West Cook News

City of Countryside City Council met Sept. 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER -The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor McDermott, who led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Roll Call: City Clerk Kmet called the Roll of those physically present as follows: 

Present: Mayor McDermott, Alderman Finn, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Benson, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, City Clerk Kmet, Treasurer Bolt

Also Present: City Administrator Paul, Police Chief Klimek, City Attorney Peck, Assistant City Administrator Schutter, Deputy Clerk Saucedo 

2. OMNIBUS AGENDA 

a. Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes of September 13, 2023.

b. Statement of Bills submitted for payment through September 27, 2023 in the amount of $637,918.16.

A motion was made by Alderman Musillami, seconded by Alderman Von Drasek that this matter be APPROVED as presented; motion carried by the following vote: 

Aye: 6 Alderman Musillami, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson, Alderman Frohlich

Nay: 0 

3. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC 

a. Niko Sutkus, 9501 W. 56 St., is concerned about noise to the east over the past couple of years - hearing a reverse alarm, doesn't know exactly where it's coming from, at 1 or 2 a.m. He has contacted the Police; they don't know where the beeping is coming from. McCook is not responding to his calls; bad enough that construction noises go on all day long - can't have beeping noises going on all night long. Please look into the noise ordinance violation. The quarry claims it is not them; the origin is hard to establish. Coming from the NW corner, near 55th St. and East Avenue. The quarry claims it's the construction people moving equipment; he also hears rock being pulverized at 3 a.m. and he calls the quarry; he seeks a resolution.

4. MAYOR'S REPORT 

a. Mayor McDermott announced the - Hope For The Day's National Suicide Prevention and Action Month Proclamation - declaring September as National Suicide Prevention & Action Month in the City of Countryside. We need a motion to approve the Proclamation. The Mayor asked that the Proclamation be posted on the City's Facebook page and the City's Website.

A motion was made by Alderman Von Drasek, seconded by Alderman Mikolyzk that this matter be APPROVED as presented; motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 6 Alderman Musillami, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson, Alderman Frohlich

Nay: 0 

5. CITY CLERK'S REPORT - no report 

6. TREASURER'S REPORT – no report 

7. COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION REPORTS FOR DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND, IF SO DETERMINED ACTION UPON:

a. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - no report 

b. FINANCE COMMITTEE - no report 

c. HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE – no report 

d. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE 

1. Alderman Benson sought consideration to trade in a 2008 F-250 Water Department Truck. The vehicle has seen many years of service.

A motion was made by Alderman Musiliami, seconded by Alderman Finn that this matter be APPROVED as presented; motion carried by the following vote: 

Aye: 6 Alderman Musillami, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson, Alderman Frohlich

Nay: 0

e. PLAN COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 

1. City Attorney Peck sought consideration of an Ordinance Amending Zoning Code Section 10-10-6 to include Off-Street Loading Regulations involving the Parking, Dropping, Leaving or Storage of Tractors and/or Trailers in the Code. The PC/ZBA held a hearing on September 5, 2023. They heard all testimony and evidence in the above matter and it was their recommendation to add specific language clarifying Section 10-10-6 (G) (1) – "For the purposes of this section, "designated locations" shall mean those hotel/motel parking lots that are adjacent to the roadway and/or in front of a respective hotel/motel facility. There shall be no parking in the rear of hotel/motel facilities or adjacent to properties zoned or used for residential purposes." At that hearing there were no objections to the requested amendment; it was the PC/ZBA recommendation to approve the Zoning Amendment as presented. The Mayor stated that numerous residents have registered complaints about this issue.

A motion was made by Alderman Benson, seconded by Alderman Mikolyzk that this matter be APPROVED as presented; motion carried by the following vote: 

Aye: 6 Alderman Musillami, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson, Alderman Frohlich

Nay: 0 

City Clerk Kmet declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 23-21-0.

f. SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE - no report 

1. Mayor McDermott FYI first meeting took place regarding the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Alderman Finn has graciously agreed to Chair the Committee; March 2 is the chosen date.

g. SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE - no report 

h. FLAGG CREEK ADVISORY BOARD 

1. Alderman Frohlich sought consideration to approve an agreement with Lyons Pinner Electric Companies in the amount of $9,860.00 to install fiber optic cable at the Flagg Creek Golf Course. A camera will be installed at the entrance to monitor traffic coming out of the golf course.

A motion was made by Alderman Finn, seconded by Alderman Von Drasek that this matter be APPROVED as presented; motion carried by the following vote: 

Aye: 6 Alderman Musillami, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson, Alderman Frohlich

Nay: 0 

8. LEGAL REPORT . 

a. Attorney Peck sought consideration of a Resolution finding Ledcor in default and authorizing the application of their bond in the amount of $7,500.00. Ledcor was the company responsible for restoration work for the MCI Metro/Verizon Project. They did not complete the job; to this day it is not completed. The first step in foreclosing on the bond is passing this Resolution authorizing forfeiture of the bond.

A motion was made by Alderman Finn, seconded by Alderman Frohlich that this matter be APPROVED as presented; motion carried by the following vote: 

Aye: 6 Alderman Musillami, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson, Alderman Frohlich

Nay: 0

City Clerk Kmet declared that this will be known as RESOLUTION 23-06-R.

9. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT – no report 

10. STAFF REPORTS 

a. Police Chief Klimek – no report 

b. City Engineer Fitzgerald - (absent) - no report 

11. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND, IF DETERMINED, ACTION UPON: 

1. Alderman Von Drasek wished Treasurer Courtney Bolt a Happy Birthday - her birthday was yesterday. Council Members added their congratulations.

12. ADJOURNMENT 

A motion was made by Alderman Von Drasek, seconded by Alderman Musillami that this meeting be ADJOURNED; motion carried by the following vote: 

Aye: 6 Alderman Musillami, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson, Alderman Frohlich 

Nay: 0 

Mayor McDermott declared the meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m. 

https://www.countryside-il.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9-27-23-City-Council-Minutes.pdf