City of Countryside Infrastructure Committee met Aug. 16.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER.
Chairman Benson called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairman Benson, Alderman Musillami, and Alderman Finn
Also Present: Public Works Superintendent Serna, City Engineer Fitzgerald, Lyons Township Little League Pete Dickson and Highland Hurricanes Patrick Sullivan.
3. COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC.
None.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – June 8, 2022.
4. a. Approval of the Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes – June 8, 2022.
The minutes of the regular meeting of June 8, 2022 were previously distributed to the members of the Infrastructure Committee.
A motion was made by Alderman Musillami to approve the minutes from the June 8, 2022 meeting, seconded by Alderman Finn and carried unanimously.
5. BUSINESS FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND IF SO DETERMINED, ACTION UPON:
5.a. Consideration of recommendations from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) local drainage feasibility study.
City Engineer Fitzgerald stated that MWRD has been looking at some local drainage issues in the City. Mayor McDermott, City Administrator Paul, and City Engineer Fitzgerald have been meeting with MWRD for the past several years. MWRD put out their final report in December, 2021 and we just received the report a couple months ago. At the last meeting the report was presented. The report addresses the flooding in the low areas on Kensington Avenue, Catherine Avenue, Ashland Avenue, and Madison Avenue, between 57th Street and 55th Street. The only area with an increased high water elevation for the 2-year, 10-year, and 100-year storms is the depressional area located on Dansher road between 55th Street and Plainfield Road.
This area is hydraulically connected to the 55th Street sewer by two separate storm sewer connections. One at the extension of Bobolink Drive and East Avenue and one at Dansher Road and 55th Street. Alternative table KM-1A (Kensington/Madison) proposes to hydraulically disconnect the storm sewer connection at the extension of Bobolink Drive and East Avenue by installing a check valve within the storm sewer at that location. At a subsequent coordination meeting with MWRD, MWRD’s Consultant, IDOT, and City Staff, Mr. Fitzgerald made the recommendation to install another check valve in the storm sewer connection at Dansher Road and 55th Street. All parties agreed that this would lower the high water elevations and benefit the Dansher Road depressional area.
We suggest that the Infrastructure Committee recommend that the cost of the recommended improvements be added to the current Fiscal Year Capital Program. The recommended budget amount is $555,000.00, which includes approximately $493,000.00 for construction and $62,000.00 for engineering.
Alderman Finn made a motion to move forward on the recommendations from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) local drainage feasibility study and forward onto the City Council meeting, seconded by Alderman Musillami and carried unanimously.
5.b. Discussion on City Park Baseball Field Restoration.
Public Works Superintendent Serna stated that he met with the Highlands Hurricanes Traveling Baseball team. They are now using the fields at City Park. Mr. Serna and the representatives from the Hurricanes discussed leveling the field and moving the bases further apart for the traveling team.
Mr. Serna received a couple quotes and the lowest quote was from Sportsfields at $29,800.00. The quote is for the infield putting pegs at 75ft for the bases. Sportsfields will not be doing anything with the outfield. There will be no batting cages or dug outs.
Chairman Benson introduced two gentlemen, Pete Dickson and Patrick Sullivan, from the Hurricanes and Lyons Township Little League. Mr. Sullivan stated that the space between the bases should be 70ft not 75ft. Chairman Benson acknowledged the change.
Mr. Sullivan stated that the teams are in-house traveling teams and play in LaGrange Highlands, Countryside, Western Springs and Hodgkins and are composed exclusively of Lyons Township kids. He stated that they were in conversations with Western Springs and the other towns about issues that need to be addressed with the other fields.
Alderman Musillami stated that Countryside supplies everything, and asked if we are going to get any help from the other towns for the field improvements. He doesn’t think it is fair for Countryside to pay the total bill to improve the field when there are kids from other towns using these fields.
Alderman Finn stated that all he is hearing is that the field is going to be better for the travel team at the expense of the little league teams. He envisions City Park being used by the leagues that take all the kids from our neighborhood. Mr. Finn asked Mr. Sullivan what they charge per child to be on the travel team. Mr. Sullivan stated that the team charges $1200 per child. Mr. Sullivan stated that he uses the field on the weekends and no one is ever on the fields. Alderman Finn doesn’t believe the kids in Countryside can afford $1200 per kid to play on a travel team and he doesn’t see any benefit for the Countryside residents to spend the money on the field.
Chairman Benson said that the upgrading for the park would be for little league teams and extending the bases would be for the travel teams that use the field on non-little league hours. His question is, what does Lyons Township little league have financially to put towards this field. Lyons Township will be the ones mainly benefiting from the upgrade to the field. Is there a number that they have in mind to donate to the expense of $30,000 for the field?
Mr. Sullivan stated that he thinks they can probably contribute between $5,000 and $8,000 he would have to check with their treasurer.
Chairman Benson stated that travel ball will maintain the field for games and practices. We could potentially be looking at Countryside paying around $20,000 and with an agreement that all the maintenance would be done by a combination of Lyons Township Little League and the travel team. Mr. Benson also thought that we had an issue with travel teams and decided not to let them play on that field.
Mr. Sullivan stated that his team is an in-house travel team not a top tier team. His team is for kids who want to play more baseball and that the team plays on the weekends.
Alderman Musillami stated that the last time he spoke with Lyons Township Little League we agreed to no travel ball on the field, only to find out that the travel teams are playing on the field. The committee also felt it was a little league field not a travel team field. Alderman Musillami feels that the shape the field is in is due to over play on the field.
Chairman Benson asked to table this item until the middle of September so Lyons Township Little League and the Hurricanes can go back to their boards and discuss further.
All were in agreement to table this item until September.
6. OTHER COMMITTEE BUSINESS.
None.
7. ADJOURN.
There being no further business to discuss, Alderman Benson motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Musillami and carried unanimously.
Chairman Benson declared the meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.
https://www.countryside-il.org/agendas-minutes/august-16-2022/
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