West Cook News

City of Countryside City Council met June 11

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, Tom Frohlich John Von Drasek, Mark Benson and John Finn

1. CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor McDermott. City Clerk Kmet 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 Musillami, Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman  Benson. Alderman Mikolyzk, Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Finn, City Clerk Kmet, City Treasurer Bolt 

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

2. OMNIBUS AGENDA 

a. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025.  

b. Approval of the Statement of Bills submitted for payment through June 11, 2025: $905,924.01. 

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

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

Nay: 0 

3. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - none 

4. MAYOR’S REPORT 

a. Consideration of a Block Party request from Susan Picek at 6908 Parkside Avenue on  August 23, 2025 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

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 Von Drasek, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Frohlich,  Alderman Finn, Alderman Benson, Alderman Mikolyzk 

Nay: 0 

b. Mayor McDermott welcomed our new City Engineer Lukasz Sledz to the City. 

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 –Alderman Von Drasek – no report 

b. FINANCE COMMITTEE – Alderman Finn  

1. Consideration to waive the formal bidding process for the purchase of a Dodge Durango Police Vehicle from Jack Phelan Dodge for $39,831.70 including emergency equipment upfit from MPC Communications for $10,853.00 and trade-in of a 2013 Ford Taurus to Jack Phelan Dodge. 

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 Von Drasek, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Finn, Alderman Benson, Alderman Mikolyzk 

Nay: 0 

2. Consideration to waive the formal bidding process for the purchase of a Ford  F-150 Responder from Westfield Ford for $46,260.70 with emergency equipment installed by MPC Communications for $15,346.30 

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

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

Nay: 0 

3. Consideration and Approval to waive the formal bidding process to purchase a Motorola M500 in-car Camera system from Motorola Solutions for $10,200 for the Ford  F-150. 

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 Von Drasek, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Finn, Alderman Benson, Alderman Mikolyzk 

Nay: 0 

4. Consideration to approve an Ordinance Implementing a 1% Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax for the City of  Countryside, Cook County, IL. The tax in effect is to be eliminated January 1, 2026. The annual  collection by the City from that tax would be $865K annually. Public Act 103-0781 authorizes municipalities to enact a local sales tax on groceries pursuant to the passage of a local ordinance. This tax will still be collected by the Illinois Department of Revenue with a full  pass-through to municipalities. 

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

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

Nay: 0 

City Clerk Kmet declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 25-16-O.

c. HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE – Alderman Mikolyzk –no report 

d. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE – Alderman Benson – no report  

e. PLAN COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS –Attorney Peck  

1. Consideration of an Ordinance granting Variances for a new Monument Sign, including Variances for Sign Type, Hours of Operation, Location, Height and size to permit the  construction and placement of an Electronic Variable Message (EVM) sign at 6200 Joliet Road. On June 3, 2025 the Applicant, Mr. Russell Nicoletti, representing Local 150 (IUOE) appeared  before the PC/ZBA seeking six variances for an EVM monument sign on the property at 6200  Joliet Road. The six variances are as follows:  

1) A Variance to exceed the maximum area for an EVM sign;  

2) To waive the requirement that prohibits the use of animation or flashing;  

3) A variance to waive the requirement that permits EVM signs to be in operation only during business hours;  

4) To reduce the setback from the public right of way for monument signs from 5’ to 1’2”;

5) To exceed the maximum height for a monument sign;  

6) To exceed the maximum surface of the monument sign. At that Hearing the PC/ZBA  considered all testimony and evidence and found that the conditions had been met for the requested Variances. There were no objections at the hearing; therefore, it was the PC/ZBA’s recommendation to approve the six Variances subject to the four conditions as set forth in the  Planning Memorandum dated June 3, 2025. 

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

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

Nay: 0 

City Clerk Kmet declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 25-17-O.

f. SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE – Alderman Musillami 

1. FYI - Concerts in the Park are beginning tomorrow. The first show is the Rhythm Rockets beginning at 7 p.m. 

2. The Wellness Fair at Ideal School now has a sponsor Glacier and Van Holla Mental Health Group. That will take place on Saturday, August 9 from 2-4 p.m. 

3. The Countryside Bluegrass Festival is August 16, 2025 at Countryside Park from 1-9 p.m. It will feature all live music with five bands; also food trucks and breweries are - Beach Avenue, Da Taco Goat, BuckleDown Brewery, GRZ Grub, Imperial Oak Brewery and Ledo’s Pizza.

g. SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE – Alderman Musillami – no report 

h. FLAGG CREEK ADVISORY BOARD – Alderman Frohlich – no report

8. LEGAL REPORT 

a. Consideration of an Ordinance regarding Bicycles, Low Speed Electrical Bicycles and Personal Mobility Devices. There has been a significant increase in all types of electrical devices  sharing the roadway. In working with the Police Chief, the City has developed an Ordinance which would regulate and provide requirements for these vehicles on the roadway. They must  comply with all laws and rules in place regarding stop signs, speed restrictions and licensing. The City has the ability to issue citations for infractions of the law. Alderman Mikolyzk asked if there is an age requirement? Chief Klimek stated that bicycles are broken down into classes. The fastest bike speed is Class 3; a rider must be 16 years of age to ride; the maximum speed is 28  mph. Some new electric devices are going 40-50 mph. The Mayor noted a number of complaints to the City about these vehicles riding on the street in a reckless manner. Ald. Mikolyzk noted a gathering of young men near the Home Depot lot doing various maneuvers – very dangerous. Chief Klimek stated that is on private property – outside the scope of this  Ordinance. Ald. Von Drasek asked if the citations would be subject to local Adjudication here  at City Hall – correct. 

Motion was made by Alderman Mikolyzk, seconded by Alderman Musillami that this matter be APPROVED as presented; motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 Alderman Von Drasek, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Finn, Alderman Benson, Alderman Mikolyzk 

Nay: 0 

City Clerk Kmet declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 25-18-O. 

9. CITY ADMINISTRATOR  

a. Consideration to name the Fifth Avenue Park the ROBB PARK – The Aldermen from Ward 2  are recommending that the park be named after Larry Robb whose family lived on the cut-off  for decades. They used to hold big annual 4th of July picnics for all cut-off residents for many,  many years. Mrs. Judy Robb was delighted when she was advised that the City would be  honoring her late husband. He was a special person and loved the City of Countryside.; they were a close-knit bunch; he is definitely missed. 

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 Von Drasek, Alderman Musillami, Alderman Frohlich, Alderman Finn, Alderman Benson, Alderman Mikolyzk 

Nay: 0 

10. STAFF REPORTS 

a. Police Chief – no report 

b. City Engineer – Tom Brandstedt  

1. Consideration of Engineer’s pay estimate #4 in the amount of $379,501.64 to Unique Plumbing Co. Inc., Brookfield, IL for the 2024 Water Main Replacement. They are making significant progress; the main has been installed on both sides of LaGrange Road. They are currently working on water services on the west side of LaGrange Road. 

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

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

Nay: 0

11. MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION  

To discuss the purchase of Real Estate under Section 2(c)(5) of the Open Meetings Act. Motion was made by Alderman Von Drasek, seconded by Alderman Finn that  this meeting be RECESSED; motion carried by the following vote: 

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

Nay: 0 

Mayor McDermott declared the meeting recessed at 7:48 p.m. 

12. RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION  

The Regular City Council returned to Open Session with the same members present at 8:18 pm: 

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

14. ADJOURNMENT 

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

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

Nay: 0 

Mayor McDermott declared the meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.

https://cms2.revize.com/revize/countryside/Document/Agenda%20&%20Minutes/2025/City%20Council/6-11-25_council%20minutes.pdf