City of Markham City Council met April 6.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor, Roger Agpawa called the Regular Meeting of the Markham City Council to order at 7:09p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Prayer led by Ald. McDowell. Roll Call was taken by City Clerk, Leslie Trimuel.
ROLL CALL: ALDERMAN PRESENT Alderman Rondal Jones
Alderman William Barron
Alderwoman Wanda McDowell
Alderman Breanna Hampton-Houser
ALSO PRESENT: Attorney Steven Miller
City Treasurer, Belinda Richardson
City Administrator, Derrick Champion
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 16, 2022
Motion to approve minutes with corrections of March 16, 2022, by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
AUTHORIZATION OF CLAIMS
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. Barron, to adopt Authorization of Claims and Accounts Bill list, totaling $960,151,71, with manual checks of $1,156.20 for a grand total of $961,313.91
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Members of Council members of the public with respect to the city attorney's report, starting with a proposed resolution approving the extension and renewal of the Re-Proclamation and Declaration of a continued local state of emergency, within the City of Markham, and approving the Mayor's Determination Regarding Modifications to In-person Meetings in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, (March 16, 2022)
ADOPT RESOLUTION
22-R-675
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. Hampton-Houser, to adopt Resolution 22-R-675 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EXTENSION AND RENEWAL OF THE RE-PROCLAMATION AND DECLARATION OF A CONTINUED LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHIN THE CITY OF MARKHAM AND APPROVING THE MAYOR’S DETERMINATION REGARDING MODIFICATIONS TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (April 6, 2022)
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADOPT RESOLUTION
22-R-676
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. Jones, to adopt Resolution 22-R-676 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MARKHAM’S PARTICIPATION IN THE 2022 PROGRAM YEAR, COOK COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRAN PROGRAM.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
CLERK REPORT
Three Business Licenses:
Auto Services Xpress, LLC
167 Dixie Food & Liquor, LLC
O’Meesha’s Enterprises, LLC
OPEN FLOOR
Motion to open floor by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. Jones to Auto Services Xpress, LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Mayor Agpawa - Good evening. Auto Services, LLC, the City Council here may have some questions about your business tonight. So why don’t you just open up by telling us what your business is and what you’re going to do over there.
Auto Express - My business is doing service to vehicles and body work and also doing my own service because I have a dealership also in Midlothian, we do our customers service thru the service over there. Mayor Agpawa - Council Do you all have any questions at this business tonight? Ald. Jones – Is this your first enterprise?
Auto Express - Yes, it is this is a first service and mechanics, but we’ve been in the car dealers business for the past 10 years now.
Ald. Jones – Do you have any cars outside?
Auto Express - We don’t have any cars being worked on outside, no everything is indoors.
Derrick Champion - He's got a seal.
Ald. Barron - It was the body shop that was there before on Central Park.
Mayor Agpawa – Okay, any other questions?
CLOSE FLOOR
Motion to close floor by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Auto Services Xpress, LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
GRANT LICENSE
Motion to grant license by Ald. Barron, seconded by, Ald. Jones to Auto Services Xpress, LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Mayor Agpawa – Mr. Youseff see the Building Department tomorrow about licensure.
OPEN FLOOR
Motion to open floor by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. Jones to 167 Dixie Food & Liquor, LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Mayor Agpawa – Well, good evening, if you would tell us about your business this evening, the Council here tonight., may have some questions. You've already gone to your inspections and signed up, so tell us a little bit about your service.
167 Dixie - We have the liquor store with packaged food and liquor, that’s it.
Ald. Jones – Are you already in business?
167 Dixie – Yes, we already have a couple of licenses in the City of Markham, I'm the business owner or 159th and Crawford, the Shell Gas Station and also159th and Crawford the Mobile. Ald. Jones – Is this new for them?
Mayor Agpawa – Yes, they’re taking over that business, under new ownership. Okay, any questions?
CLOSE FLOOR
Motion to close floor by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell- to 167 Dixie Food & Liquor, LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
GRANT LICENSE
Motion to grant license by Ald. McDowell, seconded by, Ald. Barron to 167 Dixie Food & Liquor LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
OPEN FLOOR
Motion to open floor by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Meesha’s Enterprises, LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Mayor Agpawa - Okay, good evening, O’Meesha we would like it for you to tell us the nature of your business for the City Council tonight. And it looks like you've passed all your inspections as well. O’Meeshas - Our restaurant that is offering upscale soul food and America Cuisines with a twist of Creole and upscale a bar you know bar food menus as well. But we are a restaurant.
Mayor Agpawa – Council any questions?
Ald. Hampton-Houser – Miss Omeesha this at Knotty Luxe, correct?
O’Meeshas - Yes.
Ald. Hampton-Houser - I do want to just say one thing. I think you’re an excellent cook. I have actually tasted your food and appreciate you all being in compliance with the City of Markham protocols, by coming in to receive your business license Knotty Luxe as well. I appreciate you very much. Thank you we'll make sure we make them congratulations.
CLOSE FLOOR
Motion to close floor by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell- to Meesha’s Enterprises, LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
GRANT LICENSE
Motion to grant license by Ald. Barron, seconded by, Ald. Jones to Meesha’s Enterprises, LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
MAYOR’S REPORT
Good evening, everyone I just have one item tonight to mention about spring cleaning. We're hoping to get it started about May 9th, that's our target time. Obviously, we're heading to our months of wanting to have a clean community, I would strongly encourage everybody, if you have things you want to get cleaned up and cleaned out, get them out, so we can help you get them from home and get the neighborhood cleaned. I would like to encourage people around your neighborhood and around your properties and things like that, if you see some things in the street, you can get out there and pick them up. Let us know if the street is overwhelmingly bad, we'll get the Public Works people get down the side streets. But we want to know who the culprits are so, you have to turn somebody in if you would appreciate it, so we have can have a talk with them, because that's how we're going to make sure that the neighborhood stays clean. Just let us know and we'll make sure because some people take a little bit more pride than others and it just takes all of us working together to do it. I think that we're heading in some good places in terms of the cleanliness of the community and what we're trying to do overall. So, I wanted my report to be kind of short on the cleanup effort, that's really where I'm at. So, I'm sorry, May 9 is when we want to get kicked off, we're goanna kick it off. It'll be in the water bill; we'll get it out there, we'll put it on the cable channels, what's a website and all of the places where we can put let people know to start getting some of those things out that you had for too long and we'll get rid of so come by me I'm goanna have a yard sale. So come you'll see I have a whole bunch of stuff to get rid of. Okay, we'll go to the City Administrator’s Report.
DERRICK CHAMPION – CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Thank you, Mayor, good evening, Council and members of the public, just a few things man just wanted to talk about some of the things that we're working on the state, federal and county level. We're working diligently to go after grants that can help with water and sewer issues., those are some of the things that we know that the city of Markham is desperately, desperately needed. So, we're working with lobbyists and looking at certain legislation that's going to help improve the infrastructure of the city. And as you may or may not know, there's about $19 billion that are coming down from the feds in reference to improving the Illinois infrastructure. As I mentioned the last Council meeting, we are working on the construction budget right now, so when those funds are ready, we have 80% of the application already completed. Also, we are going to the International Conference of Shopping Centers in May. While that is important, we have certain commercial real estate that we want to develop out so we're looking at restaurants we know that the city of Markham is definitely in need of some sit down with restaurants. We want to make sure that we keep our tax dollars here in the city. So, we will be because of the small contingency that's on this particular panel here right now the council that would be attending that conference in Vegas in May I think it’s the 3rd week, other than that Mayor I think that is my update.
MAYOR AGPAWA
Okay, still under my report, I’ll just mention one thing I left out just to support what Mr. Champion is doing, I spent three days down in Springfield trying to bolster more support from the legislators. We met with at least, well, we certainly met with our local legislators, but we met with another 15 caucus members so they assured us about a lot of different things we can do to get infrastructure improvements. So, we're really working diligently on that as well.
ALD. JONES
Good evening, just to piggyback off the mayor, the City Council, the Park District is doing an Easter Egg Hunt, if you have kids, please bring them out, you know, it'll be a great time, it's at 12 o'clock right in the park, sponsored by the City of Markham, Mayor Roger Agpawa and the Park District so please come out and enjoy that. That what it's about you know loosening up. Okay, so also, I’d like to propose to the board
if I can have a block party on the Willow Lane, for Ms. Hughes on July 4th, I’d like to block that street off on July 4th if we can have that the next meeting on the agenda for approval.
Mayor Agpawa - We can go ahead as formality, it’s something we can kind of just do administratively and get with the police. But it's always good to announce it to the public, you know, that way, you know, they usually get a consensus on the street. So, they come with a petition basically so everybody you know is pretty much in unison about doing it. But if there's anything contrary to it, you know, you would know because they're going to call you and complain. So, but to know we can test it from now they put it all in there and just let everybody go through the motions.
ALD. JONES
Also, I’d like to mention that if you're in the third or you want to have a block club party on your block, let me know and I will sponsor. I know I believe in, let's bring the neighbor back in the hood. We always say we in the hood, hood but let's make the neighborhood and I think block clubs are where it’s at, I grew up in Markham and I remember the block club parties we used to have, I mean it was just fun. You know it was a neighborhood we were a group of people come together to have fun and to enjoy each other's company. So, if you get bored and you want to have a get together, let me know I would love to sponsor you. I have to pull you know, how do we COVID-19 even if it's cooking so I'm responsible? And I like to help in that department. Okay, like, alright. Also, kudos to the fire department, police department, you're doing such a great job in the Canterbury area. I mean, I give you all the praise, we were having all kind of shootings, I got phone calls rapid shooting, you know, nobody can figure out what's going on. Well, the of feds cam in along with the police department, and found out the people who's doing these shootings, was doing some other stuff, they had guns and stuff, in their house. So kudos again to the police department and the fire department for all they've done because it’s just about making you all are safe and comfortable. You know, I don't like when people say they afraid to come out at night, you know, in Chicago you’re in your car and can get shot. You know we not having any of that in Markham. you know, we’re going to enforce the law if, you are going to do wrong, and we are coming after you. Thanks to the mayor he actually brought in more police officers that were transferred, because we believe in your safety. We want you to come out in your pajamas have fun, that is joke. But last but not least, one more thing. \ Pritzker has just approved, a 39-million-dollar assistance program. This Assistance Program is for all eligible households will be for up to $30,000 in free assistance to pay your mortgage, your property taxes, your property insurance, your delinquent homeowners, and condo owners insurance fees, you know, is $30,000. So, if you need assistance because due to due to COVID or things like that please come to get the grants paperwork. It is new, not the old one. It’s actually it's a new one they approved $39 million so please take advantage if you need assistance on your mortgage, insurance, even property tax, give me private text. Please take advantage of this. That's my report.
Mayor Agpawa- Ald. Jones I really want to you know, put the push out there like you're saying to a lot of your constituents in your ward about the block parties. No, we've been trying to do that the last several years. So that's just another small way of doing it to encourage people to come out within the community so please get with Ald. Jones or encouraging the other wards as well, I know they do Ward Fests but the smaller ones are just as nice. So please get with your Alderman about trying to celebrate and know your neighbors in the community.
ALD. BARRON
Good evening, at the last meeting that we had lost Rob, retired deputy chief, memorial services were at the VFW last week, unfortunately I was out of town. But he's served the city when it was volunteer fire department with a lot of distinction and was a great guy. I'd like to wish everybody in advance Happy Easter. The VFW has two more fish fries, this Friday and the following Friday, everybody just raves about the fish dinners. So just that's that'll be been our report for right now.
Mayor Agpawa - Just to mention there's been several fallen firefighters since COVID, more than I can even name tonight. And there's been a lot of residents as well that we will try and memorialize. I think we really need to get together about that we a lot of people never really got any, you know, respects paid to them. So, I know that we're also working on a history program as well, but we've had a lot of people that we've only thing we could do is to do a drive by their house. I know we did a few people like that but not one the firemen did the bell ceremony for Chief Parker. So those things are quite important that we remember a lot of people who served of course I know you guys because I've been with them for years, for 40 over 40 years. But there's many others that we need to a lot of residents as well. So, we'll make up for some lost time and try and do some memorials. When the time comes, thank you.
ALD. HAMPTON-HOUSER
Residents in attendance at this present time good evening to you all. I'm here I want to start off with just a word one in reference to abandoned homes. We know throughout the years of the city of Markham, we have had our true fair share of abandoned homes in our community. I have identified a minimum of 15 thus far that truly needs a lot of assistance. As far as tear downs and walking information, we had a meeting with the City Administrator and we're actually figuring out funding in reference to how to get those particular properties tore down. Number two, tree cutting has started as well. A residence in Ward 1 has identified a lot of the trees that need to be cut down or trimmed back. Also, the trees that you had given me as well and brought that to the Mayor as well, so we are truly working on that and if I'm not mistaken the thing was we'll be starting on that this week or the early part of next week in reference to go ahead and get those trees and stuff cut down especially when there's no leaves on the trees that's the best time to actually utilize that service. I do have a Coffee SIP that's coming up with Ward 1 at this particular Coffee Sip, I'm going to go into more details in reference to educating individuals on exactly how the protocol goes about in municipalities. So, when you come to me and you say you know, I need a tree cut down, or I need this house trimmed back well, whatever the case would or demolished, there’s procedures and I think it's important that you understand, and try to help educate the individuals on exactly what the procedure of the protocol is to that, because many times when you ask for something or whatever, it doesn't happen simultaneously, we have to make sure that we strategically figure out the correct and the legal way of going about doing that to make sure that we don't get sued and they take your taxpayer money. So please get an opportunity to come out next week. Saturday, which is the 17th it is next Saturday. Not this upcoming Saturday, the following Saturday from 10 to 1 at the Markham Community block club 162nd and Laflin. Also, please be looking out, Ward 1 for our newsletter, I have a newsletter that's out at this particular time. I'm going have a mail out as well, I have information on what’s going on in here, it gives you a lot of information on what's going on in the city of Markham and what's going on in Ward 1 and also some educational information that we need to share as well. So, we can live in a community, but we still need to be educated about how democracy and municipalities work, so please be looking out for this newsletter as well. I also want to say that Ward 1 will be having our festival, which will be August 27, 2022, is going to be a key part as well. Of course, we have one thus far under this new administration one thus far at King Park, but because of the COVID for the last two years it just wasn't safe. But I pray and make sure that our COVID level stays down to the point where we can all gather up, have a good time and have an awesome fest for the children, for the adults, free food the whole nine yards. And if you attended the first one, you can imagine what this was going to look like as well. And so, we also want to have a lot of educational things going on at that session. as well. So please be aware that you know how we had the police academy, where anyway, I had some conversation and had a meeting with the fire chief as well. And with its fire chief, I said I think it's important that not only do we educate individuals in reference to what happens in legal part of the police department, but also educate you what happens on the fire department side, so we're actually putting together some dates and times to try to get everything situated so we could actually have not only a Police Academy, but also a Fire Department Academy as well. And so, they have educated all of us so we can be well rounded. And then also I want to give kudos out to the Public Works they truly been out here, and they have a truly working hard trying to get a lot of things done, trying to make sure that we can get these easements cleaned up a little bit more. The abandoned homes cleaned up and so I had a meeting with Ed and he stated that basically what he's going to do, he's trying to switch things up a little bit and we're going to be working more toward and it is going to just continue wards 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4, until we can get a good control over the of growth of the shrubs and the weeds and everything for these vacant homes. So please be patient with us, we are truly working towards that. And then last but not least, I just want to say Happy Easter to everyone whoever it applies to. Happy Easter to you. Thank you for coming out to the City Council Meeting because you're not here for no reason you're here for a reason. So, I want to thank you for that as well. Oh, one more thing I'm sorry, at this particular time do you all are you all aware of our siren system so when you hear the siren, what do you think? Do you just ignore, or do you say all that happens all the time? What would that siren system this is why education is so important, the siren system is tested the first Tuesday I think the first, the first Wednesday of each month. So, when you hear that siren system, you'll hear the sound go up and then fade down and go up read a fade down. That means it's in the testing area. But when you hear a siren it has a high pitch constantly, that means there was a tornado spotted dispatch alarms the service system for you can be alert and be aware that you need to seek cover because that tornado is in our area. So, we're in the season right now with tornado season is what is cold and it’s warm and once that combines together it creates a tornado. So please whenever you hear a siren whether at night, middle night, whatever, just remember, okay, let me listen for the tones. Listen for the tones. If you go up and down, we're good. If you stay high, hey, we need to do something. So, I want to just make sure that we are well educated about that as well. That's my report, I thank you.
Mayor Agpawa - I just want to let anybody's award one you don't want to miss her meeting. You see where it's going in terms of really trying to educate the public about what we're doing and from day to day and making some better understanding. And so, it's really good that we're getting into the wards to try to broaden what people know about community and what, what different things mean. And we'll have a lot of for some people who don't know who Ed is, he’s the superintendent of Public Works that's what she was referring to, with Public Works. And so, these are the people that get things done and they're in communication with getting things done in the ward. So, we really want to make sure you get in touch with your Aldermen about the things that they're doing in the wards.
ALD. MCDOWELL
Good evening, Mayor, City Council and pubic, tonight, on my report on 158th, I noticed the 16-wheeler truck parked there, the trucks are not allowed on the street. I did reach out to lieutenant, and they came out and checked it out and towed the truck. We have numerous of cars that 158th Street it is almost becoming a parking lot. We more patrol over there because the residents actually have driveways, so I'm asking for more patrol on 158th Street. Also, residents are asking it’s starting to get a little warm, and I know last year we spoke about the speed bumps, or speed humps, so I just kind of want to know our status with the speed bumps. So are we back to the residents regarding the speeding down a lot of our streets I turn that list over to the field supervisor Ed, so just kind of an update on what's going on with those? Also, I have received numerous phone calls from some of the local businesses in our ward who are asking for special permits to have different events in their parking lot, So, Mr. Champion, I will give you the names of those interested who are reaching out if they’re required to have a special permit and last, I would like to wish everyone a happy resurrection.
Mayor Agpawa – In reference to speed humps, I have a meeting with Public Works tomorrow. Ald. Barron - They've been ordered.
Mayor Agpawa - Yeah, well we got to make sure that they arrive this time. I think that we had said anywhere from six to six to 13 months right, COVID was a problem. But we got to make sure we get them in. We had some other alternatives I just need streets from you all where you're having trouble. Myself, the and the Administrator, we're meet with Public Works tomorrow. So, we were meeting in fact about several of these items, and just as Alderlady mentioned out here about the rotation of cleaning of wards. So, we've got several things that were mentioned.
Ald. Barron - I believe that the speed humps are ordered six to eight of them for each ward, that’s out of New Jersey.
Mayor Agpawa - All right, we'll follow up. Just get the streets that you have interest for, and definitely you know how this kind of goes make sure we're talking with those residents, you know, with what one likes the other one doesn't know how that goes.
Mayor Agpawa - Let me just mention tonight, we have a lot of people here. You'll be limited to three minutes. We have a timekeeper, the City Administrator but you're welcome to speak tonight.
CLERK
We have people signed in to speak.
MOTION TO OPEN FLOOR TO PUBLIC
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Open Floor to Public.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Vicki Halsey - Thank you to the Mayor and the Markham resident who came out to support me tonight. I grew up here in Markham, I moved here in 1976 my mom still lives here in the 2nd ward. I started working for myself in 2000. I started with a barber shop; it's based on 73rd Exchange in Chicago. Within that time, I relocated and moved over to South Shore at 70 and Crandon, in a community where I did block club parties, school giveaways, pens and book bags, that was my life. And then my passion was always a bar an opportunity came to purchase a bar on 83rd South Chicago, called the New Celebrity Lounge. Well, there was a Celebrity Lounge there when I brought it. I took this old bar that was gang ridden, young folks running rampant, and I made it one of the hottest premier spots on the South side of Chicago. Because I’m from Markham, I wanted to take my skills and my ambitions because my mother is still living, she’s 75 years old drives past this place every day. I wanted to come back to Markham to bring my skills and talents and my ability to Markham not just a bar for adults, but a menu and grill area where we have healthier choices, where we're not just eating fried foods all the time in the bar, but to actually build a community around that and to do that same thing that I did a city with the block club parties and all that. I submitted the application I came to Markham in July to report what my plans were for George Bar and Grill that became available for sale at 157th Kedzie. I was told to go to the Building Department and put in my application, I paid my fees for my inspections, I waited the beginning of October I got all call about the inspection being scheduled. October 11th, I got a call and said no mistake, was your application wasn't approved yet. So, you must wait, and I waited and waited and waited. I'm here today because you guys did a vote and decreased the liquor licenses in March. As my application said, pending since August, knocked me completely out because now I'm told that there are no more liquor licenses available, although my application has been pending since August, so I'm asking this council with the support of all these people that came out today to grandfather my application in so that I can get a liquor license and open my doors. Thank you for your time and appreciate your consideration and y'all pray for me.
Dr. Cornel Darden - Good evening, Mayor in the great city of Markham, my name is Dr. Cordell Donald Jr. I'm the President and CEO of the Southland Black Chamber of Commerce. We've had a lot of issues here in Southland with opening business. We have a lot of members who have consistently reached out to their local communities that they were born and raised in and prepared have a very, very difficult time, especially over the last two years. I want to say the Chamber does an average of one to two calls a week when people call in and crying because they've been denied a business license. They've been denied a liquor license. The Chamber is an institution, it's the very largest, we're actually the largest Black Business Association in the State of Illinois, we have a very well-trained staff, that's very knowledgeable about laws, about policy and those sorts of things. We've seen a rapid capriciousness, the welfare, and some of you may have known about some of those issues, but it happens over and over and over. The saddest thing to me, is that we’re from these communities where we're having the most problems, but we don't have those issues and say in Orland Park or Frankfort some of you may know black people in this country, open businesses, more than any other ethnic group, we open more business, but because of discrimination, because of capriciousness, like we see here with the Southland, those things caused to fail at a higher rate, even though we create more businesses. I believe that communication is key. I believe that we need to communicate more with our local officials and municipalities. Communication leads to collaboration and some of our problems. I've definitely would like to sit with you Mr. Mayor, to discuss some of the things and not anything specific to Markham, but just with the work of the Chamber what we've been doing and also how we can collaborate with you guys. We have about 13 municipalities that are members of the Chamber like Blue Island, Orland Park, Frankfort, Chicago Heights, Dolton, Robbins, they're all in part, I think it would be a good idea to have Markham as a member and we would love it thank you.
Sam Alam - My name is Sam and I have been going to George’s for about 15 to 20 years, and I think it's a very comfortable place for senior citizens like us to attend. It's never been problem lately, but the problem is no different than other bars in Markham, such as Kickoff’s or any other bars that there I think is very wrong, how you treat this lady. I really do, she's put a lot of money into rebuilding this bar. She renovated she's even changed the age group of people to attend. Like I said, I’ve been attending for lot of years, and you meet good people there, they are nice people, so don't judge the bad people over the good people that comes to attendance bar. I really feel sorry for her, we all do it’s not just me, there's a lot of people that attend to George's and we miss it. We truly miss it; we want to come back to Georgia we’re waiting on it to reopen. You know because it was a good place it was a good place; there was union workers that attended there, there was good people that attended you know cannot hold her responsible for anything that happened before she owned the place. I think it's wrong how she's been treated, I think it's personal, I just hope that you guys just look at it a different way. So, I don't know just look at the person who's a good person. I think the bars is a nice place. Like I say it's good for people that are my age to just hang out with people like me. That's like me, you know, so just we ask you to re-consider.
Pam Jones – Good evening. My name is Pam Jones, I live right behind George’s, there’s about 15 of us I represent, we are putting a petition together. We've had shootings, most of us are retired, we can’t sleep until 3 or 4 in the morning, we have shootings over there where we have to get down on the ground. We can’t sleep so much noise if going on didn't catch the noise going on, they’re cussing and fussing, throwing bottles. We can’t control who comes into the neighborhood, all of us are good people here. I'm telling you we can't watch the TV, next thing we have to get on the floor. When people come you don’t know what they have in their car, what they have with them most of the time. I’m here to say what we have been going thru the last couple of years, we love it here, but we don't want to feel that we can't come home, can’t go to sleep, But we have residents that are really scared when those crowds get all loud, it’s like they are in our back yard or on the street corners. Thank you so much.
Melanie Spears – Good evening, I just have two things number one I've been in my house on the south end of Oxford Drive since 1971, approximately a week ago a officer came to my door, asked me did I know what was going on across the street. Then he showed me bullet holes in my house. I'm a firm believer in God. I was in the back of the house, but normally I sit in the front of the house watching television. The bullets did not come all the way through, partially I think because I had siding put on the house and the wood behind it probably caused the bullets to be embedded there in the house. One by the kitchen one above the living room picture window. It's my understanding that there have been many problems with the family across the street where the bullets would have come from and then someone had circled in the circle approximately three times, the third time is when they started shooting into the house across the street and the people returned fire. I've been told that a request has been made before to get those people out, I don't know whether they're buying. Secondly, the ring doorbell assistance, I know the city of Chicago is doing this and I wanted to know if we could get something like that in Markham, because I don't know about anybody else, but Alderman Jones knows I would call in a minute about what's going on because I feel like that's my responsibility, not just depend on you all and the police department to do something and we as the residents keep quiet. South end of Markham has been quiet all these years, most of these things happened recently. We need more police patrols and for them to be seen not just during the daytime, but also at night, because in the winter I have some idiot that comes in and do those donuts in the snow in the circle, if t they lose control, they're going to be sitting in my lap. I don't have any problems your police department that tell you they don't have any problems with me in all these years, I pay my taxes. So, at this point, something needs to be done to help the residents of the city to help the city maintain that level where more people are going to want to come and be residents and not have to worry like previously said to have all the shootings and things going on and there's no deterrent. Thank you.
Mayor Agpawa - Let me just address before Mr. Reed comes up. Miss Spheres, we're going to take some time with you and call me and Ald. Jones we'll get together. We have started addressing the immediate problem over there. So, I can tell you that the next day we started right away getting with the problem we know about it. We've dug into it much deeper, so we'll give you some details. It's not up to you to do what we need to do, but we do appreciate how much you want to do. We want you to be safe, but don't get in harm's way over there. So, we're going to take some time with her, let's do that Ald. Jones and I will get with you. And we'll take some time to tell you what we're working on, with the police. Okay.
Mr. Willie Reed -Good evening, Mayor, Council and citizens of Markham, resident on Whipple for over 39 years now. The major problem that I have come in contact with is standing and flooding water and all this rain. I know you all have faced similar problems and most detrimental thing to a house is standing in flooding water we paid Calumet Drainage, a little sum but from all of us it amounts to a large one. I believe that should be used utilized to get some drainage and get hat standing water out. I know this is the prairie and it to the prairie but there should be some communication with the prairie that we will not have to have standing water in the back of my house. So that's my concern for all I know we all have that problem here because I've been around in the area, and we need to get Calumet Union Drainage to get some drainage so that the water can move out
Mayor Agpawa - Mr. Reid, I'll touch base with Ald. McDowell, and we'll get over there I noticed in the last few years it's gotten increasingly worse behind the properties on Whipple on the East side of those properties. I don't understand what it didn't drain like that before it drained much better. So, I don't know, I know that there is a there's a culvert that kind of runs to the to the prairie so maybe that might have an issue where it's backed up. We'll find out, Ald. McDowell, can we get together?
Mayor Agpawa - Let me just make a couple of comments about a couple of things that when people come up to speak tonight, let me just mention, and I'll just be a little specific to be fair with you as I can be, Miss Hosey I know that you did come and approach the city some time ago, I know you've been here a few times and you talk with the City Administrator over time, but there was some processes ahead of you. before you had even gotten here. I've been here for five years, solidly three or better so there's been things that have been decided way before you got here in terms of what the city's plan or vision is and where it's heading to. So, I know that your process had some missteps in it, and they weren't all belonging to us. It was the owner that was down there. You made an agreement with them and never talked to us about those agreements until later. They had their own problems way ahead of you as well. So, but to not just address your issue, you know, longevity has its places. I've been here since 1961. And, you know, I do know one thing of being here for about 45 years, so it'd be maybe about 15 years old when I started coming around doing anything. Markham has had its share unfortunately and if you lived here at one time you did you understand you should understand or you may or may not that we've had more than our share of some of the things that you're requesting. We don't want to have to crush your dream, but these people have dreams too. They have dreams of tranquility in a different manner different way, and we have other bars in town, and we had made, I made the decision as the Liquor Commissioner to reduce what we have. I think that that's what my responsibility is, and that's the position I took as the leader of the city. I'm not sure what Mr. Darden was saying in terms of capriciousness that I don't think that that's the case here and I don't think you've been treated unfairly. It just doesn't work for you, so what may be fair for you may not be fair for somebody else. And maybe there is a problem in southland but these council members their vote, they vote, and they have a say as well. And every time that we have issues, we discuss them, that's democracy, I'm not running a dictatorship here. I'm running a government and that's what we're responsible for, I'm responsible to the people not to a special interest or a specific business. I have a responsibility to everybody, so where it didn't work for you, it worked for three other bars. They are open, and then they were recently under fire because of a couple of other bars that have been issues, and that's just kind of how it goes sometimes. These are these were processes. I would just say that, again, there's nothing personal here.
If anything, I could take some things personal because I have an address here, but I'm not. I'm taking it in the realm of what the people want, and I get phone calls equally about support of bars as well as I get them to where they don't want to. So, we have to balance it up. And so, we've had plenty of blood in our streets we've still got people that not just maybe your bar or another bar could bring, we got people here evidently that are magnet to bring in some people that shoot and Miss Spears can't live like she needs to live on our street. So that's our challenge is to try to do what we need to do internally in our community, and some people, we had three businesses that they ran right through, and it worked for them. Some of your steps didn't work for you and the timing wasn't there. I can tell you again, what we had planned in terms of what we're going to do with this community was before I ever met you, and you've been here a long time, but I've never met you up and down the street, but no disrespect to you or any other business, so that's why I'm taking the time to mention it. If it weren't important to me to mention to be fair with you or any other business, I’ll be fair with you and equally as I have to be fair with the residents, and sometimes it doesn't. We have businesses that we deny and every business that comes to the community doesn't mean that they open, you know, it's just like, you have to understand there are people that take the police and fire exam and they fail it. And guess what, it's a good thing that they did, because they shouldn't put out a fire if they can't pass the test. That doesn't mean that maybe something else is for them. I'm not going to tell you or anybody else what’s for you. But I'm just using an example to some things don't work out, you know, I certainly hope the best for you. I think that we said you can maybe entertain doing something at that location different. We can see a different business model or different plan, but it won't be involving alcohol because we're not going to have licenses for that. And that's where we're at this point. I made that recommendation, so as Liquor Commissioner and that's the right of the people. I was elected by the people, that's why I made that decision. Had I felt that people were going to be for it. I wouldn't make that decision. I have an influx of people that say to me, Mr. Mayor, we don't we want more bars. We want a bar or more bars than I have to listen. But I'm comfortable as the Liquor Commissioner and the Mayor. Even with all the businesses that we do have or don't. I was elected to do something and that was a position that I've taken. And that's kind of where we're at this point, so if you want to submit something different, we'll look at it and we'll listen. And if this resurfaces again, somewhere down the line, maybe you know that may change the environment or the thought of, or the vision of what we're going to do may change and we may want to entertain more bars. Again, Markham has had more than its share of gunshots and shootings and people that have died. Police officers that have gotten shot. So doesn't mean that would have been your business, doesn’t mean that would have been you but either way, that's being fair. But we discontinued that I made the decision that we weren’t going to have any more bars, so we're there's no more liquor licenses and that was a decision was made a long time ago.
Vicky Hosey – Why weren’t we made aware of it?
Mayor Agpawa - Well, that you know what? You had your time to speak already. We've already met with and talked about it and that that's. That's where we're at, but that's whereat. I just told you what your options are. and that's where we're with this matter. 'll give you one more over that'll be it.
Vicky Hosey – How many shootings have there been closed.
Mayor Agpawa - None since they've been closed, and maybe that's why I don't know, but we won't know. .
MOTION TO CLOSE FLOOR TO PUBLIC
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Close Floor to Public.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell to adjourn at 8:15p.m.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/ 0 Absent-Motion Carried
https://www.cityofmarkham.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04062022-191
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