees will be out in the community to fill sand boxes on Sunday, June 12th. The sand for this event has been generously donated by Bakley Construction.
To make arrangements for a delivery, just stop in the Ace Hardware on Rt. 47, in Huntley and sign up, or give them a call at 669-5222. . Deliveries will start around dam. It is not necessary that you are home for the delivery, as long as your sand box is accessible by
wheelbarrow.
Donations for this event will be accepted by the Jaycees during delivery or at the Huntley Ace Hardware.
Community development projects, like this, usually spark the interest of Huntley residents. If you would like to fmd out more about what the Jaycees do in Huntley, or if you have ideas for future community development projects, the Jaycees would * like to hear from you. The Jaycees meet the Hrst Tuesday of each month, at the Bowl-Hi Lanes, at 8pm. New members and their ideas are always welcome!
"Barney Bucks" Award Cash
"Barney Bucks" cash drawing at the American Legion in Huntley,, June 3. was a huge success. $900 was collected from the sale of the "bills," half going to the scholarship fund and the other half being divided into two equal cash prizes. The lucky winners were Sally Archambeault of Huntley and David Clark of Elgin. Door
prizes donated by the committee members were won by Betty Clark, Gail Weir, Gwen Jensen, Cindy Fuctz. Wesley Walls, Cindy McCann, Gail Hayes, Linda Marline, Harry Wolden. Cheeks, Bob and Marilyn Kunde and Joe Soper. Coiigratulations to everyone and thanks to all that donated to our cause.
Huntley Board Presents Meeting Agenda
There will be a regular board meeting of the Village of Huntley on Thursday. June 9, 1994, at 7pm in the Village Hall at 11704 Coral St.. Huntley. IL 60142.
A. Call to Order
B. Minutes Approval
C. Bill List Approval
D. Accounting Report Approval
E. Mayors Report
- Kreutzer Rd. Industrial Park ditch clean out
- Fryer water main
- June 16 bid opening -
repaving Kreutzer Rd.
F. Administrator's Report
G. Attorney's Report
- Hoist Recapture H. Engineer's Report
I. Department Reports
- Building
- Public Works
- Police
J. Public Comments
(limited to 3 minutes) K. Old Business L. New Business M. Executive Session N. Adjournment
School Superintendent Retires After 16 Years <
By Tracey Schwartz
"To start, we're gonna take care of the garden ... and I really wanna do some fishing," says retiring superintendent. Dr. Robert Bunt. Bunt leaves his post with Huntley Consolidated School District #158 on Wednesday. June 30th, of this year.
Bunt began his 35-year career in education with a bachelor's degree in music education. In 1959 he took his first job with the Nauvoo-Calousa School District #325 on the Mississippi River, 30 miles from his alma mater. Western Illinois University in Macomb. From there he moved to the Crete/Monee School District just south of Chicago where he served for 19 years in various positions including band director, assistant principal and principal. In 1976 Crete/ Monee built a new junior high school which Bunt opened up and ran for two years. Then he took the superintendent position with Huntley in 1978. Through the years Bunt earned a master's degree in secondary education and a doctorate in administration.
"It's been an interesting job with constant challenges," says Bunt Of his 16 years with District #158. He feels his most significant contribution to the district has been stabilizing the budget. Bunt recalls when he started in May of ,78 that the district was deep in debt and couldn't meet the payroll for July. He said they decided to sell $450,000 in working cash bonds at his first board meeting just to keep operating.
So from there Bunt began to put in place what he describes as "very sound business practices that over time have paid off." One of those practices was that Bunt began shopping around banks in Chicagoland for the best interest rates for school monies. In addition he began a bidding process for everything the school purchased, from the cafeteria milk to the snow plowing. Bunt says this proved to be very, very healthy for the district. Eight years later the budget stabilized. Today according to Dr. Bunt the school budget is balanced with an excess in funds.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Bunt will retire June 30 from his 16-year post with District #158.
Another significant contribution Bunt made was the reworking of the entire insurance program. In 1986 Bunt along with several surrounding school districts, began a self- insurance pool for property/ casualty coverage. With Gallagher Bassett Insurance as the claims handler, that pool has grown to 160 members from McHenry, Dupage, Cook, Will and Lake counties. Five years ago he began a similar insurance pool for health coverage. Prior to the pool, premiums had been increasing 40% each year. Last year the premium increase was <-9%>. "It's (the pool) been very, very effective," Bunt adds, "Our pool has become a model for Gallagher."
Dr. Bunt is extremely proud of District #158 schools. He feels they have put together the finest staff of any place he has ever worked. He offers loads of praise for the first grade Writing To Read program, the ungraded classrooms, and elementary school principal, Kelly Baird. "People of this community don't have any idea of the excellence of their district." he says, "I'd put our elementary staff against anybody."
When asked if he had any regrets. Bunt responded, "Oh yeah, it's sad. We've, my wife and I, given 16 years to this
community; emotional and heartfelt years. I was crushed when the referendum failed." In March 1994 taxpayers voted down a referendum to build new school facilities on district property on Harmony Road. He strongly believes people need to realize that new technology is the future and junior high and high school students need the laboratories and the modern facilities to learn those technologies hands-on.
"We've done lots of long- range planning ... that's so important because if you don't do that, you just react," Bunt continued, "Maybe Jerry Hartley (Bunt's successor) will be able to have better relations with the village... That would be a regret, that we didn't have better relations with the town... I hope Jerry can come in and promote healing with the village."
Jerry R. Hartley will come from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, to replace retiring Bunt on July l,st. Bunt offers this advice to Hartley; 1) Carefully watch the finances, 2) Hire the best possible staff you can find, 3) Carefully think through the philosophical direction for the school, 4) Stick to your guns, if you know you're right, hang tough without compromise, 5) Finally, to wish him the greatest success. _
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