Harvey Mayor Shirley Drewenski advised residents to document damage from the devastating storms that swept the region over the Fourth of July weekend during Monday’s City Council meeting, as the city continues to reel from the weather.
“Document. Keep a journal. Make sure you take pictures,” Drewenski said. “I want you to protect yourself, and your assets and your home.”
The city is in the process of applying for emergency disaster relief from the federal government, fire Chief Howard Fisher said. The county, the state and the federal government still need to sign off on the application, Fisher said.
“As you guys know, Trump and the governor don’t have a good relationship,” Fisher said, referring to instances where the Trump administration has rejected state requests for disaster aid. “We’re not waiting for Illinois to declare this a natural disaster. We acted on our own.”
Fisher said the Fire Department received dozens of calls during the storm, including responding to structure fires and water rescues. One resident said during public comment she suffered more than $51,000 of damage from basement flooding.
“People think that FEMA is coming, but there are certain steps we have to implement before FEMA will come,” Drewenski said. “It may not be in the next month.”
Storm cleanup is still underway, said Public Works Director Rick Seput. Seput said 47,180 tons of debris have been removed so far.
“That almost doubled what we picked up in our spring cleanup this year,” Seput said.
At Drewenski’s request, Seput confirmed the Public Works Department is once more fully staffed. The department was heavily affected when the city enacted sweeping furloughs in October.
“I don’t want anyone to say that they’re not at full staff,” Drewenski said.
New police chief
Harvey also welcomed a new police chief. Dean Mitchell, president of the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police, was sworn in at the meeting.
Drewenski said Mitchell takes the position in an interim capacity because Drewenski herself is only acting mayor until the next municipal election in 2027, and does not plan to run for reelection.
“As many of you know, I am here short term,” Drewenski said. “I don’t think it’s fair for me to put in people in authority without having the new mayor’s approval.”
However, Drewenski said the city still needed a new chief. A city spokesperson said former Chief Cameron Biddings retired and will now direct Harvey’s Real-Time Crime Center.
Typically, Harvey City Council meetings begin with a lengthy police announcement regarding the circumstances under which people can be removed from the meetings, which did not happen on Monday.
“Harvey is one of those towns that’s a linchpin to the south suburbs,” Mitchell said after being sworn in. “I promise you that I’m going to give you 110%. I’ve done that in every job I’ve had. This is my 34th year in law enforcement.”
Leadership from the police departments of several neighboring communities, including Flossmoor, Blue Island and Calumet Park, attended Mitchell’s swearing-in. Many said they spent time at the Harvey Police Department during their careers.
“Harvey is home,” said Phoenix Chief Roy Wells. “I come through Harvey every day going to Phoenix, and I’ll never forget Harvey. ”
Lawsuit settlement
The City Council also voted to approve a $200,000 settlement to the estate of 19-year-old Justin Alston, who died in 2022
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after being chased by Harvey police.The vote to approve the settlement was four in favor, with 2nd Ward Ald. Colby Chapman abstaining and 5th Ward Ald. Dominique Randle-El absent. There was no public debate, as it was discussed in executive session.
The settlement is the second to come out of the 2022 crash, which also killed 19-year-old Elexis Dampier. The City Council voted last year to approve a $900,000 settlement to Dampier’s family, to be paid in installments over eight years.
Dampier’s estate filed a complaint when they did not receive the first payment as scheduled. A lawyer for the family later confirmed they received the payment several months late.
First Ward Ald. Rosa Arambula said the settlement to Alston’s family will be paid in four installments of $50,000 each.