West Cook News

City of Countryside City Council met Jan. 22

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

City Council Members

Mayor, Sean R. McDermott

City Clerk, Elizabeth Kmet

Treasurer, Courtney Bolt 

Aldermen Thomas Mikolyzk, Scott Musillami, John Finn John Von Drasek, Mark Benson and Tom Frohlich 

1. CALL TO ORDER -The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor McDermott. Cub Scout Pack 69 from Countryside and surrounding suburbs led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Photos were taken with the entire City Council. 

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

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

Also Present: Police Chief Klimek, City Attorney Peck, City Administrator Paul, Asst. City Administrator Schutter, City Engineer Hernandez, Deputy Clerk Cordova, Recording Secretary Prokop 

Absent: Alderman Von Drasek

2. OMNIBUS AGENDA 

a. Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes of January 8, 2025. 

b. Statement of Bills submitted for payment through January 22, 2025 in the amount of $344,031.05. 

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek 

3. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - none 

4. MAYOR'S REPORT 

a. Mayor McDermott sought consideration to appoint Alderman John Finn, Alderman Tom Frohlich and Kevin Dahill to the Flagg Creek Golf Course Advisory Board for Calendar Year 2025.

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek 

5. CITY CLERK'S REPORT - no report 

a. FYI - Congratulations on the successful Winterfest; City Staff did a terrific job! 

6. TREASURER'S REPORT - no report 

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

a. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Alderman Von Drasek - no report 

b. FINANCE COMMITTEE - Alderman Finn - no report 

c. HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE - Alderman Mikolyzk 

1. Consideration to hire John Fitzgerald as a part-time engineer. 

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0 

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek

d. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE - Alderman Benson - no report 

e. PLAN COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - City Attorney Peck 

1. Consideration of an Ordinance Granting Text Amendments to Section 10-6A-1 (Permitted Uses) and Section 10-6B-2 (Special Uses) in the Zoning Code. At the Hearing held on January 7, 2025, the PC/ZBA considered adding language allowing "physical therapy and physical rehabilitation facilities" to be a Permitted Use in the B-1 Zoning District, and deleting the phrase "physical culture and Health Services" as a Special Use in the B-1 Zoning District. After hearing all testimony and evidence, and having no objections, written or oral, the PC/ZBA adopted the Text Amendment as presented. Sales tax revenue is very minimal and of no consequence. 

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0 

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek 

City Clerk Kmet declared that this will be known as Ordinance 25-01-0. 

f. SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE - Alderman Musillami 

1. Consideration of Draft Field Use Agreement and Proposed Fee Schedule. Soccer teams will be charged $30 per hour for field usage. Baseball teams will not be charged a fee, in exchange for field maintenance. 

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0 

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek

2. Winterfest was a huge success; it had the greatest attendance - wall to wall people. 

Many thanks to Staff members who participated. Thanks also to the sponsors -- Engineering Co., Vulcan Materials, CFX Fitness Honey Jam Café and Artistic Engraving. 

3. Remember to save the date St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 1. The Back to School Fair is August 9. Blue Grass Festival is August 16. Concerts in the Park will begin on June 12 and continue through the second week of August.

g. SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE - Alderman Musillami - no report h. FLAGG CREEK ADVISORY BOARD - Alderman Frohlich- no report

8. LEGAL REPORT - City Attorney Peck 

a. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Grant of an Easement to ComEd at 803 Joliet Road. This Grant works in conjunction with the Verizon Easement currently at the back portion of City Hall. ComEd believes that the current easement is insufficient for all the utility connections. The new easement was reviewed and approved by the Building Department. Everything will be underground except for one box sufficient to power their equipment. 

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek

Clerk Kmet declared that this will be known as Resolution 25-01-R.

9. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT - Ms. Gail Paul - no report 

10. STAFF REPORTS 

a. Chief of Police 

1. Chief Klimek sought consideration and Action to hire one Probationary Police Officer. Officer Dave Brunke has submitted his resignation effective February 1; we need to hire his replacement. 

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0 

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek 

b. City Engineer Hernandez 

1. Consideration to award a Net Change Order Addition for the 2024 water Main Replacement Project to Unique Plumbing Co., Brookfield, IL in the amount of $58,000. Alderman Benson questioned the need for the change order. Initially, there were three connections from the proposed water main on the west side of LaGrange to the businesses on the east side. This order will remove the three connections ($147K). They are now proposing one 8" connection to run parallel at each main on the east side parallel to the 12" for about 500 feet. This will provide additional reliability for the City because the system will be looped; also the businesses on the east side will be better served in the event of any future development. 

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek

2. Consideration of Pay Estimate #1 to McGill Construction, LLC, Frankfort, IL in the amount of $23,584.90 for the Flagg Creek Golf Course Cart Path Patching and Parking Lot Sealcoating. Due to the weather current work has ceased; this amount is for work completed in November for the excavation and stone base. 

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

Aye: 5 Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Finn, Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Benson 

Nay: 0

Absent: 1 Alderman Von Drasek

11. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND, IF SO DETERMINED, ACTION UPON: none 

12. ADJOURNMENT 

https://cms2.revize.com/revize/countryside/Document/Agenda%20&%20Minutes/2025/City%20Council/01-22-25%20City%20Council%20Minutes.pdf