South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council met Sept. 18

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, Frankowicz, Abed, Krasowski

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, September 4, 2025 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Abed. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Price

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: O’Connell , Krasowski MOTION CARRIED

6) CITIZENS PETITION: None this evening.

7) CITIZENS HEARING:

At this time Mayor Bennett recognized Don Bain for his 50 years of service with the Public Works department.

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:

Upon request of Ald. Abed, City Clerk Nowak assigned number 2025-20 to An Ordinance Amending Title 8, Health and Safety, Chapter 8.48, Property Maintenance Standards, Section 8.48.230, Reserved, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code.

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Ordinance 2025-20. SECONDED by

Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Frankowicz, Abed, Krasowski, Price, Brachman, Lebarre

NAY: Stratton MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Abed MOVED for PASSAGE of Ordinance 2025-20, An Ordinance Amending Title 8, Health and Safety, Chapter 8.48, Property Maintenance Standards, Section 8.48.230, Reserved, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code. SECONDED by Ald. Kleefisch. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Krasowski, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

B. CITY ADMINISTRATION:

Ald. Stratton had no report this evening.

C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES/PARKS:

Upon request of Ald. Price, City Clerk Nowak assigned number 701 to A Resolution of the City of Palos Hills Supporting and Authorizing an Application for an Open Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant for the Improvement of Krasowski Park.

Ald. Donahue MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Resolution 701. SECONDED by Ald. O’Connell. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Krasowski, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Price MOVED for PASSAGE of Resolution 701, A Resolution of the City of Palos Hills

Supporting and Authorizing an Application for an Open Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant for the Improvement of Krasowski Park. SECONDED by Ald. Kleefisch, Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Frankowicz, Abed, Krasowski, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

Ald. O’Connell announced that two new businesses have opened: Top Agency at 9748 S. Roberts Road Unit 1, and Tunnell Insurance Agency at 11018 Southwest Highway.

E. FINANCE:

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, September 18, 2025 in the amount of $569,931.33. SECONDED by Ald. Brachman. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Abed, Krasowski, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES:

Ald. Frankowicz MOVED for consideration of An Ordinance Amending Title 2, Administration and Personnel, by Adding Chapter 2.112, Administrative Adjudication of Code Violations, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code. SECONDED by Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Krasowski, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

City Clerk Nowak assigned number 2025-21 to that proposed Ordinance.

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Ordinance 2025-21. SECONDED by Ald. Abed. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Krasowski

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Frankowicz MOVED for PASSAGE of Ordinance 2025-21, An Ordinance Amending Title 2, Administration and Personnel, by Adding Chapter 2.112, Administrative Adjudication of Code Violations, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code. SECONDED by Ald. Abed. Upon roll call the following

Ald. voted:

AYE: Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Krasowski, Price

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Frankowicz reported that she did an interview at Channel 4 with Dave Gaidas of Palos Gaidas Funeral Home.

G. GOLF:

Ald. Donahue had no report this evening.

H. PLANNING & ZONING:

Ald. Krasowski had no report this evening.

I. PUBLIC SAFETY:

Ald. Kleefisch presented and read the Palos Hills Police Department Activity Report for the month of August 2025 as follows: 290 traffic tickets were issued, 105 parking tickets, 16 misdemeanor complaints and 14 felony complaints, there were no criminal homicides, there were no robberies, there were no aggravated assault and batteries; there were 4 burglaries, there were 5 thefts, there were 2 motor vehicle thefts, there were no arsons, and our CID Division handled a total of 38 cases.

Ald. Kleefisch shared a message from Police Chief Cucio which included details on some burglaries that took place on May 28, 2025 at Palos Tobacco & Liquor, Durbin’s, and Taco Jrs. Three male adults were arrested and one juvenile was arrested by our Police Department; the Cook County State’s Attorney office approved three counts of burglary for each adult offender, the juvenile was processed and referred to the Cook County State’s Attorney office juvenile division. On September 11. 2025 the City of Palos Hills received the Organized Retail Theft Crime Grant, which was made available through the Illinois Attorney General’s office, this is the third time we received this $21,000.00 state funded grant. The funds from the grant have been utilized to purchase essential video surveillance equipment designed to assist law enforcement in combating organized retail criminal enterprises within the City of Palos Hills. On August 14, 2025 we had a traffic detail take place on 111th Street with officers Konopczak and Werle. Officer Konopczak issued 13 citations, and Officer Werle issued 7 citations; 10 citations for illegal use of cell phone, 5 citations for speeding, 9 citations for violations of various kinds on 111th Street.

Ald. Kleefisch reported that we received a check from Carfax in the amount of $5.00, and a check from Forfeited Funds in the amount of $172.25.

Ald. Kleefisch added that he, Ald. Price, and Mayor Bennett have been talking about 105th and Harlem Avenue, and the dangerous element that has been created there by all the traffic. Ald. Kleefisch stated that a letter was written to IDOT and noted that there has been a response and IDOT will be looking into it.

J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER:

Ald. Brachman had no report this evening.

10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None this evening.

11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Ald. Abed asked what was happening on 103rd and Harlem Avenue. Mayor Bennett stated that the new trucking firm resurrected, and there is no more discussion of opening 103rd Street to the toll way.

12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Mayor Bennett thanked City Council as it was an honor and pleasure to recognize Don Bain.

13) ADJORNMENT:

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

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

The Meeting adjourned at 7:34p.m.

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