FRANKFORT
Securities firm set to buy Heritage Hall
After three years in limbo, the fate of Frankfort’s Heritage Hall appears to be settled.
Trustees this week approved negotiations to sell the century-old building, at 14 S. Hickory St., to LaSalle Street Securities LLC for $390,000.
The company plans to renovate the building for use as a stock brokerage and financial office.
Since Heritage Hall was first offered for sale, several potential users have come up with a variety of plans involving either demolishing or renovating it for other uses, including restaurants, offices, retail centers, mixed commercial and residential, a children’s museum and a music school.
“The building that we’re in really is critical to the downtown area,” Trustee Cindy Heath said. “We finally have [an offer] that satisfies our concerns.”
Village Administrator Jerry Ducay said alternative sites are available for Village Board meetings, now held at Heritage Hall. The ultimate plan is to expand the village’s Administration Building, he said. Village Clerk Kate Romani, who is leaving office Thursday to move to Connecticut, was especially pleased. “I feel like I’m going out on a high note regarding Heritage Hall,” Romani said.
— Pat Harper
HICKORY HILLS
City Council approves increase in ticket fines
Fines for routine parking violations in Hickory Hills will rise from $25 to $35.
Blocking a sidewalk, parking in a forbidden zone overnight and parking too close to a fire hydrant are among the routine violations covered under the fine increase, which the City Council recently approved.
Fines for other violations — such as driving with a broken turn signal and not wearing a seat belt — will increase from $25 to $50.
And the fine for illegally parking in a disabled spot rises from $75 to $250.
Police Chief Alan Vodicka officially recommended increasing the disabled-parking fine from its $75 to $150, but the City Council raised the figure to $250 after viewing comparisons with other local towns.
“We haven’t had an increase in our fines for about 10 years,” Vodicka said. “Currently, all these tickets bring in about $15,000 a year. If everyone pays, we are hoping that could double.”
The new rates are expected to take effect in about three weeks.
— Jeff Borgardt
