Soapbox: Ready, set, go

Holiday shoppers around Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and Huntley will no doubt think Santa arrived several weeks early when officials open a long-awaited four-lane stretch of Algonquin Road through those three communities. No, Phase I of the $28 million project won't be finished. Then will come the second phase. All in all, though, it's likely drivers will greet the new lanes in the same enthusiastic way a child greets Christmas morning.

Predictable response

The objections were almost as predictable as the weather. We could have told South Elgin leaders that a change in the garbage pickup plan would lead to complaints. Loud ones. All in all, though, 150 phone calls and five residents showing up at the first post-change board meeting to complain isn't all that bad. Yes, ARC could have tried to ascertain what size residents wanted before delivering the biggest carts to everyone. And the village must insist ARC respond to complaints in some fashion beyond "call village hall." But some of the other complaints -- the possibility of the carts getting hit by a snowplow or blowing over -- would apply to any trash can, maybe more so than these big-wheeled carts.

New academy support?

Despite the fanfare with which they were created, Elgin School District U-46's high school gifted academies have always been sort of the district stepchildren. That's because gifted programs get no state or federal funding. Thus, they are first on the chopping block when money gets tight. An audit of the programs showed just that -- the five programs have suffered since the budget was whacked in response to deficits a few years back. And unqualified students have been admitted to reach class size targets. Now the district intends to remedy both complaints and rejuvenate what remain pretty unique programs. Good investment.

Beyond tolerance

It shouldn't take three menacing incidents to have a dangerous dog removed from proximity to residents. McHenry County Animal Control filed court documents that would require the owner of a pit bull to keep the dog confined constantly. If the owner, from Algonquin, was responsible about restraining his dog, the county wouldn't be in court. So why would anyone expect a change in the owner's behavior now? Sorry to dog lovers, but shouldn't three dangerous incidents and an irresponsible owner lead to thinking about removing that animal permanently?

On unsafe ground

O'Hare International Airport may have a leg up in the safety game thanks to a new ground radar system, but a scathing U.S. General Accounting Office report to Congress said there's a good chance "a catastrophic runway collision" could happen at the nation's airports because of poor technology, lack of controller manpower and lousy leadership. O'Hare has had three serious close calls in just over a year and several less serious. Worse, the GAO said, "no single office is taking charge of assessing the causes of runway safety problems and taking the steps needed ... ." Lack of leadership from government. What a shock.

New leader of dysfunction

Carpentersville and East Dundee have officially given up their mantles as the most embarrassing, dysfunctional public bodies in the area. The new standard bearer is now Huntley School District 158, where recording devices mysteriously never seem to work and where all pretense of civility has been lost. The name-calling has risen to opponents being labeled "terrorists" and threats of physical violence have been admitted. Great lessons for the impressionable kids.