South Cook News

City of Harvey City Council met Sept. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Christopher J. Clark called the City of Harvey Regular Council Meeting to order Monday - September 25, 2023, at 7:07 p.m.

Mayor Clark asked City Clerk Rosa M. Arambula to call the roll of Council members.

Present: Alderwoman Shirley Drewenski, Alderwoman Colby Chapman, Alderwoman Telanee Smith, Alderman Tracy Key, Alderman Dominque Randle-El, Alderman Tyrone Rogers, and Mayor Christopher J. Clark.

Absent: None

Alderman Rogers gave the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of Minutes Dated: August 28, 2023.

Alderwoman Drewenski made the motion to approve the Minutes.

The motion was seconded by Alderman Rogers.

Voting Aye: Alderwomen Drewenski, Chapman, Smith, Aldermen Randel-El, Key, Rogers.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

Approval of Bills for Payment: September 4, 2023, and September 20, 2023

Alderman Rogers stated that they will have a meeting next week to look at these bills. He said that they would look at all the bills from September 11, 2023, through September 24, 2023. Alderwoman Chapman mentioned that there was an item on the bills list that she was questioning. She asked if using direct mail was covered by the City. The Mayor stated that they would make an adjustment to the account.

Bills list was tabled.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS FOR THE CITY OF HARVEY

Old Business

Resolution # 3057 - A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services Agreement for the Collection of Debts owed to the City of Harvey by and between the City of Harvey and Municipal Collection Services, LLC.

Alderwoman Drewenski made the motion to approve the Resolution.

The motion was seconded by Alderwoman Smith.

Voting Aye: Aldermen Randle-El, Key, Rogers, Alderwomen Chapman, Smith, Drewenski.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

New Business

Resolution # 3058 A Resolution to Seek a Permit from the Illinois department of Transportation to Temporarily Close 159th street from Halsted Rd to Dixie Highway to Traffic for the Hands Across Harvey Event.

Alderwoman Drewenski made the motion to approve the Resolution.

The motion was seconded by Alderwoman Smith.

Voting Aye: Aldermen Randle-El, Key, Rogers, Alderwomen Drewenski, Chapman, Smith.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

Alderwoman Chapman made a motion that this Resolution (Resolution 3059) be discussed in the Economic Development Committee.

Alderman Key seconded the motion.

Alderman Randle-El opened the floor for discussion on this matter.

He stated that this is not an EDC matter.

Alderwoman Chapman said that MWRD, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, had mentioned that this decision is the City's decision.

Mayor Clark answered by saying that MWRD had picked the best location that they had thought was suitable for this project.

Voting Aye: Alderman Key, Alderwoman Chapman.

Voting Nay: Aldermen Randle-El, Rogers, Alderwomen Drewenski, Smith.

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION FAILED

Resolution # 3059 - Intergovernmental Agreement by and between the City of Harvey and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for the Property Acquisition, Design, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Central Park Stormwater Detention Basin and Separate Storm Sewer Improvements in Harvey, IL

Alderman Randle-El made the motion to approve the Resolution.

The motion was seconded by Alderwoman Smith.

Voting Aye: Alderwoman Drewenski, Smith, Aldermen Randle-El, Rogers.

Voting Nay: Alderwoman Chapman, Alderman Key.

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

Resolution # 3060 - A Resolution Authorizing and Approving a Settlement Agreement and Conditional Order of Dismissal Pursuant to Settlement between the City of Harvey, Cook County Illinois and the Parties Named Therein.

Alderman Randle-El made the motion to approve the Resolution.

The motion was seconded by Alderwoman Smith.

Voting Aye: Alderwomen Drewenski, Chapman, Smith, Aldermen Randle-El, Key, Rogers.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

Resolution # 3061 - A Resolution to Appoint a Successor Local Government Director to the South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority ("SSLBDA")

Alderwoman Smith made the motion to approve the Resolution.

The motion was seconded by Alderman Randle-El.

Voting Aye: Alderwoman Drewenski, Smith, Aldermen Randle-El, Rogers.

Voting Nay: Alderwoman Chapman, Alderman Key.

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

Executive Session-Litigation

Time into Executive Session: 7:31 p.m.

Alderman Randle-El made the motion to go into Executive Session.

The motion was seconded by Alderwoman Smith.

Voting Aye: Alderwomen Drewenski, Chapman, Smith, Aldermen Key, Randle-El, Rogers.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

Back Into Public Session:

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Alderman Randle-El made the motion to go back into Regular Session.

The motion was seconded by Alderwoman Smith.

Voting Aye: Alderwomen Drewenski, Chapman, Smith, Aldermen Key, Randle-El, Rogers.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

Action to Approve Settlement Agreement for Michael Johnson vs. COH

Alderman Randle-El made the motion to approve the Agreement.

The motion was seconded by Alderman Rogers.

Voting Aye: Aldermen Randle-El, Key, Rogers, Alderwomen Drewenski, Chapman, Smith.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None

MOTION CARRIED

Action to Approve a Settlement Agreement for Truman Rogers vs. COH.

Alderman Randle-El made the motion to approve the Agreement.

The motion was seconded by Alderwoman Smith.

Voting Aye: Alderwomen Drewenski, Chapman, Smith, Aldermen Randle-El, Key, Rogers.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None.

MOTION CARRIED

Public Comment:

1. Ruby Donahue - Ms. Donahue requested that the Alderpersons not have a committee meeting on the same day as the City Council meetings. Ms. Donahue thanked Supervisor Seput and Mr. Brown for picking up a tree that had fallen on 147th and Lincoln.

2. Ryan Sinwelski- Ryan mentioned Ascension Church as being a historical building and that it should not be demolished. He asked the Aldermen to bring to light to see what the City is doing with the MWRD project.

3. S. Hansan - S. Hansan inquired about Raymond Law Group. He asked why this attorney was using a City phone number. He also asked why some businesses were paying more taxes than others on Dixie Highway.

4. Mauzkie Ervin-Mr. Ervin stated that he was a former trustee for the library from 2015- 2021. He asked about the MWRD project. He wanted to know how many inches of rain the "hole" was going to hold and how long it would take to drain.

5. Chapell Hooks - Ms. Hooks asked the Alderpersons why they voted yes to a retention pond that was just going to cause diseases.

6. Melville King Jr. - Mr. King said he was proud to be a citizen of Harvey. He stated that he lives in the 6th Ward and that they were having many problems with prostitutes walking up and down Halsted from 144th to Calumet Blvd. He asked the City to help with this situation. King also mentioned that grass and weeds that have not been cut and are 3 feet tall.

7. Clarence Harp - Mr. Harp asked if his block could get a speed bump by 147th and Desplaines. They drive too fast down his block. He has been asking since March.

8. Toni Gardner - Ms. Toni Gardner said that her home was "shot up". She said her family is traumatized by this. She stated that the home across the street is being used as an Airbnb and this is where the shooting began. She asked Mayor Clark if they could please shut this Airbnb down. She continued to say that the HPD did come immediately.

Alderwoman Drewenski of the 1st Ward announced her Ward Meeting for October 28, 2023. She stated that there would be shuttle buses for the Hands Across Harvey event October 14, 2023, in the St. John the Baptist parking lot. Alderwoman Drewenski asked the Attorney if there was anything that she could do if they were accusing her of something on social media. Alderwoman Chapman announced the 2nd Ward pickup of garbage which would be on October 23 - October 25, 2023. She also stated that there would be a Finance meeting on October 4, 2023.

Alderwoman Smith said she had received many calls in the 3rd Ward about the flooding. She asked the residents to do their part also by cleaning their leaves off the drains so that the water would flow better.

Alderman Key mentioned that the street department was doing a great job in the 4th Ward. He then said he needed a ride home to get his other key because he had left his car on. Alderman Randle-El said that his residents in the 5th Ward were doing some great networking. He stated that his residents contributed to our shortfall. They asked him to help out with the flooding by cleaning the storm drains.

Alderman Rogers stated that his heart goes out to Ms. Gardner. He continued to say that he had taken pictures of Ms. Toni's house and saw that she could have been hit in the head with a bullet. He mentioned that there needed to be an end to this Airbnb. Alderman Rogers announced his 6th Ward meeting on October 7, 2023.

Mayor Clark read the dates out for all the residents of Harvey for the Fall Cleanup. He also mentioned that his therapy was going well. He stated that on Fridays he still has his sessions of "Meet the Mayor".

ADJOURNMENT: 8:46 p.m.

Alderman Rogers made the motion to adjourn meeting.

The motion was seconded by Alderman Randle-El.

Voting Aye: Alderwomen Drewenski, Chapman, Smith, Aldermen Key, Randle-El, Rogers.

Voting Nay: None

Abstain: None

Absent: None

Rose M. Asa

Rosa M. Arambula – City Clerk

MOTION CARRIED

https://www.cityofharveyil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9.25.2023-Signed-Minutes.pdf