JOLIET
Union turns out in supporting role
More than 150 union members packed City Council chambers this week to show their solidarity as city officials renegotiate health benefits and talk of possible layoffs.
Although none of the union members from police, fire and other city departments spoke to the council, at least one council member said she heard them loud and clear.
“Thank you all for coming,” Councilwoman Jan Quillman said. “I get it.”
This year, city officials said they needed to cut $10 million from the budget to help make up for decreasing revenue. The situation worsened when a fire destroyed the Empress Casino’s pavilion and shut it down until mid-June, reducing city revenue.
Some union members said they have offered concessions on health benefits. Council members met in closed session for more than an hour to discuss the contract talks.
— Alicia Fabbre
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JOLIET
Charter proposal to be reviewed
For the second time in a year, a group is asking Joliet Township High School District 204 officials to approve a charter school for Joliet high school students.
The proposal suggests starting the Joliet Academy Charter School in fall 2010 with 100 freshmen. If approved, the school would eventually have 400 students in their freshman through senior years. District 204 officials last year rejected a similar proposal, saying it lacked details on finances, transportation and curriculum.
Both proposals came from the same group, which has ties to the Harvey Brooks Foundation.
A public hearing on the proposal will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Little Theatre at Joliet Central High School, 201 E. Jefferson St. The school board will have 30 days after the hearing to render a decision.
— Alicia Fabbre
ORLAND PARK
Permanent home in festival’s future
The annual spring outdoor festival has likely found a permanent home near the 153rd Street Metra station even though some residents complained about noise and traffic at last year’s event.
Orland Days, sponsored by the local Lions Club, was held there last year after years at Orland Square Mall.
“Some residents complained about noise in the neighborhood last year, but we will monitor it closely this year and try to mitigate it,” Village Manager Paul Grimes said at this week’s Village Board meeting.
Trustee Edward Schussler broached the idea of holding future festivals at the new Main Street Triangle near the new train station at 143rd Street and Southwest Highway. But Mayor Daniel McLaughlin said the Triangle property, which is still under development, did not have adequate roads to handle traffic.
He added that any site for the festival, set for May 27 to 31, would draw complaints from some nearby residents and that last year’s event went off relatively smoothly.
“It’s been at two or three places at least, and anywhere there will be a few complaints,” the mayor said.
— Carmen Greco Jr.
ROMEOVILLE
Trails, ball fields planned for 51 acres
Romeoville officials recently approved selling $6.6 million in bonds to purchase 51 acres of open space near Airport and Weber Roads.
Romeoville Mayor John Noak said the village plans to develop recreational uses such as a park, baseball fields and nature trails on the site.
“The land in this area is filling up fast and we are trying to save some of it before it’s all gone,” Noak said.
Village officials would not give a time frame on when the park might be built, adding they want to get feedback from residents. A commission might be set up to help generate ideas. Noak said the village will pay back the bonds at an interest rate of 5 percent for 25 years and use real estate transfer tax money for repayment.
— Joseph Ruzich
TINLEY PARK
Mayor unveils new appointments
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In response to the death of Village Clerk Frank “Bill” German, Mayor Ed Zabrocki is appointing longtime Trustee Patrick Rea as clerk and Tinley Park Park District Commissioner Patricia Leoni to fill Rea’s seat.
Rea, 68, chairs the Village Board’s finance and economic development and the governmental affairs committees. He has been on the board for 38 years, matching German’s tenure as village clerk. German died Feb. 28, too late to replace him on the ballot. He was unopposed.
Leoni, 57, is principal of Greenbriar Elementary School in Chicago Heights and has been on the Park District board since 2001. She was CEO of the Crisis Center for the South Suburbia, a domestic-violence agency, from 2005-07. Zabrocki said this week he will make the appointments May 5.
— Dennis Sullivan