South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council met March 6

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, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Pasek, Abed, Nowak

ABSENT: Donahue, Stratton

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, February 20, 2025 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Nowak. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: Price

ABSENT: Donahue, 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. There were no 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: No report this evening.

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 February 2025 as follows: Total permits issued 24, total permit fees $7,788.00, total security deposits received was zero, and total security deposits refunded was $33,275.00.

B. CITY ADMINISTRATION:

In the absence of Ald. Stratton there was no report this evening.

C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Ald. Price announced that the Leprechaun breakfast is Saturday, March 15th from 10-11:30am at the Palos Hills Golf Course, and there will be an AARP driver safety course on Thursday March 13th and Friday March 14th from 9:00am-1:00pm, and on Friday March 21st from 6:30-8:00pm is a pizza tasting party trivia night, and finally, the Sertoma pancake breakfast is this Sunday at the Recreation Center from 8:00am-12:00 noon.

D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

Ald. O’Connell announced that two new businesses have opened in the City: Biggby at 10300 S. Harlem Avenue, and Albarakah Financial Services at 10125 S. Roberts Road Unit 202.

E. FINANCE:

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, March 6, 2025 in the amount of $418, 531.72. SECONDED by Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None

ABSENT: Donahue, Stratton MOTION CARRIED

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES:

In the absence of Ald. Donahue there was no report this evening.

G. PARKS:

Ald. Nowak had no report this evening.

GOLF:

Ald. Pasek reported that the Golf Course will be open next week.

H. PLANNING & ZONING:

Ald. Nowak MOVED to set the date for a Plan Commission hearing on Monday, March 31st at 7:00pm for the consideration of a Special Use for a Holistic Wellness & Yoga Center at 8648 W. 103rd Street Unit B. SECONDED by Ald. Abed. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None

ABSENT: Donahue, Stratton MOTION CARRIED

I. PUBLIC SAFETY:

Ald. Kleefisch presented and read the Palos Hills Police Department Activity Report for the month of February 2025 as follows: 216 traffic tickets were issued, 54 parking tickets, 14 misdemeanor complaints and 3 felony complaints, there were no criminal homicides, there was 1 rape, there were no robberies, there were no aggravated assault and batteries; there was 1 burglary, there were 3 thefts, there was 1 motor vehicle theft, and our CID Division handled a total of 25 cases.

Ald. Kleefisch reported that we received a check from Consolidated High School District 230 in the amount of $14,830.51.

J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER:

Upon the request of Ald. Brachman City Clerk Mulderink assigned Resolution number 688 to A Resolution Approving a Right-of-Way Use Agreement between the City of Palos Hills and Zayo Group, LLC.

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Resolution number 688. SECONDED by Ald. O’Connell. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None

ABSENT: Stratton, Donahue MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Brachman MOVED for ADOPTION of Resolution number 688. SECONDED by Ald. Price.

Ald. Kleefisch asked if this affects residential parkways. Commissioner Oeffling replied that it allows them to use any right-of-way in the City, but they want to go down Harlem Avenue.

Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None

ABSENT: Stratton, Donahue MOTION CARRIED

Upon request of Ald. Brachman City Clerk Mulderink assigned number 689 to A Resolution Authorizing the City of Palos Hills Approving a Grant Application and Authorizing the Execution of all Required Documents for the 2025 Cook County Community Development Block Program.

After the reading of Resolution 689, Ald. Brachman MOVED for ADOPTION of same.

SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None

ABSENT: Stratton, Donahue MOTION CARRIED

Upon request of Ald. Brachman City Clerk Mulderink assigned number 690 to A Resolution Authorizing the City of Palos Hills’ Application for Cook County’s Invest in Cook Grant Funds for the 111th St Pedestrian Improvements Project.

After the reading of Resolution 690, Ald. Brachman MOVED for ADOPTION of same.

SECONDED by Ald. O’Connell. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None

ABSENT: Donahue, Stratton MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Bennett thanked Commissioner Oeffling for all the paperwork involved in both of those Grants.

10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None this evening.

11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None this evening.

12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Ald. Lebarre reported that there was an issue with a retention pond on 95th Street off of Kean Avenue, and with the help of the new president of that Association, Mayor Bennett, and Commissioner Oeffling Water Reclamation came out and cleaned out the north side of the creek.

Ald. Lebarre stated that in the last couple of years he has received numerous requests for a sidewalk along the west side of Kean Avenue. After meeting with Mayor Bennett and discussing what would be involved, contact was made to Cook County Commissioner Morrison and he said it could take anywhere from 2-6 years for approval from the Forest Preserve.

Ald. Lebarre thanked the Orland Park ice arena for lending us ice skates for Ruby to use.

13) ADJORNMENT:

No further business, Mayor Bennett entertained a motion to adjourn. SO MOVED by Ald. Pasek.

SECONDED by Ald. Abed. By voice vote, all voted AYE.

The Meeting adjourned at 7:15p.m.

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