HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/14/1998 CWC minutesMINUTES
COFFEE WITH COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 14, 1998
Trustees present included: Mayor Gerald Farley, Paul Hoefert and Irvana Wilks
Staff members present: Michael E. Janonis and William J. Cooney
Resident Jim Corman, 1348 Indigo Drive, inquired as to the status of the installation of the second
Wisconsin Central track. Mr. Janonis indicated that Wisconsin Central is on a slower pace than was
originally scheduled, because of funding levels. There was general discussion regarding the tracks and
also the Environmental Impact Study that was due from Wisconsin Central. It was agreed that the Village
would provide Mr. Corman and other residents in that area an update when new information was
available.
Larry Gillreath, 1880 W. Palm Drive, stated he was appearing before the Board to determine if there
was support for creating the Bill of Rights Day on December 15th in Mount Prospect. Mr. Gillreath
handed out a map which indicated other states in which the Bill of Rights Day had been adopted and
indicated he felt it would be a positive move by the Village of Mount Prospect to adopt a proclamation
recognizing this day. The Trustees indicated support for the proposal and determined that a proclamation
should be placed on the December Is` Village Board agenda for review and consideration. Trustee Wilks
asked that Mr. Gillreath appear at the December I" meeting to accept the proclamation. Mr. Gillreath
indicated he may not be able to make it but would inform the Manager if he could or could not.
Nancy Bobikewicz, 1114 Meadow Lane, updated the Board on the Wedgewood Association's recent
problems with ComEd. She indicated that both the residents and the adjacent commercial properties were
having significant problems with power outages. She indicated that power outages were a very common
occurrence and they are having little success dealing with ComEd on this issue. Mr. Janonis informed the
Board that staff has been working with the businesses and residents in this area in an effort to have
ComEd adequately address this problem. He stated that Wayne Laursen, of ComEd, had indicated that
this area is scheduled for tree trimming in early 1999. He indicated that ComEd's response to our request
for service in a particular area is that if they go to one area they must pull workers off of another area,
further exasperating another area's problems. Mr. Janonis indicated that Dave Strahl has been working
with ComEd on this issue and that we will make every effort to have the trees trimmed in the Wedgewood
area as soon as possible. Ms. Bobikewicz also indicated that there was a willow tree on Wedgewood
between Oxford and Meadow Lane that she believes is in the Village right-of-way that was creating a
problem with the utility lines. Mr. Janonis indicated the Village would investigate it and trim the tree if
appropriate.
Ms. Bobikewicz also indicated that she has been involved with an ongoing dispute with a neighbor.
Village staff had been out to her property regarding various property maintenance issues at her home and
she has complied with those issues. She inquired whether it was legal to burn leaves on your property.
Mr. Cooney indicated that it was not and if that was taking place she needed to notify the Village at such
time.
Coffee with Council was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
WILLIAM J. COONEY, JR., AICF��(` J
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MINUTES
COFFEE WITH COUNCIL
DECEMBER 12, 1998
Trustees present included: Paul Hoefert and Daniel Nocchi
Staff members present: David Strahl and Michael Blue
Elmer Collin, 1 West Hiawatha Terrace, thanked the Village Board for Village paving his street.
Trustee Hoefert noted that Mr. Collin had been to Coffee with Council some months ago with this matter,
and was glad that the situation worked out well.
Grant Nelson, 837 Partridge Lane, inquired as to the folded over stops signs along roadways in the
Village. He noted that he has seen public services messages on the folded signs, which are used during
power outages, in other communities. Mr. Nelson indicated he felt this was a good idea and one the
Village should pursue. Trustee Hoefert and Mr. Strahl both indicated that the State of Illinois will not
allow such messages on the signs. Also, Mr. Strahl noted that the Village is considering replacing the
signs, which are getting old, with new ones that fold horizontally. This type of sign would not
accommodate the public service messages.
Mr. Grant indicated that the other reason for his attendance was to again raise the question of whether the
Village would rebate a portion of the utility tax to persons needing to use electricity for medical purposes.
He indicated that the total utility tax he had paid for 1998 was approximately $40. While he did not have
a financial need for the funds, Mr. Grant felt that as a matter of principle the Village should not tax power
used for a medical need. Mr. Grant described the equipment he uses to help him breath in his home.
There was discussion as to the relatively small dollar amount involved in rebating the utility tax (or a
portion of it) to residents, and about to the large administrative impact of such a program. Trustee Hoefert
noted that the Mayor had raised this issue at a Village Board meeting. Trustee Nocchi asked Mr. Grant if
ComEd provided assistance in such cases. Mr. Grant indicated that they do not. Trustee Hoefert
summarized by saying that the Village Board would revisit this matter. Mr. Grant asked to be notified as
to when then discussion would be held and to how the matter would be resolved.
David Schein, 700 Ivanhoe, #3B, had several comments and questions. He presented Police Department
"trading cards" from other communities. He suggested that this might be a good public relations tools for
the Village. Mr. Schein also asked whether the Mount Prospect Park District has requested the Village
Board's support on their recent referendum. He was told that they had not. Mr. Schein noted that if the
new cross section created by recent work on Weller Creek had changed the flood elevations that the
Village should notify FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Mr. Schein expressed his
concern that development other than expensive condominiums take place downtown. He said the
downtown will need moderate income individuals who will shop in the downtown. Mr. Schein also asked
about the progress on several pending developments in the Village, and was curious if the Board and staff
were aware of a building permit express company he had heard a commercial for on the radio. Trustee
Nocchi and Mr. Blue indicated that they were aware of this type of service, and that it is a company that
will follow building permits through the approval process for an applicant. However, the service did not
actually speed up the permit process.
Mr. Mel Pietraszewski, 1105 Ironwood Drive, asked whether Village had grass cutting equipment and
if so, could it negotiate with the State the cut grass in the right-of-way along Kensington Road. He noted
that his property backs up to Kensington Road and the State on cuts the grass a few times per year. This
allows for the grass to become very high, and when it is eventually cut leaves behind a mess. Mr.
COFFEE WITH COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 12,1998
Pietraszewski noted that some of the residents cut the grass themselves, and asked if the Village could cut
the area. Mr. Strahl indicated that this was a constant problem in the Village. Trustees Nocchi and
Hoefert stated that the Village work with the State to improve the process, or consider mowing the right-
of-way for them.
Coffee with Council was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
MICHAEL BLUE., AICP
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