South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council met Nov. 3.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bennett called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:00p.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, October 20, 2022 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Nowak. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

Ald. Stratton had a question regarding the motion made to table a discussion until the next meeting, and a second was made, but no vote was taken. Mayor Bennett stated that the Chair recognized that the motion to table would be sufficient to take the discussion to Committee. AYE: Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: Brachman, Stratton 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.

Sandy Szczygiel of 9517 S. 89th Avenue approached Council and expressed her concerns surrounding the credibility of the company that presented for the broadband project, the concept of Smart Cities, and 5G networking.

There were no further 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: No report this evening.

C. MAYOR: Mayor Bennett stated that the Ordinance to renew the insurance for the Risk Management program with the IML will be presented.

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

A. BUILDING & LICENSING: 

Ald. Abed requested to have City Clerk Mulderink assign a number to the Adopt-A-Lot Ordinance that was presented at the last meeting.

Mayor Bennett stated that it was not listed on the Agenda therefore it will be taken to the next meeting.

B. CITY ADMINISTRATION: 

Ald. Stratton had no report this evening.

C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES: 

Ald. Price reported that the Resource and Recreation department will be hosting a Veterans program on Friday, November 11th at 6:00pm.

D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: 

Ald. O’Connell announced a few successful events that took place over the weekend such as Sacred Heart and the Knights of Columbus hosting their trunk or treat and pancake breakfast, Avalon hosted a kids Halloween & costume party. Ald. O’Connell reported that there was a nice article in the paper about our Haunted Hayride.

Ald. O’Connell also reported that with Channel 4 moving along, she had a chance to interview Chief Mackin from North Palos Fire Protection District, and soon will be interviewing Police Chief Cucio.

E. FINANCE: 

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated November 3, 2022 in the amount of $718,356.85. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. 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 reminded all that the Budget review meetings will take place on November 17th and begin at 5:00pm with Administration, 5:15pm with Golf, 5:30pm Parks, 5:45pm Building, 6:00pm Police, and 6:15pm Public Works.

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES: 

Ald. Donahue congratulated Commissioner Violante as the Haunted Hayride was a great event.

Ald. Donahue MOVED for consideration of an Ordinance Authorizing the Execution Of The RMA Minimum/Maximum Contribution Agreement For The City Of Palos Hills. SECONDED by Ald. Lebarre. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

City Clerk Mulderink assigned number 2022-13 to that proposed Ordinance.

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Ordinance 2022-13. SECONDED by Ald. Abed. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Abed, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue

NAY: O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Nowak

With a tie on votes, Mayor Bennett voted AYE MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Donahue MOVED for PASSAGE of Ordinance 2022-13, An Ordinance Authorizing The Execution Of The RMA Minimum/Maximum Contribution Agreement For The City of Palos Hills. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

Upon request of Ald. Donahue, City Clerk Mulderink assigned Resolution number 664 to A Resolution Approving A Contract For The Sale Of Real Property Commonly Known As 11050 South Roberts Road, City Of Palos Hills, Cook County, Illinois.

Ald. Brachman MOVED to waive the reading of Resolution 664. SECONDED by Ald. Lebarre. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Abed, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell

NAY: Stratton, Pasek, Nowak, Kleefisch MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Nowak asked if there are any parameters the Council may have should the buyer veer off his proposed intentions of use. Mayor Bennett stated that he would need to present plans to the Building department, and City Attorney Cainkar stated once the purchaser has the deed he has control over the property.

Ald. Donahue MOVED for ADOPTION of Resolution 664. SECONDED by Ald. O’Connell. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

G. PARKS: 

Ald. Nowak extended a huge thank you to everyone that came out for the Haunted Hills of Palos event last weekend and to the staff Palos Hills Public Works, Recreation and Police departments, the volunteers, and Aldermen. Thank you to Snackrunn for providing concessions and Chroma Salon for providing the makeup for the event. There were over 1,200 people that attended over the two days.

GOLF:

Ald. Pasek resurfaced the possibility of having gambling machines at the golf course. Ald. O’Connell said that if the golf course were to have gambling machines they would need to have a full sit-down menu. Mayor Bennett stated unless Council were to designate it as a gaming café, as any full service restaurant with a liquor license is allowed to have video gaming, but gaming cafés are under a separate category and Ordinance. An amendment would need to be created under the existing Ordinance to add another café license because the golf course is not a full service restaurant and would have to fall under the café category. Mayor Bennett suggested taking the subject to Committee for further discussion.

H. PLANNING & ZONING: 

Ald. Nowak had no report this evening.

I. PUBLIC SAFETY: 

Ald. Kleefisch presented and read the Palos Hills Police Department Activity Report for the month of October 2022 as follows: 141 traffic tickets were issued, 127 parking tickets, 22 misdemeanor complaints and 8 felony complaints, there were no criminal homicides, there were no robberies, there was no aggravated assault and batteries; there were no burglaries, there were 4 thefts, there were 3 motor vehicle thefts, no arsons, and our CID Division handled a total of 45 cases.

Ald. Kleefisch announced that we received two checks: one from Iris Martinez Clerk of the Circuit Court in the amount of $355.00, and the other from Carfax in the amount of $105.00.

Ald. Kleefisch stated that a resident who lives behind Charley Cheesteaks has been having issues with parking on 105th and has requested to have no parking signs placed there.

Ald. Kleefisch MOVED to have an Ordinance drawn for no parking on the north side of 105th Street from 73rd Avenue east to the first entrance to Charley Cheesteaks. SECONDED by Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER: 

Ald. Brachman presented and read the Public Works activity report as follows: 

· Crews are completing asphalt and concrete trip hazard restoration work

· Crews are prepping snow equipment ahead of the winter season

· Compass Minerals were the low bidder on salt at $76.00/ton. The bid was obtained through CMS Illinois Central Management Services; this year’s bid is $20.00/ton more expensive than last year’s.

· Crews are in the process of replacement of several non-functioning water valves over the next several weeks

· Crews are working on our annual water valve exercising program

· Crews have started to install Christmas decorations at City buildings, Town Square, City signs and on street lights. Decorations will be completed before Thanksgiving 

· The ice rink has been plugged and will be ready for this winter

· The IGA for the Invest in Cook County bike path along the canal was approved by Cook County Board last week. The next steps are a kickoff meeting finalizing the engineering agreement and receiving our first payment from Cook County.

· Gallagher is planning on working on this year’s MFT street overlay project as long as weather permits.

· IT and Public Works have been completing preparations for the third and last upgrade of the City’s tornado siren modernization program. On Monday, November 14th the tornado siren controller at 99th Street and 88th Avenue will be upgraded.

10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None this evening.

11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None this evening.

12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Ald. Price MOVED to go forward with the Broadband Grant application. SECONDED by Ald. Abed.

Ald. Lebarre noted that he is only voting no as he doesn’t think there is enough information to move forward.

Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Price, Brachman, Donahue, Kleefish, Abed

NAY: Nowak, Lebarre, Pasek

ABSTAIN: O’Connell, Stratton MOTION CARRIED

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 7:40p.m.

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