West Cook News

Village of Franklin Park President and Board of Trustees met March 3

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

II. CALL TO ORDER: Village President Pedersen called to order the Board of Trustees of the Village of Franklin Park in session at 7:00 p.m. 

III. ROLL CALL; ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM 

Village Clerk April J Arellano called the roll: 

Present at Board Meeting: Barrett F Pedersen (Village President), April J Arellano (Village Clerk), Joseph Montana (Village Attorney) 

Trustees (Present in the Room): Mr. Ruhl, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Special, Ms. Avitia, Mr. Ybarra, and Mr. Hagerstrom 

Department Heads: 

Mike Witz (Police Director) 

Nick Steker (Battalion Chief) 

David Gonzalez (Village Comptroller) 

Lisa Manzo (Deputy Building Director) 

Nick Weber (Deputy Utilities Commissioner) 

Nick Walny (Director of Community Development and Zoning) 

Lisa Anthony (HR and Operations Director) 

Dan Corcoran (IT Director) 

Tom McCabe (Village Engineer) 

The Village Clerk declared a quorum was present. 

IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limit to 2 minutes per speaker, Ordinance 1415- G-43) 

1. NONE 

V.  COMMITTEE REPORTS 

1. FINANCE AND SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEES, (Mr. Johnson, Chair) 

1. MR. JOHNSON REPORTED VILLAGE COMPTROLLER DAVID GONZALEZ WILL BE GIVING A BRIEF REPORT ON THE JANUARY 2025 FINANCIALS 

2. WATER AND SEWER/FLEET MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE, (Ms. Avitia, Chair) 

1. MS. AVITIA REPORTED 4 MAIN BREAKS 

2. MS. AVITIA REPORTED STAFF REPLACED THE LEAD SERVICE LINE AT 2849 PEARL AFTER LEAD DISRUPTION TOOK PLACE DURING A WATER MAIN BREAK A COUPLE WEEKS EARLIER 

3. MS. AVITIA REPORTED THE SEWER CREW JETTED THE 2500 AND 2600 BLOCK OF WESTBROOK JETTING 1,211 FEET AND WE ALSO JETTED 100 FEET AT MANNHEIM AND SCHUBERT AFTER LAST WEEK'S REPAIRS TO THAT SEWER LINE 

4. MS. AVITIA REPORTED STAFF REPLACED 15 FEET OF 6" SANITARY SEWER PIPE AT 2849 PEARL 

5. MS. AVITIA REPORTED KING STREET PUMPING STATION IS BACK IN FULL SERVICE AFTER ALL TESTING OF NEW ACTUATOR VALVES HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL 

6. MS. AVITIA REPORTED M.E. SIMPSON IS IN TOWN FOR THE FEW WEEKS DOING VALVE EXERCISING AND HYDRANT FLUSHING TO KEEP UP WITH OUR YEARLY SCHEDULED DISTRIBUTION MAINTENANCE 

7. MS. AVITIA REPORTED CREWS ARE OUT PICKING UP GARBAGE AROUND TOWN AFTER SNOW MELTED AND FILLED 25 BAGS

3. POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE, (Mr. Ruhl, Chair) 

1. ON BEHALF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, MR. RUHL REPORTED SMOKE ALARM INSTALLATIONS CONTINUES TO BE A SUCCESS WITH 201 ALARMS IN 39 HOMES 

2. MR. RUHL REPORTED FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 283 CALLS FOR SERVICE 

3. ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MR. RUHL REPORTED 2,846 CALLS FOR SERVICE, 64 ARRESTS, 393 STATE CITATIONS ISSUED, 18 LOCAL ORDINANCE, 542 PARKING TICKETS ISSUED, 779 PEDESTRIAN STOPS, 4. MR RUHL REPORTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT 2024 YEAR IN REVIEW IS NOW ON THE WEBSITE AND CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE POLICE LINK

4. STREETS, ALLEYS, AND FLEET MAINTENANCE (Mr. Ybarra, Chair) 

1. MR. YBARRA REPORTED 3 TRUCKS WERE SENT TO FLEET FOR REPAIRS

2. MR. YBARRA REPORTED 3 TEMPORARY PATCHES WERE DONE FROM WATERMAIN BREAKS AND POTHOLES WERE PATCHED ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN 

3. MR. YBARRA REPORTED 4 FADED SIGNS WERE REPLACED AND 6 SIGNS AND POSTS INSTALLED\ 

4. MR. YBARRA REPORTED THE MAIN AND SECONDARY STREETS WERE SWEPT, AND LITTER WAS PICKED UP ON FRANKLIN AVENUE AND IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA

5. PROPERTY, PLANNING, ZONING, BUILDING, AND TREE PRESERVATION COMMISSION, (Ms. Special, Chair) 

1. MS. SPECIAL DID NOT HAVE A REPORT ON BEHALF OF THE TREE PRESERVATION COMMISSION 

2. ON BEHALF OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, MS. SPECIAL REPORTED 56 CONTRACTORS APPLIED FOR LICENSES, 40 BUILDING PERMITS, 8 ELECTRICAL PERMITS 3 SIGN PERMITS, 1 DUMPSTER PERMITS, 3 FIRE PERMITS, AND NO POD PERMIT WERE APPLIED FOR A TOTAL OF 55 PERMITS. SHE ANNOUNCED 8 PROPERTY CLOSINGS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, 3 NEW BUSINESS APPLIED FOR OCCUPANCY AND 1 NEW BUSINESSES WERE ISSUED AN OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE 

3. ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MS. SPECIAL REPORTED THE ADOPTION OF THE VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN PARK GRAND AVENUE CORRIDOR PLAN IS ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION. THE GRAND AVENUE CORRIDOR PLAN WAS CREATED THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS LED BY THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENCY FOR PLANNING (CMAP). THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, CMAP STAFF ENGAGED RESIDENTS, INTEREST GROUPS, VILLAGE STAFF, AND OTHERS WHO CALL FRANKLIN PARK HOME. RESEARCH, DATA COLLECTION, AND DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SHAPED THE PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH IS MEANT TO GUIDE THE VISION FOR GRAND AVENUE OVER THE NEXT TEN TO TWENTY YEARS. IT WILL SERVE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, VILLAGE STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG GRAND AVENUE. THE PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENCY FOR PLANNING'S (CMAP) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, AND ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

6. HUMAN RESOURCES, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE, (Mr. Hagerstrom, Chair) 

1. MR. HAGERSTROM REPORTED THE FIRST BLOOD DRIVE OF THE YEAR WILL BE ON MARCH 14, 2025, IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM 

VI. STAFF REPORTS AND COMMENTS: DISCUSSION ON AGENDA ITEMS 

1. VILLAGE COMPTROLLER DAVID GONZALEZ BRIEFLY WENT OVER THE 2025 JANUARY FINANCIAL REPORT 

2. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING, NICK WALNY, BRIFLY WENT OVER AN UPDATE REGARDING THE SALE OF 9651 FRANKLIN AVENUE AND THE 2 OFFERS THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECIEVED 

3. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING, NICK WALNY, WENT OVER THE THE ADOPTION OF THE GRAND AVENUE CORRIDOR PLAN ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION

CONSENT AGENDA 

(Items on the Consent Agenda will be enacted or approved by a single motion or omnibus vote. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless so requested by a member of the Village Board, in which case that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in the normal sequence of the Agenda.) 

1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM: 

(a) THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2025 

2. APPROVAL OF VOUCHER EXPENDITURES LIST IN THE AMOUNT OF: $2,220,533.75 

3. ORDINANCE NO. 2425 VC 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER SIX OF TITLE SIX OF THE VILLAGE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS (VILLAGE HALL EMPLOYEE RESERVED PARKING) 

4. ORDINANCE NO. 2425 G 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS APPROVING THE GRAND AVENUE CORRIDOR PLAN 

5. MOTION TO APPROVE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE IN NILDA VELEZ AND ANIBAL SCHARON V. THE VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN PARK, BENJI-RANDY CUYUGAN AND CRISELDA GUILLU, CASE NUMBER 2023 L 2017 AND AUTHORIZE THE OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS OF THE VILLAGE TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND TAKE SUCH ACTION TO EFFECTUATE SAME 

6. MOTION TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF A RAFFLE LICENSE TO THE RIVER GROVE LYONS CLUB FOR A RAFFLE TO BE HELD AT THE UNDERPASS LOUNGE, 9400 WEST GRAND AVENUE, FRANKLIN PARK, ILLINOIS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025 

Motion made by Mr. Hagerstrom and seconded by Ms. Special to approve the Consent Agenda 

Roll Call: Ayes - Mr. Hagerstrom, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Ruhl, Ms. Special, Ms. Avitia and Mr. Ybarra 

Nay 0. Absent -0. Abstain - Ms. Irene Avitia

VIII. NEW BUSINESS 

None 

IX. COMMENTS FROM THE CLERK:

NONE 

X. COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT: 

Village President announced that Al and Joe's have sold the business to new owners on March 07, 2025. The business will remain the same 

XI. CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION 

None 

XII. ADJOURNMENT 

Motion made by Mr. Hager from, seconded by Ms. Avitia to adjourn at 7: PM. Voice vote carried. 

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