South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council met Jan. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bennett called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:03p.m.

2) PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Mayor Bennett led everyone in the Pledge to the Flag.

3) ROLL CALL: Upon roll call the following Aldermen responded:

PRESENT: Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak

ABSENT: None

4) QUORUM: Mayor Bennett declared a quorum was present.

5) READING OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES:

Ald. Kleefisch MOVED to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes dated, January 6, 2022 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Nowak. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

6) CITIZENS PETITION: None this evening.

7) CITIZENS HEARING:

Mayor Bennett, the meeting is open to the public for any comments or questions.

There were no comments or questions from the public; the public portion of the meeting was closed.

8) REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS: A. CITY CLERK: No report this evening.

B. CITY ATTORNEY: City Attorney Pappas announced that the homes at 7941 and 7817 have been closed with all documents in, and Commissioner Oeffling has everything needed to submit to MWRD. The remaining house at 7905 W. 100th Place is scheduled to close on February 1st at 2:30pm.

C. MAYOR: Mayor Bennett reported that a notice will be going out to department heads to start on budgets which should be ready by the end of February to present to City Council.

Mayor Bennett reiterated that going forward that parking will be strictly adhered to for all businesses whether it is a restaurant or plaza; this is to ensure all the businesses have a sufficient amount of parking available.

9) PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND ORDINANCES BY ALDERMEN:

A. BUILDING & LICENSING:

Ald. Abed had no report this evening.

B. CITY ADMINISTRATION:

Ald. Stratton had no report this evening.

C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Ald. Price had no report this evening.

D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

Ald. O’Connell announced that there will be an Economic Development meeting on Thursday, February 3rd at 5:30 pm.

E. FINANCE:

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, January 20, 2022 in the amount of $413,360.89. SECONDED by Ald. Brachman. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to have an Ordinance drawn to have a stop sign placed at 99th Street and 86th Avenue for east and west bound traffic. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES:

Ald. Donahue had no report this evening.

G. PARKS:

Ald. Nowak had no report this evening.

GOLF:

Ald. Pasek stated that the Golf course is closed, and the bathroom renovation is approximately two weeks away from completion.

H. PLANNING & ZONING:

Ald. Nowak had no report this evening.

I. PUBLIC SAFETY:

Ald. Kleefisch had no report this evening.

J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER:

Ald. Brachman announced the update for the 2022/2023 water rate as follows:

The Village of Oak Lawn set their water rate on January 1, 2022 using their own formula, and the City of Chicago will be adjusting their water rate in June 2022. Over the last several years Chicago set their rates via the Consumer Price Index, with a 1.35% increase in 2021. Unfortunately CPI is currently at 7% and has risen every month for the last year. Inflation is currently at its highest rate in 40 years. For the last five years we have tagged Palos Hills water rates to CPI knowing that Chicago is using the same formula to set their rates.

In accordance with Chapter 13.23.010 Rate Increases – the Commissioner of Water and Sewer has increased the City of Palos Hills water rate effective January 1, 2022. The new water rate will offset the cost of water, delivery, maintenance and operation of the City water system.

The 2022/2023 water rate will be $11.38 per 1,000 gallons delivered. The old rate was $10.65 per 1,000 delivered. This represents an increase of $0.73 or 6.9% per 1,000 gallons delivered.

The 2022/2023 minimum water bill will be as follows:

$45.52 for the first 4,000 gallons

$11.50 for sanitary sewer service

$12.92 for general capital improvement

Total $69.94 monthly minimum

This represents an increase of $2.92 to the minimum monthly bill which includes a 4,000 gallon monthly minimum purchase.

10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None this evening.

11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None this evening.

12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

Ald. Kleefisch asked if all funding has been received from the Federal Government for the American Rescue Plan. Mayor Bennett stated that the first allocation of 1.1 million has been received, but are still waiting for our Auditors to instruct us on how to proceed with transferring that to the General Fund.

13) ADJORNMENT:

No further business, Mayor Bennett entertained a motion to adjourn. SO MOVED by Ald. Stratton. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. By voice vote, all voted AYE.

The Meeting adjourned at 7:20p.m.

https://www.paloshillsweb.org/apps/doc-proxy/doc-proxy?docId=1841273