City of Oak Forest City Council met Nov. 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor Kuspa called the City Council meeting to order at 7 : 30 p. m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Roll Call as follows:
Present: Alderman Gray
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Wolf
Absent: Alderman Danihel
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Alderman Selman stated the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 was when hostilities ended for World War I . It was known as Armistice or Cease of Hostilities . Armistice Day was celebrated on November 11thuntil it was changed to Veterans Day. We will have members of our Oak Forest Veterans Commission do aceremony of the Missing Man Table. Joe Pilch, Veterans Commission Chairman began the ceremony honoring all Veterans and active military. The Missing Man Table is for the POWs and MIAs. Video played.
The Oak Forest Community Expo is streaming on the City website by clicking on CIC- TV programs or on cable at Comcast channel 4, Wide Open West ( WOW) or channel 6 and AT& T channel 99.
Yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves and branches will be collected curbside on regular garbage days through November 30th. Please put yard waste in brown paper bags, wastebags or reasonable sized bundles tied with string or a waste cart. Yard waste stickers can be added to regular 35 gallon garbage cans . Stickers are available at City Hall.
On November 10th, Oak Forest Dental Wellness at 15028 S . Cicero Avenue will provide free dental care to military veterans in need as part of the Illinois State Dental Society' s Illinois Dentist Solute Initiative. Dr. Jonelle Urgena and her staff will provide treatment free of charge with a military ID. You must make an appointment, call 708) 535- 0050.
In celebration of their 40thanniversary, Thornton & Powell Insurance Agency is hosting a free shredding event for the community on Monday, November 21st from 9 a. m. to noon. They are located at 5550 W. 147th Street. There is a three box limit per car.
This holiday season we are offering three ways to give back to children and families in need. There are three charitable organizations; The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, Toys for Tots and Redeemer Little Food Pantry. You can drop off unwrapped toys in the lobby at City Hall. Nonperishable food items can be dropped off in the Building Department. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.
Join the City of Oak Forest for Jolly Jamboree on Saturday, December 3rd from 10 a. m. to noon at City Hall. The new holiday event replaces the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Jolly Jamboree includes pictures with Santa, visits with the frozen princesses, ice
sculptor demonstrations, cookie decorating, DJ, holiday sing along and face painting. Please come and visit us . Trim a Tree winners will be announced at the Jamboree.
The City will be hosting a public information meeting for the 151' Street Culvert Replacement Boca Rio Ditch Reconstruction Project on December 14th from 5 to 7 p. m. at City Hall. This is a joint project between the City of Oak Forest, Cook County Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Representatives from the City and Cook County will be there to answer any questions related to the project.
4. MOTION TO ESTABLISH CONSENT AGENDA
Alderman Emmett made the motion to establish consent agenda. Alderman Hortsman seconded.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
NAYS
ABSTAIN
ABSENT Alderman Danihel
The motion to establish consent agenda carried 6/ 6.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes :
1 . City Council September 27, 2022
B. Consideration of the following List of Bills dated:
1 . Regular Bills : FY 2022- 2023 November 8, 2022
2 . Supplemental Bills: FY 2022- 2023 - November 8, 2022
C. Consideration of the following minutes :
1 . Fire and Police Commission October 4, 2022
2 . Emergency 911 System Board September 6, 2022
3. Economic Advisory Council July 6, 2022
4 . Planning and Zoning October 5, 2022
D. Consideration of the following reports :
1 . Baxter & Woodman Project Status Report - October 28, 2022
Alderman Selman made the motion to approve Consent Agenda.
Alderman Wolf seconded.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
NAYS
ABSTAIN
ABSENT Alderman Danihel
The motion to approve Consent Agenda carried 6/ 6.
6. ADMINISTRATION
A. Approval of Ordinance No. 2022- 11- 09330 amending 33. 093 of the Oak Forest Municipal Code, Municipal Cannabis Retailer' s Occupation Tax.
Alderman Gray made the motion to approve.
Alderman McCarthy seconded.
Tim Kristin reported in August we passed the Municipal Cannabis Retailer Occupation Tax. The State notified us that minor changes need to be made to the existing code eliminating penalty provision. The language has been struck from existing ordinance.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
NAYS
ABSTAIN
ABSENT Alderman Danihel
The motion to approve carried 6/ 6.
7. PUBLIC WORKS
A. Approval of proposal from Cardinal State to complete the improvement to the east industrial park detention basin in accordance with MWRD permit No. 1999- 0157 in the amount of 44, 690 . This expenditure is allocated from property improvement budgeted line item 01- 12- 5659.
Alderman Gray made the motion to approve.
Alderman Wolf seconded.
Mike Salamowicz reported in 1999 a MWRD permit was issued for the Glue Lam building which was part of the industrial development along the east side of I- 57 . The original permit and development completion was based on MWRD documentation from 1971 . The modifications to the detention pond included outfall structure and for one side of the detention pond, the berm, be raised. It has come to our attention that the modifications to the outfall structure are completed but the modifications to the berm have not. The MWRD has contacted the City and requested it be completed. We contracted with an engineering firm to put together the plans and the bid package. We contacted over 20 contractors and we got three proposals that are included in the memo.
The lowest proposal was from Cardinal State in the amount of $ 44, 690 covering the work that was included in the original 1999- 01057 MWRD permit.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
NAYS
ABSTAIN
ABSENT Alderman Danihel
The motion to approve carried 6/ 6.
B. Approval of a two year contract with ME Simpson of Valparaiso IN for annual water distribution system leak detection survey in the budgeted amount of $27, 495.
Alderman Gray made the motion to approve.
Alderman Emmett seconded.
Mike Salamowicz reported over the last several years we contracted with ME Simpson to perform leak detention services for the City. Our water mains are 100% tight but there will always be a leak. We are trying to find these leaks so that we can get ahead of them and repair them so we are not losing that water. We have ME Simpson for locating leaks when we cannot find where the water main break is . We have contacted other firms to get quotes. This is the only firm that we received a proposal from. The proposal is for the whole city, half of the city in the spring of 2023 and the other half in spring of 2024 .
Alderman Gray asked about the existing contract with Johnson Controls for the water meter upgrade. She inquired whether part of the contract included leak protection. Mike reported that this is the same company that was doing the leak protection as part of that contract. That contract was for the water meter change out. Johnson
Controls provides leak protection for individual leaks . They do a survey of half of the city' s water mains each year and they will give us that information so we can repair those locations . Each year we are responsible for submitting to the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources water used.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
NAYS
ABSTAIN
ABSENT Alderman Danihel
The motion to approve carried 6/ 6.
8. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
A. Approval of Resolution 2022- 11- 0932R supporting and consenting to an application to the Cook County Assessor of a Class 8 Property Tax Incentive application for the property commonly known as 5410 W. 159th Street.
Alderman Emmett made the motion to approve.
Alderman McCarthy seconded.
Ed Cage stated that this is a request by Culvers . City Council approved their plans . Currently that property is one big city owned property which will be subdivided. There was a little delay in getting the legal description which pushed the Class 8 application a
few weeks later than the Planning and Zoning Commission. This is the last part of the Culver' s application. They made a request that went to EAC, Economic Advisory Committee which made a recommendation to approve. The program goes through Cook County and needs City Council' s approval to send the application and request to Cook County.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
NAYS
ABSTAIN
ABSENT Alderman Danihel
9. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Kathleen Beria approached and stated she was one of the owners of Nite Games Bar. Four times the police department has been called on me. The people who are supposed to be my partners are telling them I am an ex- partner. I am asking that the paperwork submitted to prove that I am an owner be discussed this gentleman and your police department. I am legal owner on this bar. There is ongoing conflict. Every time I go, the police are called and twice I have been escorted off the premises. The people in the bar are hostile towards me. I cannot bring people in to buy me out and they will not buy me out. Asking the police department to handle it like any other call. She had another question. She questioned about the logistics of transferring a liquor license. Tim Kristin stated these are complicated issues that usually are referred to an attorney. It is tough for police officers to make decisions out on the street if they do not have documentation.
10. OLD BUSINESS
Mike Salamowicz stated a time back that there was a petitioner that came before the council looking to develop a couple of parcels off of Temple Avenue. After significant discussion regarding drainage concerns, staff was directed to seek some costs and studies to see if any drainage issues could be rectify or identified. At the direction of City Council, engineering firm HR Green was contacted to perform a drainage study for the Temple Street area as part of that 2 to 3 lot subdivision. It was my understanding that one of the homes, 5243 Temple, was having flooding and they were concerned about the impact towards their home from these new homes . There was also some potential concerns about the existing homes on Lorel Avenue as well. An engineering firm did a pretty thorough investigation. With regard to 5243 Temple, the detention pond actually has no effect on the flooding that home is experiencing. What is causing their flooding is the front of their home is the low point of the street. All the water is flowing into that area. There is a couple drainage structures there but there is not enough grade capacity. The water cannot get into the storm sewer fast enough. Water has to build up to a certain elevation before it can flow through the yards and into the detention pond. Regarding homes along Lorel Avenue, a couple of the homes are fairly low in elevation. Because of the design of the detention pond, the way it drains is by a lift station. The lift station currently only has one pump in it. It only has the capacity to drain at the 10 year storm ( once every 10 ten years) . Once the storm exceeds that capacity, it will start going toward those homes on Lorel Avenue. They came up with couple options of what can be done to possibly resolve some of the issues .
First is creation of an overflow path from the street to the detention pond for 5243 Temple Street. When water builds up in the street, it can transport through the swale and back into the detention pond. It will require some additional easements . The cost of that option was approximately $ 56, 000 . Second is to increase the grade capacity on the street. More drainage structures would have to be put in and potentially increasing the storm sewers in that area. The cost was approximately $ 36, 000 . Addressing the homes on Lorel Avenue, we can increase the capacity by adding an additional pump to the lift station. Lift station work is always expensive, approximately 820,000 . The other option would be to modify the existing detention pond by regrading and reshaping. The cost is approximately $ 320, 000 . There is no quick fix in order to address these issues. It would take a fair amount of money.
Alderman Hortsman asked whether putting in two or three new homes will only exacerbate the problem. Still have issues with low areas and detention pond does not service all those areas . One resolution mentioned was a swale but there is no easement area.
Alderman Emmett stated he has been listening to the residents and believes adding any new houses now will cause problems . Our infrastructure is old like any neighborhood. He does not want to add any more problems to the people there. A builder should absorb the costs of to protect the homeowners . Mike Salamowicz reported that 1972 was the first year there was storm sewer requirements . Also was the first year they came out with their run- off numbers for the storms estimating how much rain and intensity we would have in the two year storm, three year, five year to help determine the size of storm sewers and detention ponds . Over the last couple years, the state has modified those numbers increasing them. Sediments in the detention ponds age which contribute to the issues with the storm system.
Mayor Kuspa asked about increasing the grade size of drainage areas on the street. Mike stated it may be an option. It would help the homes on Temple but it would not do anything for the homes on Lorel . Additional structures would have to be added such as a parkway and a very aggressive grate called beehives to get the water into the storm sewer as quick as possible.
Alderman Selman asked if the modeling indicated the grates as the problem or increasing the size of the drain pipe. They can always remove and replace the storm sewer if that becomes an issue. We certainly would have to put more drainage structures in the street to provide more grates .
11. NEW BUSINESS
We will have a Community of the Whole Meeting November 22r'd at 6: 30 p. m.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The purpose is to discuss the purchase or lease of real property for use by the City of Oak Forest, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing, whether a particular parcel should be acquired, and to discuss the setting of a price for the sale or lease of real estate owned by the City of Oak Forest and Litigation, when an action
against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding must be recorded and entered into the minutes of a closed meeting.
Alderman Hortsman made the motion to approve.
Alderman Wolf seconded.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
NAYS
ABSTAIN
ABSENT Alderman Danihel
The motion to approve carried 6/ 6.
No further action will be taken by the Council after Executive Session.
13. ADJOURMENT
The Council meeting adjourned at 8 : 18 p. m.
http://www.oak-forest.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11082022-1605
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