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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/27/1963 VB minutes MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD FEBRU~R~ 27~ 1963. President Schlaver opened the meeting at 8:05 P.M. and upon roll call, the following members were present: roll call Casterline Ekren Gaw Bickley Phillips Bruhl Trustee Casterline, seconded by Trustee Bruhl, moved for approval of the minutes of February 19th as submitted. minutes Ayes: Bruhl Casterline Bickley Phillips Pass: Ekren and Gaw Motion carried. Trustee B~uhl, seconded by Trustee Ekren, moved for payment of the following bills: General $16,380.55 Garbage 77.73 Parking System Revenue 52.87 Library 11,219.83 Library Bldg. Constr.1981 2,857.51 Water operations 15,239.32 $45,827.91 Upon roll call: Ayes: B~hl Casterline Ekren Bickley Phillips Gaw Motion carried. Trustee Bruhl asked for a meeting of the Board as a whole committee budget to consider the yearly budget. This date was set at March 7, at 8:00 P.M. Trustee Ekren re-read report from Board of Appeals regarding Zoning Case 52-37, Charles Bartmann asking for B-3 zoning from B-2 for parcel Case 6Z-37 on north side of Foundry Road. (See min. of Jan. 2, 1963). Trustee Charles Ekren then read a memo accompanying this report which explained the Bartmann position of the Board of Appeals in this regard. Memo from Board of Appeals: This petition for rezonlng is for a par,el of land on the north side of Foundry Road approximately 500 feet west of Rte. 88. The petitioner stated in his presentation that when subject land was annexed it was his intention to construct a Medical Center, but at the present time this is not practical. He now would llke to improve this land with two 18-hole Miniature Golf courses. He also would build a furniture store on the B-3 land north of this property that fronts on Rand Road. The parking wou~d be so arranged that he would have a private road running from Rand to Foundry. The Board of Appeals took a very serious look at this land when it was first annexed, and at that time, and again at this time, was very suspicious about a parcel of B-3 with frontages on these two streets. The private road could channel a large amount of heavy traffic from Rand Road into residential streets, causing dangerous and unnecessary traffic problems. The petitioner stated this miniature golf course, or amusement device, would be open seven months of the year, seven days a week, until midnight. Soft drinks would be sold from vending machines and "soft" music would be played over a public address system. When this parcel was annexed, the B-2 was so zoned as to act as a buffer between the B-i, the B-8 and the residential across the street. There was much discussion at that time that it would be better to ha~e this in the Village where the Village would have the final control. The Board of Appeals is fully aware of the changes that could have been, but believe that conditions are not materially different than at the time this parcel was zoned B-2. February 26, 1963 onlng We also believe that a parcel of land zoned B-3 with entrance and Case 62-37 egress on 2 major streets could very well be used for a drive-in Bartmann type of business such as hamburger stand, ice cream, etc.,' which would materially lower the property values of the houses across the street. . There were six objectors present, and the Board of Appeals recom-~ mended to deny this rezonlng. E. F. Martin Daniel Congreve, Acting Secretary Trustee Ekren, seconded by Trustee Bickley, moved that the Board of Trustees concur with the Board of Appeals'recommendation and deny this petition in Case 62-37. Upon roll call: Ayes: Bickley Bruhl Casterline Ekren Gaw Phillips i Motion carried. I Trustee Ekren read the following letter dated February 26th ~Brlckman from the J. ~. Brickman Mid-West Corporation: Manor 1st Add'n Unit 7 Gentlemen: Re: Brickman Manor 1st Addition - Unit 7 We are forwarding you herewith original linen tracing and three copies of a Plat of Subdivision of Brickman Manor First Addition Unit 7. This area had your tentative approval in October of 1962 and we are now submitting this portion of it for your final approval. Very truly yours, David S. McCoy, Vice Pr~sldent ~Trustee Ekren, seconded by Trustee Bickley,.moved that the above mentioned plat of Brickman Manor 1st Add'n Unit 7 be referred to the Plan Commission forreview and recommendation. This motion Carried by acclamation. ~Election Clerk Ruth Wilson read Ordinance #894, setting up the precelncts Ord. 894 April for electionl6th, ~nown°f three as: trustees and two library directors to be held 1963 ELECTION ORDINANCE FOR THE VILLAGE OF MT. PROSPECT COOK COUNTY, STATE OF ILLINOIS Trustee Bruhl, seconded by Trustee Bickley, moved for the passage of Ordinance 894. Upon roll call: Ayes: Bickley Br~hl Casterline .Ekren 'Gaw Phillips Motion carried. Water - Trustee Phillips read a statement in rebuttal of a newspaper editorial which appeared in the Mount Prospect Herald of February 21, 1963. The newspaper editorial is as follows: EDITORIAL FROM MOUNT PROSPECT HERALD FEBRUARY 21, 1963 ILL-ADVISED SECRECY Free discussion and economic competition are viewed as cornerstones of .American society. It is unfortunate that Mount Prospect Village trustees chose to violate both of these tenets recently. The trustees, meeting in "executive session" let a negotiated contract amount to $86,000 for a new well. Executive sessions are permitted by state law only in cases of land acquisition and the hiring and firing of personnel. All other meetings of governmental agencies must be open to the public. The trustees' meeting, therefore, was illegal. Compounding the error was the fact that one firm received preferential treatment to the exclusion of all other possible bidders. February 26, 1963 he public is entitled to know why this action was taken and why it Water was necessar~ to prepare the g~ound for it behind closed doors. Are we to believe that no other firm is qualified to do the job? Are we to understand that no other company would have bid on the project? These questions are unanswerable because there was no competitive bidding. Two y~ars ago, the Mt. Prospect Park Dislrict sold a bond issue without competitive bidding. Leading a chorus of criticism over the manner in which the bonds were sold were the village president and a number of trustees. How does the board reconcile its present position with the concern it expressed over such governmental action two years ago? Just as this news- paper was critical of the park district bond sale, so do we fell obliged to speak out now on an equally ill-advised venture. A new park board passed a resolution making competitive bidding a firm policy. We suggest that the Village Board follow this example. The park board's negotiated contract was let on "advice of counsel". We presume that the Village Board followed similar advice. But in view of the past storm of controversy stirred by such practice, it seems highly unusual that s governmental body would persist in pursuing such a course. The excuse offered that time was of the essence is no justification for a negotiated contract kept from public scrutiny. And the obfious answer is, in matters involving sucy projects, that the village board should have started its preparation earlier. REPLY FROM TRUSTEE WILLIAM PHILLIPS TO EDITORIAL PRINTED IN FEB. 21 EDITION OF MOUNT PROSPECT HERALD: February 26, 1963 Since I was the trustee responsible for calling for an "executive session" of the Village Board prior to our scheduled meeting of 2/5/63, I would like to make the following remarks in response ~o an editorial appearing on the front page of the February 21st issue of the Mount Prospect Herald. The Village Board, prior to the 2/5/63 meeting, met and functioned as a "Committee as a Whole". The sole purpose of this meeting was to acquaint the Board with all the background material developed in Committee and to discuss this material with the engineers, in order that the Board would be better informed in making the necessary legislative decisions involving our Water Department. Unfortunately, Rs Chairman of the Water Committee, in making a request for such a meeting~ the erroneous term "executive session" was used. It would seem necessary, however, that before the Board can be guilty of functioning as "in executive session" that the results of the meeting would indicate such a function~ and that the only result was the meeting was erroneously identified as an "executive session". For in order to execute, the Board must legislate~ and this was never done in this meeting. So, how could there have been an "executive session' as defined by the law and for which t~e Village Board has been indicted. In order to make such an indictment the press must have some basis of fact to establish the indictment. The following quote is that basis of fact upon which the press acted. "The trustees, meeting in 'executive session' let a nego- tiated contract amount to'$86,000 for a new wellm The above quote, and necessary basis for this indictment, is completely erroneous and misleading to the public. As Chairman of the Water Committee~ I reported to the Board in our February 5th meeting, the material reviewed and discussed in the preceding meeting. This review and report was followed by open discussion and ultimate legis- lation thru approval of contract negotiatiohs by the Board. Again, I wish to remind the press this contract negotiation was fully discussed and accomplished in the regular session~ and was not acted upon during the preceding meeting as stated by the press. February 26, 1963 00 Our Village President has at all times invited the press to attend such meetings, and there has always been a standing invitation in Water this regard. The second matter, concerning the questionable manner in which, as stated hy the press, a contract for $86,000 was let without open bidding, was improperly reported. The reasons for the Board's decision were clearly outlined, for which reason it is difficult to understand how the press can draw a parallel to that of a bond issue that was secured without competitive bidding. Our difficulties with the'most recently constructed well (6), besides certain other emergencies that have arisen and can adversely affect the future operations of our Water Department to the detriment of the residents in Mount Prospect, are of'public knowledgg. These factors influenced the decision to secure the services of a contractor of proven professional ability who had knowledge of our system and the current problems connected with it, subject to the verification and recommendations of our consulting engineer. As a matter of further clarification, the contract was not let for $88,000, but was let on the basis of unit costs to insure that a proper base was established in the determination of the ultimate con- struction cost. Since there are certain unknowns, such as the extent of shooting necessary, bailing and testing, an exact contract figure cannot be determined. These circumstances and conditions were fully reported upon, and the elements of the contract as well as details upon which the Board based its decision are a matter of public record. William L. Phillips, Chairman Water Committee. Trustee Phillips also reported that the Board had met as a committee to consider action regarding the Cook County Water Company well in Hatlen Heights, and read report prepared by Greeley & Hansen, consulting engineers, copy of which is shown below: February 25, 1963 Mr. William Phillips Chairman, Water Committee Dear Mr. PhillipsY In accordance with your request of February 21, 1963, our comments relative to the Cook County Water Corporation properties are summarized in the following paragraphs. The principal source of water supply for the Hatlen Heights area is a sandstone well approximately 1800 feet deep, penetrating the Mt. Simon sandstone. This well has an inside diameter of 10 inches for a depth of about 890 feet, and 8 inches thereafter. The capacity of this well, on the basis of a recent test, is estimated at 400 gallons per minutes, or 0.576 million gallons per day. The stand-by water sourse is a well approximately 180 feet deep~ penetrating the Niagaran limestone. It has an inside diameter of about 18 inches and capacity estimated at 75 grpm or 0.11 mgd. Maximum day water consumption in the Hatlen Heights service area is estimated at 0.150 mgd for the present development of 45Or,homes. The anticipated increase to 600 homes may increase the maximum day water consumption to 0.200 med. All deep wells in this area are subject to loss of capacity because of declining water levels in the aGulfer. On the basis of prevailing rates of ground water decline, Figures 1 and 2 show the Hatlen deep well may require lowering in 1969, and additional stages to increase its head in 1971. The Hatlen Heights sandstone well, without improvements, should be adequate to supply the maximum day water con- sumption in its service area mhd provide a surplus to other parts of February 26, 1963 ount Prospect until about 1969. The capacity of the Hatlen sandstone well may be increased by Water = adding additional stages to the pump and lowering the setting without Hatlen Hts. exceeding the capacity of the existing motor and starting equipmentf Well The cost of this work has been estimated by the J. P. Miller Artesian Well Company at about $15,500. Of this total, about $6,500 is required to remove and reinstall the pump. These pump improvements may increase well capacity to about 600 gpm or 0.864 mgd, but declining water levels, as shown on Figures 1 and 2, may be expected to reduce the improved pump capacity To 400 gpm, the present capacity, by about 1971. The estimated 1963 operating conditions for the combined Hatlen Heights and Mount Prospect service areas are as follews: Capacit~ Consumption, Reserve - MGD Total* w/o Hatlen w/Imp. Hatlen Est. Combined Well Capacity 7.214 6.638 7.502 Est. Max. Day Water Consumption 5.488 5~338 5.488 Reserve Capacity 1.726 1.800 2.014 Capacity~ Well #6 1.518 1.518 1.518 Reserve Capacity w/o Well #6 0.208 -0.218 0.496 ~Includes Well #7 now under construction, capacity estimated at 1.4~ mgd. Does not include limestone wells. Conclusions regarding the Hatlen sandstone well may be as follows: a. The Hatlen sandstone well, without improvements, should be adequate to supply the maximum day water consumption in its service area and provide a surplus to other parts of Mount Prospect until about 1969. b. Rehabilitation of the Hatlen sandstone well will increase the reserve available to Mount Prospect; The cost of pro- viding this additional capacity includes a significant sum for removing and me-installing the pump. It may be desirable To defer these improvements until such time as the pump is unable to meet its requirements and, at such time, install a new, larger unit. The proposed contingency fund comprising annual payments of $5,000 per year should be sufficient To finance this improvement. The water distribution system generally is satisfactory. Some valve boxes require extension and some fire hydrants may mequire raising or repair of leaky drain assemblies. Some hydrants have auxiliary valves and some do not. These deficiencies are not considered critical and may be.scheduled for accomplishment along with other maintenance Work. A master meter purchased by the Cook County Water Corporation, but not yet installed, probably should be calibrated by the City of Chicago Water Department prior to installation and acceptance. The sanitary sewer system appears to be in satisfactory condition and requires no improvements. Yours very truly, GREELEY & HANSEN Carl W. Reh Trustee Bruhl, seconded by Trustee Ekren, moved to accept the report from Purchase Greeley g Hansen and to direct the Village Attorney to draw up contract for of Hatler purchase of this well, to be submitted To the Board. Hts. Well (No. 7) Upon roll call: Ayes: Bickley Bruhl Casterline Ekren Gaw Phillips Motion carried. February 26, 1963 Hatlen Heights Well (No. 7) Trustee Phillips, seconded by Trustee Bruhl, moved that the Board incorporate into the Mount Prospect Water Improvement Program the rehabilitation of the well in Hatlen Heights, allowing a sum lamge enough to increase its capacity to 600 gallons per minute by the addition of four stages to the pump. Upon roll call: Ayes: Bickley Ekren Bruhl Gaw Phillips Casterline Motion carried. Trustee Phillips stated that he had discussed with the Village Well #6 Manager, the Water Superintendent, Village Engineer, Finance Director and Mr. Schlaack of J. P. Miller Artesian Well Company the rehabili- tation of Well 6. Trustee Phillips then reviewed the hisotry of Well 6; it was drilled two years ago~ was in operation for one year, during which time it delivered 1,650,000 gallons per day, of which Randhurst consumed nearly ohe-hatf million. Trouble developed when attempt was made to lower submersible pump and pump was lost at the bottom of the well. Miller Artesian Well Co. has offered to pay the Village for the loss of the pump ($15,700) which reduces the cost of rehabilitation to the Village from $50,000 to $34,39g. 'Proposed rehabilitation would include drilling into the Mount Simon stratum from the present depth of 1300 ft. to 1900 ft., at a cost of S7800. 'This would reduce rehabilitation costs in later years. Total cost to date for Well 6, including all funds appropriated and expended, comes to $198,493. Applying credit of J. P. Miller Artesian Well Company's $15,700 leaves a balance of S182,793. (Total includes S7800 for lowering). Trustee Phillips, seconded by Trustee Bickley, moved that expenditure of $7800 be included in the Water Rehabilitation Program for work at Well 6, and that J. P. Miller Artesian Well Co. be authorized to proceed with the rehabilitation of Well 6 at this time. Upon roll call: Ayes: Bruhl Bickley Casterline Gaw Ekren Phillips Motion carried. House Bill 123 Village Manager Appleby reported regarding House Bill 123 to be heard on February 28th in Springfield, which prohibits use of police for non-police duties; it was felt by the Municipal Conference that this was a usurpation of home rule; it was also felt that house bill setting a minimum wage for municipal employees was'also a usurpation of home rule. Trustee Ekren, seconded by Trustee Casterline, moved that letter be sent to the Municipalities Committee of the House of Representatives protesting House Bill 123. This motion carried by acclamation. Metropolitan President Schlaver reported that Mr. Vinton Bacon, superinten- Sanitary dent of the Metropolitan Sanitary System, appeared at the Northwest System Municipal Conference meeting of the previou~ Wednesday. Mr. Bacon is Vinton Bacon prepared to take the leadership for any problems that arise in connection with the Sanitary System, and is setting up a meeting for representatives of communities bordering Welles Creek~ up to Rolling Meadows, and will outline a program for their discussion at this meeting. County Attorney Hofert reported regarding Cook County Dockets 421, 422 -- zoning and 423, petition for apartment zoning; evidence was given by our planner, Mr. Baughmann. Trustee Bickley, seconded by Trustee Casterline, moved that the attorney be directed to prepare resolution of protest regarding the zoning asked for in Dockets 421, 422 and 428. Upon roll call: Ayes: Bickley Bruhl Casterline Gaw Ekren Phillips Motion carried. February 26, 1963 Request for annexation of territory adjacent and south of Tally Ho prope~y was referred to the Judiciary Committee for study and recommendation. Adjournment was by acclamation at 10:10 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Ruth C. Wilson, Clerk February 26~ 1963