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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVILLAGE BOARD - 05/14/2002 - MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF ELK GROVE VILLAGE, ILLINOIS HELD AT THE CHARLES J. ZETTEK MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 901 WELLINGTON AVENUE ON TUESDAY MAY 14, 2002 Mayor Craig B. Johnson called the meeting to order at 8:15 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor: Craig B. Johnson; Trustees: Nancy J. Czarnik, Bart K. Dill, Patton L. Feichter, Samuel L. Lissner, James P. Petri, Chris Prochno Absent: None Also Present Village Manager, Gary E. Parrin; Village Attorney, George B. Knickerbocker; and Village Clerk, Ann I. Walsh A quorum was present. 2. INVOCATION Reverend Bonnie Campbell, Prince of Peace United Methodist Church, delivered the invocation. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on April 23, 2002 as submitted and dispense with the reading. MOVED: Trustee Petri SECONDED: Trustee Czarnik VOICE VOTE MOTION CARRIED 4. REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mayor Johnson issued the following Proclamations: Emergency Medical Services Week - May 19 through May 25, 2002 in honor of those engaged in emergency medical services and their contributions to the health and welfare of Elk Grove residents; and Buddy Poppy Day - May 23, 2002 for the annual fund raising sale of buddy poppies by the VFW. April 26, 2002 - Mayor Johnson thanked Trustee Petri for taking his place as Master of Ceremonies at the Awards Banquet. April 30, 2002 - The Mayor, Trustees Petri and Czarnik attended the United Way Annual Luncheon held at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. The guest speaker, Elk Grove resident John McDonough, Vice-President of the Chicago CUBS baseball team, was thanked for his interesting presentation. Patti Petri of the United Way was commended for her efforts in putting together a very nice event. May 4, 2002 - A Coffee with the Mayor and Board of Trustees was held at 9:00 a.m. Residents in attendance spoke to the Board on a variety of issues. The next Coffee will be held the first Saturday in August (August 3, 2002). May 6, 2002 - Mayor Johnson, the Economic Development Officer and Village Manager attended the Greater Woodfield Luncheon. An award was presented that day to Village Manager Parrin for his efforts and the organization of a Manager's Council that worked together to level the contributions of the membership communities to Greater Woodfield. May 11, 2002 - Elk Grove Boys Baseball Pepsi Day Parade took place May 11th from Grove Junior High School to Lions Park. The Mayor, Trustee Czarnik, representatives of the Elk Grove Park District participated in this event to honor the local distribution center of PepsiAmericas, for their contribution of $50,000 in support of the program. June 1, 2002 - The Mayor announced the semi-annual Salt Creek Clean-Up would take place from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Participants were asked to gather at the Elk Grove High School parking lot on that date. Business Park - Mayor Johnson thanked Nancy Carlson, Economic Development Officer, who was instrumental in having a list of all industrial parks in the State of Illinois published in the May 6th edition of Crain Chicago Business magazine. The Elk Grove Business Park was listed as the largest park out of twenty-five listed. The Chicago area's 25 largest industrial parks house 4,100 businesses with the Elk Grove Village Business Park having the most with a total of over 3,600 businesses. Kensington Business Center of Mount Prospect is second with a total of 100 tenants. The Mayor noted Elk Grove is the "economic engine" of the Northwest Suburbs and has the largest employment base of the communities and how important it is to protect that business community. Residential Enhancement Program Update - Streetlights will soon be installed and activated in the neighborhood sections between Higgins and Landmeier Roads. The installation of new street signs, work on Wellington Avenue for the clock tower, and the Veterans Memorial Park is in progress. Mayor Johnson asked for the patience of all residents during this time of construction and improvement. The construction of brick crosswalks throughout the Village may cause some inconvenience but will not affect access by any of our Police or Fire safety equipment when needed. Results should be evident by next fall. SOC/Airport Issue - Mayor Johnson discussed recent events that have taken place during the last three weeks: Chamber of Commerce - On April 24, 2002 the Mayor addressed the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce regarding the airport situation. John Harris, the City of Chicago Deputy of Aviation, also gave a presentation. Mr. Harris indicated for the first time that in all likelihood the "ring road" would have to be placed through the Elk Grove Business Park due to the proposed new runway configurations. He mentioned that five pieces of business properties would be lost due to the runways configuration but neglected to mention that there are 55 businesses included on those properties. Mr. Harris directed any questions regarding the ring road to the Illinois Department of Transportation and the clear zone or crash zones at the end of the runways to the Federal Aviation Administration. Mayor Johnson noted that Mr. Harris' discussion regarding the freight/cargo forwarding plan solidified Chicago's intention to move this to the Gary Airport. The Mayor read a quote by Mr. Harris stating the impact of expansion may seem great to some people, however, the overall picture would be a small impact for something that would benefit the entire country. The Mayor said this statement proves what has been said all along and that the Village will be sacrificed for that expansion. Signs - Mayor Johnson thanked residents who allowed signs to be placed on their property that expressed opposition to the O'Hare expansion and thanked Senator Fitzgerald for his support. The Mayor commended the Senator for his support on the O'Hare issue and announced that Senator Fitzgerald has been designated as the Honorary Grand Marshall of Elk Grove's parade on June 15, 2002 as a way to thank him for all he has done on our behalf. Residents will be receiving a letter from the Mayor in appreciation of their cooperation and asking them to display the O'Hare signs on June 15th and 16th during the parade weekend as a message of thanks to the Senator. The Mayor noted that the use of Elk Grove Public Works employees to deliver the O'Hare signs had been questioned. In response, Mayor Johnson explained that all Village employees and departments work on a daily basis promoting Village policy as set by the Village Board. Public Works employees were supporting Village policy and with the approval of the Board. Phone Calls - Mayor Johnson referenced his recorded messages phoned to residents of Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Hanover Park and Wheeling. The Mayor explained that last February the Mayors of those towns had expressed support for the O'Hare expansion without contacting Mayor Johnson and with disregard for the impact the expansion would have on our community. The Mayor related various instances whereby the Mayor of Hanover Park had indicated he would discuss his stance and discuss Mayor Johnson's views. Mayor Johnson has not been contacted as of this date. In deference to a neighboring community and to Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins, Mayor Johnson willingly supported her opposition to the noise made by train whistles since there would be a negative impact on the community of Palatine. The phone messages were Mayor Johnson's way to inform the residents of those four communities that the plan supported by their Mayors would have consequences on their towns. The Elk Grove Business Park employs over 100,000 people with the vast majority of those people being from neighboring communities. Mayor Johnson stated he has not pushed these Mayors for support in the airport issue, but on repeated occasions he has been requested to support their cause. He felt when they endorsed this plan and it would sacrifice the quality of life in Elk Grove the Mayors went too far. The Mayor read the phone message to the audience in which the resident was informed of their Mayor's support for O'Hare expansion and told this could result in the unemployment of hundreds of residents living in that community. The Suburban O'Hare Commission's position was then explained and residents were asked to let their Mayors know if they support SOC's alternative plan.