Downtown commuters who want to skip out of work early to meet and greet the trick-or-treaters and take their own children out in costume around town (taking advantage of a beautiful Friday afternoon while they're at it) can take advantage of a special Metra schedule today on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.
So if Dad or Mom has already left for the day by the time you read this, call 'em up or email 'em and let them know: Metra is running extra early and mid-afternoon trains home to the suburbs for Halloween!
For details, call (312) 322-6777 or 836-7000 from any area code, or log on to www.metrarail.com.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
ELECTION DAY IS ALMOST HERE
A host of municipal and township clerks from across Cook County and Lyons Township
recently gathered at Town Hall in Countryside for a primer on the two upcoming election cycles.
The workshop was presented by Cook County Elections Director Jan Kralovec and Illinois State Board of Elections counsel Kenneth Menzel.
The group was hosted by Township Supervisor Pat Rogers, Trustee Russ Hartigan and Clerk Mary Jo Noonan, all of Western Springs.
Hartigan, a Democrat, has made it clear he intends to run for supervisor in April 2009, but only if also-Dem Rogers is elected to a judgeship in Cook County's 4th Subcircuit on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Kralovec, who works under County Clerk David Orr, said the Nov. 4 ballot will feature a statewide advisory referenda calling for a Constitutional Convention for the first time since 1970, federal, state, county and judicial races ... a grand a total of 312 "ballot swipes" in all.
In La Grange, Park District voters will be casting a yes or no on an advisory referenda question asking whether the Park Board should sell 2.82 acres of land in Gordon Park to a private developer, Atlantic Realty Partners, for a mixed use residential/retail development at La Grange Road and Ogden Avenue -- site of the still-standing former Rich Port YMCA,
In addition to seven presidential candidates -- from the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, New, Constitution, Independent and Green parties -- there will be a U.S. Senate race between incumbent Rep. Richard Durbin, D-Il. and four opponents; one-third of state Senate seats; all state representatives; the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District as well as the County state's attorney, circuit court clerk, recorder and Board of Review.
There will also be a countywide referenda proposing a right to recall five state constitutional officers and 71 retention judgeships on two full pages of the ballot.
This fall and next year voters can choose between the optical scan or paper ballot, or the touch screen machine to cast their votes.
A recent survey commissioned by the county showed 61 percent of suburban voters overwhelmingly preferred the touch screen method.
"The big word for November is numbers, or volume," said Kralovec, noting this is the sixth election using the new equipment. "The big challenge is that any voters who haven't voted since the last presidential election are going to be surprised they won't be able to vote unless they've re-registered."
This year, Cook County is not in short supply of election judges.
It is employing some 20,000 high school students this fall and there are even some judges they cannot place who will be used as backups in the case of no-shows.
Judges are paid a generous $170 or more for the day.
Menzel said access state election rules and ballot information is available online and in print.
For instance, the Green Party is now an established party "at every level of government" just like the two major parties, in Illinois.
The standard filing deadline for April township and municipal races (listen La Grange Citzens' Council) and referenda will be from Jan. 19 to 26, 2009, with the objection period to follow.
So stay tuned, people, the silly season is not over yet.
recently gathered at Town Hall in Countryside for a primer on the two upcoming election cycles.
The workshop was presented by Cook County Elections Director Jan Kralovec and Illinois State Board of Elections counsel Kenneth Menzel.
The group was hosted by Township Supervisor Pat Rogers, Trustee Russ Hartigan and Clerk Mary Jo Noonan, all of Western Springs.
Hartigan, a Democrat, has made it clear he intends to run for supervisor in April 2009, but only if also-Dem Rogers is elected to a judgeship in Cook County's 4th Subcircuit on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Kralovec, who works under County Clerk David Orr, said the Nov. 4 ballot will feature a statewide advisory referenda calling for a Constitutional Convention for the first time since 1970, federal, state, county and judicial races ... a grand a total of 312 "ballot swipes" in all.
In La Grange, Park District voters will be casting a yes or no on an advisory referenda question asking whether the Park Board should sell 2.82 acres of land in Gordon Park to a private developer, Atlantic Realty Partners, for a mixed use residential/retail development at La Grange Road and Ogden Avenue -- site of the still-standing former Rich Port YMCA,
In addition to seven presidential candidates -- from the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, New, Constitution, Independent and Green parties -- there will be a U.S. Senate race between incumbent Rep. Richard Durbin, D-Il. and four opponents; one-third of state Senate seats; all state representatives; the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District as well as the County state's attorney, circuit court clerk, recorder and Board of Review.
There will also be a countywide referenda proposing a right to recall five state constitutional officers and 71 retention judgeships on two full pages of the ballot.
This fall and next year voters can choose between the optical scan or paper ballot, or the touch screen machine to cast their votes.
A recent survey commissioned by the county showed 61 percent of suburban voters overwhelmingly preferred the touch screen method.
"The big word for November is numbers, or volume," said Kralovec, noting this is the sixth election using the new equipment. "The big challenge is that any voters who haven't voted since the last presidential election are going to be surprised they won't be able to vote unless they've re-registered."
This year, Cook County is not in short supply of election judges.
It is employing some 20,000 high school students this fall and there are even some judges they cannot place who will be used as backups in the case of no-shows.
Judges are paid a generous $170 or more for the day.
Menzel said access state election rules and ballot information is available online and in print.
For instance, the Green Party is now an established party "at every level of government" just like the two major parties, in Illinois.
The standard filing deadline for April township and municipal races (listen La Grange Citzens' Council) and referenda will be from Jan. 19 to 26, 2009, with the objection period to follow.
So stay tuned, people, the silly season is not over yet.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
CLOSE CALL, BUT THEATRE TO GET TIF $$$
After much debate Oct. 13, the La Grange Village Board has formally decided to grant $1 million in Tax Increment Financing funds to the owners of the historic downtown theater.
The 4-2 decision, opposed by Trustees Mike Horvath and James Palermo, will be realized by the purchase of a facade easement and an operating agreement attesting the movie house remains until the village's investment has been repaid, regardless of ownership.
The action, supported by Trustees Mark Kuchler, Mark Langan, Thomas Livingston and Village President Liz Asperger in the absence of Trustee Barb Wolf, directs staff to proceed with the drafting of a final agreement for the public/private partnership with La Grange Theatre owners John Rot and David Rizner. Wolf was clearly against TIF funding for the theater, she expressed in an email read by Asperger.
And although Asperger calmly said the board "obviously (has) different opinions" which were "hashed ... out quite thoroughly," Horvath vehemently suggested it was "reckless to move ahead without construction estimates" for the revised $2.7 million project.
Kuchler, who voted for the plan which he actually came up with as a compromise two weeks earlier even though he was not in favor of using TIF money, said having all of the theater owner's financial data is vital to making sure the village is not overspending.
"I don't think we should be spending surplus funds," he said. "I do think saving the theater is a worthy cause, but we have to be careful with taxpayer dollars."
Before the vote was taken, Asperger observed that there were three trustees who did not support using TIF funds but those who did decided to replace the theater subsidy with $1 million in planned improvements to the La Grange Road and Ogden Avenue intersection.
The board, which delayed action on another $350,000 initially considered part of the request, agreed to reserve that discussion for the future.
The 4-2 decision, opposed by Trustees Mike Horvath and James Palermo, will be realized by the purchase of a facade easement and an operating agreement attesting the movie house remains until the village's investment has been repaid, regardless of ownership.
The action, supported by Trustees Mark Kuchler, Mark Langan, Thomas Livingston and Village President Liz Asperger in the absence of Trustee Barb Wolf, directs staff to proceed with the drafting of a final agreement for the public/private partnership with La Grange Theatre owners John Rot and David Rizner. Wolf was clearly against TIF funding for the theater, she expressed in an email read by Asperger.
And although Asperger calmly said the board "obviously (has) different opinions" which were "hashed ... out quite thoroughly," Horvath vehemently suggested it was "reckless to move ahead without construction estimates" for the revised $2.7 million project.
Kuchler, who voted for the plan which he actually came up with as a compromise two weeks earlier even though he was not in favor of using TIF money, said having all of the theater owner's financial data is vital to making sure the village is not overspending.
"I don't think we should be spending surplus funds," he said. "I do think saving the theater is a worthy cause, but we have to be careful with taxpayer dollars."
Before the vote was taken, Asperger observed that there were three trustees who did not support using TIF funds but those who did decided to replace the theater subsidy with $1 million in planned improvements to the La Grange Road and Ogden Avenue intersection.
The board, which delayed action on another $350,000 initially considered part of the request, agreed to reserve that discussion for the future.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
CITIZENS' COUNCIL DEBATES PURPOSE
It appears the Citizens' Council of La Grange may have reached a crossroads.
In a lively debate that took up most of the group's latest session Oct. 8, its members -- just two weeks shy of the first application deadline for April 2009 candidate hopefuls -- expressed vastly different opinions over whether their biennial role is to simply recruit, evaluate and recommend the most qualified groups of candidates in the village's three major races as the bylaws portend or whether they also should campaign for and assure the election of those very residents.
Circulating and filing candidate petitions and state-required ethics statements as a unified party, which some privately argued is the start of the political process even more than endorsements themselves -- or "recommendations" as some members maintained is the actual terminology -- assures fewer signatures need to be collected than if they all ran and filed independently and, above all, that the "party" slate secures top ballot placement in every contest.
So said Council President Orlando Coryell, who, while chairing the more than three-hour meeting of slightly more than 50 members, got the debate rolling -- and quite boisterously -- by seeking any input he could muster on the public "perception that the Council secures the election of the candidates it endorses."
And that may be an understatement, since the topic generated almost as much discourse during and after the meeting as a petition filed on behalf of the husband of another surname as District 5 delegate Kathleen Deane to seek the appointment of a ninth member to that district's full eight-member composition -- and not that only six of 12 incumbent officeholders had expressed an interest in running to date.
Moments after the Council unanimously approved District 1 delegate Steve Palmer's suggestion that the first set of interviews and endorsements with either Park or Library applicants be conducted a half-hour earlier, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, to give the body more time to complete the often-exhaustive process, Coryell kicked off the debate over the Council's purpose by stressing that once the endorsement process is done, few delegates show up in January and frequently not until the fall of the next election cycle.
"In the past, we haven't disclosed to candidates that (the recommendation) is the end of our legal responsibility, so do we tell the candidate that?" he asked, noting while Council members do not have to actively campaign for them they routinely do as a technically separate body.
One vocal delegate quickly replied the bylaws are clear campaigning for candidates "is not the function of the Council." And if and when it happens, as some seasoned veterans of the system pointed out has always been the case in years past, suggested, "now we are extremely biased ... exactly the opposite of what we want to be to the community. Our work should stop there."
That same man, who stressed the candidate slating was a recommendation and not something candidates should be allowed to call an endorsement, later reiterated if his purpose is just to interview and recommend candidates as the bylaws state, then he serves "no useful purpose" from January to May.
Coryell clarified the Council "is not formally involved in the election process" -- a fact corroborated by District 10 delegate Vera Catuara in that, after slating, some of the same members "as a group, not as the Citizens' Council" then "form a new political party to help slated candidates" for every election before disbanding until the next election.
However, while it was not disclosed what happens in those January to May meetings of the Council in a time when Coryell said the Council typically diminishes to some 15 members or as few as five or eight -- except, perhaps, party business -- former 8-year Village Board trustee, District 1 delegate and unsuccessful but endorsed 2005 mayoral candidate Ted Hadley defended the body's role and what he said was the reality of its existence.
"We didn't want a party system in this village," he said, noting the Council is there to pick a broad, diverse slate of candidates to build strong boards and then help them get elected. "On the whole, this system has put a pretty good government in place ... (but) if you just sit here (and endorse) and then walk away, then what's the point of endorsing?"
He contended once the Council endorsements are set, it is the Council's duty to make sure the slate(s) it recommends are successful, like it or not.
"That's what happened, that's just the history, that's how it's been," he added.
But Coryell said if that's what some members want, then the volunteers involved now must then "maintain a viable Council" from January to May and beyond -- because "morphing" into a party is clearly not its purpose -- and spend the non-election period "changing the bylaws.
"Instead of having a duty to the citizens of La Grange," he said although did not necessarily advocate, the group can have "a duty to the selected members" instead.
And although membership chairman and District 7 delegate Rob Pierson said "if there's a political party formed (post-slating), it's not us," Catuara also said "since this organization organized, the same group does (the party work) after the Citizens' Council disbands.
"It has been a part of the Citizens' Council (role) since it was formed," she said, noting once slating occurs "we do the paperwork" to get them on the ballot to be elected because many times candidates have no idea how to file petitions. "We make sure what has to be done and we hope they will be elected."
She added if all everyone wants to do is vote, the process is not going to work for the candidates.
"This is almost a necessity," she said. "If we're going to recommend and not (help) ... it seems useless."
District 4 delegate Nancy Weiler said "20 years ago you were told you would support the candidates" after slating occurred.
"I remember putting a sign in my yard for a candidate," she said. "Historically, the Council was expected to go to lengths (to help the slate get elected)."
And though there was disagreement as to what the future should hold, Coryell agreed with Catuara to an extent.
"At our meeting in January, we (typically have) adjourned and the meeting for the party started and we moved into party business -- same room, same people," he said, adding "anyone could then show up" and join although such an announcement has never been made publicly.
"We have lost two-thirds of the time, so we have a one-third success rate with competition races," he noted.
While Council-slated candidacies have routinely spurned independents in the past, few opponents have won. That dynamic changed in 2005, when Hadley was endorsed but resoundingly lost to then-trustee Liz Asperger. Confusion also reigned in 2007, when a candidate falsely ran as an endorsee when he clearly was not.
The petition to add a ninth member to District 5, containing the signatures of 80 registered voters in the district -- as allowed for in the bylaws for anyone who is "dissatisfied" with any district makeup -- was opposed by some delegates who said it appeared there might be a move to "stack the deck" in that district, perhaps for one or more desired candidates.
Catuara, a nearly 20-year delegate whose geographical area in one of the village's furthest corners boasts only herself, said she wondered why District 5 should deserve an additional member when every one of the other 10 districts were lacking a maximum of eight per district and why the petitioner's dissatisfaction was not described.
District 5 includes such notables as Orlando Coryell -- who is also the husband of Library Board member Caroline Coryell and a resident who sued the Park District over its controversial decision to sell public park land for private development -- as well as longtime Park District activist Kate Brogan, Council officer Joan Vander Linde, whose husband is Village Board Trustee James Palermo, and new delegate and Council Qualificatons Committee Co-Chair Katie Justak.
Delegates in other districts include, in District 1, the wife of Village Trustee Mark Kuchler, Deann Kuchler, former Park Board Commissioner and park land sale opponent Kevin Shields; in District 2, former park land sale opponent and La Grange Towers resident Bill Dobias and Qualifications Committee co-chair Ken Levinson; longtime civic activist Jeanine McLaughlin and Pierson's wife, Nancy and in District 11, the wife of former trustee candidate Nicholas Pann, Carolyn Pann.
Spouses, under the bylaws, are allowed to vote for each other at slating time, as was the case with Palermo two years ago.
The only ones expressing an interest in slating for re-election to date are Village Trustees Mike Horvath and Barb Wolfe, Village President Liz Asperger, Library Trustees Becky Spratford and Mary Nelson and Park Commissioner Tim Kelpsas.
Park and Library hopefuls vying for four and three seats, respectively, have until Wednesday, Oct. 22 to submit applications, with slating taking place Nov. 12 and possibly one other night that month. Village candidates vying for five seats including three trustee seats, clerk and president have until Monday, Nov. 3 and will be slated Wednesday, Dec. 10.
It was agreed when interviews take place, each candidate will be given five minutes to speak five minutes to answer structured questions and 10 minutes to answer Council inquiries. The voting of recommended candidates takes place in privately and is announced publicly.
In a lively debate that took up most of the group's latest session Oct. 8, its members -- just two weeks shy of the first application deadline for April 2009 candidate hopefuls -- expressed vastly different opinions over whether their biennial role is to simply recruit, evaluate and recommend the most qualified groups of candidates in the village's three major races as the bylaws portend or whether they also should campaign for and assure the election of those very residents.
Circulating and filing candidate petitions and state-required ethics statements as a unified party, which some privately argued is the start of the political process even more than endorsements themselves -- or "recommendations" as some members maintained is the actual terminology -- assures fewer signatures need to be collected than if they all ran and filed independently and, above all, that the "party" slate secures top ballot placement in every contest.
So said Council President Orlando Coryell, who, while chairing the more than three-hour meeting of slightly more than 50 members, got the debate rolling -- and quite boisterously -- by seeking any input he could muster on the public "perception that the Council secures the election of the candidates it endorses."
And that may be an understatement, since the topic generated almost as much discourse during and after the meeting as a petition filed on behalf of the husband of another surname as District 5 delegate Kathleen Deane to seek the appointment of a ninth member to that district's full eight-member composition -- and not that only six of 12 incumbent officeholders had expressed an interest in running to date.
Moments after the Council unanimously approved District 1 delegate Steve Palmer's suggestion that the first set of interviews and endorsements with either Park or Library applicants be conducted a half-hour earlier, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, to give the body more time to complete the often-exhaustive process, Coryell kicked off the debate over the Council's purpose by stressing that once the endorsement process is done, few delegates show up in January and frequently not until the fall of the next election cycle.
"In the past, we haven't disclosed to candidates that (the recommendation) is the end of our legal responsibility, so do we tell the candidate that?" he asked, noting while Council members do not have to actively campaign for them they routinely do as a technically separate body.
One vocal delegate quickly replied the bylaws are clear campaigning for candidates "is not the function of the Council." And if and when it happens, as some seasoned veterans of the system pointed out has always been the case in years past, suggested, "now we are extremely biased ... exactly the opposite of what we want to be to the community. Our work should stop there."
That same man, who stressed the candidate slating was a recommendation and not something candidates should be allowed to call an endorsement, later reiterated if his purpose is just to interview and recommend candidates as the bylaws state, then he serves "no useful purpose" from January to May.
Coryell clarified the Council "is not formally involved in the election process" -- a fact corroborated by District 10 delegate Vera Catuara in that, after slating, some of the same members "as a group, not as the Citizens' Council" then "form a new political party to help slated candidates" for every election before disbanding until the next election.
However, while it was not disclosed what happens in those January to May meetings of the Council in a time when Coryell said the Council typically diminishes to some 15 members or as few as five or eight -- except, perhaps, party business -- former 8-year Village Board trustee, District 1 delegate and unsuccessful but endorsed 2005 mayoral candidate Ted Hadley defended the body's role and what he said was the reality of its existence.
"We didn't want a party system in this village," he said, noting the Council is there to pick a broad, diverse slate of candidates to build strong boards and then help them get elected. "On the whole, this system has put a pretty good government in place ... (but) if you just sit here (and endorse) and then walk away, then what's the point of endorsing?"
He contended once the Council endorsements are set, it is the Council's duty to make sure the slate(s) it recommends are successful, like it or not.
"That's what happened, that's just the history, that's how it's been," he added.
But Coryell said if that's what some members want, then the volunteers involved now must then "maintain a viable Council" from January to May and beyond -- because "morphing" into a party is clearly not its purpose -- and spend the non-election period "changing the bylaws.
"Instead of having a duty to the citizens of La Grange," he said although did not necessarily advocate, the group can have "a duty to the selected members" instead.
And although membership chairman and District 7 delegate Rob Pierson said "if there's a political party formed (post-slating), it's not us," Catuara also said "since this organization organized, the same group does (the party work) after the Citizens' Council disbands.
"It has been a part of the Citizens' Council (role) since it was formed," she said, noting once slating occurs "we do the paperwork" to get them on the ballot to be elected because many times candidates have no idea how to file petitions. "We make sure what has to be done and we hope they will be elected."
She added if all everyone wants to do is vote, the process is not going to work for the candidates.
"This is almost a necessity," she said. "If we're going to recommend and not (help) ... it seems useless."
District 4 delegate Nancy Weiler said "20 years ago you were told you would support the candidates" after slating occurred.
"I remember putting a sign in my yard for a candidate," she said. "Historically, the Council was expected to go to lengths (to help the slate get elected)."
And though there was disagreement as to what the future should hold, Coryell agreed with Catuara to an extent.
"At our meeting in January, we (typically have) adjourned and the meeting for the party started and we moved into party business -- same room, same people," he said, adding "anyone could then show up" and join although such an announcement has never been made publicly.
"We have lost two-thirds of the time, so we have a one-third success rate with competition races," he noted.
While Council-slated candidacies have routinely spurned independents in the past, few opponents have won. That dynamic changed in 2005, when Hadley was endorsed but resoundingly lost to then-trustee Liz Asperger. Confusion also reigned in 2007, when a candidate falsely ran as an endorsee when he clearly was not.
The petition to add a ninth member to District 5, containing the signatures of 80 registered voters in the district -- as allowed for in the bylaws for anyone who is "dissatisfied" with any district makeup -- was opposed by some delegates who said it appeared there might be a move to "stack the deck" in that district, perhaps for one or more desired candidates.
Catuara, a nearly 20-year delegate whose geographical area in one of the village's furthest corners boasts only herself, said she wondered why District 5 should deserve an additional member when every one of the other 10 districts were lacking a maximum of eight per district and why the petitioner's dissatisfaction was not described.
District 5 includes such notables as Orlando Coryell -- who is also the husband of Library Board member Caroline Coryell and a resident who sued the Park District over its controversial decision to sell public park land for private development -- as well as longtime Park District activist Kate Brogan, Council officer Joan Vander Linde, whose husband is Village Board Trustee James Palermo, and new delegate and Council Qualificatons Committee Co-Chair Katie Justak.
Delegates in other districts include, in District 1, the wife of Village Trustee Mark Kuchler, Deann Kuchler, former Park Board Commissioner and park land sale opponent Kevin Shields; in District 2, former park land sale opponent and La Grange Towers resident Bill Dobias and Qualifications Committee co-chair Ken Levinson; longtime civic activist Jeanine McLaughlin and Pierson's wife, Nancy and in District 11, the wife of former trustee candidate Nicholas Pann, Carolyn Pann.
Spouses, under the bylaws, are allowed to vote for each other at slating time, as was the case with Palermo two years ago.
The only ones expressing an interest in slating for re-election to date are Village Trustees Mike Horvath and Barb Wolfe, Village President Liz Asperger, Library Trustees Becky Spratford and Mary Nelson and Park Commissioner Tim Kelpsas.
Park and Library hopefuls vying for four and three seats, respectively, have until Wednesday, Oct. 22 to submit applications, with slating taking place Nov. 12 and possibly one other night that month. Village candidates vying for five seats including three trustee seats, clerk and president have until Monday, Nov. 3 and will be slated Wednesday, Dec. 10.
It was agreed when interviews take place, each candidate will be given five minutes to speak five minutes to answer structured questions and 10 minutes to answer Council inquiries. The voting of recommended candidates takes place in privately and is announced publicly.
Monday, September 29, 2008
THEATRE FUNDING MOVING FORWARD
Well, it appears the lobbying efforts by owners of the LaGrange Theatre to seek some type of village financing to subsidize a nearly $3 million renovation of the 83-year-old movie house may soon become reality.
When that occurs, however, is not yet known. The Village Board is not scheduled to meet again formally until 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13.
The board, after a protracted 3-1/2-hour debate at a Sept. 29 special meeting called specifically for the purpose of discussing funding options, reached consensus on some points, bringing it close to signing off on a final decision -- even though it may only be via a 4-3 split board vote.
A majority of the board, including Village President Elizabeth Asperger, favored using Tax Increment Financing money to meet the request -- to the tune of $1 million to $1.35 million -- with a proposed structure in the agreement calling for a facade easement financed by the village and an operational covenant that assures the property will remain a theater until all or a portion of the village's investment is paid for with revenues of a 50-cent entertainment tax.
It has not yet been determined whether the financing would incorporate a mixture of TIF and General Funds or one or the other, although a majority of TIF money is likely.
Since it was only a workshop, there was no formal or final vote taken by trustees, just an informal poll and a general agreement to direct staff to prepare an intergovernmental agreement based on majority viewpoints and seek approval from the theater owners.
But before any final action is taken, some trustees wanted to see more undisclosed financial statements, credit reports and some evidence of payback worthiness before they decide how much they should give away.
Theater owners John Rot and David Rizner, who also co-own the nearby Horton's Home Furnishings on the same stretch of downtown La Grange Road, had originally asked for village assistance of up to $1.7 million of the estimated $3.1 million project cost. They said they were not seeking a bailout, but a fair shake since they represent such a unique institution.
Village staff, through a 10-page working term sheet and a 6-page memorandum not released publicly -- which Asperger said reflected discussions on the topic over the last several weeks --recommended an agreement which would have the owners fund $1.35 million of the total revised project cost and the village contribute $1.35 million with a zero-interest loan paid back using proceeds of the entertainment/amusement tax expected to generate $100,000 annually.
Village Manager Robert Pilipszyn said the parties were "unable to finalize" a village-recommended 20-year operational commitment or an agreement for Rot and Rizner to pay in full if they default on the contract.
Asperger initially called the staff recommendation "thoughtful and very prudent" and one that aims to develop a consensus among board members with vastly differing views related to what kind and how much money would be spent and the scope of the village's commitment. She later acquiesced to the compromise which, in part, would provide some funds to renovate the theater and remaining TIF surplus dollars to fund an ongoing economic development initiative.
However, disagreement over the initial recommendation, whether the funds should be in the form of a grant or loan, how much should be awarded and whether staff should have even done any more than provide data without a proposal to the board fueled the rest of the debate.
Trustee Thomas Livingston said he believed the draft agreement would have moved the board in the right direction and addressed an appropriate balance of funding sources, but Trustee Mark Kuchler strongly criticized staff's over-involvement in the board's policy decision.
"When staff advocates a position, they become advocates of the position," said Kuchler, who got fellow trustees to agree to consider the idea of La Grange purchasing a facade easement from the theater and an operational covenant that the theater would remain in place indefinitely or until the owners or future owners essentially return the village's original $1 million investment.
Trustee Mark Horvath stressed the need for a long-term commitment of the theater to remain in town if public funds are used. But he also cautioned spending TIF surplus money that rightfully should be reimbursed to tax payers.
"Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to use it," he said. TIF was designed to cure blight. We cured blight, so let's not be in a rush to spend it under the economic development banner."
And Trustee Barbara Wolf said while she doesn't support the use of TIF money,she believes there should be support for using the General Fund, which could be repaid by the new tax.
For a more in-depth story on the meeting, revisit The News blog in a couple of days.
When that occurs, however, is not yet known. The Village Board is not scheduled to meet again formally until 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13.
The board, after a protracted 3-1/2-hour debate at a Sept. 29 special meeting called specifically for the purpose of discussing funding options, reached consensus on some points, bringing it close to signing off on a final decision -- even though it may only be via a 4-3 split board vote.
A majority of the board, including Village President Elizabeth Asperger, favored using Tax Increment Financing money to meet the request -- to the tune of $1 million to $1.35 million -- with a proposed structure in the agreement calling for a facade easement financed by the village and an operational covenant that assures the property will remain a theater until all or a portion of the village's investment is paid for with revenues of a 50-cent entertainment tax.
It has not yet been determined whether the financing would incorporate a mixture of TIF and General Funds or one or the other, although a majority of TIF money is likely.
Since it was only a workshop, there was no formal or final vote taken by trustees, just an informal poll and a general agreement to direct staff to prepare an intergovernmental agreement based on majority viewpoints and seek approval from the theater owners.
But before any final action is taken, some trustees wanted to see more undisclosed financial statements, credit reports and some evidence of payback worthiness before they decide how much they should give away.
Theater owners John Rot and David Rizner, who also co-own the nearby Horton's Home Furnishings on the same stretch of downtown La Grange Road, had originally asked for village assistance of up to $1.7 million of the estimated $3.1 million project cost. They said they were not seeking a bailout, but a fair shake since they represent such a unique institution.
Village staff, through a 10-page working term sheet and a 6-page memorandum not released publicly -- which Asperger said reflected discussions on the topic over the last several weeks --recommended an agreement which would have the owners fund $1.35 million of the total revised project cost and the village contribute $1.35 million with a zero-interest loan paid back using proceeds of the entertainment/amusement tax expected to generate $100,000 annually.
Village Manager Robert Pilipszyn said the parties were "unable to finalize" a village-recommended 20-year operational commitment or an agreement for Rot and Rizner to pay in full if they default on the contract.
Asperger initially called the staff recommendation "thoughtful and very prudent" and one that aims to develop a consensus among board members with vastly differing views related to what kind and how much money would be spent and the scope of the village's commitment. She later acquiesced to the compromise which, in part, would provide some funds to renovate the theater and remaining TIF surplus dollars to fund an ongoing economic development initiative.
However, disagreement over the initial recommendation, whether the funds should be in the form of a grant or loan, how much should be awarded and whether staff should have even done any more than provide data without a proposal to the board fueled the rest of the debate.
Trustee Thomas Livingston said he believed the draft agreement would have moved the board in the right direction and addressed an appropriate balance of funding sources, but Trustee Mark Kuchler strongly criticized staff's over-involvement in the board's policy decision.
"When staff advocates a position, they become advocates of the position," said Kuchler, who got fellow trustees to agree to consider the idea of La Grange purchasing a facade easement from the theater and an operational covenant that the theater would remain in place indefinitely or until the owners or future owners essentially return the village's original $1 million investment.
Trustee Mark Horvath stressed the need for a long-term commitment of the theater to remain in town if public funds are used. But he also cautioned spending TIF surplus money that rightfully should be reimbursed to tax payers.
"Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to use it," he said. TIF was designed to cure blight. We cured blight, so let's not be in a rush to spend it under the economic development banner."
And Trustee Barbara Wolf said while she doesn't support the use of TIF money,she believes there should be support for using the General Fund, which could be repaid by the new tax.
For a more in-depth story on the meeting, revisit The News blog in a couple of days.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
FIREFIGHTER FUNDRAISER
La Grange Firefighters Local 2338 will hold its rescheduled annual golf outing fundraiser -- originally set for Sept. 16 but cancelled due to heavy rains -- on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Palos Country Cub on Southwest Highway in Orland Park.
The event will offer golf and dinner for $90 or just dinner for $35 per person, including a two-hour open bar and numerous prize giveaways.
Proceeds will go towards the Illinois Burn Camp Alliance at which the labor union sponsors a child for one entire week at Camp Duncan in Volo; the Park District of La Grange's annual Halloween Walk in downtown La Grange during which it awards one bicycle each to a boy and girl costume contest winner and the La Grange Little League in which it sponsors a team that plays in the summer months at Sedgwick Park, according to Fire Lt. Don Gay.
Further information is available by calling firefighters Gay, Bill Brzgalski or Brian Sible at (708) 579-2338.
The event will offer golf and dinner for $90 or just dinner for $35 per person, including a two-hour open bar and numerous prize giveaways.
Proceeds will go towards the Illinois Burn Camp Alliance at which the labor union sponsors a child for one entire week at Camp Duncan in Volo; the Park District of La Grange's annual Halloween Walk in downtown La Grange during which it awards one bicycle each to a boy and girl costume contest winner and the La Grange Little League in which it sponsors a team that plays in the summer months at Sedgwick Park, according to Fire Lt. Don Gay.
Further information is available by calling firefighters Gay, Bill Brzgalski or Brian Sible at (708) 579-2338.
NO HEARING FOR LAND SWAP: VILLAGE
Contrary opinion from an opponent of the Gordon Park land sale and the discussion of a land swap between the La Grange Village Board and the Park District of La Grange was clarified by Village Manager Robert Pilipszyn late last week.
At the Sept. 22 Town Meeting at Spring Avenue School, resident and attorney Tom Beyer said a public hearing is required for the swap because the wrong Illinois Revised Statute is being used to justify the exchange. If the right one was used, he maintained, a hearing would be mandated. If not, the village could be opening itself up to lawsuits, he contended.
However, Pilipszyn said the village attorney assured him the Illinois Local Property Transfer Act "is the correct and appropriate statute" for purposes of the Park District land exchange because it addresses the transfer of property from from one public entity to another.
The legislative intent of the statute cited by Beyer as the proper statute prescribes a process to exchange land between a municipality and a private party -- but the Park District is a division of local government and not a private party.
"We're acting on authority granted to both of us under the Property Transfer Act ... which does not authorize the transfer of property to a private party, which closes the loop," he said. "The Property Transfer Act doesn't even authorize atransfer of property to a private party, which makes it really clear as to the purpose of that statute."
Thus, he added, it will be helpful for the Park Board to complete the transfer of property before the Tuesday, Nov. 4 referendum to make it abundantly clear as to the ownership of property in the park.
The board plans to swap a village parking lot next to Gordon Park for a vacated portion of Shawmut Avenue within the park
The Park Board voted to put the land sale issue on the ballot after a Cook County Circuit judge ruled the parcel was more than 3 acres and required voter approval.
At the Sept. 22 Town Meeting at Spring Avenue School, resident and attorney Tom Beyer said a public hearing is required for the swap because the wrong Illinois Revised Statute is being used to justify the exchange. If the right one was used, he maintained, a hearing would be mandated. If not, the village could be opening itself up to lawsuits, he contended.
However, Pilipszyn said the village attorney assured him the Illinois Local Property Transfer Act "is the correct and appropriate statute" for purposes of the Park District land exchange because it addresses the transfer of property from from one public entity to another.
The legislative intent of the statute cited by Beyer as the proper statute prescribes a process to exchange land between a municipality and a private party -- but the Park District is a division of local government and not a private party.
"We're acting on authority granted to both of us under the Property Transfer Act ... which does not authorize the transfer of property to a private party, which closes the loop," he said. "The Property Transfer Act doesn't even authorize atransfer of property to a private party, which makes it really clear as to the purpose of that statute."
Thus, he added, it will be helpful for the Park Board to complete the transfer of property before the Tuesday, Nov. 4 referendum to make it abundantly clear as to the ownership of property in the park.
The board plans to swap a village parking lot next to Gordon Park for a vacated portion of Shawmut Avenue within the park
The Park Board voted to put the land sale issue on the ballot after a Cook County Circuit judge ruled the parcel was more than 3 acres and required voter approval.
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