FLOSSMOOR
Amended code bans unusual pets
The Village Board is crying foul over residents owning nontraditional pets.
The board this week amended its municipal code prohibiting the keeping of “wild animals” due to the increasing prevalence of people who want to keep non-traditional pets in high residential areas.
“Traditionally, these animals are kept outdoors and therefore have more of an impact on the residents,” said Flossmoor Assistant Village Manager Patrick Finn.
Flossmoor’s municipal code in the past allowed residents to own dogs, cats and other domestic pets such as hamsters and parakeets. The new code goes further, making it unlawful to own cattle, horses, goats, pigs, chickens, geese, ducks, lions, tigers or other wild animals. Beekeeping is also outlawed.
“They clearly don’t belong in high residential areas,” Finn said.
— Margie Ritchie
FRANKFORT
Funds pave way for roadwork
Federal stimulus money will help fund improvements to Center Road in Frankfort.
Under agreements approved by the Village Board this week, the Center Road project will receive $3,065,610 in federal stimulus money and Surface Transportation Program funding through the Will County Governmental League.
The village will pay $366,889 toward the engineering costs and $300,000 toward construction costs, Trustee Dick Trevarthan said. Those costs will be paid from the village’s share of state motor fuel tax funds, Trevarthan said.
The village also agreed to appropriate another $45,162 in motor fuel tax funds for additional engineering required by federal regulations.
Another road project may be scheduled soon, said Mayor Jim Holland, who cautioned that it has not been officially confirmed.
Holland said he has been told Cook County is slated to resurface Harlem Avenue this summer although an earlier plan to widen the thoroughfare has been put on hold.
— Pat Harper
JOLIET
Union OKs cuts to avoid layoffs
City employees in AFSCME Local 440 have voted for contract changes that would avoid layoffs.
Members of Local 440, which represents about 291 city employees, approved changes that include six furlough days and delaying a salary increase scheduled for Jan. 1. In exchange, the city has guaranteed union members –– which include public works employees, dispatchers, engineers and maintenance and clerical workers –– that there would be no layoffs through 2011.
City Council members are expected to approve the contract changes in June.
Earlier this month, the city notified the union of potential layoffs effective May 31. If an agreement is not reached, the city would move ahead with layoffs of 63 employees, which includes 26 part-time and 37 full-time employees. The city also does not plan to fill an additional 29 positions which are currently vacant.
Though the changes were approved by union members, union president John Dillon did not support the changes. He noted none of the other city unions had to take furlough days and questioned job security noting that the union’s contract did not end until 2012.
— Alicia Fabbre
MATTESON
Quiet crossing plans are on track
The sound of train horns will soon be a thing of the past at the Main Street train crossing in downtown Matteson after officials gave a “quiet zone” project another green light this week.
Village Board members approved a feasibility study that calls for building six-inch high medians on the approach to each side the crossing.
“It is to discourage people from trying to pull around the gates,” Community Development Director Pam Hirth said at this week’s board meeting.
Canadian National Railroad, which also will pay for other improvements such as quadrant gates (four gates instead of two) and warning signs, is expected to complete the project some time in 2011, Hirth said.
The Federal Railroad Administration ordered in 1994 that trains sound their horns at all railroad crossings nationwide but in 2007 instituted rules for the establishment of quiet zones that did not compromise safety.
— Carmen Greco Jr.
NEW LENOX
Warning: Don’t block sidewalks
Trustees advised police this week they should issue warnings, not $25 tickets, to vehicles parked blocking the sidewalk.
Mayor Tim Baldermann said he received phone calls from confused residents who parked family vehicles on their driveways over the sidewalk and got a ticket. They were not aware it is against the law to block the sidewalk.
After a discussion at the Public Safety Committee, it was decided those blocking the sidewalk should be warned and not fined.
Deputy Police Chief April DiSandro said a couple hundred tickets and warnings have been issued by police in recent months for blocked sidewalk violations.
Now, police are starting a public education campaign to advise residents not to block the sidewalk with vehicles, she said. They will issue warning tickets and knock on doors of repeat violators.
“I’m glad these will be warnings and not tickets,” said Trustee David Butterfield.
— Jeff Borgardt
