South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council met May 4.

Here are 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, April 20, 2023 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Nowak. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted: 

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

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: Brachman 

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.

7a) RESOLUTION DECLARING RESULTS OF ELECTION 

Mayor Bennett announced that there is a Resolution for the Canvass declaring results of the General Municipal Election held on April 4, 2023 and requested Ald. Donahue to present the Resolution.

Upon request of Ald. Donahue, City Clerk Mulderink assigned Resolution number 670 to A Canvass Resolution Declaring Results of General Municipal Election held on April 4, 2023.

Office                            Total Votes Cast 

Alderman 1st Ward 

Martin Kleefisch                    214

Alderman 2nd Ward 

Pauline A. Stratton                173

Alderman 3rd Ward 

Michael A. Lebarre                309

Alderman 4th Ward 

Peter A. Donahue                  148

 Alderman 5th Ward 

Dawn M. Nowak                    262

Total votes cast                  1,106

Total ballots cast                1,249

After the reading of Resolution 670, Ald. Donahue MOVED for ADOPTION of same. 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

At this time City Attorney Cainkar administered the Oath of Office to the Office of 1st Ward Alderman, Martin Kleefisch, Office of 2nd Ward Alderman Pauline A. Stratton, Office of 3rd Ward Alderman Michael A. Lebarre, Office of 4th Ward Alderman Peter A. Donahue, and Office of 5th Ward Alderman Dawn M. Nowak.

Mayor Bennett congratulated all Aldermen on their elections.

Ald. Kleefisch thanked Mayor Bennett for his encouragement, Ald. Price for his helping hand, Ald. Lebarre for offering his help as well as all Council members for their assistance.

Ald. Lebarre thanked the 3rd Ward residents, Ald. Pasek, Mayor Bennett, and city employees. Ald. Donahue thanked Mayor Bennett and all Council members for their help and encouragement. Ald. Stratton thanked her husband, family, 2nd Ward residents, and city staff for all of these years.

Ald. Nowak thanked everyone on the Council especially Ald. O’Connell for their support as well as the department heads, to Taylor and Rob who are always there for support, and her family and friends who are here.

Ald. Stratton added thanks to her partner Alderman Brachman.

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 presented a plaque to Bill Lipczynski for his retirement after 38 years of his dedication to Public Works.

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

A. BUILDING & LICENSING: 

Ald. Abed presented and read the Building Department report for the month of April 2023 as follows: Total permits 58, total permit fees $14,254.00, total security deposits received $1,700.00, and total security deposits refunded $1,750.00

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 Medco instruments at 8130 W. 111th Street has been issued their business license and that they are a medical equipment supplier/retailer.

E. FINANCE: 

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, May 4, 2023 in the amount of $380,571.71. 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

Ald. Lebarre mentioned thanks to his wife for putting up with him as an Alderman.

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES: 

Ald. Donahue had no report, but wanted to thank his wife for her encouragement, support, and patience.

G. PARKS: 

Ald. Nowak reported that the Recreation Department will be hosting a bingo night on Wednesday, May 31st at the Palos Hills Golf Course. The event runs from 6:30-8:00pm and the cost is $15.00 per person.

GOLF:

Ald. Pasek reminded residents to leave fireworks to the professionals.

H. PLANNING & ZONING: 

Ald. Nowak requested an update on the trash enclosures. Commissioner Lesnicki reported that most of them have already been corrected by the business owners with a couple still working on it. Ald. Nowak mentioned the condition of the Hong Min property, and Commissioner Lesnicki responded that the owner is working on getting the contractors for the demolition permit. There was discussion of potentially issuing citations for non-compliance. Ald. O’Connell said that he should be maintaining this property. Mayor Bennett directed Commissioner Lesnicki to contact the owner to advise him that if he doesn’t come in by Monday he will get cited.

Ald. Nowak mentioned that Ald. O’Connell wanted to inquire about the enclosure at Aviana as they are using the enclosure as storage. Mayor Bennett stated that the Ordinance officer will check on that tomorrow.

I. PUBLIC SAFETY: 

Ald. Kleefisch presented and read the Palos Hills Police Department Activity Report for the month of April 2023 as follows: 166 traffic tickets were issued, 88 parking tickets, 10 misdemeanor complaints and 3 felony complaints, there were no criminal homicides, there were no robberies, there was 1 aggravated assault and battery; there were 2 burglaries, there were 9 thefts, there were 2 motor vehicle thefts, no arsons, and our CID Division handled a total of 49 cases.

Ald. Kleefisch mentioned that the month of May, by Proclamation, is Town Spruce Up.

Ald. Kleefisch reported that the Beautification contest judging will take place between August 7th and August 11th, and the application is in the Resource & Recreation booklet that was recently mailed out. The last day for entries is August 4th at 5:00pm.

J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER: 

Upon request of Ald. Brachman, City Clerk Mulderink assigned Resolution number 671 to A Resolution For Maintenance Under The Illinois Highway Code.

After the reading of Resolution 671, Ald. Brachman MOVED for ADOPTION of same. SECONDED by Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None this evening.

11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None this evening.

12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Ald. Pasek commented that Public Works is doing a nice job fixing the ADA ramp on Windsor Drive.

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 7:28p.m.

https://www.paloshillsweb.org/docproxy?docId=3105263