MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2005

1.After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Mayor LeGant called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. City Clerk Herberts called the roll, which was as follows:

PRESENT: Mayor Carl LeGant, Aldermen Robert Conrad, Wayne Straza, Karen Michalczyk, Edward Krzeminski, Michael Smetana

ABSENT: Joseph Fajdich

ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk Herberts, City Treasurer Stoffels, City Attorney Erik Peck, Police Chief Swanson, City Administrator Bailey, City Engineer Fitzgerald, Deputy Clerk Bartelt, Police/Fire Bd. Member Pondelicek

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes of February 9, 2005.

3. Statement of Bills for period ending February 9, 2005.

4. Treasurer’s Report for period ending January 31, 2005.

5. Application for a general business license from White Hen Pantry, #06701-7, 19 W. Plainfield Road. Type: Convenient food store. Applicant: Vegi Asani.

6. Application for a general business license from Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, 5321 LaGrange Road, #C. Type: Restaurant. Applicant: Jeffrey Fort.

7. Application for a general business license from Airgas North Central, 5325 S. 9th Avenue. Type: Manufacturing. Applicant: Ron Stark (formerly Puritan Medical).

8. Application for a charitable game license to hold a raffle submitted by the Ideal School Parent-Teacher organization on March 18, 2005, 6-8 pm. Also requested waiving the license fee.

9. Application for a special use to hold a bridal show at the William Tell on February 27, 2005 from 11 am to 4 pm.

10. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda with the exception of #6, as presented, seconded by Ald. Krzeminski and carried unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA

11. Additions to the Agenda were noted by Administrator Bailey and Ald. Krzeminski.

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE – none

MAYOR’S REPORT

12. Mayor LeGant read the Resolution recognizing the Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors’ Bureau as the agency to promote convention and tourism business in the City of Countryside. Ald. Smetana moved to adopt the Resolution as presented, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously. Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as RESOLUTION 05-03-R.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

13. FINANCE COMMITTEE – TREASURER STOFFELS, CHAIRMAN, presented the recommendation for sponsorship of the London Experience IV trip for Girl Scout Troop #2001 Whispering Oaks Council, for four members living in Countryside in the amount of $250. After discussion, Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

14. Treasurer Stoffels presented the committee recommendation for donation of $400 to Ideal School PTO for the Fun Fair to be held March 18, 2005. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the request, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

15. Treasurer Stoffels presented committee recommendation for donation of $400 to sponsor Pleasantdale Little League Team, including the cost of the banner. Ald. Straza moved to approve the request, seconded by Ald. Krzeminski and carried unanimously.

16. Treasurer Stoffels presented the committee recommendation for donation of $250 to Gurrie Middle School PTO for their Spring Fund Raiser to be held March 18, 2005. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the request, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

17. Treasurer Stoffels sought approval of the proposed 05/06 Flagg Creek Golf Course Budget as presented to the Finance Committee earlier tonight. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve the budget, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

18. Adm. Bailey noted that a Resolution is needed accepting the budget including the capital improvement plan and creation of a sinking fund for irrigation system.

Ald. Michalczyk moved to adopt the Resolution as stated above, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously. Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as RESOLUTION 05-04-R.

19. POLICE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN CONRAD, CHAIRMAN, presented the committee recommendation to purchase three replacement Panasonic laptops at a cost of $3,899 each. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the purchase, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

20. Ald. Conrad presented the committee recommendation to purchase three mobile vision in-car digital video systems at a cost of $5,295 each. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the purchase, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

21. Ald. Conrad stated that no action need be taken on the upgrade of two VCR systems since they are part of the above items.

22. LICENSE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MICHALCZYK, CHAIRMAN, presented the recommendation that any changes incurred for background checks be borne by the Liquor License applicants. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the above language, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously. Chief Swanson noted that an account must be established with the State of Illinois, which may take up to 30 days. Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 05-06-O.

23. Ald. Michalczyk requested attendance for city officials at the WCMC Annual Dinner Meeting, April 29, 2005, 6 p.m. at the Rosewood Restaurant, Rosemont, IL — to purchase one table for the entire evening. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the request, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

24. Ald. Krzeminski stated that the WSCC is sponsoring an event on March 15 for two days in conjunction with the Illinois Municipal League and is seeking people interested in driving down to Springfield to meet Senators and Representatives, including a reception at the Governor’s mansion. Ald. Krzeminski moved to allow elected officials to participate in the drive down to Springfield, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

LEGAL REPORT

25. Plan/ZBA recommendation to consider a special use permitting the operation of an equipment rental facility for Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. John Kenny, representing Sunbelt Rentals, 6260 Joliet Road, is here tonight with Brad Murrow, Sheri Nelson and Maury Malone, to lend support and answer concerns that were raised at last week’s PC/ZBA meeting. Engineers have submitted a landscaping plan today; Council has copies of that plan. If additional modifications are needed, they will work with the city. Three considerations were raised by the PC/ZBA – the height restriction of equipment needs to be limited to 20 feet – they will abide by that. A Landscaping plan, which was submitted today and consideration of a user tax. Council received the site plan tonight but has not reviewed it. Ald. Krzeminski stated that this does not follow the Comprehensive City Plan. The matter of a 1% user tax on rentals was included. Ald. Conrad moved to concur with the recommendation of the PC/ZBA, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried by Roll Call vote – 3/2/1. Ald. Krzeminski and Ald. Smetana opposed the motion.

26. Attorney Erik Peck stated that the 1% user fee tax on rentals was included in the above motion. Ald. Krzeminski moved to authorize the attorney to draft an ordinance levying a 1% tax on rentals, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk. Motion carried by Roll Call vote – 4/1/1 – Ald. Straza opposed. Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 05-07-O.

27. Attorney Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation to deny the application for zoning variation to construct a 4-bedroom two-story house at 5322 Madison Avenue for Applicants Pat & Lisa Callahan. At the public hearing held on January 4, 2005, the PC/ZBA found that applicants failed to establish by evidence the conditions required to permit granting such a variation; there were several objections at the hearing. Tina Dolgner and Carol Rackovich, residents on the same block, are opposed to the variance. Both residents were unable to attend the January meeting. Ald. Conrad moved to concur with the recommendation of the PC/ZBA, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried by Roll Call vote – 5/0/1.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

28. Mr. Bailey stated that the Public Works Department has a 1991 Ford pick-up truck sitting around which was replaced by another vehicle. They have obtained four bids for the vehicle; the highest bid was $800 to Serrano Landscaping, to be sold as is. Council has no objection.

ADJOURNMENT

29. There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Smetana moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

Mayor LeGant declared the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

SHIRLEY C. HERBERTS, CITY CLERK