In a reassuring message to the citizens of Highland Park, City Manager Ralph Snyder states, "the situation is in hand at the water plant." Since the death of waterworks' superintendent, George B. Prindle, the plant has been manned by experts from North Shore cities . . . Horace Frye, Superintendent of water treatment plant in Evanston has been exercising general supervision of the Highland Park plant. Russell Polson, chief chemist in Evanston and Joseph Rosalini, Highwood water superintendent, have also been helping. "Offers of help have been received from Chicago to Kenosha," states the City Manager. In the meantime, Mr. Snyder is soliciting applications for a new waterworks' superintendent . . . The severe drought that has prevailed in portions of central and southern Illinois since 1952 has been the major cause, according to the State Division of Sanitary Engineering, forcing 741 municipalities to enlarge their water facilities during 1955. Other municipalities will be faced with this problem in 1956. Bloomington has but a five-month water supply in its lake. Galesburg is considering several solutions to its water shortage including a $3,000,000 pipe line to the Mississippi River and Waterloo is also seeking an increased water supply . . . De Kalb has joined the rapidly growing list of cities using the uniform traffic ticket . . . Moline Alderman John H. Carlson has been elected President of the Northwest Municipal Association, replacing Councilman Harold W. Anderson of Rock Island . . . Police and fire departments in many Illinois municipalities are being expanded. Decatur is hiring 35 firemen and 21 policemen. Champaign is adding 4 firemen while Peoria recently increased its fire department by 8 men and its police force by 12 officers. Rockford's record budget of $7,413,637 calls for an additional 38 firemen and 30 policemen . . . Peru's new fire alarm system was recently inspected by members of the Central Illinois Valley Firemen's Association. The system consists of a radio receiver in each fireman's home, which is on at all times. When an alarm is received at the fire station, a fireman on duty relays, via the radio, the alarm simultaneously to off duty firemen in their homes . . . Evanston's 1956 budget calls for a 5% pay raise to city workers . . . Commissioner Frank H. Whitney of Springfield, has announced that he intends to equip Springfield's Finance department with new bookkeeping and accounting machines. The mechanization will allow his employees to keep up with an increased work load and also give the city complete budgetary control . . . Governor William G. Stratton, has reappointed June G. Van Keuren of Du Quoin and Cyrus J. Colter of Chicago to the Illinois Commerce Commission . . . Joliet's Mayor James P. Hennessy, is planning to establish a Joliet port authority commission . . . Olney voters in a recent referendum turned down a proposed airport.

Danville, $1,500,000 general obligation for storm sewer improvement. At the same referendum voters of the Danville Sanitary District of which Danville is a part approved an additional $1,485,000 issue for the same purpose. $100,000 per year of Danville's sales tax revenue will supplement this bond issue in completing the sewer improvements . . . Fox Lake, $325,000 general obligation to construct a sewage treatment plant . . . Perry, $27,000 to construct a municipal water system . . . Carlyle $250,000 sewer and water bond issue . . . Mokena $65,000 general obligation to improve the water system . . . Williamsville, $55,000 general

(Continued on page 37)

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Volume XXXV, No. 2, February, 1956, Total No. 372, THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL REVIEW is published monthly at Springfield, Ill., by the Illinois Municipal League, Editorial and Executive Offices, 537 S. Fourth St., Springfield, Ill. Subscription per year; Domestic, $2.50; Foreign, $3.00; Single Copies, 30c each. Entered as second class matter at the postoffice at Springfield, Ill., January 3, 1944 under the Act of March 3, 1879.

23

CITY HALL GOSSIP
(Continued from page 23)

obligation to finance a municipal water system . . . Cambridge, $50,000 for street improvements.

Lawrence A. Smith, to be legal advisor to the city of Savanna . . . Fred Albrecht to be trustee of Libertyville . . . Gilbert Van Cleve to replace his brother as commissioner in Olney . . . Thomas Harrison to be city clerk of Nokomis . . . Capt. Alex Brebner, Jr. to be police chief Lake Forest, effective May 1st ... Capt. John H. Wade, fire chief, Belleville, effective May 1st . . . James Cote to be fire chief, Broadview, Mr. Cote was previously a member of the Maywood fire department . . . Evelyn Brotherton, to be treasurer, Fox Lake, filling vacancy caused by death of L. A. Gnadt.

Elmer R. Cross, city manager of Bloomington, of an unexpected heart attack. Mr. Cross became Bloomington's first manager in 1953, previously he had held similar posts in Mexico and Excelsior Springs, Missouri and Lexington, Nebraska . . . Frank L. Shattuck, city clerk, Belvidere. He had been a city official for 23 years . . . George B. Prindle, water works superintendent, Highland Park . . . Former State Senator George Maypole, Chicago. Served 14 years on the Chicago city council and several terms in the State Legislature. Mr. Maypole was president pro-tem of the State Senate in 1936.

Marie Bittner, trustee, Bellevue . . . Albert Nebgen, fire chief, Belleville, after 24 years of service ... Vincent Van Cleave, commissioner, Olney . . . Erwin F. Boe, police chief, Joliet after 34 years on the force . . . Mayor D. R. Lapan, Galva, because of ill health . . . Clifford L. Schaffer, trustee, Libertyville . . . J. E. Everson, superintendent of Princeton water and light plant . . . John Brearton, city attorney, Savanna . . . Alan Schertz, budget director, Bloomington, to accept a position in the city manager's office of Columbia, South Carolina.

Egbert A, Smith, former Mayor, Cairo, passed away January 10th. He served as Mayor from 1943 to 1954, resigning to accept an appointment from President Eisenhower to the Mississippi River Commission. Mr. Smith served as Past President of the Illinois Municipal League, and a member of the Executive Committee.