What’s going on at Elmhurst City Hall…
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
• The Elmhurst City Council meeting on Monday, July 17, began with Mayor Steve Morley joining Fire Chief Thomas Freeman in promoting Lieutenant Richard Dufort to Battalion Chief. Also promoted was Firefighter William Solka to Lieutenant.
Replacement of water meters moves forward
• Based on a report from the Public Works & Buildings Committee, the purchase and replacement of water meters and a fixed base meter reading system with leak detection was approved. Contracts were approved as follows, not to exceed listed amounts in addition to contingency funds, in the amount of $200,000: Siemens Industry, $4,244,594; Neptune Meters, $2,336,978; Master Meters, $286,074; Aciara, $1,117,602 and Water Smart, $32,250. (See separate story on pg. 1 of this issue.)
Funding for street resurfacing projects approved
• Two recommendations of the Public Works & Buildings Committee were approved authorizing the City Attorney to draft documents for funding agreements with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). One is for the Poplar Avenue Resurfacing Project; a second, for York Street.
The first project takes place along Poplar Avenue from Park Avenue and Vallette Street and will include removal and replacement of deteriorated sections of curb/gutter, miscellaneous sidewalk, driveway aprons and pavement patching. The City applied for funding through the Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) in 2016 for roadway resurfacing. The project has received $509,000 in funding for Phase III engineering through the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference (DMMC). The total construction cost estimate is $737,000 and funding has been secured at 70%. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2018
The second project is for York Street from First Street to North Avenue, with the same specifications as the Poplar project above. STP funding is providing $372,000 for the project through the DMMC. The cost estimate for this project is $529,000 and 70% of funding is secured.
Map amendment, variance in size, number of units approved for townhouse development
• City Council approved a request for a map amendment from R1 to R4, a variation from the amount of dwelling units allowed per acre from 54 to 58 for a minimum lot area of 2711.24 sq. ft. from 2900 sq. ft. per unit, and a preliminary plat of subdivisions to consolidate the lots. This report relates to the Aimco Townhomes on Butterfield Road.
More Capsules:
• Accounts Payable as of July 13, 2017, in the amount of $5,260,926 was approved.
• Gail Robertson’s appointment by the mayor to the City of Elmhurst/Elmhurst College Commission was approved. Robertson fills the seat vacated by Kathleen Gusloff’s resignation for a term to expire April 30, 2019.
• The appointment of Kevin Byrnes to the Planning and Zoning Commission was also approved by City Council. His term will expire February 20, 2022.
• The following people were approved for reappointment to the Elmhurst Library Board of Trustees: Monica Icon, Francesca Irion and Teresa Menolascino. Their terms will expire July 1, 2020.
• Marie Weibler and Paul Tilton were reappointed to the Veterans Memorial Commission, as approved by City Council, for terms to expire April 30, 2020.
• A request put forth by Aldermen Michael Bram (3rd Ward) and Norm Leader (2nd Ward) was referred to the Public Affairs and Safety Committee for review and recommendation. The request is that the Committee provide an evaluation of a Resolution against the Fly Quiet Program/Runway Rotation.
• A request from True North Energy, LLC for a CBBW liquor license has been referred to the Public Affairs and Safety Committee at the request of City Manager Jim Grabowski.
• The purchase of a Ford Transit Connect from Currie Motors in Frankfort was approved to replace E-13 in the amount of $29,244.
• A request from the Public Works & Buildings Committee to accept a bid from Denler, Inc. for the 2017 Crack Sealing and Seal Coating Program was approved for $34,914, or an amount not to exceed $35,000.
• A recommendation from the Public Works & Buildings Committee was approved for the propane conversion of 14 City vehicles to dual fuel from Advance V-Tech. The dollar amount is placed at $160,000. (See related story elsewhere in this issue.)
• A recommendation was approved to extend the parking lot lease agreement between Immanuel Lutheran Church & School and the City. Once the documents are prepared, Council agreed to suspend the rules to allow approval of the documents at the same meeting in order to begin the resurfacing project as soon as possible.
• A bid was accepted from CAM, LLC for the 2017 Asphalt Rejuvenation (Reclamite) Program, not to exceed the budget amount of $146,000.
• A recommendation was approved to order 2,500 tons of rock salt from Detroit Salt Company at the DuPage County contract price of $51.49 per ton, not to exceed $167,343.
