Politics & Government

City to District 155: No Parking Buses in Restricted Zones

City officials want Community High School District 155 to abide by parking restrictions on streets adjacent to Crystal Lake Central High School.

Crystal Lake city officials want Community High School District 155 to abide by restricted-parking zones near Crystal Lake Central High School.

City council members on Tuesday night discussed the action by District 155 to move its entire bus fleet from transportation headquarters at Crystal Lake South High School, 1200 S. McHenry Ave., to Central High School, 45 W. Franklin St. on Friday, Aug. 30.

District 155 moved the buses in anticipation of a large spectator crowd for the Crystal Lake South Gators season-opening football game- which also was the first game held with the new $1.18 million bleachers at Ken Bruhn.

The school buses were relocated to Crystal Lake Central High School, where council members said many buses were parked on the grass, and in areas marked no-parking zone. The attached photograph was posted on McHenry County Blog. 

"We woke up Saturday morning to a new school bus parking lot at Crystal Lake Central High School," Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley said a September council meeting. "Buses were parked on the front lawn, near the Little League fields, and along the side of the school."

Other council members disapproved of the move.

"They moved every bus over to Central and parked on the grass; it was ridiculous," Council member Ellen Brady Mueller said. "We worked hard to (post signs) in that area for no stopping, standing and parking."

City officials said they will send a letter to the district asking they comply with posted parking-restriction signs adjacent to the school. 

District 155 Communications Director Jeff Puma on Wednesday said the district has no plans to transfer its bus fleet for future South High School football games.

"We only moved the buses that first game," Puma said. "We were anticipating a big crowd that night because of the new bleachers and all the media attention. " 

The Friday night game was cancelled due to stormy weather, and rescheduled for the next day. The Saturday make-up game against Marian Central Catholic High School drew considerably smaller attendance than a typical Friday night game. 

City and school officials have been on opposite sides of the "fence" since the bleachers were installed this past summer. Neighbors living adjacent to the new structure have filed a lawsuit against District 155.

They want the school district to apply for the necessary zoning variations, and proceed through the review and approval process before the city.

District 155 officials, who maintain they obtained the proper authority from the county's Regional Superintendent of Schools to build the bleachers, subsequently filed third-party suits that brought the city and the Regional Superintendent into the legal battle.

All three sides meet in court again on the matter on Nov. 7, before Judge Michael Chmiel. 


RELATED CRYSTAL LAKE SOUTH BLEACHER STORIES

District 155 Relocates School Bus Fleet for Crystal Lake South Game


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