As if trying to clear their desks before leaving on vacation, Elmhurst City Council members on Monday trotted quickly through a list of items during their regular meeting. In addition to the approval of a report that will clear the way for a , aldermen discussed storm cleanup, Mariano's incentives (in committee) and a $10 million bond sale.
After the Storm
City crews have been putting in overtime, including Saturdays and even an eight-hour day on July 4, to clean up following a that blew through on July 1. Grabowski told aldermen the city so far has spent $118,000 to clean up the debris left behind, and that about 150 trees will have to be removed from public property alone.
On the night of the storm, ComEd was set to give an update on its efforts to keep the lights on during severe weather events, but company officials had to postpone their visit. Grabowski said ComEd is looking at an Aug. 6 appearance before the council.
Market Incentives
The Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services Committee met prior to the full council meeting to discuss a development agreement for Mariano's Fresh Market. The store has asked for a incentive from a proposed North York Road tax increment financing district.
After the meeting, 4th Ward Alderman Steve Hipskind said the development agreement spells out two payments to Mariano's of $625,000 each, one on opening day and the second six months into the life of the store.
The incentive would be paid by line-of-credit funds, which would be paid back with future TIF funds. Hipskind noted that the development agreement will include a guaranteed repayment schedule.
City Manager Jim Grabowski told aldermen that the company will close on its purchase of the property after the development agreement is in place.
Going Rates
The last finance issue of the night involved the refinancing and selling of $10 million in bonds with the goal of investing the money in . The city achieved a $580,000 savings by refinancing at a rate of under 3 percent. The city's bond rating remained at AA+.
“It doesn't get a whole lot better than that,” Hipskind said.
Imagine the Workmans Comp claims and the liability exposure the City would face if Todd stuck a tree branch in Blake's eye, even though Blake probably deserved it. -----thank you George Carlin.
That is the problem.
Most normal adults couldn't handle a chipper, that's why the city pays professionals to use them. Now, Mr Santini, regale us with stories about how you used to walk to school 10 miles away up hill, both ways, in the rain. And how you read by candle light and went swimming in the local crick because your parents couldn't afford electricity or pool passes. Success is a good thing. Kids not having to work so they can concentrate on school and activities is a good thing. Don't like the service or taxes in Elmhurst, there are cheaper alternatives with fewer services available, many near by.
we do not want low class people with money in this town that think because they have a mc-mansion and a mercedes they are better than others. you are the equivalent of a bellwood or maywood resident with rims on your car who won the lottery and moved to elmhurst. anyone with that level of arrogance, and attitude is a blight to our community, and has obviously allowed their newly found wealth to propel them up the social ladder too fast, much like how these rappers think they are high class because one day they were in the projects next day they have a luxury sports car and a cookie cutter mansion.
1) KIDS NEED TO KNOW HOW TO WORK...get their hands dirty and run a chipper ! A little manual labor goes a long way for kids to realize that an education may be the way to go.......worst case when they do graduate from high school and cant go to college they can run the business end of a rake and can support themselves vs. going on foodstamps and welfare ....next year your taxes will be 20K if they cant. 2) Speaking of taxes....... reason your taxes are 18K is because of the complete mis-maagement of every level of government we have ......including our local paying overtime labor rates and outside contractors to do a job that someone should be doing for $10 bucks an hour...... Lets all vote for Obama and all the state and local politicians that got us in this mess and see where we are in another 4 years...we will all be asking for the job to pick up the branches for the city !
Seriously blaming Obama, wow! Under Bush the Shrub we spent a trillion dollars on an unnecessary war with Iraq, the same President that torpedoed the Kyoto Protocol. Imagine how much less CO2 would be in the air had Gore become our president. Imagine how many hybrids could have been subsidized with 1 trillion dollars. Imagine the people who would not have been killed had Gore been elected. You people blaming Obama are the same people who got us into this mess, you hate environmental regulations and here we are with global warming that is costing us lives and treasure. It's you Obama haters that set civilization back and it is time for the rest of us to call you on your B.S. We are in this mess because of people who voted in Bush 43 and now you want to finish off humanity by voting Romney.
First off, I'm not siding with anyone on this overblown, ridiculous issue, but I could not help but respond to your remarks. My husband and I are born and raised Elmhurst residents too, are probably in the same age group as you, went K-12 in Elmhurst public schools, I graduated from Elmhurst College, we have kids who attend Elmhurst public schools, we have one at Elmhurst College, blah, blah, blah. I guess I just want to say that your remarks (and your "pen name" for that matter) are a complete embarrassment to us lifelong Elmhurst residents.