Fearing a cash crunch for the village in the next year because of the relocation of a large automobile dealership, Olympia Fields trustees voted unanimously Monday to forgo their proposed pay raises.
A salary boost, to $50 from $25 per meeting for trustees and to $100 from $50 for the village president, would be poor timing, trustees decided, at least until after the 1999 election.
The village expects to lose about $340,000 in tax revenues in the coming year when the Ford dealership at U.S. Highway 30 and Western Avenue relocates to neighboring Matteson.
The village has had a cash reserve of more than $250,000 for the last 12 months. But the board is playing it safe.
“The difference in revenue (with a pay raise) is minuscule,” said Trustee Willis Ryza, “but we need to be fiscally conservative.”
The dealership is expected to move within the next six weeks. Matteson managed to lure the Olympia Fields moneymaker away by offering the dealership a juicy tax incentive.
Trustees weren’t too disappointed about forgoing the pay raise, saying no amount could have compensated them adequately for the time they put in anyway.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m making the same 35 cents an hour I did on my first job in 1946,” joked Trustee Anita Healey.
Sign of the times: Signs around Homewood are offering “Free ride in a police car,” courtesy of Mayor Richard Hofeld.
But that’s just to get the reader’s attention. The fine print at the bottom reveals the real message: The free ride is for shoplifters and for minors attempting to buy alcohol.
As village liquor commissioner, Hofeld is distributing two versions of the signs to local businesses, from the neighborhood liquor and retail establishments to the large chain outlets such as Jewel Food Store.
So far, no business owner has turned down a “free ride” sign, Hofeld said,
Also, his one-on-one talks with business owners have helped to assure them that the village will seek to curb retail theft and help liquor establishments comply with the law.
“One of the things that I said I would do (once elected) was call on existing businesses,” he said. “We always applaud the new business, but I wanted our established businesses to know we appreciate them too.”
Hofeld has offered liquor licenseholders a training session on their responsibilities under village ordinances.
Open house: The Chicago Heights Police Department’s domestic violence unit and South Suburban Family Shelter are inviting the public to an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday to help them celebrate the grand opening of their offices at 1526 Otto Blvd.
The building is the former headquarters of Star Newspapers.
The department and the shelter will be providing pamphlets on the services they offer, said Karla Fiaoni, head of the domestic violence unit.
“If anyone knows someone in a domestic situation and wants to pick up printed booklets and pamphlets, they are welcome to come and get information,” she said.
The shelter is on the first floor of the facility; the domestic violence unit’s detectives have offices on the second floor.
Mayor Angelo Ciambrone also will be in attendance.
For more information, call 708-756-6738.
