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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/13/1997 CWC minutesMAYOR Gerald L. Farley TRUSTEES George A. Clowes Timothy J. Corcoran Paul Wm. Hoefert Richard M. Lohrstorfer Daniel A. Nocchi Irvana K. Wilks VILLAGE MANAGER Michael E. Janonis VILLAGE CLERK Carol A. Fields Village of Mount Prospect 100 South Emerson Street Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056 MINUTES COFFEE WITH COUNCIL Saturday, September 13, 1997 9:00 a.m. 2nd Floor Conference Room, Village Hall Phone: (847) 392-6000 Fax: (847) 392-6022 TDD: (847) 392-6064 Trustee Clowes convened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. Those present were: Trustees George Clowes and Dan Nocchi. Representing staff was Community Development Director, Bill Cooney. Residents in Attendance: Name Address Frank Smith 903 Quince Lane Jim Corman 1,348 Indigo Drive Ellen & Gary Nowickas 414 S. Main Street Patrick Creen 1015 Church Road Anita & Earl Brandon 419 S. Ojibwa Trail Frank Smith, 903 Quince Lane, thanked the Village for providing the informational packet regarding the proposed second rail track for the Wisconsin Central Railroad. He indicated that he was concerned about the amount of trains (52) that would be utilizing the railroad and specifically the number of freight trains. He recommended that the Village mail additional information packets to a greater number of homes in the area. In addition, he suggested that the packets be sent to Maryville Academy and the Forest View residents. Trustee Nocchi suggested that the cover letter be sent to residents one block over from the initial mailing and that Maryville be sent a copy of the packet. There was general discussion regarding the Village's authority over the railroad and explanation that the railroad was generally autonomous from local regulations. Mr. Smith stated that he believed the freight trains should be prohibited from utilizing the tracks from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. He was encouraged to send correspondence to his State and Federal representatives. Mr. Smith also indicated a concern regarding neighbors parking their vehicles over the sidewalk. Mr. Cooney informed him that this was not allowed and that he should call the Police to address any such problems. Mr. Smith indicated that he did not want to call the Police on his neighbors and requested that the Police be more proactive in enforcing this regulation. He also indicated a concern that the neighbors find out who called the Police and that this created dissention in the neighborhood. Mr. Cooney indicated that it is Village policy not to inform neighbors of who is complaining. Mr. Smith and Mr. Nowickas stated that this had been a problem in the past. Trustee Clowes suggested that the Village include an article in the Village Newsletter explaining this Village policy and other regulations that are often violated. Jim Corman,1348 Indigo Drive, stated that he was attending this morning's meeting for the same subject, the Wisconsin Central Railroad. He indicated appreciation for the Village Board's attendance at the recent public hearing and stated that he would continue to lobby his Representatives to move the second line and the Prospect Heights Station away from the single family homes in Mount Prospect. Ellen and Gary Nowickas, 414 S. Main Street, stated that their concern related to basement flooding that had occurred on 8/16/97. They stated that they had several inches of combined storm sewage in their basement after the rain that evening. They stated that this was the third time in seventeen years that they have had flooding in their home. They asked what the Village's plans were to address this problem. Mr. Cooney indicated that the Village has undertaken a multi-year, multi-million dollar program to address flooding problems in the Village. In addition, the Village sponsors a Flood Rebate Program that provides homeowners with subsidies for improvements made on private property. There was extensive discussion regarding the overall flooding problem in Mount Prospect, who should be responsible for the problem and the fairness of the Village's programs. Trustee Clowes requested that the Public Works Department analyze the storm water drainage patterns, the existing infrastructure and future improvements that are planned in the Nowickas' neighborhood. He requested that a written response be provided to the Nowickas. Trustee Nocchi stated that he felt that storm water management would be a good topic for a Committee of the Whole discussion in the future. Patrick Creen, 1015 Church Road, indicated a concern with the status of the roadway improvements on Church Road. He stated that the Village had started the work approximately six weeks ago and had ripped up the roadway and infrastructure at that time. However, no work has transpired since and subsequent flooding had occurred in the neighborhood as a result. He inquired about the status and questioned the oversight of the project. Mr. Cooney stated that he would contact the Engineering Division and have a representative contact Mr. Creen to advise of the status. Mr. Creen also indicated that the recent Village Newsletter stated that the Village had raised the local sales tax significantly and that he felt that this would deter people from shopping in Mount Prospect. Trustee Nocchi explained that the Village did not raise the sales tax and that the Newsletter had incorrectly listed the actual tax increase that was approved to pay for the roadway program. Mr. Creen also stated that the parking lot at Kopp Park, off of Linneman Road, was in disrepair and looked especially bad in light of the recent Linneman Road upgrade. He was informed that this was the Mount Prospect Park District's property and that he could discuss this matter with them. Mr. Creen did indicate his appreciation of the Village Board's efforts toward improvements in his neighborhood. Anita & Earl Brandon, 419 S. Ojibwa, stated that their concern related to the proposed extension of water and sanitary sewer to their home. Mr. Brandon stated that this was the third time that he had appeared at one of these meetings regarding this issue. He thought that the issue had been resolved, but after further discussion with staff that he was informed that he would be required to pay for the future extension of the infrastructure at such time that his neighbor wished to obtain these public services. He feels that this is unfair since his neighbor to the north was not required to extend the improvements to his property line. Mr. Cooney indicated that Village Code requires that the public improvements be extended to the far end of the property and that is why staff was requiring Mr. Brandon to do so. He stated he did not know why the neighbor to the north was not required to do the same at the time he installed the existing improvements. Both Trustee Clowes and Nocchi indicated that they felt it would not be equitable to require Mr. Brandon to pay for the full cost of the public improvements, given the precedent set on Ojibwa. They requested that the Public Works Department provide a memorandum outlining the history of the Ojibwa improvements and the current status of Mr. Brandon's proposed improvements and that the Community Development Department provide a memorandum outlining Mr. Brandon's options. The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. Respectfully submitted, WiLlliam?Cooney, Jr. Director of Community Development X:\USEFMCOMDEV \BIU.\NUNUTFS\COFFEE.NUN