Village of Lombard Legistar System

Upon Roll Call by Village Clerk Lorraine G. Gerhardt, the following were:

Present: President Mueller, Trustees Borgatell, Schaffer, Sebby, Florey and Kufrin

Absent: Trustee Tross

Quorum Present

Appointed Officials Present:

Village Manager William T. Lichter

Village Attorney Thomas P. Bayer

Village Attorney Janet Petsche

Fire Chief Ed Seagraves

Chief of Police Leon Kutzke

Assistant Finance Director Michael Guttman

Director of Community Development David Hulseberg

Senior Planner David Sundland

Planner II Nancy Hill

Community Development Intern Devina Jap

Director of Public Works Stan Rickard

Assistant Director of Public Works John Burg

Village Engineer David Dratnol

Deputy Clerk Barbara Johnson

Fire Chief Seagraves introduced Jeff Holst and announced that he had been promoted

to the rank of Lieutenant. Seagraves mentioned the many contributions that Lieutenant

Holst has made to the department and the Village. Village Clerk Lorraine Gerhardt

conducted the swearing in ceremony. Lieutenant Holst introduced his family members

in attendance.

Trustee Kufrin led the Board and audience in singing Happy Birthday to Firefighter G.

Thomas Willis.

President Mueller asked for a moment of silence for Mrs Carolyn Callas, wife of the

Mayor of Oak Brook Terrace who passed away this week. Trustee Schaffer asked that

Gil Liebenow, a very active resident of the Community in District 3, also be remembered

as he had passed away this week.

The Proclamation for School's Open Safety Week (August 23-29, 1999) was read by

Clerk Lorraine Gerhardt.

Director of Community Development David Hulseberg introduced Devina Jap a

Community Development Intern who comes to the Village from Indonesia.

President Mueller announced that this Saturday and next are the last two Cruise Nights.

He encouraged all at attend between 6 and 9pm the next two Saturday nights.

The President announced that the dedication of the Peck House is to be held by the

Lombard Historical Society this Sunday, August 22nd at 2:00pm. He further announced

that the following Sunday is the Historical Society's Ice Cream Social. He encouraged

attendance to both.

Dave Gorak, 36 N. Ahrens, spoke regarding the St. Charles Road improvements and

was concerned because he was told that he will have to pay for a tie-in to the new

sewer system. He asked that the Village pay half of the cost. President Mueller deferred

the situation to the Public Works Department as it would require a policy change.

Trustee Sebby indicated that he had discussed the problem with Mr. Gorak and he had

in turn discussed it with Public Works. He stated that the costs will have to be looked at,

and as this would be precedent setting, the subject will need further study.

Carol Nofsinger of Nofsingers Auto Repair , 555 E. St. Charles spoke regarding

rezoning as a result of the Comprehensive Plan and her understanding that those

changes would be the result of property owners' requests.

Trustee Tross mentioned that part of the Plan was to waive the fees for changes in

zoning and confirmed that the changes were to be by request of the property owners to

comply with the Comprehensive Plan for the St. Charles Road area. Attorney Bayer

concurred that within the time period agreed in the discussions of the Comprehensive

Plan, the fees are to be waived.

Patty Blazejak read a letter she and her husband sent this week to Village Officials

objecting to Special Assessment 213 and to charges for records under the Freedom of

Information Act.

Brian Ferguson, 99 West Road spoke opposing Special Assessment 213 by painting a

verbal picture of his perception of the decision making process for the project. He

expressed his objection to the Assessment and the process.

Art Ferichs, 248 West Road spoke overwhelmingly in favor of Special Assessment 213.

Tom Kelly, 131 West Road said he bought his house in April and knew nothing of the

Assessment. He claimed that the Board of Local Improvements' process was

outrageous.

Marymae Meyer 414 W. Windsor read statement regarding the history of the Utility Tax

and her original opposition to it. She believed that it was unfair that the tax would not

benefit home owners on unimproved streets, and was please when the ruling was

changed. She said the plan has always been that every street in town would be paid for

in part by the home owners. She empathized with newer residents and their feeling that

this is unfair, but said that Village leaders are obliged to continue with the program

because thousands of citizens have already paid for their special assessments. She

mentioned that if the project is postponed again, the price will continue to go up and that

the road will eventually have to be done. She supported the plan with two

considerations; lighting the same as that in adjoining neighborhoods and sidewalks on

both sides of the road to meander as long as every consideration is given to safety. She

also reminded the group that the trees are on the parkway and they are not the

homeoners' trees.

President Mueller read a statement from Resident Frances Cole who called and

expressed the feeling that the majority of the residents are in favor of the project. He

also mentioned an E-Mail from a Mr. Robbins who supports the Special Assessment

and said that they resented that their 14 year old daughter was asked if she liked trees

and she was told that if she likes trees she should sign the petition, which she did. He

would like her name deleted from the petition.

Mr Rickard highlighted the Village's tree and sidewalk programs and the steps that had

been taken to save 70 trees. He said that the trees that will be removed will be either to

allow for sidewalks or because they are diseased. The staff recommendation is for

sidewalks to be built on both sides of the streets and urged passage of the ordinance

with the amended plan for the meandering sidewalks.

Clerk Gerhardt corrected a recent quote in a local paper which inferred she was urging

people to leave Lombard if they wished to live in the country. What she did say was that

the last farm in DuPage County had been sold 2 or 3 years ago, there are no more

farmers in DuPage County and that if anyone wanted to purchase land out in the country

they would more than likely have to leave the County to find it. She said she was trying

to express to the reporter that development is all around us. Her job as Chair of BOLI is

to ensure safe improvements and preserve property values. She gave the history of

how special assessments have increased property values. She mentioned calls of

anonymous nature of residents who support this Special Assessment.

Trustee Tross gave the history of how Utility Tax began and how it has changed based

on input of the public. He stated that the Public is never brought in on the decision for a

Special Assessment. The Board Of Local Improvements has discussed this Special

Assessment at Public Meetings but not much of the public has come to the Public

Meetings. He mentioned that this Special Assessment does have variances agreed

upon through meetings held with citizens living on Glenview and Eugenia and this

Board will grant a variance for lighting and sidewalks. He indicated that the Board of

Local Improvements has discussed the project for three years. He said that there is an

additional variation in that in this project area the homeowners are only paying for a

25/75 split instead of the usual 30/70 that other specials have been required to pay. He

suggested that the grant process is available from DuPage County for Seniors and

those with true hardships.

Trustee Borgatell stated his understanding of the difficulty in paying for a Special

Assessment. He says that the amount of the homeowners' fair share has been reduced

in this Special Assessment also.

Trustee Florey visited the streets and talked to many residents. He said that whether for

or against the project, people agree that improvements need to be made for safety and

welfare. He stated his support for Special Assessment 213.

Trustee Schaffer mentioned that DuPage County had purchased Kline Creek farm which

is in DuPage County. He made a statement in support of the Assessment based on the

safety issue. He apologized to anyone who feels they were treated badly in the

process.

Trustee Kufrin expressed his understanding of how improvements have always caused

inconveniences and said that we are becoming more urban and we have to accept

some of these changes. He felt that the Special Assessment is for the best. He also

indicated that generally the people who have had Special Assessments done have had

a new pride in their area.

Trustee Sebby said that the Public Works Committee reviewed the drawings last

Tuesday and that the plan has undergone a lot of consideration to save trees. He said

that he feels strongly that property values will improve and that the Assessment is a

sound project.

Nancy Hill explained the proposed Zoning Changes and answered questions of the

Trustees.

Trustee Tross disagreed with permits for fences and that the finished side of the fence

should be facing out of the property.

Trustee Schaffer stated that he is against permits for fences, he would suggest an

amendment to support the fences around pools but against the permits for fences.

Trustee Kufrin mentioned that some people put in fences on the lot line to hide an RV

parked next door.

Trustee Borgatell asked if this permit process would increase code enforcement staff.

Mr. Hulseberg answered that it would actually decrease the load as his staff would be

able to advise of codes before installation and eliminate action and proceedings later.

Trustee Florey said that it is possible to get a fence with two good sides. He reflected

on the cases he had seen relative to the fences and installation and that we would be

able to advise people of the correct standards through a permit process.

Trustee Kufrin questioned the amount of the permit and asked for a clarification.

Director Hulseberg answered that it will be a $10.00 flat fee.