South Cook News

City of Hickory Hills City Council met April 24

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Hickory Hills City Council was called to order by Clerk Joseph Stachnik on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Clerk Stachnik stated Mayor Howley will be absent this evening and a Mayor Pro-Tem is needed. Alderman Waight moved to appoint Alderman Scott Zimmerman as Mayor Pro-Tem. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Pro-Tem Zimmerman led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

Upon roll call, the following were present:

● Mayor Pro-Tem, S. Zimmerman

Aldermen, D. Ferrero

H. Kman

S. Makropoulos

P. Purtill

M. McHugh

B. Waight

● City Clerk, J. Stachnik

● City Treasurer, A. Vodicka

● City Attorney, M. Cainkar

● City Engineer, M. Spolar

● Police Chief, A. Gulczynski

● Public Works Director, S. Lehr

● Public Works Director, J. Moirano

Mayor Howley and Alderman Fonte were absent. There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Alderman Waight moved to open the meeting to the public. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Bernie Roche, President Pam Leisen, Vice-President

Great Oaks South Condos Arrowhead Condo Association

8620 West 95th Place 9559 Arrowhead Drive

Ms. Roche and Ms. Leisen are concerned about water overflow from surrounding properties and a nearby creek. Robinson Engineering will meet with them to provide options on resolving their issue.

Zeyad Haleem

8805 West 92nd Street

Mr. Haleem inquired about keeping chickens on private property. He was told that the maintaining of live chickens within the City is prohibited by ordinance.

CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC

Alderman Ferrero moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Alderman Waight moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of April 10, 2025, as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. Alderman Ferrero pass. So approved.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

MAYOR

Mayor Pro-Tem Zimmerman read the Polish Constitution Day Proclamation, Safe Boating Campaign Week Proclamation and the Motorcycle Awareness Month Proclamation for the record.

2025 Appointments

Mayor Pro-Tem Zimmerman presented the 2025 Appointment list as follows:

City Attorney Vincent Cainkar

City Engineer Mike Spolar (Robinson Eng.)

Chief of Police Adam Gulczynski Building Commissioner John Moirano

Director of Public Works Sue Lehr

City Collector Joseph Stachnik

PT Ordinance Officer Jim Lizzio

ESDA Director Christopher Knights

Elevator Inspector Dave Rotermund (Thompson)

Plumbing Inspector David Tavares

Electrical Inspector William Fritz

Fire Inspector Lt. Cindy Byrd (Roberts Park)

Building Inspector Leo Miller

Sprinkler Inspector James Groark

Sprinkler Inspector Craig Jensen

HVAC Inspector James Manuzak

Zoning Board of Appeals (7 Year Term)

Theresa Klimek 09/24/20 – 04/30/32

Gary Petracek 05/01/15 – 04/30/32

Board of Fire & Police (3 Year Term)

Mark Cavalieri 02/24/19 – 04/30/28

Police Pension Board (2 year Term)

Alan Vodicka 01/12/23 – 04/30/27

Alonzo Martinez 04/13/23 – 04/30/27

Community Affairs Commission (3 Year Term)

Sharon Chorzempa 05/01/07 – 04/30/28

Debbie Zimmerman 05/01/04 – 04/30/28

Police Chaplin (1 Year Term)

Joseph Mol 05/01/25 – 04/30/26

Hearing Officer (1 Year Term)

Arthur Wrobel 05/01/25 – 04/30/26

Community Service Officers (1 Year Term)

05/01/25 – 04/30/26

John Bracha Jada Cunningham

Noah Krastin Bogdan Landowski

Brian Mendygral Aurora Tilghman

Brian Trapp

Human Rights Commission (3 Year Term)

None.

Alderman McHugh moved to approve the above 2025 Appointments. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved

CITY CLERK

Clerk Stachnik stated that the Hickory Hills Herald Spring Newsletter will be mailed next week. Clerk Stachnik reminded the Council to complete their Statements of Economic Interest that are due to Cook County by May 1st.

CITY TREASURER

Treasurer Vodicka presented the Treasurer’s Report dated March 31, 2025, for approval. Alderman Kman moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated March 31, 2025. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ATTORNEY

Mr. Cainkar presented Ordinance #25-03, an ordinance amending Chapter 33, Occupation and Use Taxes, by adding section § 33.19, Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Tax, to the City of Hickory Hills Municipal Code. The amendment of the ordinance imposes a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax which is a tax upon all persons engaged in the business of selling groceries at retail in the City of Hickory Hills at the rate of 1% of the gross receipts from grocery sales. The amendment of the ordinance also imposes a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax which is a tax upon all persons engaged in the City of Hickory Hills in the business of making sales of service, who, as an incident to making those sales of service, transfer groceries as an incident to a sale of service. The taxes become effective January 1, 2026.

Alderman Ferrero moved to approve Ordinance #25-03, amending Chapter 33, Occupation and Use Taxes, by adding section § 33.19, Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Tax, to the City of Hickory Hills Municipal Code. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ENGINEER

Mr. Spolar presented Invoice #5429, Payment Request #03 – Partial from Steve Spiess Construction, Inc. in the amount of $320,369.06. The invoice is for work pertaining to the 87th Street Lift Station Project. Alderman McHugh moved to approve Invoice #5429 in the amount of $320,369.06 to Steve Spiess Construction, Inc. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

COMMUNICATIONS

BILLS PAYABLE

Alderman Kman moved to approve the bills payable for the second half of April 2025 in the amount of $836,483.03. Alderman Purtill second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Kman/Finance

No report submitted.

Fonte/Public Safety

Alderman Fonte was absent. No report submitted.

Zimmerman/Public Works

No report submitted.

McHugh/Bldg./Facilities

No report submitted.

Purtill/Laws & Ordinances

No report submitted.

Makropoulos/Health & Environmental Control & Auxiliary Police Advisor

No report submitted.

Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory

No report submitted.

Waight/Chamber Business Development

No report submitted.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Ferrero moved to adjourn the meeting until the next scheduled or specially called meeting. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, Makropoulos, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

https://hickoryhillsil.org/2025/05/april-24-2025-city-council-meeting-minutes/