MINUTES OF INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE – CITY HALL
NOVEMBER 1, 2011 – 5:30 P.M. CHAMBER ROOM
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

1. Meeting called to order at 5:33 P.M. Present: Chair Karen Michalczyk, Aldermen Sean McDermott. Also present: Mayor Ed Krzeminski; City Clerk Sharon Sweeney; Alderman James Jasinski; Alderman John Von Drasek; Alderman Bob Pondelicek; Assistant Administrator Sharon Peterson; Finance Director Steven Drazner; City Planner Bryan Swanson; City Attorney Erik Peck; Building Official Steve Tisinai; Mark Burdett; Mary Stroud; Greg Wozniak; John Patek; David Kotwasinski.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

2. The minutes of the September 6, 2011 were approved as submitted.

DISCUSSION OF THE NAMES OF BUSINESSES RELUCTANT TO LOCATE IN COUNTRYSIDE

3. This is a continued discussion from a previous meeting. Mayor Krzeminski requested a discussion regarding businesses that were reluctant, have left, or did not move into Countryside because of the City’s building codes. Mayor Krzeminski was not present. Chair Michalczyk asked if anyone was present for the discussion this evening or if staff had any information on the subject. No one was present and staff had no additional information. Ald. McDermott asked Asst. Admin. Peterson if she received any complaints regarding this subject. Asst. Admin. Peterson’s replied she has not.

When Mayor Krzeminski arrived later in the meeting he explained he was unaware this item was on the agenda this evening due to a problem with the email account. For clarification, one business is on the west side of LaGrange Road who found it difficult to fill an empty storefront and the other business referenced is in Dansher Park Industrial Park who had a problem initially, but eventually did locate in Countryside.

CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON LIMITING THE LOCATION OF REFUSE CANS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND WCMC SURVEY RESULTS

4. Resident, Mary Stroud read a letter requesting the location of garbage receptacles on private property be regulated and the need for the receptacles to be covered for health and safety of individuals. Ms. Stroud asked the committee to consider an ordinance pertaining to this subject. Pictures were presented to the committee for review. Ms. Stroud requested a citation be issued to her neighbor for the location of the garbage receptacles and would like to ask the Police Department what can be done regarding a camera pointed at her kitchen window from the same neighbor. Greg Wozniak reported seeing the garbage cans directly outside of Ms. Stoud’s door and John Patek believed garbage is being brought home from the neighbor’s business and could constitute a health hazard.

The matter will be discussed and taken under review. Residents left the meeting.

WCMC Survey Results were reviewed. Building Official, Steve Tisinai, did not feel the garbage being brought home from the business was a health issue. If containers were brought to the home garage they were probably empty.

If the committee decided to regulate garbage on private property the nuisance ordinance can be modified. The modification would include language as, the containers must be covered and no household garbage can be placed in a matter where it creates a public nuisance.

The committee members recommended approval to modify the nuisance ordinance as presented.

CDBG FOR 2012 – DISCUSSION ON PROJECTS TO APPLY FOR IN 2012

5. The city can apply for two CDGB projects and cannot request more than $200,000 in funding from Cook County. Eligible CDBG areas must include a population of at least 49.2% persons with low/moderate income. The two eligible areas in Countryside are the 5^thAvenue Cutoff and the area around Ideal Elementary School.

Staff recommended rehabilitation to the street infrastructure on Maridon Road and sidewalk installation near Francis Avenue, Rose Avenue, Lorraine Drive, Rosemary Court and Rose Court. The budgetary impact would be $50,000 to $80,000.

The committee members concurred with the two staff recommended projects for the 2012 CDBG.

DISCUSSION ON FULLER’S CAR WASH SIGN REQUEST

6. Mr. Matt Fuller of Fuller’s Car Wash a few years ago was allowed to mount a temporary Car Wash $4.95 sign to his monument sign. Because this type of sign was not allowed in the Zoning Code, Mr. Fuller was asked to remove the sign and informed he would be allowed to put up a frame/sandwich board advertising sign at a cost of $125 per quarter, per sign.

Mr. Fuller is willing to pay the fee, but requested the mounted sign type rather than the sandwich board type.

The committee member’s recommendation was to deny granting a sign variance to allow a substandard size sign reading Car Wash.

DISCUSSION ON LAGRANGE ESTATES ANNEXATION

7. Attorney Peck explained there are two ways to go about annexing the LaGrange Estates property. One way is by ordinance; it is surrounded by forest preserve and the city, except for a small portion across the street that is not part of the city. The second alternative is to annex voluntarily through signed petitions.

The cost for annexation would be approximately $5,000 to $7,000 in legal fees, plus the recording fee.

Attorney Peck will prepare a memo to present to the Chair Michalczyk with the necessary steps to annex LaGrange Estates Mobile Home Park.

OTHER BUSINESS

8. WATER ISSUES – Chair Michalczyk requested officials and staff stay vigilant over the winter to keep an eye on drainage issues and report them to DPW Superintendent Jim Essig.

9. STREET INVENTORY – Street inventory for Street repaving/5-year plan. In 2012, no streets were designated to be repaved. Usually an evaluation is conducted by Engineer Fitzgerald in fall, but due to the time spent on city projects the evaluation will be conducted in spring.

10. Ald. Pondelicek commended DPW Superintendent Jim Essig and the Department of Public Works crew on the replacement of the stop signs on Francis Avenue and the trial of the reflective tape on the current stop signs.

ADJOURNMENT

11. No other business. The meeting is adjourned at 6:16 PM.

Dated: __________________ ________________________

Karen Michalczyk, Chair