City of Chicago Heights City Council met May 1.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Gonzalez called the regular meeting of the Chicago Heights City Council to order at 6:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor: David Gonzalez Present
Council: 1st Ward Walter Mosby Absent
2nd Ward Sonia Perez Absent
3rd Ward Wanda Rodgers Present
4th ward Joshua Deabel Present
5th Ward Richard Amadio Present
6th Ward Vincent Zaranti Present
7th Ward Sylvia Torres Absent
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Gonzalez asked for a moment of silence in observance of the recent passing of long-time employee Michele Jaeger.
Alderman Mosby-absent
Alderman Perez - absent
Alderman Rodgers-announced that her next ward meeting would be held on Thursday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chicago Heights Park District. She announced the Cinco de Mayo Festival to be held on May 4 from 11:00-3:00 p.m, at Jirtle Park.
Alderman Deabel thanked everyone who assisted in the Earth Day Clean-Up Day event.
Alderman Amadio announced that his next ward meeting would be held on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Greenbrier Elementary School gym.
Alderman Zaranti announced his next ward meeting would be held in coordination with Park District Commissioner Straczek on May 30 at 7:00 p.m. at Commissioners Park. He announced the Serena Hills PTO spaghetti dinner, a fund raising event to be held on Friday, May 3 at the Chicago Heights West Golf Course.
Alderman Torres - absent.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
George Watson, a resident of the City, reported that two streetlights were out on his street.
Arnett A. King distributed documents of information to the council.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF STAFF - KAREN ZERANTE
Chief of Staff Zerante reported on the following:
The Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago event recently took place, in which over 750 volunteers worked throughout the day to complete free home repairs at 17 homes in the City.
Emergency repair work was underway for a water main break on State Street between Joe Orr Road and Route 30. Engineers were in the process of soliciting proposals from contractors to complete the new section of the main that was needed.
The following events were upcoming: Union Street Art Gallery Derby Day on May 4th, the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in the Park on May 4th, the annual Citywide Cleanup Day on May 18th, and the annual Memorial Day Morning of Remembrance on May 27th at 10:30 a.m.
REPORT OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL-TJ. SOMER
No report
1. MINUTES:
MEETING OF APRIL 3, 2019.
Alderman Zaranti moved, and Alderman Amadio seconded, a motion to approve the minutes.
Ayes: Rodgers, Deabel, Amadio, Zaranti
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to approve carried.
2. BILLS:
APPROVAL OF FIRST & SECOND RUN OF APRIL 2019.
Alderman Amadio moved, and Alderman Zaranti seconded, a motion to approve the bills.
Ayes: Rodgers, Amadio, Zaranti
Nays: Deabel
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to approve carried.
3. RESOLUTION #2019 - _31_ : AUTHORIZING A DEED IN LIEU OF FORECLOSURE/CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT FOR CITY ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTIES AT 1617 LOWE AVENUE AND 1926 HALSTED STREET.
Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Zaranti seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Rodgers, Deabel, Amadio, Zaranti
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to approve carried.
Corporation Counsel Somer stated that the property owners offered the properties to the City, Acquisition by the City would eliminate the delinquent real estate taxes, and possibly make the properties marketable again. Brief question on the matter.
4. RESOLUTION #2019 - _32_ : APPROVING THE SALE OF THE CITY OWNED SURPLUS REAL ESTATE AT 1605 HILLTOP AVENUE TO CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CENTER d/b/a CITY HELPS, INC.
Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Amadio seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Rodgers, Deabel, Amadio, Zaranti,
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to approve carried.
Corporation Counsel Somer made note that an Option to Purchase Agreement with the church was approved by the city council previously. The church was now ready to move forward on the actual purchase of the property.
5. RESOLUTION #2019 - _33_ : APPROVING AN ACCESS AND REMEDIATION AGREEMENT WITH NICOR FOR THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1600 STATE STREET.
Alderman Amadio moved, and Alderman Zerante seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Rodgers, Deabel, Amadio, Zaranti
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to approve carried
Corporation Counsel reported that this years long project involved City and Bloom Township owned properties on State Street. The agreement would allow the utility company to access the property for environmental clean-up, in order to qualify for a NFR- No Further Remediation letter from the IEPA. With that accomplished, the City would take possession of the property for development as an industrial facility site.
6. RESOLUTION #2019 - _34_ : APPROVING THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF CERTAIN STATE ROADWAYS FOR CITY & PARK DISTRICT CIVIC EVENTS.
Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Zaranti seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Rodgers, Deabel, Amadio, Zaranti
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to approve carried
Jessica Mancina, Mayor's Office of Special Events, requested street closures for the City's fireworks show on May 3rd and the Park District's 5K run on June 1st.
7. RESOLUTION #2019 - _35_ : APPROVING A MAYORAL APPOINTMENT TO THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION.
Alderman Zaranti moved, and Alderman Rodgers seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Rodgers, Deabel, Amadio, Zaranti
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Rodgers
Motion to approve carried
Mayor Gonzalez recommended appointment to the Plan Commission of Joanna Panici, City resident and attorney, formerly with the State's Attorney Office.
8. RESOLUTION #2019 - _ 36_ : APPROVING A BID AWARD FOR THE CITY'S 2019 CAPITAL FUND STREET RESURFACING PROJECT (Serena Drive/Elmwood area).
Alderman Zaranti moved, and Alderman Rodgers seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Rodgers, Amadio, Zaranti
Nays: Deabel
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to approve carried.
Mayor Gonzalez stated it was the recommendation of the engineer to award the project to low bidder Iroquois Paving for the bid amount of $ 1,682,262.57. Discussion on the matter took place.
9. RESOLUTION #2019 -_37_ : APPROVING A BID AWARD FOR THE CITY'S 2019 CDBG STREET RESURFACING PROJECT. (Euclid/Hickory area).
Alderman Amadio moved, and Alderman Rodgers seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Rodgers, Amadio, Zaranti Nays: Deabel
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to approve carried.
Mayor Gonzalez stated it was the recommendation of the engineer to award the project to low bidder Iroquois Paving for the bid amount of $ 630,792.68. He noted that the City was awarded funds amounting to $ 300,000 from Cook County for the project. No discussion before the vote.
ADJOURNMENT
At 6:42 p.m. Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Zaranti seconded, a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Rodgers, Deabel, Amadio, Zaranti
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Mosby, Perez, Torres
Motion to adjourn carried.
https://www.cityofchicagoheights.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05012019-195
Alerts Sign-up