PLAINFIELD
Downtown festivals get financial review
Despite the results of a public survey that stated events and festivals should remain on downtown streets, village officials say they’re wary of continuing the practice.
Board members asked staff this week to prepare an audit of all municipal costs related to festivals that are sponsored by other organizations. Trustee Jim Racich said the village covered $16,000 to $20,000 this year in policing and public works costs for festivals held on Lockport Street.
Racich, a critic of blocking traffic through downtown during festivals, said cost should be shared by sponsors of events.
“I do like the fests, and they do bring a lot of involvement and community” but, Racich said, he would like festival sponsors to cover more costs.
Village Administrator Chris Minick said the village considers those costs to be public relations-related, and several trustees agreed. Trustee Bill Lamb and Mayor Jim Waldorf both said a dollar value could not equate with what the residents receive for that amount.
“It’s hard to put a price … on something like community,” Lamb said.
Plainfield Fest, sponsored by the Plainfield Township Park District, is a break-even venture, said Michelle Kelly, a park commissioner who spoke at the workshop session.
The Internet survey was conducted in July, and of the 340 surveys received, 77 percent of respondents said they would like to continue to have festivals downtown and 99 percent said community events are important.
Patricia Trebe
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LOCKPORT
Development plan upsets Homer Glen
An industrial development has put Homer Glen officials at odds with Lockport.
Homer Glen residents and officials raised questions Wednesday at a Lockport City Council meeting about a development slated for the eastern Lockport border. There were about two dozen Homer Glen residents at the meeting.
“This would be devastating to everyone, no matter which side of the border you live on,” said Homer Glen Trustee Margaret Sabo, adding she was concerned the development would negatively impact homes in Homer Glen while Lockport enjoyed the tax revenue benefits.
Lockport Mayor Tim Murphy said the deal was “zoned and annexed” in 2001 and therefore the council cannot block it now. The exact use of the 220-acre development off 147th Street and Gougar Road has not been determined, but it could be a trucking terminal, warehouse, business park or office space.
Jeff Borgardt
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HOMEWOOD
Age restriction set for off-track betting
As Leona’s Restaurant prepares to open its doors for off-track betting, beginning with the Breeder’s Cup Oct. 27, the Village Board has set an age restriction and hours of operation.
An ordinance approved by the board Tuesday restricts the age of entry to the Arlington Park OTB portion of Leona’s, 175th and Dixie Highway, to 21 and older.
“On popular racing days, such as the Kentucky Derby, Arlington Park may use the entire restaurant, so the restaurant would then be 21 and older also,” said Finance Director Dennis Bubenik.
Village staff originally proposed aligning the OTB hours of operation with other establishments in Homewood that serve alcohol.
But Arlington Park representative Gil Carmichael, director of OTB operations, said Arlington usually sets its OTB hours around the last race in Illinois.
“We do not stay open that late. When it is the last race in Illinois, we start shutting down,” Carmichael said.
Arlington proposed OTB hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
Homewood trustees agreed with Arlington and approved those hours.
The Village Board also considered establishing a $1 village admission tax for entry into the OTB. Under state law, municipalities and counties can charge the $1 admission tax at their discretion.
But trustees agreed not to impose the $1 admission, opting instead to see how much traffic is generated by the OTB.
Margie Ritchie
