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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVILLAGE BOARD - 08/17/2004 -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 AUGUST 17, 2004 Mayor Craig B. Johnson called the meeting to order at 8:21 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 Also Present: Village Manager, Gary E. Parrin; Village Attorney, George B. Knickerbocker; and Village Clerk, Ann I. Walsh A quorum was present. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Boy Scout Troop 95 from Christus Victor Lutheran Church presented the Colors and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 as submitted and dispense with the reading. MOVED: Trustee Petri SECONDED: Trustee Czarnik VOICE VOTE MOTION CARRIED REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES Coffee with the Board was held on Saturday August 7, 2004 and is scheduled once every three months throughout the year. The Mayor thanked the residents who stopped by to casually discuss ideas and comments. Biesterfield Road - The Mayor reported on the completion of the Biesterfield roadwork, west of Rohlwing Road, noting it has been done on time and under budget by one million dollars. Installation of stoplights will take place this week and the landscaping will be completed in September. Several residents who were originally against the improvements have extended positive comments. Mayor Johnson thanked the residents for their patience during the construction work and acknowledged the construction company for their efforts to move the traffic through during the work. The speed limit will remain at 25 mph for one year. At that time, the Board will review a traffic study to see if the speed limit should be changed. In addition, the old center islands on Biesterfield near the expressway and Village Hall are being removed and will be replaced with trees and landscaping. Alexian Brothers plans to do the same next year when constructing the new entrance way to the hospital. Eventually, Biesterfield will have tree lined middle strips from Grove Junior High to Home Depot. Devon Avenue - Residents have called the Village to express their concerns about possible flooding problems if a proposed shopping center on the west side of Salt Creek is developed. The Mayor assured the audience that the Village would address those concerns and has already sent a letter to the appropriate department at the State of Illinois stating it is the Village’s position the property must be developed in a proper way so as not to hurt any residents in that area. The Mayor also noted the Village’s preference for commercial development on Devon Avenue and explained that if done properly, 50% more storage for flooding is gained than prior to the development. The Food 4 Less grocery chain has announced its intention to open a store at Nerge and Meacham Road. They first approached the Village a year and half ago with a request for financial incentives to come to the Village. Although the request was not granted, the discount grocery chain has decided to go forward with their plan. Food 4 Less will put in an excess of two million dollars to renovate the location and will open during the holidays. O’Hare Update – Mayor Johnson reported SOC has won a major Court Decision in Washington D.C. The Appellate Court ruled 3-0 that the City of Chicago and the FAA acted illegally and inappropriately in granting almost $200 million dollars of funds available for work on the airport expansion plan. Funds could be used to look into environmental issues (about $47 million) but were not to be used for the preliminary design and engineering work to build the expanded O’Hare airport. The Court told the FAA they are being watched and will be watched in the future. Mayor Johnson spoke of recent editorials highlighting the excessive amount of flights in and out of O’Hare and noted that in 1999 our community, along with Senator Fitzgerald, warned not to lift the flight caps. The flight caps were imposed as far back as 1969 and there were no massive delays until the caps were lifted in 1999. Mayor Johnson said the delays are not due to runways, but they are a result of lack of air space. You cannot build more airspace. The Chicago Tribune recently wrote an editorial in support of SOC’s solution and stated it is now time to build the Peotone airport. The Mayor also referenced a recent T.V. interview given by FAA Director, Ms. Marion Blakely, during which she stated that flight caps would be a temporary fix towards expansion of O’Hare airport. Suburban O’Hare has taken exception to this remark as the FAA Director is not allowed to pre-judge a project before it goes through the entire process. SOC has asked that Ms. Blakely be removed from the situation. Residents were told not to be concerned with Blakely’s statements, as Ms. Blakely cannot make the O’Hare decision. Oath of Office - Mayor Johnson administered the Oath of Office to James Colgan, who was appointed as Library Board Trustee to fill the vacancy left by elected Library Board Trustee Ray Herrick who recently moved out of the Village (term ending April 30, 2005). The Mayor administered the Oath of Office to Georgia Landt upon her appointment to the Community Service Board for a term ending April 30, 2005. The Mayor invited Gayle Bantner to join him and acknowledged the 42 years of service and many volunteer hours he has given to this community as Fire and Police Commission Chairman, his 10 years on the Plan Commission and his service on the Health Board. Mr. Bantner has tendered his resignation from the Commission but has agreed to assist during the transition period. The Mayor introduced Fire and Police Commissioners Dr. Alan J. Shapiro and E. Butch Ehrke who were present in the audience. The Mayor then administered the Oath of Office to Michael P. Kontek who will replace Gayle Bantner on the Fire and Police Commission for a term ending April 30, 2007. Parade Awards – Trustee Czarnik introduced several members of the Parade Commission sitting in the audience and assisted the Mayor with the presentation of the following awards: Sponsorship and offset of expenses of the Parade – Grove Memorial Chapel Honorable Mentions: Awana Club of Elk Grove Village Baptist Church Elk Grove Village Public Library (Kids in Character) Girl Scouts Service Unit #650 Illinois Crossroads (not in attendance) Link School Girl Scouts Elk Grove Village Relay for Life 2004 (not in attendance) Spirit Award – Grenadier Cheerleaders/Elk Grove Village High School (not in attendance) Most Creative – Cub Scout Pack 190 Salt Creek School Best New Entry 2004 – P.A.D.S at Christus Victor Lutheran Church Most Original – Elk Grove Village Lions Club Best Theme: - Cub Scout Pack 495 Most Creative Interpretation of Theme – Elk Grove Park District Most Creative Use of Lights – Elk Grove Village Jaycees Best All Around–Boy Scout Troop 95 Chartered by Christus Victor Lutheran Church Chairman’s Choice- Cub Scout Pack 958 from Rupley Elementary School sponsored by the Elk Grove Jaycees Rotary Club – Rotary President-Elect, Ralph Schumann, presented a plaque to the Mayor and Board of Trustees in appreciation of the Village’s financial support of the 2004 Rotaryfest and Elk Grove’s dedication to the ideals of the Rotary. Mr. Schumann introduced Scott Bernholdt, Rotary First Chairperson and recipient of “Above Self Award” and Susan Bryer, Rotarian of the Year, and stated this year’s Rotaryfest raised $25,000. For more information on local fundraising efforts and the organization, their website is www.org/egrotary. Recess: 9:10 p.m. - Mayor Johnson declared a brief recess for those in the audience who wished to leave the meeting. Reconvene: 9:12 p.m. – The Mayor reconvened the Board meeting with all members of the Board present. The Village Manager, Village Attorney and Village Clerk were also present. Trustee Petri reported on a groundbreaking ceremony held on August 11, 2004 for the new AMB facility, which is replacing the Sylvania building on Devon Avenue. Trustees Czarnik, Feichter and Village staff also attended. Trustee Petri noted that AMB has plans for renovation of several other buildings in the Village. Trustee Czarnik reported the Community Blood Drive was held on August 7, 2004 and 46 units were taken with 2 deferred. The next blood drive will be on November 7, 2004. Trustee Feichter reported the Community Character Coalition met on August 3, 2004 at the Advantage Bank. The Board was given a list of the past activities sponsored by the Coalition this year. A special Committee meeting has been called for Wednesday, August 18, 2004 to discuss future events. October is Character Counts month. Trustee Prochno read an e-mail from Rich Ostry of 600 Magnolia Lane. His wife Cathy is a kidney transplant recipient and athlete on Team Illinois for the US Transplant Games, which were held last week at the University of Minnesota. Fifteen hundred organ recipients participated in twelve different Olympic style events. The 3 on 3-basketball team, “Spare Parts” won the silver medal and honored Scott Franks, a team member who recently passed away, by wearing his name on their uniforms. A total of two Golds and one Silver have been awarded to them in the last 3 games. A gold medal was awarded to Cathy Ostry and her partner Pat Weidner in Team Bowling. Former resident, Nancy Johnson, a kidney donor to her husband, Jeff Schiff, was there to see him win a gold medal in the table tennis and a bronze medal in badminton. The Team Illinois won 11 Golds, 7 Silver and 8 Bronze medals. Trustee Prochno congratulated all those participants. U. S. Flag - Mayor Johnson noted Congressman Henry Hyde had sent the Village a United States Flag that had flown over the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. The Flag is to be flown at the Municipal Building on September 11th and every anniversary thereafter. Mayor Johnson stated the Flag would also be displayed in a prominent place during the rest of the year so people will know we stand behind the Country’s efforts to fight terrorism throughout the World. Trustee Prochno stated Congressman Hyde also donated the Flag used during the Memorial Day Ceremonies.