By Jude Coyle
Aldermen Nancy Thompson and Domingo Vargas did not attend the March 13th, City Council Meeting.
State Representative Robert Rita announced that House Bill 57-74, having to do with cutting red tape for bridge repairs and TIF Districts, was in its second reading now. The grant is 80%/20%.
Alderman Christine Buckner-Cheatle asked that parking on Western, from Union to Vermont, be limited to 30 minutes. Mayor Donald E. Peloquin said that it was tried before but business owners objected.
Tommy Brown won a bid for a piece of tax delinquent property through the ‘No Cash bid’ project. The property has been delinquent for over 20 years. He planned to build a strip mall, but was unable to secure financing. It was determined that that piece of property couldn’t support a mall. He has 36 months all together before being forced to turn the property back to the City. Instead he has decided to build four to 7 new multi family building. Each building would have seven units. Marvin Wells, of Robbins Development, L.L.C., has built many units like this throughout Robbins and the South Suburbs. He promised to open a building up for the Council to inspect. He also promised security inside and out, quality building and new appliances. He promised on premises management. He also has a letter of credit. Building should take 1-1\2 years to complete. And he will hire subcontractors.
Alderman Dexter Johnson asked if there are dual language operators at the 911 Center. Mayor Peloquin responded that he wasn’t sure.
City Clerk Pam Frasor opened bid on the sale of the old ambulance. Chief Terry Vrshek said that it has a broken frame. Bryan LiGliga bid $555.55. Specialty Maintenance Repair Service of Bedford Park bid $500. Chief Vrshek decided to check on how much the City would earn by scrapping it.
Blue Cap asked that they be allowed to tag on October 5th and 6th. The Council agreed. The Council agreed to renew Colortone Printing’s contract for printing the next vehicle sticker. They bid $5,435. It will have the traditional BI design. City Clerk Frasor reported that the price might go up if they decide to institute resident parking areas.
Attorney James Brosnahan introduced six measures for the Council’s consideration.
The first was an abatement of $305,316 borrowed to pay expenses in 2003 prior to receiving property taxes. Low interest loans are made annually, and rebated annually for this purpose. The next was a comprehensive ordinance adopting codes and provisions creating baseline standards and life safety measures for new construction, and rehabilitation of existing structures and general maintenance of existing structures within the City limits. This measure unites all current code books under one ordinance. Codes covered include fire, electrical, water, etc.
The next ordinance rescinded handicapped parking at 2441 Collins. The next was the ordinance amending ordinance #99-252, which provide for the licensing of motor vehicles, and fixing the fees. First division vehicles: motorcycles, motor scooters, motor pedal motor driven cycles or mini bikes will cost $30. Passenger automobiles designed to carry not more than ten people and motor vehicles driven by dealers will cost $35. Taxicabs and buses will cost $85.
The next is a resolution directing and authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Cook County for a block grant to pay for reconstruction of Maple from 119th to 120th. This is an amended agreement, adjusting the approved budget to $225,000.
The next was a resolution in support of the Blue Island Active Transportation Plan. The City has received federal grant money from the Cook County Dept. of Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago as administered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Active Transportation Alliance has given the City recommendations encourage safe bicycling, walking and transit convenient and fun, while promoting safety, physical activity, health, recreation, social interaction, equity, environmental stewardship and resource conservation. See earlier articles for details.
The last issue was a recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals concerning an application from Blue Island Compost LLC for a special use permit. It is located at 13601 Cleveland Ave, and is 19.21 acres in size, and somewhat secluded. This area is zoned I-2, which is General Industry. By law I-2 zoning can hold an industrial compost with a special use permit. This will be for landscaping material only, i.e. trees, bushes, grasses, etc. Asked about trucking, owner, John Lardner, promised no more than 23 transport vehicles daily, daily monitoring of temperature and smell, and the use of microbes when needed. Aldermen asked to be allowed to visit other properties owned by this company for the same purpose. The owners agreed to that. The Zoning Board recommended the Council’s approval. All issues were approved.
Alderman Mike Janko reported on behalf of the Municipal Services Committee. Drive the Dixie is to be held on the third Saturday in June. Superintendent Stachulak reported that Public Works and 24 volunteers worked to clean up the debris along the I-57 viaduct on Broadway and Wireton. Public Works received $75,000 grant for facility improvements. They are making a list now. Public Works and the Urban Forestry Board received $10,000 from the South Suburban Mayors’ Caucus to aid in the abatement of the emerald ash bore. Two students from Thorton Township were rehired. NaviStar Corp. is sponsoring them. They are studying diesel engine maintenance. Metra is removing foliage and overgrowth at the Broadway underpass, replacing windows at the station at 123rd, and cleaning up litter adjacent to the right away next to the Vincennes Apartments. Public Works refurbished the old ESDA truck for barricades, storage and deployment.
April 10th Meeting Notes
Aldermen Nancy Thompson, Mike Janko and Marcia Stone didn’t attended the April 10th City Council Meeting.
Alderman thanked Metra for completing work along their lines, particularly at 119th and 123rd. They fixed windows, striped crosswalks and cleaned up debris. They also thanked those involved in allowing residents to pay their water bills on line.
City Clerk Pam Frasor received a flier from Guildhaus. They will be celebrating their 25th anniversary with a fund raiser. District 130 asked permission to hold their annual Fit for Life Run and Walk on May 3rd. It is a two miles long. The Salvation Army asked permission to hold their Red Kettle Campaign from November 16th through December 24th, 2012. The Council voted to allow all three events.
Attorney Terry Sullivan offered two recommendations from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Council’s consideration. The first concerned the property location at 12851 S. Clinton. Owner, Juan Munoz, asked to make changes to the petition, so the Council voted to return it to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The second appeal came from an organization called OZAC, or Orlu Zonal Assembly of Chicago and Environs. This is a group of professionals from southeastern Nigeria. They bought the building at 2417 York Street. This is zoned as C1, meaning commercial. A banquet hall in a C1 zone requires a special use permit. The Zoning Board of Appeals agreed to recommend the purchase if they conform to all building codes and occupancy limits, that banquet end no later than 2AM, and an enforcement officer is on duty when the banquet hall is in use. A vote was called. Aldermen Cheatle, Spizzirri, Patoska, Ruthenberg, Ostling, Johnson, Frausto, Vargas and Natalino voted no. Alderman Vieyra abstained. Alderman Rita voted yes. Attorney George Harry Gordon, Jr. took to the podium immediately, to ask the Council to reconsider. These people are engineers, medical professionals, and a Catholic Priest from St. Isidore’s. They were told by former Fire Chief Bob Copp that the occupancy total was 299; 144 on the 1st floor, 119 on the 2nd, and 43 in the basement. Mayor Peloquin explained that they had had problems with the former owners, but would poll each alderman about reconsidering.
Alderman Mark Patoska chairs the Finance Committee. The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association has agreed to a low interest loan, that would be 5 years in length. It would would be repaid by TIF 4 funds. He moved to bring this back at the next meeting in the form of an intergovernmental agreement. A motion was made and the Council agreed with Aldermen Vieyra, Spizzirri and Ostling voting no.
Alderman Domingo Vargas chairs the Judiciary Committee. They discussed parking in the northeast zone. That was referred to the Municipal Services Committee.
Alderman Cathie Spizzirri reported on behalf of the Municipal Services Committee. She asked that the following changes be brought before the Council as ordinances: Residential permit parking only on the streets between 119th and 123rd, Western and Vincennes Monday thru Friday only. This would hopefully help the residents of the northeastern tip of the City to avoid the problems caused by commuters from the Metra Stations at 119th and 123rd. This is in effect around the Vermont Street Stations now, and if necessary, might be extended to the rest of the City. Also to be made into an ordinance is a parking restriction on Vermont, from Maple to Greenwood. Handicap restrictions would be rescinded at 2305 Market. At 2765 Des Plaines, no parking restrictions from here to corner.
Water Department Superintendent Joe Werner reported that the promised upgrades to the water system are in place, and will maintain the flow and pressure better when draw is at it’s highest. Public Works Superintendent Ken Stachulak reported that the Urban Forestry Board is actively seeking out and eradicating the Emerald ash borer.
Willie Scott serves on the Zoning Board. He asked the Council to reconsider their decision and allow OZAK to open their banquet hall. “They are a distinguished group and will reflect well on our diversity.”
Valentine Oguike, Ske Ocane, Father Eze Venantius Umannakwe, Jasper Ofoma, Barnabus Oayeajka, and Eze Okoro each spoke, saying that they are a professional group. They are doctors, lawyers, accountants and even a priest among their ranks. They promised to become an asset to the community. If they last owners made problems for the City, they would not. They are law abiding. They want a place where they can celebrate their culture, and hold events like family parties. Mr. Ocane works at MetroSouth and is not a stranger to this town. Father Umannakwe said, “These are my people. Look at us for who we are.” Mr. Okoro said that he was asked by one of the Alderman if he was Muslim. “No,” he said, “We are Christians. We are law abiding people.”
The meeting ended at 7:55. The next meeting is scheduled for April 24th, at 7PM, at the East Annex.
Finance Committee: April 24th, 6:15PM, East Annex
Judiciary Committee: May 1st, 5PM, East Annex
Municipal Services: May 1st, 7PM, East Annex
Community Development: April 17th, 6:30PM, East Annex
Public Health and Safety: April 16th, 6:30PM, Lower Level Police Station