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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/12/1997 CWC minutesMINUTES FLOATING COFFEE WITH COUNCIL SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1997 9:00 a.m. LOCATION 1. - 2nd FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, VILLAGE HALL The meeting was called to order by Mayor Skip Farley. Trustees present were Timothy Corcoran, George Clowes, and Irvana Wilks. Representating staff were Village Manager Michael E. Janonis and Public Works Director Glen R. Andler. Village residents were: Phil & Denise Rominski, 210 S. Main St. Chuck Klein, 1518 Park Dr. Sam Senn, 607 S. Edward St. Matt Senn, 607 S. Edward St. Roger Schonewise, 1209 W. Lincoln St. John Skopel, 1110 E. Juniper Ln. Rick Lohrstorfer, 900 Quince Ln. Dennis Prikkel, 1731 W. Pheasant Tr. Dan Nocchi, 1406 S. Fern Dr. Phil & Denise Rominski, 210 S. Main Street. Mrs. Rominski asked for the mayor and trustees to help her and her husband resolve a problem with early morning noise coming from the White Hen Pantry at 201 S. Main Street. Truck deliveries, primarily the milk trucks, are there at 6:00 a.m. Mrs. Rominski presented a copy of a letter they received from Mr. Janonis which states, because of their previous complaints, White Hen had agreed to instruct all their delivery trucks to come after 7:00 a.m. When the problem started to reoccur, she called Mr. Hulseberg, who informed her to call the police. She did this, and the police responded the first couple of times and talked to the driver. However, when she called the last time, the police called her back and told her there is nothing they can do and she shouldn't call anymore. Mr. Janonis stated that there is no Village ordinance that regulates the time of delivery trucks and, because of that, this may be the reason the police responded the way they did. Mayor Farley asked Mr. Janonis to get him the phone number of the president of the White Hen corporate headquarters. He will make a call and request corporate assistance in resolving the Rominskis' problem. Trustee Wilks asked Mr. Janonis to follow up on the Police Department's response. Mr. Rominski then brought up an additional early morning noise problem. On Friday mornings, he is awakened by the noise of blower cleaning the sidewalks and streets. Public Works Director Glen Andler informed Mr. Rominski that those were his employees on downtown cleanup detail. Mr. Andler said he will speak with the crew and have them either alter their schedule so as not to be at 210 S. Main so early in the morning, or do the areas with a broom. Chuck Klein, 1518 Park Drive, explained a problem he is having with tree roots in his sewer service line. Since 1992, he has had his sewer rodded out several times. It is Mr. Klein's opinion that the cause of his problem is the parkway tree. Mr. Klein has asked Public Works if they would remove the tree, but they told him it was Village policy not to remove a healthy tree. Mr. Klein asked, then why did Public Works remove his neighbor's tree which looked perfectly healthy. Mr. Klein further explained a second problem with the parkway tree roots raising his sidewalk. In 1994, he had four squares replaced and no one came to cut the roots out before the new sidewalk was installed. The sidewalk appears to be rising again. Mr. Andler said he would have this checked out and advise Mr. Klein of the findings. As far as the removal of his neighbor's tree, Mayor Farley explained the Village's hazardous tree removal program. There are many trees throughout the Village that could fall over due to failing root structures or decaying internal parts of the tree. From the outside, they appear healthy, but do need to be removed. Mayor Farley, along with Trustees Wilks and Clowes, described for Mr. Klein their own experiences with tree roots in their sewer services. All chose not to replace the faulty sewer because of the high costs, but instead, have implemented an annual tree rodding and chemical treatment program in order to prevent sewer backups in their homes. This has been very successful, and they all suggested Mr. Klein do the same. It was also suggested that Mr. Klein speak to Citizens Utilities Company, who owns the sanitary sewer system in this area of the Village; they may have a different policy than the Village on maintaining a sewer house service. Mr. Andler said he would call them for Mr. Klein and get back to him with a contact name and phone number. Sam & Matt Senn, 607 S. Edward. As a community service project towards his Eagle Scout badge, Matt is requesting permission or a permit to allow him to install bat houses around bodies of water located throughout the Village. The bats would serve as a natural method to control the mosquito population. Matt explained the house would be 1-1/2' x 2' and be installed at a height of 15' above the ground and attached to power poles or trees. Mr. Janonis did not know of any requirement for a permit, but told Matt he should contact the various park districts and ask their permission to install them near their ponds and along the creeks that go through their properties. Trustee Corcoran suggested that Matt write an article explaining his project so it could be published in the Village newsletter. Trustee Wilks told Matt he should also contact the Garden Club and the park district conservatory about their attempts to control bugs. Roger Schonewise,1209 W. Lincoln, has a general concern about Mount Prospect's downtown. Arlington Heights' and Des Plaines' are thriving, but Mount Prospect's isn't. What is happening with the Clock Tower Development? There has been no work on the remaining parcel to the east. Trustee Wilks and Mr. Janonis both stated that permits will be issued for the final building and construction should be underway in the very near future. Mr. Schonewise also expressed his concerns about vacancies in the downtown exceeding occupancies. 2 Mayor Farley explained how the Village Board has been struggling with different philosophies about how much government should be involved in jump-starting the downtown businesses. He is, however, intending to bring this matter back to the Village Board for discussion once the new board members have had the opportunity to get up to speed on the topic. John Skopel,1110 E. Juniper Lane, just visiting. Dennis Prikkel, 1731 W. Pheasant Trail, has three concerns to discuss. The first is a request by Timberlake Apartments to install a 6' fence around their property. Mr. Prikkel has no problem with that, but School District 59 has already installed a new fence along the east property line of John Jay School, which has two openings in it for pedestrian traffic. Mr. Prikkel and School Board 59 do not want to see a second fence installed that would block off these openings. Mr. Janonis stated that this matter is currently being considered by the Village's Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance, after which their decision will be referred to the Village Board for final approval. Mr. Janonis also stated there are two reasons for Timberlake's request for a fence. 1) They are trying to secure their property from Prospect Commons, and 2) School District 59 unloads a school bus on the west end of their property, and they are concerned about liability for allowing this. Mr. Prikkel's second concern is about cars from Timberlake Apartments hitting his fence. The parking bumpers along Timberlake's parking lot are not anchored to prevent this from happening. Also, all the drainage from the property flows north to his property, and the garbage containers, which are located along the north property line, are always overflowing with garbage. Mr. Andler said he would check into these issues. Mr. Prikkel's final concern was regarding Prospect Commons and what is the Village doing to correct this problem area. Mr. Janonis said the Village is currently holding hearings in an attempt to revoke their license. Trustee Wilks, on a separate issue, asked Mr. Prikkel to contact the Lake Briarwood Homeowners Association about some concerns they have on how the District 59 school buses are dropping off Lake Briarwood students. The meeting at Location 1 was adjourned at 10:15 a.m. LOCATION 2 - ST. EMILY CHURCH, 1400 E. CENTRAL ROAD The Floating Coffee with Council meeting was reconvened by Mayor Farley at 10:40 a.m. Trustees present were Timothy Corcoran, George Clowes, and Irvana Wilks. Representing staff were Village Manager Michael E. Janonis, Public Works Director Glen R. Andler, and Police Sergeant Mike Goy. Village residents were: Jerri Innaurato, 1421 Chestnut Dr. Marie Scotello, 1423 Chestnut Dr. 3 Virginia Mika, 303 N. Catino Ct. Jean Mika, 303 N. Catino Ct. Frank Mika, 303 N. Catino Ct. Jackie Hinaber, Mt. Prospect Public Library Joe Gaske, 1421 E. Emmerson Ln. Florence Gaske, 1421 E. Emmerson Ln. John Skopel, 1110 E. Juniper Ln. Jill Heuban, 611 S. Louis St. Rod McKenzie, 910 Boxwood Dr. Marilyn Genther, Mt. Prospect Public Library Charles & Marie LaPaglia, 218 Stratton Ln. Carolyn Jarosz, 122 N. Stratton Ln. Norman & Gloria Lagerholm, 201 N. Westgate Rd. Bob Bush, 1112 Heritage Dr. Dick Hubert, 5 Jerry Drive Tom Listopad, 107 N. Westgate Rd. Mike Domrzalski, 1330 Indigo Dr. George K. Busse, 1007 Greenfield Ln. Betsy Busse, 1007 Greenfield, Ln. Dan Nocchi, 1406 S. Fern Dr. Richard Lohrstorfer, 900 Quince Ln. Mayor Farley started the meeting by introducing and thanking hosts Father Tuzik and Sister Danielle. He then introduced the trustees present, including soon-to-be Trustees Lohrstorfer and Nocchi. Mayor Farley then asked all other Village agency representatives to introduce themselves. Those present were Richard Lohrstorfer, School District 26; Jill Heuban, School District 57; and Jackie Hinaber, Mount Prospect Library. Mayor Farley then explained the Floating Coffee with Council meeting concept, after which he asked fot resident questions. Frank Mika, 303 N. Catino Court, is concerned about the parking of Septran buses at Westgate Apartments. Are these commercial vehicles, and does the new commercial vehicle ordinance apply to them? Mr. Janonis said if the bus is parked overnight, it could fall under the commercial vehicle ordinance, but he is not sure how the ordinance applies to multifamily properties. Mr. Janonis will look into this matter. Jerri Innaurato,1421 Chestnut Dr., asked if there is a law against people flyering homes. Mr. Janonis said there is no ordinance against it, but they are not allowed to place the material in a mailbox. Joe & Florence Gaske, 1421 E. Emmerson Ln., feel they are not part of the community because they don't live in the center of town. They can't see the fireworks or Village parade without traveling a long distance. Mayor Farley explained how the Village constantly tries to improve on communication with residents through cable TV, newspapers, and the Village newsletter. Trustee Clowes pointed out how the Village is currently considering going to a 4 monthly newsletter, and Trustee Wilks pointed out that this traveling Coffee with Council is a perfect example of the Village's goal to reach out to its residents. Carolyn Jarosz,122 N. Stratton Ln., also expressed her concern of feeling as though she is not part of Mount Prospect. She recently moved from the center part of Mount Prospect to the north side and, because of this, now has a different phone company, double the rates, and is part of the Des Plaines Park District. Mayor Farley shares her concerns and doesn't understand why all agencies couldn't be like the library, which uses the Village's boundaries as its boundaries. The Village has tried and will continue to try to work out special reciprocal agreements between the park districts. Mike Domrzalski,1330 Indigo Dr., requested information about Wisconsin Central's plans for a second track and what can the Village do to stop it. Mayor Farley told Mr. Domrzalski that there is nothing the Village can do to stop it. This is a regional transportation issue and the second track will eventually be installed. Mr. Janonis described all the Village's past efforts in trying to screen Village residents from the train. It may be ten years before the second track is built, and the Village will continue to mitigate in order to protect its residents. But, as the Mayor said, we can't stop it. Just recently, the Village responded to a request for comments on the second track; one of our suggestions was to have it installed on the west side of the existing track. Trustee Clowes pointed out that the Prospect Heights depot is to be installed on the west side of the existing track and it should be located such that it will accommodate the second track. Tom Listopad,107 N. Westgate Rd., inquired as to how the Village selected streets for repair. Wheeling Road is scheduled for this year and Westgate, which is in worse condition, is not. Mayor Farley, along with Mr. Janonis, explained how the Village uses a scientific pavement evaluation system to analyze and select streets for repair. Streets are then categorized into either resurfacing or reconstruction candidates. Once this list is established, and based on available funds and priority ratings of the streets, a mix of resurfacing and reconstruction repairs is distributed throughout the Village. Norman & Gloria Lagerholm, 201 N. Westgate Rd., asked if someone could look at the sinking pavement in front of their home on Westgate at Ardyce. Mr. Andler said he would have his department investigate the problem. Mr. Lagerholm expressed his concern about the potential problem with a lack of parking spaces at Westgate Apartments once they have been converted to condos. Trustee Corcoran agreed with Mr. Lagerholm and told him the Village is working on that issue. George K. Busse, 1007 Greenfield Ln. What is happening with the redevelopment of the downtown? Mayor Farley explained his plans for bringing this matter to the Village Board, as well as all Village commissions, for discussion once the new trustees are sworn in. Bob Bush, 1112 Heritage Dr., explained Brentwood Subdivision's problem with the constant accumulation of debris in their retention basins from the creek. There is also the problem of large mounds of silt in the large basin. It was his understanding that the former Public Works Director Herb Weeks met with the City of Prospect Heights, and they had agreed to monitor the dumping of debris into McDonald Creek by their residents. They were also going to construct a silting pond to help control the heavy deposits of silt into their pond. Mr. Andler stated that he was aware of Prospect Heights' agreement to monitor their residents. However, he is unaware of any agreement to construct a silting pond. Mr. Andler will contact Prospect Heights and report back to Mr. Bush on his findings. Betsy Busse, 1007 Greenfield Ln. What is happening with additional police presence in the Boxwood area? Mr. Janonis explained the many improvements that have been made in that area over the past five years; i.e., walking patrol officer, more individual property owners, more organized activities by churches, schools and park districts, and most recently, the new parking permit system. Rod McKenzie, 910 Boxwood Dr., introduced himself as a member of the area watch group and outlined their efforts, including a hired security officer, and how as a result of these efforts, the gang presence has been substantially reduced. Carolyn Jarosz,122 N. Stratton Ln., asked if Mr. Lohrstorfer, as a School District 26 Board member, could check into a problem she is having with children from St. Emily's not being able to attend special assistance programs offered by School District 26. She has written several letters and has never received a response. Mr. Lohrstorfer said he will check into the matter. The meeting at Location 2 was adjourned at 12:05 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Glen R. Andler Director of Public Works x:\files\frontoff\admin\Coffee4.97 2