August 28, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

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August 28, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Hickory Hills City Council was called to order by Mayor Howley on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 7:31 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
    H. Kman
    M. McHugh
    P. Purtill
    B. Waight
    S. Zimmerman
  • City Clerk, J. Stachnik
  • City Treasurer, A. Vodicka
  • City Attorney, V. Cainkar
  • City Engineer, M. Spolar
  • Police Chief, A. Gulczynski
  • Public Works Director, S. Lehr
  • Public Works Director, J. Moirano

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

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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

No one spoke during this portion of the meeting.

CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC

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

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Alderman Waight moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of August 14, 2025, as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

MAYOR

Mayor Howley wished everyone a Happy Labor Day. He also noted that the BP property at 7933 West 95th Street was sold and that demolition, scrapping and property clean up will soon take place.

CITY CLERK

Clerk Stachnik reminded the City Council to complete their mandatory Sexual Harassment Prevention Training which is due to the Clerk’s Office by September 30, 2025.

CITY TREASURER

Treasurer Vodicka presented the Treasurer’s Report dated July 31, 2025, for approval. Alderman McHugh moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated July 31, 2025. Alderman Kman second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, 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. This ordinance is a revision of an earlier ordinance because the Illinois Department of Revenue requested additional verbiage.

Alderman Waight 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 Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Mayor Howley stated that the Sabre Woods Redevelopment Project is a good project for the area seniors and that the projects amenities will be accessible to the neighborhood to the north. He also noted that there will be no impact on the school district. Mayor Howley thanked Joe Guest, Chairman of the Planning Commission, for his work on this project.

The following three ordinances were consolidated into one vote that enacted Ordinances #25-15, #25-16 and #25-17.

Mr. Cainkar presented Ordinance #25-15, an ordinance approving the Sabre Woods Redevelopment Project Area Plan and Program of the City of Hickory Hills, Cook County, Illinois. This ordinance approves a Redevelopment Project Area also known as a Tax Increment Financing District for a 23-year period starting on date of this ordinance’s passage. Alderman Kman moved to approve Ordinance #25-15, an ordinance approving the Sabre Woods Redevelopment Project Area Plan and Program of the City of Hickory Hills. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Mr. Cainkar presented Ordinance #25-16, an ordinance designating the Sabre Woods Redevelopment Project Area in the City of Hickory Hills, Cook County, Illinois. This ordinance designates the Sabre Woods area as a Redevelopment Project Area also known as a Tax Increment Financing District. Alderman Kman moved to approve Ordinance #25-16, an ordinance designating the Sabre Woods Redevelopment Project Area in the City of Hickory Hills. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Mr. Cainkar presented Ordinance #25-17, an ordinance adopting Tax Increment Allocation Financing for the Sabre Woods Redevelopment Project Area in the City of Hickory Hills, Cook County, Illinois. This ordinance approves incremental real property taxes within the Tax Increment Financing District to be pledged to a Special Tax Allocation Fund for purposes of repayment of redevelopment projects costs incurred by a developer or other party. Alderman Kman moved to approve Ordinance #25-17, an ordinance adopting Tax Increment Allocation Financing for the Sabre Woods Redevelopment Project Area in the City of Hickory Hills. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ENGINEER

Mr. Spolar presented Invoice #1246, Payment Request #08 Final – MYS Incorporated in the amount of $106,908.87. The invoice is for work pertaining to the 87th Street and Roberts Road Project. Alderman Waight moved to approve Invoice #1246 in the amount of $106,908.87 to MYS Incorporated. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

COMMUNICATIONS

BILLS PAYABLE

Alderman Kman moved to approve the bills payable for the second half of August 2025 in the amount of $502,292.25. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Kman/Finance

Treasurer Vodicka and Alderman Kman met with department heads and employee representatives regarding next year’s health insurance provider. They have narrowed the choices to two companies and will have a final decision next month. Alderman Kman also provided the Video Gaming Report for the period January through July 2025.

Fonte/Public Safety

Alderman Fonte was absent. Chief Gulczynski and the command staff reviewed the Hickory Hills Police Supervisors Manual and determined that increasing tuition reimbursement would be beneficial for the department by supporting personnel achieve their academic and educational goals. The proposal includes increasing the annual tuition reimbursement from $4,500 to $5,250 and the lifetime reimbursement from $12,000 to $31,500.

Alderman Kman moved to amend the Hickory Hills Police Supervisors Manual by increasing the annual tuition reimbursement to $5,250 and the lifetime reimbursement to $31,500. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Zimmerman/Public Works

No report submitted.

McHugh/Bldg./Facilities

No report submitted.

Purtill/Laws & Ordinances

Alderman Purtill presented a business license application for Al’s Labor Inc. d/b/a The Phone Shop (cell phone store) located at 8859 South Roberts Road. No objections were noted.

Makropoulos/Health & Environmental Control & Auxiliary Police Advisor

Alderman Makropoulos was absent. No report submitted.

Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory

Alderman Ferrero has been working on the children’s Halloween Party and securing decorations.

Waight/Chamber Business Development

Alderman Waight stated that the Hills Chamber event “Business on the Veranda” at the Hickory Hills Country Club was well attended on August 27, 2025.

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, McHugh, Purtill, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.