Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Des Plaines City Council appointed First Ward Alderman Patricia Haugeberg to acting Mayor of Des Plaines on Monday.
Des Plaines City Council appointed two aldermen to serve consecutively as acting mayor until the middle of April at a meeting on Monday. First Ward Alderman Patricia Haugeberg took over the acting mayor position from Eighth Ward Alderman Michael Charewicz, who filled the role since being appointed Jan. 7. Haugeberg will serve as acting mayor until the beginning of the next city council meeting on Feb. 19, at which time Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad will become acting mayor, according to the approved plan. Sayad will serve as acting mayor until the beginning of the city council meeting on April 15. Aldermen voted, 5-3, in favor of the plan for Haugeberg and Sayad to fill the vacancy left by former Mayor Marty Moylan, who resigned Dec. 31…
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Aldermen, city staff discussed overtime pay for city workers, removing trees infested with Emerald Ash Borer, remodeling city council chambers and more on Wednesday.
For the third consecutive year, Des Plaines’ proposed budget includes a zero percent tax levy. City council and City of Des Plaines staff reviewed a variety of expenses related to the general fund at the first of three annual budget hearings at city hall on Wednesday. The discussion about the 2013 budget covered city staff, the police and fire departments, public works and engineering department, information technology department, emergency management agency, police and fire commission and other city services. A copy of the City of Des Plaines 2013 proposed budget is on the city’s website. Here are a few of the items, with page numbers, that impelled discussion at the meeting. The request form includes $4,000 to replace ceiling speakers…
Monday, October 8, 2012
Giardiniera, dressings, olives, oils and more are products of the V. Formusa Company, which plans to relocate to Des Plaines.
A family-owned Chicago business that has operated at the same location for more than 100 years is set to move to Des Plaines, after the property sale is finalized. City council approved a special property tax incentive for the V. Formusa Company, a manufacturer and supplier of condiments and other products to food service distributors and retailers, 7-0, at a meeting on Oct. 1. First Ward Alderman Patricia Haugeberg was not in attendance. The tax incentive, based on a Cook County ordinance called a 6b, reduces the property tax obligation from 25 percent to 10 percent for 10 years. Dan Wilson, seventh ward alderman, asked Michael Bartholomew, city manager, what was the history of granting 6b tax incentives in the area. “Don’t get me wrong; …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Preliminary plans for the development at Higgins and Mannheim roads were approved by city council on Monday.
Work on the new parking garage planned for the development at Higgins and Mannheim roads could begin as early as this fall, and is expected to begin no later than 2013. Des Plaines City Council voted in favor of preliminary plans, 7-1, put forth by The Parking Spot to build a parking garage, hotel and restaurant at the intersection of Mannheim and Higgins Roads. “The market is great for what we do,” said Kevin Shrier, chief operating officer of The Parking Spot, based in Chicago. “We would start tomorrow if we could.” Earlier: Despite concerns including traffic, plans for Higgins/Mannheim development approved. The company has completed similar projects near other major airports in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Houston. The Parking …
Friday, March 30, 2012
Aldermen say that that flood mitigation projects top residents’ lists.
Des Plaines will likely receive between $3 and $5 million dollars from Rivers Casino this year and aldermen say they plan to use it for infrastructure improvements and debt reduction in 2013. The finance and administration committee met last night to formulate a policy that will help guide current and future city administrators and politicians in how revenue generated from Rivers Casino can best be spent. Many stressed that this policy will help Des Plaines avoid mistakes other casino communities made with their revenue, such as spending it on operating costs. Des Plaines has the tenth and final casino license in the state and earned that in part because it entered a 30-year Business Development Agreement. The agreement stipulates that the…
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Grant funds to pay for bicycle lanes, signals and increased visibility of crosswalks.
Pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers will soon see a more integrated network of roadways and paths in Des Plaines. A plan presented by Active Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy organization based in Chicago, passed in a 7-1 vote at the city council meeting Monday. Fifth Ward Alderman Jim Brookman voted opposed. Tim Oakley, director of public works, said he and his staff will look at different areas in the city and evaluate what intersections could benefit from this plan. “The purpose is to promote safety for all users of roadways,” he said. Earlier: City Council discusses health initiative. The plan’s recommendations include increasing signage and crosswalk visibility at parks, and add pedestrian signals and curb cuts near …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Increase comes in wake of Chicago raising the purchase cost of water 25 percent.
Des Plaines will likely increase water and sewer rates this year to keep up with maintenance costs and address Chicago water rate increases. For residents this would mean a 21.23 percent rate increase. For average users, there will be a $6.55 monthly rate increase, or $13.10 on the city’s bi-monthly bills. Alderman voted to pass the ordinance in a 7-1 vote on first reading at the city council meeting on Tuesday. Fifth Ward Alderman Jim Brookman voted against the measure. A final decision will happen at the ordinance's second reading. All ordinances have two readings, and council members vote on both. The purpose of the first reading is to put people on notice of the subject matter of the ordinance. It is adopted or defeated at the second …
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Funds two positions at Des Plaines’ senior center.
Des Plaines alderman voted in favor of continuing to fund the Meals on Wheels program in Des Plaines in 2012 at the City Council meeting Dec. 19. The Frisbie Senior Center, which manages the program, will receive $35,000. The funding will help pay costs associated with having an in-house social worker, who evaluates eligible recipients, and for a service coordinator, who manages day-to-day operations and schedules deliveries. Earlier: Home generator rebate program ends Jan. 31. Aldermen touted the significant cost savings associated with having the senior center manage the program. In 2010 and 2011, the city gave the center $40,000. Prior to 2010, the city managed the Meals on Wheels program itself with two city employees, costing the city…
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Concern over growing trend, Des Plaines more business-friendly, alderman say.
Two more businesses received permission to install larger and brighter signs than allowed by building code at the city council meeting on Monday. One Des Plaines alderman has voiced concern over the recent increase in approvals of code variances. Variances in code can be applied for if there is a “need” or “undue hardship.” City council members approved two requests for larger signs and signs with a greater proportion of electronic board space, 7-1, for Planet Fitness, 751 West Golf Road, and Royal Touch Car Wash, 2711 Mannheim Road. Seventh Ward Alderman Dan Wilson, who voted against the exceptions, said the city works hard to keep Des Plaines attractive by offering grants for renovated storefronts and new awnings. “I don’t like the …
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
City Council approved the budget Monday; it includes a controversial business development coordinator position.
City Council approved the city’s 2012 budget at its meeting on Monday at City Hall. Aldermen hailed the plan, which includes a zero percent tax levy increase. One contentious part of the budget was a business development coordinator position, which was set at $99,000. Some aldermen said they want the position to be full-time, whereas others thought the funds should be used for contract services. The same position was eliminated a year ago, around the same time the city hired a new director of community and economic development, Matthew Bartholomew. For now, council voted 6-2 in favor of keeping the money in the budget, and tabling the choice between a full-time or contract position. Aldermen Dan Wilson, seventh ward, and Mike Charewicz, …
Christopher Brinckerhoff
2:03 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Hi Gus, Here's the information you requested. It's in the second half of the story. The proposed location for V. Formusa, 2150 Oxford Road, is an approximately 64,000 square foot lot with an approximately 25,000 square foot building, said Alexander Dambach, director of community and economic development. “They’re investing about $100,000 in rehabilitation,” Dambach said. “They’ll be bringing in … more ›