Village of Lombard Legistar System

The Public Hearing was introduced by President Mueller who turned the hearing over to

Village Attorney Thomas P. Bayer. Attorney Bayer convened the hearing at 7:34 and

explained the petition which was the subject of the Public Hearing. He told the audience

that the purpose of the hearing was to hear public comment for or against the petition.

He asked that anyone wishing to speak come to the microphone on his left.

Raymond Stauber, the attorney for Hometown Motors at 448 W. North Avenue, spoke

regarding cost impact on the businesses in the area due to closing wells and connecting

to sewers. He said that the lots are large and there is an amortized Billboard type sign

with a long term contract. He asked that the Board consider that, and prior to

annexations consider the costs to the businesses. There being no further comments,

the Public Hearing was closed at 7:39 pm.

Marilyn Jensby,13 S. Edgewood, expressed displeasure over the Carnival which

returned to the Commons Park this year. She said that she had spoken to Village

President Mueller, Manager Lichter, Trustee Florey and Mike Fugiel regarding her

concerns. She appreciated the temporary no parking signs. She felt that the Carnival

should be held in a business district rather than in the residential neighborhoods. She

suggested a temporary business license so the Village will have some control. She felt

that the decision should have been made in a public meeting. President Mueller said

that they had met on the subject, that the Village does require a temporary license and

he does not think that all the fests which are now held in residential areas, such as the

Sacred Heart German Fest and the Christ the King festivities, should have to be moved.

He assured her that they have reviewed our ordinance and found it to be a strong

ordinance. He said that the one item about the Carnival which was contrary to our

ordinance was that we have a 20 day prior notification clause and since this was a

situation where they did not have that amount time to arrange a new location after

having lost the K Mart parking lot, that provision could not be met . He assured her that

the Village did insist that the other provisions be followed. Trustee Tross commented on

past events. He felt that we can require organizations to notify residents in the area of

these events and to provide a direct number where residents can reach the

organization.

Trustee Koenig said that the Finance Committee met on May 22 to review GASB 34,

which the Village is implementing a year ahead of the required time. She said that they

also discussed the Fixed Asset Policy which is on tonights agenda. She pointed out the

most significant aspect was the is the establishment of the capitalization threshold and

said that the Committee was in agreement with the threshold set. Trustee Koenig

further reported that the Committee had heard a report on ways the Legislature is

attempting to balance their budget at the expense of municipalities. Trustee Koenig

asked President Mueller what the outcome of the State budget process had been. He

reported that the decrease in income tax did not go through. The Photo Processing Tax

has been taken away, which represents a loss of $800,000. He said that this loss, along

with the Telecommunications Tax loss taken way last year have resulted in substantial

revenue loss from the State. Trustee Koenig said that the next meeting will be a final

look at the DuPage Theater business plan possibly June 18. She explained that several

members were absent from last night's meeting and the Committee did not want to

make a decision without their input.

Clerk Kramer informed the Board that the Board of Local Improvements met on

Thursday, May 16 and addressed the following items of business: For Special

Assessment 214 A & B, Harrison and Pleasant, they approved payout number 11 in the

amount of $13,210.80. They also approved payouts totaling $120,353.6, and the

issuance of the first voucher relative to Special Assessment 216, Ahrens/ School/

Norton/ Wilson/ Highridge. She said that BOLI also approved payouts totaling

$16,725.70 for Lombard Lagoon, Special Assessment 217. She also announced that

BOLI had reviewed the revised and improved Special Assessment brochure at that

meeting. The final item of business was the nomination and election of President and

Vice President of BOLI. Clerk Kramer reported that the current officers, Suzan Kramer

as President and Richard Tross, were retained. BOLI's next meeting is scheduled for

June 13 at 1:00 pm.

Manager Lichter explained that the agreements represent the culmination of 1 and 1/2

years of fruitful negotiations with the Park District, and the School Districts. President

Mueller thanked staff and all of the governmental units involved in this agreement. He

turned the matter over to Director Hulseberg who explained that the downtown Park

District Maintenance building property on St. Charles Road will become available for a

more appropriate use. The Park District will be relocating the facility to another of their

properties. He said that this will improve the Downtown area and make the property a

taxable parcel.

Trustee Tross said that he was originally symbolically opposed, but after much research

discovered that the other taxing bodies have no problem with it and so he will support it.

He went on to say that there is still much to be done in the downtown area.

Trustee Florey abstained as his firm represents of some of the taxing districts.

Trustee DeStephano thanked Trustee Tross for his change of opinion and agreed that

there are a number of projects to accomplish in the area.

President Mueller thanked the Board for their positions and the other governmental

agencies for their cooperation.

Mr. Lichter introduced the Ordinance and turned the discussion over to Assistant to the

Village Manager Ellen Balsamo. Ms. Balsamo explained that the action will be for

passage of the Ordinance and an agreement which transfers the Village's cable provider

from A T & T Broadband to the ComCast Company. She also assured the Board that

ComCast has a very reliable record and this change makes no difference to our rates.

Ms. Balsamo also stated that a due diligence report has been conducted by Dr. Barry

Orton.

Trustee Tross stated for the benefit of those unfamiliar with laws governing cable

service, that the Village Board has no control over cable costs or channels. He asked

about changes in the contract. He asked if this contract contained the same provision to

not solicit cable companies unless they are willing to provide exactly what our present

company provides.

Dr. Barry Orton commented that that provision comes more from State Law than

individual contracts. President Mueller said that Ameritech had approached the Village

about being chosen as our cable provider, but they were not willing to meet that criteria.

Trustee Tross said that now the Village is unable to receive revenue from Internet

Service.

Dr. Orton explained that the FCC issued a declaratory statement in March, which is not

final, that revenue from internet cable cannot be handled in the same way as cable

television service which is taxable. He feels that the cable companies have jumped the

gun in not paying and not charging the tax.

Mr. Lichter introduced the discussion of the Flooding Policy. Trustee Sebby said that

this policy had been discussed at length by the Finance Committee at the direction of

the Board. He said that it is difficult to develop a policy to appease everyone. Director

of Public Works Stan Rickard commented on the improvements that Public Works had

made in flooding response in the last few months, and that they would further develop

the policy after the Board's concurrence. He pointed out that part of the program

includes delivery of piles of sandbags to ten locations, at a cost under $1,000, in less

that one hour. He mentioned private property pumping by Public Works had been

discussed but it would prove to be more costly and there are liability issues so the Public

Works Committee and Staff do not recommend that as part of the program. Trustee

Sebby commented that storage had been discussed and it was decided that the bags

could be stored in the Maintenance area at Public Works until needed. He said that the

Committee had also brought up what to do with sand after flood and decided that would

be left up to the residents. He said it is a cost effective measure which could save the

residents a lot of money and property loss. He said that the pump program would be too

costly due to liability. The way the society is, if our pump broke down, then the Village

would be held responsible.

President Mueller asked if Garages would be as high a priority as basements, or how

would the priorities be set. He suggested that we look at areas where we know that

there is a flooding problem first and identify those as a higher priority. He said that the

liability of damage to foundation for improper pumping is very costly.

Trustee Sebby suggested a zoned map which would prioritize these areas.

Trustee DeStephano wanted to make sure that the list of priorities is available to those

who answer phones. She said that barricades being delivered with a two hour turn

around time was not happening. She wanted to see a better turn around, better phone

coverage during flood events. She also said that the sewage clean up on lawns and

sidewalks needs to be addressed. She would like those additions to this policy.

Trustee Tross expressed confusion about the necessity of sandbagging, but was

concerned with the issue of assistance to the homeowners. He didn't feel that the bags

should just be dropped off. He said that Village employees should be out there looking

at what is going on. He thinks that we have an obligation to help the resident pump and

clean up homes and yards. He feels that the policy does not serve the residents.

Trustee Sebby said that this policy is a step in the right direction, he sees a problem with

large Village equipment being used by people who are unequipped to handle it.

President Mueller said that equipment could be needed for a fire when there is a

resident using it and it is not available.

Trustee Soderstrom said he hopes that we can use common sense and not just say it is

not our policy.

President Mueller and that there are insurance products to cover situations homeowners

may have such as flooding and sewer back ups. He said that said that we are not here

to supplement the insurance that residents choose to buy.

Trustee DeStephano suggested that the Board wait until they see the whole document

with the procedures. President Mueller suggested that they move ahead as soon as

possible, rather than wait, in case we have a storm.

TrusteeTross said that we are obligated to get the water out of private property when

our detention areas fail. He also said he is concerned and we should provide

assistance on private property and help when there is a health issue involved.

He mentioned wind damage and that we should have an extra no charge garbage

pickup. He thinks that if more than 3 yards flood and it stands we have the obligation to

help.

Trustee Sebby said that these pieces are a good start. He said that we have some

combined sewers in some areas and we are working towards separating the sanitary

sewers from the storm sewers. He said that we will be cleaning up sidewalks and yards

some times as we can not control Nature and Acts of God.

At the request of Trustee DeStephano, the rules were suspended and resident Jim

Drecshel was allowed to speak during the Board of Trustees' debate. Mr. Drecshel, 44

W. Berkshire, said that after recent storms people on Berkshire had excrement in their

yards. He said that it was on 10 to 12 properties, they are not combined sewers but

they were not engineered properly. He has had over $38,000 in out of pocket costs. He

said that sandbags will not help, they have inadequate water storage and the Village has

not addressed the water table on the north end of town. He suggested that if the Village

would loan pumps out and people were willing to sign a waiver, it should be added to the

policy. He said that in the past they have had 12 inches of water in the street and water

up to the rafters in their basements. He commented that some flood policies are too

specific to cover various situations they may encounter. He said that whole area has

inadequate drainage. He said that Lombard's water table is too high and that the water

storage is inadequate. He asked why the pond at St. Charles and Crescent was dry

during that same storm and their area was flooded.

President Mueller explained that the detention pond on Crescent is for storage of storm

water for the Downtown area and that there is no way for water from the Berkshire area

to flow there. President Mueller said that the water tables are rising throughout the

County because we have stopped pumping water out of the ground now that we use

Lake Michigan Water.

Trustee Sebby questioned if the design was inadequate. Mr. Rickard said that the

sewer system is designed for 10 year event, this storm was a 33 year storm. President

Mueller suggested that we move forward with this matter.

Most agreed that they would move forward but to continue the process with matters

which have been brought up tonight. Mr. Rickard said that the complete list could be

back at the next meeting. Trustee Tross was still in opposition.

He said that from St. Charles Road to Butterfield Road, IDOT has said that they would

be willing to leave as two lanes, but this would mean that the four Lombard streets

would have to remain right in right out. Mr. Lichter referred their attention to Mr.

Dratnol's memo. He said that the reason IDOT is willing to reconsider widening is due to

the reconfiguration of traffic due to the turn restrictions in Lombard. Glen Ellyn will

prepare a proposal for improvements requesting only two lanes and they would like to

bring Lombard into the picture. He asked for the position on four lanes rather than five

as proposed through Lombard by IDOT and suggested a traffic study as to how impacts

may effect Route 53. He said that staff thinks that IDOT will want to see a traffic study.

He said that the Board should also determine how to proceed with Glen Ellyn.

President Mueller noted that there were several members of the public who had

requested to speak and he gave them the opportunity to do so prior to the Village

Board's discussion.

Theresa Carney, 506 W. Harrison, spoke regarding traffic control. Since the

improvement of Harrison they have heavy traffic going west and a said that a warning

sign should be installed at Finley warning of "No Left Turn Ahead". She commented that

there is nowhere to turn from St. Charles to Wilson. She said that drivers are using any

streets to cut through. She said that there is no need for five lanes through Lombard

which is a residential area. She said "if you build it, they will come". She feels that

once tolls increase and we have five lanes on 53 motorists will not pay the toll, but use

Route 53 more. She gave statistics on speeds with three lane roads. She urged the

Board to avoid having IDOT make improvements which would include widening.

Terry Canum, 41 N. Columbine, said that they are not going to be able to get out of their

driveways if the road is widened to five lanes. She asked why they would widen the

road. President Mueller said that the Village is not proposing the improvements, that it is

an Illinois Department of Transportation project. She said that with the other road

construction we won't be able to get around, and so people will be using other stores.

Dominic Ragona,738 S. Route 53, said that if anything should be done it should be to

take care of the flooding problems. He thinks that the problems started when the

tollway was built. He said that they are receiving water runoff from the tollway, but there

is nowhere for the water to go. He is opposed to widening Route 53, but in favor of the

no left turns and sidewalks. He thinks that the taxpayers' money should be spent on

things that help the taxpayers.

Carolyn Freuh, 1000 S. Columbine, spoke regarding the closures of all of the streets

forcing the busses to cross railroad or go onto Main and come back up St Charles and

back to 53. The new route means that the children are on the bus 15 minutes longer.

She said that they have to ride the bus, they can not cross a highway. She said that the

busses are stopping in the road and people are driving on the shoulder. She said that

the closure of the streets has helped. She asked them to look at the impact on traffic

from closing the streets. She is asking for safety for the kids. Trustee Tross asked how

many lanes she wanted and type of turning motion. She wanted three, and no turning

movement.

Patt Guzman, 602 Glenwood, spoke as President of the Columbine Glen Homeowners'

Association. She stated that their development is located between Route 53 and 355.

She spoke in opposition to the expansion of Route 53 because of their concerns with air

pollution and noise pollution and a negative impact on their property values. She feels

that the Columbine Glen residents should have a say. Ms. Guzman says that to widen

Route 53 will increase truck traffic and provide an unsafe environment. She

recommends three lanes with left turn lane at every intersection.

Danielle Koprowski, 417 N. Columbine, asked the Village Board to recommend three

lanes. She felt it best for safety , to allow people to get through the area and not

encourage people to leave the toll way. She said that she favors three lanes and is ok

with the present closures.

Carol Lewkowich, 60 N. Columbine, wants three lanes instead of the four she has now.

She opposes five lanes. She hates the no left turns, and said that with the restricted

turns she has to remember to turn on to St. Charles Road otherwise she has to go to

Roosevelt, so she will go shopping in Glen Ellyn. Ms. Lewkowich referred to Mr.

Lichter's letter regarding infrastructure improvements asking if there would be the

improvements and then another construction project to follow. Mr. Lichter responded

that they would be done at the same time. She mentioned a 35% increase in traffic on

Crescent since the closures and asked how the Village expects her to get to town.

Bill Mueller, 520 S. Brewster, said that he had been here a year ago and told the Board

that a unified voice got IDOT to listen to residents south of Roosevelt Road and this is a

golden opportunity to join with Glen Ellyn and make one unified strong voice to convince

IDOT not to build a five lane road. He said that more cement will cause more flooding

and run off. He said he opposes five lanes, encourages Lombard to join Glen Ellyn in

the request for three lanes. He thinks that regarding turn restrictions, or openings, he

opposes Madison as being the through street because of the schools.

Barb Payne, 1017 S. 53, said she thinks that the no turn streets have made a significant

change. She suggested that the Village sit down informally with residents to discuss

these issues. She said that the signage was done with no notification. President

Mueller said that the State put the signs up without the Village knowing when it would be

done.

William Soldwisch, 44 S. Columbine, asked about the Village position of four lanes and

about condemnation of his home. President Mueller indicated that the Board is in

opposition to five lanes but has no opposition to Glen Ellyn's proposal in their area.

Village Engineer Dratnol commented that IDOT had discussed the possiblity of aquiring

right of way, but any right of way takings are being kept to a minimum. President

Mueller said that they had seen no drawings that showed any land being taken. Mr.

Soldwisch asked if he could review the plans. Engineer Dratnol said that Mr. Soldwisch

could view them at Public Works, and if he needed copies, he could contact IDOT. He

said he had noticed reduced traffic on 53 and he suggested they place a Police car in

his driveway and at the bottom of the bridge.

Paul Thomas, 72 N. Columbine, said his property is the crash zone and that Route 53

has become a super highway. He said that before the no left turn signs were put up he

had no less than 100 cars in his yard and recounted several traffic incidents. He said

that he is in favor of three lanes but the roads closed all along the stretch is

inconvenient. He gave the example of the Hillside Strangler which was caused by the

funneling down of five lanes to two. He feels we should push for three lanes all the way

through.

Bruce Nelson, 607 N. Columbine, says that the merging down from five to three causes

a problem and recommends three lanes. He said that as far as the no left turns, he

thinks that the third lane would help. He does not support Madison as a through street.

He suggested opening Wilson. President Mueller said that that portion of Wilson is not a

street, it is a private driveway and that the Park is an issue.

Trustee Tross opened discussion and said that they don't support five lanes, he felt that

it should be built for four lanes and striped for three.

Trustee DeStephano said that she represents District One and had voted for three lanes

but since closing the streets, the traffic is going down Main and down Elizabeth. She

said that with the turning restrictions there are only three streets to travel west to east

through Lombard, those being St. Charles, Roosevelt and Butterfield. She feels that the

effects on Crescent, with people crossing the railroad and commuters driving through

town is to the point that pedestrian traffic is impacted. She is in favor of getting the

traffic study done.

Trustee Soderstrom said that he had supported three lanes, not four or five. He still

favors three lanes, he does not favor five. He said that the closing of all four streets was

a mistake. He stated that he thinks the impact of traffic in other areas has been too high

and he suggested opening two streets. In regard to Glen Ellyn's request, he said that

any of our choices are bad.

Trustee Koenig said that the closing of the streets have caused her residents problems.

She said that at the time they made their decision based on studies but with the turns

restricted there is now less traffic. She recommends the three lane configuration and

opening of the turn lanes.

Trustee Sebby said that going through the whole process and then finding out that the

choice is three lanes and that if there are threes lanes, it makes sense to open up the

streets to turns. He concurs with three lanes and allowing the turns.

Trustee Florey said that he believes that three lanes and opening some of the streets is

the way to go.

President Mueller reminded the Board that this is a problem caused by IDOT and should

the Board decide that a traffic study is needed, IDOT should pay for it.

Trustee Tross suggested that the Village reopen Charles Lane to full turn movements in

conjunction with York Township action.