HOMER GLEN
Village seeks proposals for red-light cameras
Homer Glen is looking to set up traffic cameras to reduce the number of drivers who run red lights.
The Village Board voted this week to accept proposals from companies that install cameras and service them.
“It’s really put up as a deterrent,” Village Manager Paula Wallrich said. “It’s not about making money, it’s about making the intersection safer.”
Wallrich said New Lenox and Bolingbrook have installed similar devices, and she will talk to New Lenox officials to discuss the process. The company that is chosen will decide which intersections should have red-light cameras.
The proposals must be submitted by April 14.
Sheila Burt
JOLIET
$286 million budget OKd despite objections
The Joliet City Council this week approved a $268.1 million budget despite objections from two council members.
Council members Tony Uremovic and Jan Quillman voted against the budget, saying they were concerned the city was relying too heavily on gaming money rather than seeking other ways to increase revenue. The budget, which includes about 15 percent of revenue from the city’s two riverboats, does not include any property tax increases.
Quillman and Uremovic, who do not propose property tax increases, said they were concerned that gaming revenue would not be enough to fill budget gaps in the future and suggested the city should consider increasing other fees such as fines charged to uninsured motorists.
Although city officials have predicted the city’s $20 million surplus would dry up within the next four to five years if no additional revenues come in, council member Tim Brophy said he remained optimistic. Brophy said proposed developments, such as the regional shopping center at Interstate Highways 55 and 80, should help.
Alicia Fabbre
OAK LAWN
District 122 to retain neighborhood schools
Ridgeland School District 122 officials have decided to stay with neighborhood schools despite the district’s rising deficit.
Instead of going to grade-level centers, the district will institute cuts and again try to pass a tax increase referendum measure in November. Parents and teachers at this week’s board meeting applauded the decision, saying they feared having to force their children to leave teachers and friends.
Because of the rising deficit, students fees will be raised $30 and activity fees $20, which will save the district about $50,000. Simmons Middle School’s start time will be moved up 40 minutes, and all buildings will be closed to outsiders at 4 p.m., both saving the district about $170,000.
The February referendum measure, which asked voters for a 46-cent operating rate increase, failed by 42 votes.
Two school board members voted against the neighborhood schools.
Janice Neumann
PALOS HEIGHTS
City puts brakes on electronic signs
Palos Heights has adopted a moratorium on electronic signs after some raised concerns about an increasing number of “garish” signs.
The City Council this week unanimously approved the moratorium until an ordinance covering LED, or light-emitting diodes, can be reviewed and amended.
“Obviously, now the community is becoming aware of, to me, how garish those signs look,” said Ald. Bob Basso, a member of the License, Permits and Franchises Committee, which is reviewing the ordinance.
Basso said he was driving down 122nd Street at Harlem Avenue and saw an electronic sign that was so bright, it startled him.
The sign ordinance stipulates that “no flashing lights, beacons or spotlights shall be allowed,” but aldermen have disagreed on whether electronic signs meet that description. They plan to gather information from surrounding municipalities on how to handle the issue.
Janice Neumann
