June 28, 2018 City Council Meeting Minutes

June 28, 2018 City Council Meeting Minutes

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Hickory Hills City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Howley on Thursday, June 28, 2018, at 7:35 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Howley led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

Upon roll call, the following were present:

  • Mayor, M. Howley
    Aldermen, D. Ferrero
    B. Fonte
    H. Kman
    M. McHugh
    J. Stachnik
    J. Szeszycki
    B. Waight
    S. Zimmerman
  • Acting City Clerk, C. Doherty
  • City Attorney, G. Perlman
  • City Treasurer, D. Schramm
  • Police Chief, A. Vodicka
  • Chief Engineer, M. Spolar
  • Public Works Deputy Director, L. Boettcher
  • Building Commissioner, J. Moirano

There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.

GIRL SCOUT RECOGNITION

At this time Mayor Howley recognized Girl Scout Troop #55410 on their Bronze Award Achievement. The Bronze Award is earned through a multi-step community service project to help the homeless and less fortunate in our areas. They first had to earn their Journey Badge, which took 4 months to complete the projects they had to do. Kathryn DuMoulin, Kalleigh Miskovic, Kendel Richards, Allegra Benda Gianna Benda, Lucia Rosales, Samantha Reynolds, Bridget Berry and Angel Bixby all earned their Bronze Award.

These girls along with Kim DuMoulin the troop leader and Debbie Kunis the troop’s assistant leader worked by making Easter Baskets for Elsie’s Food Pantry, helping at the BEDS Shelter in Palos Hills, purchasing toiletries while working with a specific budget and creating bags of toiletries from requests of needed items. They also sent cards to the troops, and for the elderly in nursing homes, made cookies for the Ronald McDonald House in Oak Lawn, along with selling Girl Scout Cookies at several different locations. Another part of the project was collecting over 400 pounds of plastic lids to use for a recycling project that converted the lids into benches that will be used at the Girl Scout’s Camp Palos in Palos Park. This troop also collected and donated books for the Green Hills Public Library, socks for the homeless and pet supplies for a local pet shelter. Mayor Howley congratulated the girls and presented each with a City pin.

OPEN TO PUBLIC

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

No one spoke during this portion of the meeting.

CLOSE TO PUBLIC

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

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Alderman McHugh moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of June 14, 2018 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. Alderman Stachnik pass. So approved.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

MAYOR

Mayor Howley reported the Street Fair was excellent this year.

CITY CLERK

No report submitted.

CITY TREASURER

Treasurer Schramm presented the Treasurer’s Report dated May 31, 2018 for approval. Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated May 31, 2018. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ATTORNEY

No report submitted.

CITY ENGINEER

Mr. Spolar presented Invoice #1805-01 partial from Austin Tyler Construction in the amount of $ 52,021.04. This is for the 87th Avenue Storm Sewer Improvement. Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the payment of $ 52,021.04 to Austin Tyler Construction. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

City Engineer Spolar reported that the City of Hickory Hills has been selected by CMAP for their 2018 Pavement Management Program. The program will perform an evaluation that rates the condition of the City’s maintained streets. This is free engineering performed at no cost to the City. Hickory Hills was one of the twelve communities in the region selected by CMAP. CMAP received 69 applications.

COMMUNICATIONS

BILLS PAYABLE

Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the bills payable for the second half of June, 2018 in the amount of $244,589.04. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Szeszycki/Finance

Alderman Szeszycki distributed the May Video Gaming Report and noted it was a high revenue month of $24,000.00.

Stachnik/Public Safety

Chief Vodicka reported that Maria Sipior was buried last Monday and the Police Department is awaiting extradition of her husband from Berrien County on a Governors Warrant.

Zimmerman/Public Works

Public Works Director Larry Boettcher reported that on June 20, 2018 Public Works was in contact with Cook County Highway Department. He was informed the Roberts Road pavement renovation design will be completed in 2019 and will not start until after the Hickory Hills Street Fair in June 2019.

Mr. Boettcher also reported that there will be a closed meeting hosted by the City of Hickory Hills between the Illinois Tollway and the affected property owners of local towns. The meeting will be held on Wednesday July 11, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.

McHugh/Bldg./Facilities

Alderman McHugh reported that he is in receipt of the following three (3) bids for paving the parking lot at City Hall:

J&R 1st in Asphalt, Inc. $39,995.00
Murphy Paving and Sealcoating, Inc. $32,900.00
Rose Paving LLC $41,281.83

Alderman McHugh also has three (3) bids for a new roof on the garage at City Hall. They are as follows:

Knickerbocker Roofing & Paving $6,425.00
KG Roofing & Construction $2,200.00
R.Z. Services Inc. $2,700.00

Alderman McHugh would like to start the roof as soon as possible if he has the support of the council. It was the consensus of the Council to move forward with this project.

Waight/Laws & Ordinances

Alderman Waight reported he is in receipt of two new business certificate applications:

Crispy Bites located at 8033 W. 87th Street and
Sal’s Philly Steak located at 8609 W. 95th Street

Elite Laser also submitted an application for a license. They already have a license in Hickory Hills and are changing locations. New location is 8063 – 8065 W. 95th Street. No objections were noted.

Fonte/Health & Environmental Control

No report.

Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory

Alderman Ferrero thanked all of the Aldermen who donated their time and also the Community Affairs Committee for all of their hard work on the Street Fair. Bar Bingo was a big hit thanks to Roberts Road House for their hosting Bar Bingo, and for their donation of prizes. Alderman Ferrero would like to send Thank You letters to all the businesses that donated prizes.

Alderman Ferrero is thinking about sending a questionnaire to the vendors who have been in the Street Fair for many years, to see how things can be improved. Some new vendors expressed how well they liked the Street Fair.

The Karaoke was a big hit, and lasted longer than scheduled. Alderman Ferrero noted the two bands that played were really good.

Everyone was in agreement that the attendance was down this year, but they are not sure why.

Mayor Howley brought up the fact that the signs that have been used in the past for the Street Fair are getting a little worn. He suggested that this may be a good time to look into options for new signs.

Kman/Chamber Business Development

No report. Alderman Kman commented on being the newest member of the committee for the Street Fair. He feels that things went well.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Just a reminder that the Memorial Service for past Mayor Ray Kay is Friday June 29th at St. Patricia Church beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Mayor Howley wished Chris Doherty’s good luck on her retirement.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Meeting Adjourned at 8:20 p.m.