South Cook News

City of Palos Heights City Council met Oct. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER

The Mayor called to order the regular meeting of the City of Palos Heights City Council at 7:00 p.m. in the City Administrative Center, 7607 W. College Drive, Palos Heights, IL

II. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Mayor led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

III. ROLL CALL

Roll call indicated the following were present:

Mayor Robert Straz

Ward 1 Donald Bylut & Jeffrey Key

Ward 2 Robert Basso

Ward 3 Heather Begley

Ward 4 Michael McGrogan

City Clerk Shannon Harvey

City Treasurer James Daemicke

City Attorney Tom Brown

Absent: Alderman Clifford, Alderman Lewandowski and Alderman McGovern

IV. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: None

V. CONSENT AGENDA

1. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of Minutes:

1. City Council Meeting –September 19, 2023.

•  Alderman Basso asked for a correction in the minutes to reflect his “no” vote on the September 19, 2023 meeting minutes relating to the last agenda item in which the City Council moved and approved to send agenda item number 18 back to Committee.

B. Approval of Payroll and Voucher List for the period ending September 29, 2023.

C. Motion to approve a request for a Special Event permit from Trinity Christian College to conduct their Fall Fest 3.1K Fun Run on October 21, 2023.

Alderman Bylut moved to approve the consent agenda seconded by Alderman Begley. On roll call, the motion to approve the Consent Agenda was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

VI. OPENING OF SEALED BIDS

None.

VII. REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

•  Mayor:

•  General Remarks and Updates.

•  Mayor Straz reported he had the great opportunity to lecture in the government classes as Chicago Christian High School and Shepard High School. Mayor Straz lectured on the functions and election cycles of local and state governments.

•  Tomorrow, October 4, 2023 there will be a national emergency test on TV and cell phones from the National Awareness Systems throughout the United States. Mayor Straz asked that the police department perform a reverse 911 to inform residents prior to the test.

•  Clerk: No report

•  Treasurer: No report

•  City Attorney: No report

VIII. COMMUNICATIONS: None

IX. CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL

•  Harlen Weivoda: 7640 West 135th Street: Mr. Weivoda explained that he isseeking a status on whether he will receive confirmation of his Palos Heights mailing address. Mayor Straz informed Mr. Weivoda that he has sent two letters relating to this issue and has not yet received a response. Mayor Straz further explained that the federal government controls this issue, not Palos Heights.

X. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

A. Finance—Chairperson Alderman McGrogan: No report.

B. Public Safety—Chairperson Alderman Basso:

o Alderman Basso also was going to report on the National Emergency test.

o Alderman Basso addressed situations discussed in the newsletter. Alderman Basso reminded residents that it is getting darker earlier. Residents, especially motorist, should be aware and cautious of trick-or-treaters. Alderman Basso further reminded resident to be cautious when entering and exiting their driveways. Alderman Basso read a statistic from the National Safety Council that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween.

o Alderman Basso will provide a list of additional safety tips for Halloween at the next meeting.

C. Municipal Grounds and Property—Chairperson Alderman Begley:

2. Motion to approve payment to Wold Architects and Engineers for the design development for the City Hall renovations in the amount of $16,053.37.

Alderman Begley moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Bylut.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

3. Motion to approve payment to Garland/DBS, Inc. for replacement of the skylights in the Channel 4 building in the amount of $5,842.00.

Alderman Begley moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Bylut.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

4. Motion to approve payment for professional engineering services to Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTd. For the Cal-Sag Trail at Lake Katherine, Phase II project in the amount of $5,455.55.

•  Alderman Begley explained this related to the parking lot repairs.

Alderman Begley moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Bylut.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

5. Motion to authorize Mayor Straz to terminate the existing two leases and execute a new 50-year lease with MWRD for the Lake Katherine Grounds and the Cal-Sag recreational trail of approximately 82 acres in the amount of $10.00.

•  Mayor Straz explained there exist a current lease that has about 10 years left, but in order to put in a new parking lot, the City must execute a new lease. Mayor Straz further explained that MWRD only enters 50-year leases now. Alderman Begley explained that the City Council and MWRD already approved the lease and this motion relates to executing the lease.

Alderman Begley moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Basso.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

Alderman Begley reported that the week of October 30th will be the last week of the Palos Heights Chipper service.

D. Planning and Zoning—Chairperson Alderman McGovern: No report

E. Recreation—Chairperson Alderman Key: No Report

F. Roads and Construction—Chairperson Alderman Clifford: No Report

G. License, Permits & Franchises—Alderman Lewandowski: No Report

H. Water and Sewer—Chairperson Alderman Bylut:

6. Motion to approve a 3-year program with M.E. Simpson Co. for Fire Hydrant Maintenance & Flow/Watermain Capacity Testing in the amount of $55,440.00.

Alderman Bylut moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Key.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

1. Motion to approve a 2-year Water Distribution System Leak Survey with M.E. Simpson Co. in the amount of $38,800.00.

Alderman Bylut moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Key.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

2. Motion to approve payment to M.E. Simpson Co. for conducting valves assessments and exercising of 197 valves in the amount of $9,456.00.

Alderman Bylut moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Key.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

3. Motion to approve payment to Airy’s Inc. for replacement of the Sanitary Sewer at 122nd St. & 75th Ave. in the amount of $14,655.22.

Alderman Bylut moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Key.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

4. Motion to approve payment to Airy’s Inc. for the 16” College Dr. Sewer Lining project in the amount of $762,294.86.

Alderman Bylut moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Key.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

5. Motion to approve payment for professional engineering services with Strand Associates, Inc. for the On-Call Engineering Services, College Drive Water Main Lining, and the 131st Street Water Main CIPP Lining rendering through August 31, 2023, in the amount of $10,565.34.

Alderman Bylut moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Key.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

XI. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A. Business/Economic Development—Chairperson Alderman Key: No Report

B. Ad Hoc Cable TV— Chairperson Alderman McGovern: No Report.

XII. OLD BUSINESS:

•  Alderman McGrogan suggested that City should consider possibly decorating for Halloween. Alderman McGrogan suggested maybe the businesses, residents and the City could all take part in decorating Palos Heightsfor Halloween collaboratively in the future.

XIII. NEW BUSINESS:

•  Alderman Begley informed the City Council that information relating to the Palos Heights Holiday parade on December 2, 2023 will be passed out tomorrow (October 4th.) Alderman Begley wants to invite any past or new group to join.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

1. Motion to recess to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the purchase of real estate property under Section 2(c)(5) of the Open Meetings Act

Alderman Key moved to approve the motion seconded by Alderman Begley.

On roll call, the motion to approve the motion was:

Ayes: (5) Bylut, Begley, Basso, Key, McGrogan

Nays: (0) None

Absent: (3) Clifford, Lewandowski and McGovern

With five (5) affirmative votes the motion carried.

At 7:22 p.m. the City Council reconvened into regular session.

RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION

XIV. CITIZENS ASKING QUESTIONS REGARDING THE EVENING’S BUSINESS 

None.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

At 7:24 p.m. the Mayor requested a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously.

https://palosheights.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10032023-898