JOLIET
City Council OKs distribution center
The City Council this week approved a 1 million-square-foot distribution center on the southeast side in a bid to boost jobs.
Council member Jan Quillman joined the unanimous vote to annex the 55 acres near New Lenox and Cherry Hill Roads, but cast the lone vote against rezoning the property from agricultural to light industrial.
Before the action, which was recommended by the city’s plan commission and administration, several residents of the adjacent Spring Green subdivision voiced concerns about safety, trespassing, drainage issues and odors from idling semitractor-trailers.
Only 30 feet will separate the industrial development from subdivision properties, which are outside city limits.
Andrew James, a senior vice president with Duke Realty, said construction of the speculative building would start by next summer.
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Dennis Sullivan
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ORLAND PARK
Aluminum recycling drive begins Oct. 1
Officials are asking residents to become part of a villagewide aluminum-can recycling drive next month.
“We’re calling on schools, churches, businesses, assisted-living facilities and community organizations to join this challenge,” village trustee Kathleen Fenton said in a statement. The effort is part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Annual City Recycling Challenge.
Last year, 40 cities collected more than 3 million pounds of aluminum cans during the challenge, which extends from Oct. 1-31.
Officials estimate that more than $1 billion is lost in landfills from residents and businesses not recycling aluminum beverage cans.
Drop-off centers will be at the Old Police Station at 14600 S. Ravinia Ave., the Public Works building at 15600 S. Ravinia Ave. and the Village Sportsplex at 11351 W. 159th St.
For more information, call the Parks Department at 708-403-6219.
Carmen Greco Jr.
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PALOS HEIGHTS
Officials approve pact for bike path
In a boost to efforts to make biking, jogging and walking a bigger part of the southwest suburbs, officials this week approved an intergovernmental agreement and engineering study for a portion of a proposed 26-mile path.
The agreement among the Cook County Forest Preserve District, Palos Park, Palos Heights and the Alsip Park District was needed to jump-start engineering services for the west end of the Cal-Sag Trail.
The trail, which could take 10 years to complete and cost $20 million, would extend from Lemont to the Burnham Greenway near the Indiana border. The trail would go through 14 communities.
The City Council also approved an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for engineering by URS Corp., a global engineering design firm. The four agencies would pay $425,000 for the work. The funding is from an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant, with the federal government donating 80 percent and the four agencies 20 percent.
“The plan over the next years is to do a little portion at a time, every year getting grants for it,” said Ald. Jeff Prestinario, chairman of the city’s recreation committee.
Janice Neumann