August 12, 2010 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, August 12, 2010 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:
    L. DeRose
    D. Ferrero
    T. McAvoy
    M. McHugh
    J. Stachnik
    J. Szeszycki
    S. Zimmerman
  • City Treasurer, D. Schramm
  • City Clerk, J. Jackson
  • City Attorney, V. Cainkar
  • Police Chief, A. Vodicka
  • City Engineer, T. Lang
  • Public Works Director, L. Boettcher
  • Building Commissioner, G. Betcher
  • Deputy Clerk, D. Catizone

Aldermen Ferrero and Moirano were absent. There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.

OPEN TO PUBLIC

Alderman DeRose moved to open the meeting to the public. Alderman Stachnik second. Aldermen DeRose, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Bernie Flynn
8920 Sycamore Drive

Mr. Flynn voiced his concern with the sanitary sewers on his block. He noted he is unable to flush his toilets when it rains. Mayor Howley noted the City has completed testing in that area and later in this meeting there will be discussion on measures which will be taken to resolve some of these problems. Mr. Boettcher reported Robinson Engineering did a study last fall in this area. This spring National Power Rodding found breaks and cracks in the line. It was determined that north of 87th Street and some areas north of 89th Street will be lined. He noted some areas south of 87th will be repaired. Mr. Boettcher stated the City is moving forward with a plan to repair the lines.

Angelo Vaci
8818 W. 89th St.

Mr. Vaci reported his backyard flooded during the last rain storm. He noted he called Public Works and the non-emergency police number and no one came to see his problem. He is very upset with the current situation and would like to have someone from the City see his yard flooded. Mr. Vaci stated there are other neighbors present who have the same water problem.

Michael Kincinas
8827 Lotus

Mr. Kincinas stated he moved into his house in November and his property retains water whenever it rains. It usually takes a few days to dry out.

Katarzyna Tylka
8821 W. Lotus

Ms. Tylka also voiced her concern with water in her rear yard when it rains.

Helen Campbell
9115 S. 85th Avenue

Mrs. Campbell expressed her concerns regarding a ditch that was dug along the front of her property. She stated she is unable to cut the grass. Mr. Boettcher explained that a neighbor of hers had a water problem and to relieve this problem the Aldermen determined a ditch dug on her property would help. Mr. Boettcher explained we have had a lot of rain and that’s why there is water lying in many areas. She feels something has to be done. Alderman Szeszycki noted he and Alderman Moirano have viewed this and do not know the answer and will look toward Public Works for a suggestion.

CLOSE TO PUBLIC

Alderman McHugh moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman Zimmerman second. Aldermen DeRose, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Alderman McHugh moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of July 22, 2010 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman Stachnik second. Aldermen DeRose, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki aye. Alderman Zimmerman pass. So approved.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

    MAYOR

    IDOT Meeting

    Mayor Howley reported he attended an IDOT meeting along with Senator Maloney and Tom Lang at the Thompson Center. IDOT is willing to share the cost with the City with regard to the driveways at McDonald’s. Also, the left turn will be reinstated and this is very positive news.

    Cooling Center

    Mayor Howley noted the Community Center is a cooling center during this very hot weather.

    Constitution Week Proclamation

    Mayor Howley proclaimed the week of September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week 2010.

    CITY CLERK

    Clerk Jackson is in receipt of a request from the Girl Scouts to sell cookies in the fall and again in January. No objections were noted.

    Clerk Jackson reported she has a Block Party change on 78th Avenue from August 14th to September 5th. No objections noted.

    Clerk Jackson has a request from the Moraine Rotary to park cars in the City’s lot on October 23rd for upcoming event. Mayor Howley commented that October 23rd is the Children’s Halloween Party. Other arrangements will be made.

    CITY TREASURER

    Treasurer Schramm presented the Treasurer’s Report dated July 31, 2010. Alderman McAvoy moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated July 31, 2010. Alderman Stachnik second. Aldermen DeRose, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Treasurer Schramm distributed a post retirement health plan schedule which was approved by the Public Works Department. He noted it is different from the Police contribution schedule that was recently approved. He also thanked Ms. Sue Lehr for her assistance in this matter. The City will be contributing $100.00 per employee. The amount of $22,000.00 will be the contribution of the Public Works sick days. It was also decided they would have to use their comp time before sick days are used. Mr. Schramm stated this is the second group entering this program. No objections were noted.

    CITY ATTORNEY

    No report submitted.

    CITY ENGINEER

    No report submitted. Alderman McHugh asked if the rusted pipe on 94th Street was replaced. Mr. Lang noted it was replaced.

COMMUNICATIONS

BILLS PAYABLE

Alderman McHugh moved to approve bills payable for the first half of August in the amount of $465,539.12. Alderman Szeszycki second. Alderman McHugh has a question on the $108,000.00 to Cole Taylor Bank. Treasurer Schramm noted this is a six month prepayment of the mortgage payment. Alderman Szeszycki questioned the settlement on page 10. Treasurer Schramm stated this has been settled with a favorable result. Aldermen DeRose, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

STANDING COMMITTEES

    Szeszycki/Finance

    No report submitted.

    Zimmerman/Public Safety

    No report submitted.

    Chief Vodicka stated he attended the Illinois Chiefs of Police Conference in Rosement. He presented the first place award for excellence for traffic safety to the City Council.

    Alderman McAvoy asked if the Chief could investigate a call he made to the non-emergency number on Saturday, July 25th. Chief Vodicka will look into this matter.

    Moirano/Public Works

    Mr. Boettcher reported Public Works needs to replace a 1995 International four wheel dump truck. The new proposed purchase is a truck chassis would be a state purchase, with dump body and plow furnished by Monroe equipment. The City’s existing stainless steel salt spreader will be transferred to the new unit. This is a budgeted item with funds from three departments at a cost of $107,000.00. No objections were noted.

    Mr. Boettcher noted Phase I of the SCADA system is complete. This is a radio monitoring system which included FCC radio licenses, purchase of 11 radios including master receiver. Also Phase I included a base station master computer and necessary software and programming. Phase II would include installation of a Public Works base radio receiver, antenna, and controller at two water pump houses and at the sanitary lift station located at 88th Avenue and 87th Street. Public Works will award the contract to Metropolitan Industries of Romeoville in the amount of $54,000.00. This is a budgeted item.

    Mr. Boettcher reported that Insituform Technologies of Lemont will repair eighteen sanitary lines for a total of 3,900 feet of sanitary sewer lining at a cost of $123,000.00. Three contractors were notified and two proposal were received. Insituform was the lowest bidder. Mr. Boettcher also reported the City has some deep sanitary lines in immediate need of repair that have localized pipe failures. These lines can be repaired with a partial patch synthetic liner. National Power Rodding of Chicago will make sanitary sewer point repairs at the cost of $10,400.00. These are both budgeted items. Mr. Boettcher noted there are over 350 point repairs that need to be addressed and over 100 point repairs will be needed north of 89th Street alone to tighten the system for new law requirements.

    McHugh/Bldg./Facilities

    Alderman McHugh read a thank you letter from the Devonshire Condo Assoc. expressing their appreciation to the Public Works Department for the quick response of their recent water main break.

    DeRose/Laws & Ordinances

    Alderman DeRose reported he is in receipt of two business license applications for NCR Corporation who will be installing DVD machines in the Speedway Gas Stations located at 8759 and 8000 W. 95th Street. These are unmanned movie rental machines. The second business is Kazoz Food Market located at 9525 S. 79th Avenue #7. This store will have one employee. No objections were noted.

    Stachnik/Health & Environmental Control/Recycling

    Alderman Stachnik has received a memo from the Des Plaines Valley Mosquito District because of the elevated levels of the West Nile they have been spraying in the district.

    Ferrero/Community Services/Youth Advisory Board

    Alderman Ferrero was absent. No report submitted. Mayor Howley noted the Children’s Halloween Party will be October 23rd.

    McAvoy/Chamber

    Alderman McAvoy reported the National Night out went very well.

    Alderman McAvoy noted the August 26th Otis Wilson golf outing has been canceled.

    Alderman McAvoy commented on the benefits given to the City of Bell in California.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

Mayor Howley noted the St. Patricia HNS will hold a golf outing on October 2nd at Water’s Edge Golf Course in Worth.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Szeszycki moved to adjourn until the next scheduled or specially called meeting. Alderman Stachnik second. Aldermen DeRose, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.