Bogusz Begins Term as Des Plaines Mayor

Des Plaines Mayor Matt Bogusz spoke about what he has learned from other city council members after being sworn into office on Monday.

Des Plaines Mayor Matt Bogusz began his four-year term after being sworn in before a standing-room-only crowd at city hall on Monday. Bogusz thanked his family, friends and supporters, and spoke about some of what he learned working with other city council members. “We all are a collection, a combination of the experiences we’ve had and the lessons we’ve learned from each other,” Bogusz said. “And I’ve learned a lot from the people I’ve worked with.” Click on the video above to see Bogusz speak about learning from Des Plaines city council members. First Ward Alderman Patricia Haugeberg, Third Ward Alderman Denise Rodd, Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman, Seventh Ward Alderman Joanna Sojka and City Clerk Gloria Ludwig were also sworn into …

• Videos (1)

Des Plaines Boosting Spending on Infrastructure

The Daily Herald reported that Des Plaines plans to spend about $13.2 million on infrastructure improvements in 2013.

Des Plaines is planning to spend about $13.2 million on infrastructure improvements in 2013, the Daily Herald reported. The planned spending represents a significant increase over 2012 during which about $7.6 million was spent. The newspaper reported that about $4.4 million will go toward flood control, $2.8 million for streetscape work, $1.7 million for water system improvements, $850,000 for sidewalk repairs and about $500,000 for renovoation of the downtown Metra station.

• Photos (1)

Alderman: City Hall Piping Project “a Mess”

Rejected bids, plan changes cause disagreement at city council.

After two rejected bids and further changes to plans for replacing piping in city hall, Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten called it “a mess,” at city council on Monday. City council voted, 7-1, to reject a bid by J&S Plumbing for $188,350. Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad voted against the measure. Sayad said his understanding of the situation was that the original estimate had to be changed. The changes were made, a new bidding process was completed, and the lowest bid was less than the original bid of $193,121. “If the new bid was lower than the first one, and it reflected the corrections, why would we reject it?” Sayad asked Tim Oakley, director of public works and engineering. Oakley said all the bids were higher than the city’s cost …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Des Plaines Yesterday and Today

Old Des Plaines Municipal Building Use Hotly Debated in 1974

When it was built at Graceland and Prairie avenues in 1937 it included the city’s administrative offices, police department and library.

In 1935, Des Plaines' city leadership was feeling cramped, and applied for a grant to find relief. The old Village Hall, built in 1892, was created to serve a much smaller village than the city that existed 44 years later. Des Plaines had grown, with annexations and subdivisions of former farms, a larger administration that had to fit in quite a small space, shared with police and fire. A new municipal building at Graceland and Prairie avenues was dedicated on June 26, 1937. Today, the site provides parking for the Civic Center and the Des Plaines Police Department. Sign up for Patch’s free daily newsletter. The federal government's Public Works Administration aided local projects including this one during the Great Depression. Des Plaines…

•  3 Comments
• Photos (6)

Brian Wolf

3:55 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Thanks Rick. Dave Wolf is my grandfather and took the color slide photos above.   more ›

Bid for City Hall Plumbing Project Approved, Rejected

Officials say the project has changed, and should go through bidding process again.

A bid approved by city council amid objections from some aldermen last month to complete a plumbing project at city hall was rejected, 5-3, at the city council meeting on Monday. Tim Oakley, director of public works and engineering, said because the scope of the project changed, bids should be rejected and a new round of bids should begin later this month. Second Ward Alderman John Robinson, Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad and Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten voted against the measure. Walsten said it was not fair to the bidder to make that information public, then reject the bid. “It is unfair that the bidders had to show their cards,” Walsten said. Stay connected: Receive an email from Des Plaines Patch with headlines in the morning. …

• Photos (1)

City Approves $35K for Seniors Food Program

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…

• Photos (1)

City Hall Evacuated

Gas tank leaks while being worked on.

City Hall was evacuated late Thursday morning after a tank of Freon gas began leaking in the basement, TribLocal reported. Nobody was hurt, and people were allowed back in the building a little after 1 p.m. For the story visit TribLocal’s website. Earlier: Pics of Patriot Day Ceremony at City Hall. Fb Like Des Plaines Patch and Join the Conversation.

• Photos (4)