CITY OF KANKAKEE

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

FEBRUARY 4, 2008 7:00 P.M.

MAYOR GREEN: I’d like to call the meeting to order, please. I’d like to ask Reverend Vincent Clark of the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church to open our meeting with a prayer.

REV. CLARK: Let us pray. Gracious God, I stand here in appreciation before this assembly, leaders of the City of Kankakee, citizens of the City as well as those who are concerned, thanking You first of all that these members of the Council are not just elected officials. I appreciate the fact, Oh God, that You have allowed them to be servant leaders. I pray that You’ll continue to give them wisdom, what is best for the citizens and the community of Kankakee. I pray, Oh God, that as they use their wisdom that they would give vision to this City, that they would continue to please you and the decisions that they make on behalf of the citizens. I pray, Oh God, that You’ll continue to bless them with health and strength and that as they make those decisions which glorify You, I pray that the people will come together and work under their leadership. Thank You once again. Bless this assembly, this meeting and these decisions. In Your son Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

MAYOR GREEN: Now I’d like to ask Principal Greg Merrill to come up and lead us in the Pledge. We were supposed to have some young folks from Mark Twain tonight. We’ve only got one, but Greg is going to help him and come up and lead us in the Pledge.

GREG MERRILL: This is Maurice Taylor. He’s one of my students in the Brothers Helping Brothers Program. I was expecting a lot more kids here, but the fog indistinguishable. Our program motivates young men to read and several people here tonight are actually participating in it. Mr. Snipes, Larry Nolan, ah, Steve Hunter, they all provide positive black male role models from the community indistinguishable young men. Our second goal is to motivate them to read. Anyway, he’s wearing his Mark Twain Brothers Helping Brothers’ shirt and I appreciate him and his Mom for taking him out tonight. With no further adieu.

GREG MERRILL, MAURICE TAYLOR AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance

MAYOR GREEN: Good job. Thank you. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

MAYOR GREEN: Thank you. Department Heads.

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Kinkade; Young; Doyle; Spice; Bohlen; Power; Leshen; Simms; Tyson; Shaw; Nolan; Gordon; Fuerst (13)

MAYOR GREEN: Thank you. You have the minutes of the January 22, 2008, meeting. I need a motion to approve.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Ah, Mayor Green, hearing no objections from my colleagues, I move they be approved as recorded.

ALDERMAN HEARN: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Hearn to approve the minutes of January 22, 2008. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.

MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 22, 2008

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Ah, I have no Petitions. Are there any Petitions from the Floor? Hearing none, we’ll move into Communications and tonight Barry Bradford is here and he’s.......he is representing the Windy City Soldiers. It’s a basketball team that he is organizing and it’s becoming a part of Kankakee and I have asked him to come tonight and bring everyone up-to-date as to what he’s doing at this point. I think it’s a real opportunity for a lot of young men in this community. So, Barry, the microphone’s yours.

BARRY BRADFORD: Thank you Mayor for having me and all the elected officials of the City........of the community. We are the Windy City Soldiers. We’re members of the International Basketball League, 28 teams across the country, China, a lot of teams on the west coast, Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, as well as about seven to eight other Midwest teams. Gary Steelheads play in Gary. Elgin, Illinois, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Battle Creek, Michigan. What we are is we are a minor league similar to the NBA’s developmental league. The only difference is, with our team, is that we run from the spring, from March until the end of June and our guys, they transition from.........either from the NBA or NBA’s developmental league, overseas. And, during the course of the spring, we’re able to help them to transition to getting jobs back in the NBA or the first time to the NBA for a better job overseas. And, so we have to kind of just because a transition league for those guys that are still tryin’ to play and get to the next level. Also, what we’re able to do is there’s still some guys who, like myself, who love to play basketball. I personally, I’ve been with the Milwaukee Bucks twice, in the beginning of my career. I’m getting kind of old now. I may not look that way, but I’m climbin’ up in my basketball years. I had the opportunity to train with Michael Jordan in his comeback campaign in 2001-2002. I started my career in Milwaukee and in the area with the Steelheads. I was fortunate enough to kind of come through what they call the back door. I was a late bloomer afforded some very, very special opportunities through the league...........through leagues like the International Basketball League, CBA and so what we wanted to do, the group that I’m a part of, Example Network, which is the name of the ownership group, we wanted to also give young men like myself an opportunity to further their careers and get to the next level. But, we also have the second type of individual who’s not lookin’ to get to the NBA, but they still love to play basketball at a high level and the International Basketball League affords them that opportunity to play at a high level. On the flip side of that, we’re able to do some things with the youth within the community which is already here in Kankakee. We started a mentorship program at King Grade School and our players go out on Fridays and we’re able to mentor some of the kids over there for about an hour, hour and a half on real life situations that they may not have a chance to deal with in the course of a school day. We also work right here inside the Resource Center with Ron Jackson and his staff with the after school program here with the kids. And, that’s one of the great things about our league. We’re different than the NBA in many skills and we’re different in advertisement and those types of things, but to the kids we remain yet the same because we’re pursing after our dream. We playin’ basketball on a very, very high level and we’re chasing after something that, you know, seemed to be bigger than us when we were younger. So, we’re able to lend them a different voice that they may not be hearing from a parent or somebody else–a teacher or a principal and those type of people. But, getting a positive voice and try to give them the type of mentoring that’s necessary to help kind of bridge the gap with our children. That’s one of the reasons I’m very proud to be a part of the Windy City Soldiers. That’s one of our, ah, highest priorities as an organization. We came to Kankakee by way of Chicago and we really felt........this is our second year in International Basketball League. I’m trying to say as much as I can to bring you in a short amount of time, but, ah, this is our second year in the league and what we found out in Chicago, where we were in the Chicago Heights area, that although there was a need with some of the children, but community-wise, there was so much going on that we didn’t really feel like it was home. And, so we looked over the course of a couple communities. Hammond, Indiana, Joliet and here in Kankakee County. And, when we got to Kankakee County, it was just like a perfect fit. The cornfield that stretches between here and Sauk Trail is enough separation that where.......you know, we felt like we were in a community that we could call our own. I liked it so much that I moved to the area and I reside here with my family, my wife and my two children and so, I’m here and I love it and I really feel that the community is already beginning to embrace us with the approval of Mayor Green and so many other officials and leaders within the community. We’ve slowly tried to build, ah, a positive program. We feel like it can be really enhancing to the community. Other cities, Elkhart, Indiana, and Battle Creek, Michigan, they get three and four thousand fans at a game and it’s really improved the life style of being a part of downtown Elkhart and downtown Battle Creek, Michigan. And it has brought that same type of attention you may get from having a professional franchise but, at the same time, you get the grass roots attention of normal guys who understand their role and their responsibility and the opportunity they’ve been afforded and understand their responsibility to give back to the community. So, we see us as having the same type of opportunity. We’re trying to really take our time and develop it the right way and, hopefully, with your support and with some help within the community, we can really take it to the level that we feel that it’s capable of really reaching, so, if anybody has any questions we definitely want to avail ourselves to any questions that you may have. I believe everybody may have a flyer about some of the events that we have coming up.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: How will your basketball schedules for the upcoming years be disseminated?

BARRY BRADFORD: The league.............the commissioners out of Portland, Oregon, his name is Mike O’Dooley, at a press conference, I believe some months ago, that Mayor Green..........he actually had formulated the schedule, ah, Elgin, Illinois, they decided, they been a part of the league for three years, they decided to come back into the league so they’re finalizing the last scopes of our schedule. But, we play 22 games over the course of the season. There are about nine or ten home games which is another thing that I love. It’s similar to the NFL, you don’t have 40 games that you’re askin’ people to come out to. It’s nine or ten very, very high quality games. Very high quality games. We average about 127 points a game so it’s a lot, you know, gettin’ up and down the court. It’s not, you know, grandma or grandpa’s basketball, so it’s a lot of fast pace and enjoyable action and very inclusive for the crowd, but the schedule comes out in the next five days. We’ve been assured that we’ll have our final schedule for the upcoming season.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: And, your funding is coming from?

BARRY BRADFORD: Our funding is, ah, myself, my older brother and my younger brother in our first season. We actually spent an extra $10,000.00 and played all our games on the road last year just so we could get a sense of different communities and how it was ran in every market which really gave us a lot of valuable information that we can come back and apply. Now, this year, we’ve been......been very fortunate to get help from Bennett Commercial and First National Bank, Homestead Bank, a lot of the, ah, business leaders in the community are starting to come on board and see what we are doing. We have sponsorship packages. Our next biggest thing that we’re going to try to push will be ticket sales. We’re hopin’ that, ah, I believe JoAnne Schwade, she’s not here today, but wants season tickets at our first event. But, I’m hoping that gentlemen like yourself and the rest of the community will go ahead and buy season tickets. One of the things we want to do, we play here at the Resource Center. I don’t know if I mentioned that. But, this is going to be our home facility and if you look downstairs, they’ve already begun to start painting. Roy Collins and the painters’ union, they’ve gotten together with some support and we begin to start painting the gym. We’re trying to renovate the facility downstairs. We have $20,000.00 rims that come from another college that have been given to us at a very discounted price that we’re very fortunate. We’re going to totally try to overhaul the gym and get the flooring done. We want to pack out the Resource Center. I love the old Armory. I love the feel to it. I’ve been really studying the history over the last five or six months, of the Armory. And, so we want to tackle some of that history and I just imagine that gym sold out. I mean it only takes about 600 people. That’s 1% of the City, you know, to pack out that gym. And I can just see it rockin’ and rollin’ where there’s not a seat in the house. So, hopefully, people will buy season tickets. That’ll really push us to the point where we can provide a product of excellence.

MAYOR GREEN: In front of each one of you, he’s left a little card. If you’d take a look at that, I had the privilege of meeting Barry. We met him out at KCC the night the Cops played the Firemen. And, I just happened to sit behind him and that’s how the conversation started. And, then he told me why he was in the area and that he was looking and the nice part about it is he continued to look here. And, if you talk to the young men that he’s dealing with who are the players, they’re very enthusiastic about it. And, I was interested in listening to the press conference about how they play the games. It’s not the same as you and I are used to watching the games and running up and down the floor. He’s made a real commitment to the Resource Center. And, to spend the money and the time and the effort to rehab the Center here which is great for Ron Jackson and his staff. But, it isn’t just the rehabilitation of the Center, I don’t think. It’s helping with the young people who are here every day after school and that’s, you know, that’s a positive role model and I think that’s what Greg Merrill was talking about a minute ago. And, he’s doing that with these kids here, so, I would encourage any of you to take a look at it. Talk to him if you can. If you’re involved with a company and your company is interested in sponsoring, I know that he would be more than pleased to sit down and talk to them. He and I sat down earlier this summer and went through a list of people that we sent him out to talk to. I gave him a letter of introduction and I was proud to do that because I think, ah, this is a heck of an opportunity for the City and to have them call Kankakee home, I think, is important to us.

BARRY BRADFORD: Thank you.

MAYOR GREEN: Thank you, Barry. Ah, next I have a letter of resignation from Rev. Dave Robinson of the Planning Commission. He’s moved out of the City so he’s submitted his letter of resignation. I need a motion to accept.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: So moved.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Williams. Is there a second?

ALDERMAN JONES: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Second by Alderman Jones. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM REVEREND DAVE ROBINSON OF THE

PLANNING COMMISSION

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Item C is just information from Comcast. Next, we’ll move.......any Communications from the Floor? Alderman Hunter.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor Green, I have a letter of solicitation from former Police Chief John Gerard and I think it’s probably.........I’m going to segue into something that is in keeping with some of the things that Mr. Bradford talked about. This particular Communication, as I indicated, came from John Gerard and it reads as follows: My name is John Gerard; I operate Gold Star Gym boxing team in Kankakee, IL. I am a licensed coach with the United States Amateur Boxing Association. The program’s I operate are affiliated with the following organizations.

1. United States Amateur Junior Olympics (Ages 9- thru-16 years)

2. Silver Gloves, Star, Regional’s, Nationals (Ages 9-thru-15 years)

3. United States Jr. Golden Gloves state and nationals

(Ages 11-thru-16 years)

4. Under 19 Tournament (Ages 17-thru-19 years)

5. P.A.L. I assume that’s the Police Athletic League Tournament

(Ages 11-thru-18 years)

6. Various IL Youth Boxing Programs

7. Chicago Golden Gloves state and nationals

(Ages 17-thru 33 years)

I have been a coach for 34 years in Kankakee. The program provides youth with an opportunity to be part of a team, learn discipline, good training habits, sportsmanship, and is alternate program to street gangs and drug abuse. The program provides local youth a place to go after school hours, and occupy their time in a positive manner. The program also provides under privilege youth an opportunity to build positive relationships with other youth. It also teaches discipline, rules, builds confidence, and self esteem. ¶ We are a not for profit organization seeking assistance for youth activities to afford us to be able to participate in boxing tournaments. Sincerely, John Gerard Ah, received the blessings, where he’s located right now from the Aldermen in the Third Ward. Alderman John Trost and Alderman Richard Diersen. Additionally, all the Aldermen here present tonight have signed off on this Communication and have affirmed that we should allocate $300.00 from Community Promotions to this worthwhile initiative. And, I assume, Mr. Bradford, at some future point, you’ll be coming to us for..........with your wish list and identify some things that we, as individuals, and the City can do to enhance your program. Therefore, Mayor Green, I would move that we allocate $300.00 from Community Promotions for this project.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Second.

ALDERMAN BARON: Second.

ALDERMAN DIERSEN: Second.

ALDERMAN TROST: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Williams, Alderman Baron, Alderman Diersen and Alderman Trost. Roll call. We’re spending money.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

MOTION TO ALLOCATE $300.00 FROM COMMUNITY PROMOTIONS

TO GOLD STAR GYM BOXING TEAM

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Thank you, Aldermen. Standing Committees. Public Works. Alderman Trost.

ALDERMAN TROST: The general information is in our packet, but I think I’d like to thank the guys with all the snow storms we’ve had that have pretty well kept up. They’re probably wore out totally.

MAYOR GREEN: I.....I........agree with you, Alderman. I think they’ve done a heck of a job. I know everyone’s not satisfied. I mean, you can’t please everyone, but it’s a very difficult task. I think they do one heck of a job in keeping the street clear.

And, the parking lots.

ALDERMAN TROST: They can’t be everywhere.

MAYOR GREEN: And, we sure have had one heck of a lot of snow.

ALDERMAN TROST: Yes.

MAYOR GREEN: That’s for sure. While we’re........while we’re at this juncture in talking about Public Works, Dave Tyson asked me tonight if we could pass a Resolution. As you can imagine, we’re running out of salt. We have the opportunity to pick some up and whether we use it or not, I think it’s a good insurance policy to have that we’ve got it in storage so Dave, if you’d use the microphone, please?

DAVID TYSON: Just so you’re aware, we buy our salt through the State program. The State purchasing program for it. We have an opportunity to be able to buy 30 percent more than what we had initially gone in for which will equate to approximately 1,500 tons or $22,500.00. Ah, I’m anticipating that with all of the snow that we’ve had, with all the villages, municipalities that are gonna’ need salt, that it might be hard for the City to be able to get it, so this is why I’m recommending that we buy it right now. What we don’t use, we have storage facilities that we can store it for next year. Most of the time, you will find, after you have a year like this, the prices are going to go up quite high next year. So, the quicker we buy it, I think it’ll be more of a savings for the City. The amount of the Resolution that we’re asking you to pass is for $22,500.00.

MAYOR GREEN: Alderman Trost.

ALDERMAN TROST: I’ll make the motion.

MAYOR GREEN: Is there a second?

ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Trost, seconded by Alderman Coleman to authorize the Resolution to purchase an additional supply of salt for $22,500.00. Any discussion? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION TO PURCHASE 1,500 MORE TONS

OF SALT AT A COST OF $22,500.00

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Needless to say, we’re a little bit over budget in Public Works this year, especially with overtime and salt. But, ah, we’ve had a number of years where we have been under budget, so this is one of those unusual seasons and we’re getting tagged a little bit. Code and Planning.

ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: The information is in the packet.

MAYOR GREEN: Ah, Report of Officers.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor, I move to approve the Report of Officers, place the money in the proper accounts and pay the bills in the amount of $2,342,146.81.

ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Ciaccio to approve the Report of Officers, place the money in the proper accounts, pay the bills in the amount of $2,342,146.81. Any questions from anyone? Alderman Baron, did you have a question?

ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: No, me.

MAYOR GREEN: Alderman Epstein, I’m sorry.

ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: That’s all right. Ah, Apollo Transfer Station. I assume that’s the cost for transporting our waste?

MAYOR GREEN: That’s our waste transfer station in Momence. That’s correct.

ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: And, that’s just the monthly charge?

MAYOR GREEN: That’s correct.

ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: Thank you.

MAYOR GREEN: Anyone else. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

REPORT OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS - $2,342,146.81

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Next, under Unfinished Business, we have the Second Reading of the Dangerous Animal Ordinance. Alderman Diersen.

ALDERMAN DIERSEN: I would move that we put this on Second Reading tonight.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Diersen to put this Ordinance on its Final Passage. Is there a second?

ALDERMAN GRANT: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Second by Alderman Grant. Discussion? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

SECOND READING

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER SIX OF THE CITY OF

KANKAKEE MUNICIPAL CODE (DANGEROUS ANIMALS)

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Next, under New Business, we’ve got an Ordinance for declaring surplus property. It’s the sale of our old ambulance. Is there a motion to Suspend the Rules?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor, move we Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of this Ordinance.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Brown to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of this Ordinance. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Little unusual for thunder at this time of year, isn’t it? Is there a motion to put this Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: I so move Mayor Green.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Brown to put this Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass. Alderman Diersen.

ALDERMAN DIERSEN: Do we advertise this vehicle in some way? Or how do we dispose of something like this?

MAYOR GREEN: We advertise. But, what we’re doing is declaring it surplus so we can. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY SURPLUS OF THE CITY

OF KANKAKEE – KANKAKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT – AND AUTHORIZING

THE SALE THEREOF

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Next is........and, we can deal with both of these together or you can deal with them separately. One’s a recommendation to accept the proposal from Kankakee Valley Construction for cold patch and that’s for $8,580.00. And the other one is from Kankakee Valley Construction for $18,000.00 for hot patch. It’s up to the City Council.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Move to indistinguishable

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Hunter to accept B and C. Any questions? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FROM KANKAKEE VALLEY CONSTRUCTION FOR 2008 MFT STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, SECTION

08-00000-00-GM, GROUP 2, FOR PREMIX PATCHING MATERIAL – COLD MIX

RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FROM KANKAKEE VALLEY CONSTRUCTION FOR 2008 MFT STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, SECTION

08-00000-00-GM, GROUP 3, FOR PREMIX PATCHING MATERIAL – HOT MIX

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Next, is a change order for the new City Hall building in the amount of $11,407.05. Mr. Simms would you go through that, please?

RICHARD SIMMS: Yes, Kankakee Valley Construction is the successful bidder for the site work on the project. The site work included landscaping, curb and gutters, sidewalks, the underground storage, rainwater collection system. Also, the paving of the parking lot. This change order resulted because of what is termed unsatisfactory soil condition. When they did some excavation work to the storm sewers, they discovered some of this material was hard to compact it and it wouldn’t compact adequately. Tyson’s company did the design and his inspectors confirmed it was not suitable soil, and authorized them to improve the soil and replace it with a higher quality soil. The second part of the change order was the lighting for the new parking lot is also part of Kankakee Valley’s contract through a sub contractor and it was determined there were not enough circuits available inside the new building electrical panel and so we had to make provisions an additional circuit for them to get the power for all the lighting for the new parking lot. Those two components were not in the original bid. For that reason, they’re asking for this change order which I think is appropriate.

MAYOR GREEN: Any questions on this issue? Alderman Jones.

ALDERMAN JONES: So, there’s something wrong with the soil? Is that what you’re saying, there’s something wrong with the soil? So, you’re going to take out the soil and replace it with other soil?

RICHARD SIMMS: Yes, possibly Mr. Tyson is more aware of this than I am, but it had to do with not being able to get proper compaction so that you have a parking lot surface that would be..........would last and that would hold up.

ALDERMAN JONES: So, it wouldn’t sink?

MAYOR GREEN: Dave, do you want to? Maybe Dave can answer the question better.

DAVID TYSON: Some of the soil that was encountered on it was actually the soil that would be just at the southwest corner of the library–in the new City Hall–where the parking lot is. The soil itself had a lot of water in it. We were not able to compact a 95% compaction, so what that would mean is that the soil’s going to move in different seasons, you’re going to have a soft base on it for tires spinning or coming in for parking. That new pavement wouldn’t probably even last a year on it. So, what you do is you have to remove it down to where you can build it back up with a suitable material which is normally a ballast material. You come in with a geofabric on top of that and then put your road mix on top of it. But, without doing it, the pavement would not have held up as it was supposed to.

MAYOR GREEN: Any other questions?

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: I have a question.

MAYOR GREEN: Alderman Williams.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Is that something similar to the problem they are having in Chicago where they’re having those massive sink holes? Where the pavement just collapses in the middle of the street?

DAVID TYSON: I’m not really sure what is causing the problems in Chicago. A lot of times, in older streets like that, the problem normally is, is what you have on it. It isn’t necessarily that type of soil. It’s that the sewers that run underneath the street become old and indistinguishable fractured, and so then water is able to infiltrate into the sewers. When water goes through the soil and infiltrates into the sewers, it takes soil with it. And, that’s what creates these voids and most of the time your surfaces will bridge those voids for a long period of time and then just is........gets the right load on it, it’ll give way all at once. And, that’s normally what causes the type of problem that they’re having up there.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: I so move.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Hunter. Is there a second?

ALDERMAN JONES: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Second by Alderman Jones. Any other questions? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 FROM KANKAKEE VALLEY CONSTRUCTION

COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,407.05 FOR SITE WORK PHASE I

(0650D) FOR THE FUTURE KANKAKEE CITY HALL

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Next, is a recommendation from the administration that we accept the proposal from the Metropolitan Planning Organization to participate in a study in land use and economic development of the area I would call 308 and the airport. The MPO, which is the Metropolitan Planning Organization, made up of the City of Kankakee, the Village of Bradley, the Village of Bourbonnais and the Village of Aroma Park and the County of Kankakee, that organization received a grant from the State to do studies of land use and economic development. This, in my opinion, is an important project for the City as we begin to head south at Exit 308. Of course, the airport is in the City of Kankakee and I think is important to economic development for the future of our community. So, I am asking you to allow us to enter into the agreement that will allow us to participate in that. We will share that cost. Part of the funds will come from the MPO. $20,000.00 for this study will come from the City of Kankakee. I believe the airport is putting in $5,000.00. And, I believe that the County is putting in $5,000.00. So, there will be a total of $30,000.00 from the units of government and there’s $30,000.00 from the MPO. And, that’s the cost of the study. I think it’s a good move for the City as we begin to develop that area south of town. It’s basically an addition to our master plan.

ALDERMAN BARON: Is that from the General Fund?

MAYOR GREEN: It would have to be Alderman and it’ll probably come out of different years. It’s all not going to occur this year.

ALDERMAN HEARN: I make a motion to approve.

ALDERMAN GRANT: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Hearn, seconded by Alderman Grant. Any discussion?

MAYOR GREEN: Oh, I’m sorry Alderman.

ALDERMAN JONES: Is the airport in the City limits? Has it been..........

MAYOR GREEN: Yes, it is.

ALDERMAN JONES: It is in the City limits. Okay.

MAYOR GREEN: Any other questions? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Trost; Jones; Coleman (12)

ABSENT: Schwade; Cox (2)

RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FROM THE METROPOLITAN

PLANNING ORGANIZATION REGARDING THE CITY OF KANKAKEE’S

PARTICIPATION IN A STUDY OF THE LAND USE AND ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT OF THE GREATER KANKAKEE AIRPORT

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Next, I have two appointments. I would like to get the approval of the City Council tonight. The first being an appointment to the Library Board and I’m asking you to appoint Dr. Beth Patrick-Tripple to that position. She will take over the position that was vacated by the untimely death of Mary Jo Johnston. I’m asking you to appoint Beth. Beth is here tonight. She’s sitting in the back. I think she would be a very good addition to that board and so I’m asking the City Council’s approval.

ALDERMAN BARON: I so move.

ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’ll second it.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Epstein. Questions? All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.

APPOINTMENT TO LIBRARY BOARD DR. BETH PATRICK-TRIPPEL

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Next, I’m asking for you to appoint Ralph Rorem, or Chip Rorem as many of us know him, to a position on the Planning Commission. Again, I’m appointing Chip to this position. He will take Mary Jo Johnston’s place. She was on our Planning Commission. I think that Chip Rorem’s credentials and what he brings to the Planning Commission, I think are very valuable to us. I don’t........is Chip here tonight? I don’t think so. He came here last time ‘cause he could not make it tonight. So.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor Green, another mover and shaker from Class of ‘66.

MAYOR GREEN: I don’t know.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: We approve your appointment.

ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’ll second it.

MAYOR GREEN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Epstein to approve Ralph ‘Chip’ Rorem to the Planning Commission. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.

APPOINTMENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION RALPH ROREM

MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. Thank you. Beth, thank you for doing this. I think you’ll find it to be a very rewarding position. If you want to talk about movers and shakers, the Library Board is one of them. I have no Motions and Resolutions. We have no Executive Session tonight. Are there any questions or comments from the Aldermen? Alderman Brown.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d just like to say thanks to all the Aldermen for the well wishes and their prayers during my time of sickness. I tell you, it really helped and it really did mean a lot to me. And, I just wanted to let you know I’ll never forget it. Thank you.

MAYOR GREEN: Alderman Williams.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor Green, I encourage in the City and County of Kankakee to go out and exercise their democratic right to vote in tomorrow’s election.

MAYOR GREEN: I do, too, Alderman. I exercise that both Democratic and Republican right to vote. Is there a motion to adjourn?

ALDERMAN TROST: So moved.

ALDERMAN GRANT: Second.

MAYOR GREEN: Alderman Trost seconded by Alderman Grant. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.

MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MAYOR GREEN: I couldn’t resist, Hank.

7:35 P.M.