HomeMy WebLinkAboutVILLAGE BOARD - 10/14/2008 - HARPER COLLEGE PRESENTATION, FEMA, MID-SUMMER CONCERTS 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, OCTOBER 14, 2008
Mayor Craig B. Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:29 p.m.
1. ROLL CALL:
Present: Mayor: Craig B. Johnson;
Trustees: Nancy J. Czarnik, Patton L. Feichter, Jeffrey C. Franke, Samuel L. Lissner, James P. Petri, Chris Prochno
Also Present: Village Manager Raymond R. Rummel; Village Attorney George B. Knickerbocker; and Village Clerk Ann I. Walsh
A quorum was present.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Village Board Meeting held on September 23, 2008 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
Harper College - Ms. Maria Coons of Harper College addressed the Mayor and Board to discuss Harper College’s future plans and the public response to Harper’s recent program titled PATH
(Providing Advice for Tomorrow’s Harper).
Ms. Coons announced a referendum for a no tax rate increase bond proposal would be placed on the November 4, 2008 ballot to cover costs for repair and renovation of aging buildings and
infrastructure on their campus. Ms. Coons talked about the increase in enrollment at Harper and that the infrastructure improvements are much needed. It was noted that Harper paid
off a prior 20-year bond in eight years. The new bond would also be a 20-year bond. Mayor Johnson thanked Ms. Coons for her presentation and extended best wishes to Harper in the
future.
Mayor Johnson reported the following:
September 25, 2008 – The Mayor and Village Manager toured the Alexian Brothers Rehabilitation Center.
September 28, 2008 – Trustee Franke accompanied the Mayor to the Clearbrook Open House.
September 28, 2008 – Trustee Franke and the Mayor attended the memorial ceremony at the St. Johannes Cemetery in Bensenville.
October 12, 2008 – The Mayor reported on his attendance at the Fire/Police and Public Works Department Open House event at the Oakton Street Fire Station.
October 14, 2008 – Mayor Johnson stated he had presented the annual State of the Village Address to the Elk Grove Seniors at the senior center that has been temporarily located to the
Rainbow Falls facility.
Alexian Brothers Medical Center - Mayor Johnson conveyed information regarding the visitation and funeral Mass arrangements for Brother Richard Dube, Provincial of the Alexian Brothers
Congregation, who passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2008. The Mayor explained Brother Dube was a strong supporter of the Village and would be sorely missed. Mayor Johnson extended
his sympathy to Brother Dube’s family.
O’Hare Airport Update – Mayor Johnson referenced an article written by Tribune reporter, John Hilkevitch, regarding the new control tower and northern runway that was recently opened
at the airport.
Mayor Johnson reported the FAA’s new analysis corresponds with everything our experts have predicted in the past. The FAA has advised that if an individual’s flight lands on the new
northern runway it would take 45 minutes for the plane to taxi to the gate. The FAA also said it is expected that relatively few flights would be directed to the new runway. In certain
weather conditions the runway won’t be used at all.
Mayor Johnson explained that the FAA went on to say that the City is trying to show you it is making progress on expansion but, as stated by an O’Hare Controller, they will only use
the northern runway when the winds are westerly.
The controller had been quoted as saying the runway would actually reduce the airport’s capacity and noted ninety-six flights an hour can be accommodated today at O’Hare, but, with the
new runway open, only 88 flights can land per hour.
Mayor Johnson said, as he has stated before, the northern runway is not going to deliver any help in relieving flights and it appears the FAA agrees. The Wall Street Journal has recently
published an article stating all the airports are shelving their terminal and airport expansion plans. This is not the time they said to look at expansion. The money is not there
and the capacity is not there.
FEMA –President Bush signed a Disaster Declaration due to the September flood damage in our community in September. The Village incurred approximately $150,000 in expenses. Mayor Johnson
complimented the Assistant Village Manager, on behalf of the Village, for working with FEMA and coordinating the application process.
It was announced that FEMA assistance is available to homeowners, renters and business owners if they sustained losses or damage during the flooding. Residents should call 1-800-621-3362
to apply or go online at www.fema.gov. Mayor Johnson provided a list of the FEMA requirements and expressed his appreciation to the President and Governor for their support.
Salt Creek Dam – As of this date, there is no date set for the summit for discussion of the Salt Creek Dam and the flooding problems. Mayor Johnson stated the Village has been very
fortunate to be working with the different agencies and may get the problem resolved without the need for a summit. The Mayor stated he was optimistic there would be a solution.
Newsletter – Mayor Johnson reported there are many positive changes in the appearance of the new Village Newsletter. Beth Jacobson, the Assistant Village Manager, was complimented on
her efforts and the improvements in the Newsletter.
Mid-Summer Concert Series – The Mayor announced the Village would host several concert series next summer in the new Greenway area between the Village Hall, Library, Clock Tower and
the restaurants. Funds from the smoke free Elk Grove fund will cover the costs associated with the concerts. The Elk Grove Midsummer Classics would be held during the month of July
2009. The concerts are scheduled on July 7th, 14th, 21st and 28, 2009 on Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m. The Mayor named those included in the lineup: B. J. Thomas, the Classic Rock All
Stars, Light Up –Styx Tribute Band, and Jan and Dean.
Trustee Feichter announced the Community Character Coalition would sponsor a number of activities in October:
Foot Rally - The annual foot rally, coordinated through the Police and Fire Departments and Elk Grove Park District, would be held on Thursday, October 23, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Halloween Fest will be held on Friday, October 24, 2008 at the Pavilion and include a fundraising rally.
October 25, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. the coalition will be engaged in the collection of food donations for the food pantry at various food stores in the Village asking people
for specific items needed at the pantry. Trustee Feichter will be working at the Walgreens on Meacham Road on that day.
The Coalition will conduct a letter writing campaign for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from October 13 to October 25, 2008. Citizens were asked to write a brief letter thanking
the troops and deposit them in various boxes that would be located in schools and several locations in the Village. The Elk Grove seniors will check all the letters prior to mailing.
The goal is to get the letters to the troops by the upcoming Holidays.
Trustee Feichter reported he had attended the Sunday, October 12, 2008 Fire Open House and mentioned that a graduation ceremony was held that day for the Fire Academy attendees. Trustee
Feichter noted Mrs. Feichter had participated in the both the Police and the Fire Academy and thought they were excellent programs.
Mark Walker-Candidate - Mayor Johnson commented that recent statements and advertisements put out by Mark Walker, a candidate for State Representative in the 66th District, a portion
of which is in Elk Grove, were false and were a disservice to our community. The candidate has claimed that the Elk Grove Village Board had approved a budget that was 8 million dollars
in the red. The Mayor refuted Walker’s statement and said that the Village Board has passed a balanced budget every fiscal year, we have adequate funds to pay for everything and have
never passed a budget 8 million dollars in the red. The Board has never passed a gasoline tax, which was also stated in a Walker ad.
The Mayor said Mark Walker owed Elk Grove Village an apology and assured the audience that the Village is in strong fiscal shape. The Mayor noted that over the last 12 years combined
the Village’s property tax levy has decreased by five percent. It was pointed out that the last levy included the thirty million dollar bond for the new Village Hall facility and we
were still down five percent from the 1997 levy. The Mayor stated you can disagree on issues but do not bring the community down. In closing, Mayor Johnson said he wanted to make
sure the residents understood the statements made by Walker in his ads and on TV were not true.
5. APPROVAL OF WARRANT
Motion to authorize payment of invoices as shown on the September 30, 2008 Accounts Payable Warrant in the amount of $619,506.15.
MOVED: Trustee Petri SECONDED: Trustee Czarnik
AYES: Trustees Feichter, Franke, Lissner, Petri, Prochno, Czarnik
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED