MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2004

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, Michael Smetana, Joseph Fajdich, Karen Michalczyk, Edward Krzeminski

ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk Herberts, City Treasurer Stoffels, City Attorneys Erik & Robert Peck, Police Chief Swanson, City Administrator Bailey, Deputy Treasurer Wenzel, City Engineer Fitzgerald, CDO Muenzer, Police/Fire Bd. Members Pondelicek, Welch

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes – April 28, 2004.

3. Statement of Bills for the period ending May 12, 2004.

4. From the Robert Coulter Post #1941, The American Legion requesting permission to solicit at various locations to sell Veterans’ poppies on May 27-28, 2004.

5. Subscription: Liberty Suburban Chicago Newspapers – Clerk’s Office – $106.

6. Application for a special use from Windy City Postcard Club to conduct a postcard show on June 4-5, 2004 at Local #150.

7. Application for a general business license from Dollar Zone of Countryside, 5555 Brainard Ave. Type: Retail stores. Applicant: Said Al-Juba (new owner).

8. Application for a general business license from Katib Ice Cream, 8131 W. Thomas St., Justice, IL. Type: Ice cream truck. Applicant: Fathi Alkhatib

9. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA

10. Additions to the Agenda were noted by Mayor LeGant and Ald. Fajdich.

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE – none.

MAYOR’S REPORT

11. Mayor LeGant asked for confirmation of the appointment of Frank Thullen to the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals to fulfill a one-year term. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Conrad, and carried unanimously.

12. Mayor LeGant asked for confirmation of the appointment of Richard Toth to the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals, for a five-year term. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk, and carried unanimously. Both members will be sworn in at the next PC/ZBA meeting held on Tuesday, June 1, 2004.

13. Mayor LeGant sought approval for the West Central Municipal Conference membership dues for FY 2004-05 in the amount of $4,723.38. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Conrad, and carried unanimously.

14. Mayor LeGant read the text of a letter sent to John D. Kos, District Engineer, IDOT, from the City of Countryside, regarding the Highway Improvement Program for resurfacing portions of East Avenue, Willow Springs Road and 55th Street from the DuPage County line to Brainard Avenue. The Mayor called attention to the deteriorating condition of 55th St. from LaGrange Road to East Avenue. Enclosed were several photographs proving that condition and requesting repairs on this section prior to the above-stated location.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

FINANCE COMMITTEE – TREASURER STOFFELS, CHAIRMAN, presented recommendations from the Finance Committee earlier this evening.

15. Treasurer Stoffels recommended a donation of $500 for golf hole sponsorship in the Helping Hand Golf Outing at the LaGrange Country Club on July 25, 2004. Ald. Straza moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Smetana, and carried unanimously.

16. Treasurer Stoffels recommended participation in the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce 2004 Golf Outing on June 7, 2004 at Gleneagles Country Club in Lemont, IL in the amount of $150 for hole sponsorship at the tee. Ald. Smetana moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Straza, and carried unanimously.

17. Treasurer Stoffels recommended acceptance of the Revenue Analysis proposal by Ehlers, at a cost of $7,500. Ald. Conrad moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Smetana, and carried unanimously.

18. Treasurer Stoffels recommended acceptance of the Flagg Creek Golf Course budget as presented. Ald. Smetana, Mr. Bailey and Mr. Stoffels met with Billy Caspar representatives today. Following that discussion, budget approval for FY 04-05 is recommended. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the budget as presented, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk, and carried unanimously.

19. RECREATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN CONRAD, CHAIRMAN, presented the request from Director Wilson to rehire 16 part-time staff for summer positions, and to add four additional new hires. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the request, seconded by Ald. Straza, and carried unanimously.

20. POLICE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN CONRAD, CHAIRMAN, presented the request from the Police Department to purchase a new Dodge Intrepid ES for the Investigation Unit in the amount of $19,383.52. Ald. Conrad moved to approve, seconded by discussion. Ald. Straza recommended that funds for the purchase come from the Seizure Fund assets held by the Police Department, Chief Swanson opposes that suggestion. The drug fund has been used to purchase some specialty equipment for $8,500 this year; other items are pending for the new DEA Officer. The General Investigation unit has donated seized vehicles in the past; three members of the unit now use one vehicle. Mayor LeGant suggested trade-in allowance for used squad cars to other communities. Chief Swanson stated that taxi companies and others purchase old squad cars. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

21. BUILDING DEPARTMENT – ALDERMAN FAJDICH, CHAIRMAN, reported that 44 building permits were issued for the month of April; 17 permits were free; 27 were paid in the amount of $15,004; also two demolitions and two new structures erected.

LEGAL REPORT

22. City Attorney Peck presented the draft of the amended Curfew Ordinance conforming to the recent federal court case with certain exemptions. Ald. Smetana moved to adopt the Curfew Ordinance as presented, and waive the second reading. Ald. Fajdich seconded the motion; carried unanimously by Roll Call vote.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 04-20-O.

23. Attorney Peck presented the draft Ethics and Gift Ban Ordinance covering all state employees. Ald. Krzeminski moved to adopt the Ethics and Gift Ban Ordinance as presented and waive the second reading. Ald. Smetana seconded the motion; carried unanimously by Roll Call vote.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 04-21-O.

24. Attorney Peck presented the draft Minor Violation Ordinance, which adopts a new form of citation and increased fines for parking violators who ignore payment by a date certain. Ald. Conrad moved to adopt the Ordinance and waive the second reading.

Ald. Smetana seconded the motion; carried unanimously by Roll Call vote. Mayor LeGant read the list of parking violations and their fines.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 04-22-O.

25. Attorney Peck sought adoption of the City’s Revised Zoning Map prepared by Novotny’s Office, which incorporates all changes since the last update. Ald. Krzeminski suggested that this matter be tabled until after the R-7 Rezoning changes are incorporated into the map. Council agreed

26. Frank Zika, 7375 Prescott Lane and Roger Marikoff, 7424 Prescott Lane, addressed Council regarding land along Willow Springs Road turning commercial. Residents residing in the immediate area have signed a petition with over 50 signatures, which they presented to Council. Contrary to a lobbying effort by a non-resident, residents wish to keep the area from 75th St. to Fifth Avenue Cutoff residential and not commercial. An article appearing in Suburban Life stated the opposite view.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

27. City Administrator Bailey presented engineer’s pay estimate #1 – 2004 Street Rehabilitation project to Central Blacktop Company in the amount of $75,794.02. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

28. Mr. Bailey requests authorization to advertise for bids as soon as all documents are in order for the Noise Wall Project along I-55 and 71st St. September 1 is the projected starting date. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk, and carried unanimously.

Mr. Bailey presented the proposed Resolution authorizing the City to use MFT funds to pay for the City’s portion of the Noise Wall. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk, and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as RESOLUTION 04-07-R.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Krzeminski moved to convene into closed session under Section 2Ac of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing land acquisition, seconded by Ald. Conrad, and carried unanimously by Roll Call vote.

Mayor LeGant declared the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

SHIRLEY C. HERBERTS, CITY CLERK