EVERGREEN PARK
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City amends rules on outdoor burning
City officials this week updated rules for outdoor burning after agreeing that the old ordinance, which made even small-grill barbecuing illegal, was too restrictive.
“If you were barbecuing and you were using charcoal, you were in violation,” Mayor Jim Sexton said. “I think we were all in violation.”
The City Council voted unanimously Monday to allows residents to barbecue with charcoal and propane and natural gas, and burn candles and torches if they are at least 30 feet from any structure or tree.
However, burning leaves, garbage, wood or waste is prohibited. The penalty for illegal burning is $50 and goes up to $500 if it is not paid.
Janice Neumann
FRANKFORT
Special census tally may yield $100,000
Frankfort stands to gain more than $100,000 in state revenues after the results are in from a special census this fall, officials said this week.
Mayor Jim Holland said Frankfort’s population has grown significantly since the 2000 U.S. census, and the village is typically due $115 in state revenues for each resident. “It’s only reasonable that we get a fair share of the state allocation,” Holland said.
Village Administrator Jerry Ducay said the new head count is likely to equal, if not exceed, the 1,000 new residents added to the population during the last census. The increase is expected to net an additional $115,000 a year in state revenues until the 2010 U.S. census.
On a different matter, Holland said Frankfort residents have until July 31 to apply for a sales-tax rebate that will trim about 25 percent of the village share of their property-tax bill. Residents are getting the rebate because sales-tax revenues have come in higher than expected.
Pat Harper
JOLIET
Retail, housing site gets initial boost
City officials this week approved preliminary plans for a 171-acre shopping and residential center at Interstate Highway 55 and U.S. Highway 30.
The 450,000-square-foot Boulevard center, set for completion in 2010, would be similar to the Promenade specialty retail center in Oak Brook, said attorney Mary Riordan, who represents 55/30 Acquisitions, the developers of the Joliet project. The same company developed the Promenade.
Joliet’s 21-acre portion is occupied by a car-truck plaza that generates $646,647 in sales and real estate taxes annually. That amount could rise to $1.1 million with the Boulevard, said City Manager John Mezera.
Dennis Sullivan
ORLAND PARK
Sign law might be eased to help firms
To try to provide relief to businesses hurt by the reconstruction of Southwest Highway, the Village Board is moving to relax Orland Park’s sign ordinance.
The road project, launched to support the village’s new Main Street Triangle project near 143rd Street and La Grange Road, is a year behind schedule, and business owners say they’re feeling the financial pinch.
The matter will be reviewed by a Development Committee before the Village Board’s final consideration.
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Carmen Greco Jr.
PLAINFIELD
Relaxed sign rules to aid developers
Developers will be able to use more signs promoting their Plainfield homes after the Village Board this week decided to loosen its restrictions.
The board’s action Monday came after several developers this summer asked village officials to allow them to put up temporary signs that provide directions to a new subdivision.
Under the old provision, developers could only put up permanent signs that were bought through National Sign Plazas, said Jim Testin, community development director. Violators were fined $750 per sign.
Patricia Trebe