Voting Meeting: Essay Contest Winners Honored, Liquor Licenses and Contracts Awarded

The five young winners of the Western Springs Historical Society’s “Why I Love Western Springs” essay contest were honored with the chance to read their essays aloud to the Board of Trustees—and thus on Western Springs television—at Monday’s voting meeting of the Board.

The five presenters were Laidlaw second-grader Will Jancewicz, Field Park fourth-grader Jack Scodro, McClure sixth-grader Brandt Siegfried, St. John’s seventh-grader Tommy Schneider and grand-prize winner and McClure sixth-grader Greta Markey.

“I read these, and was amazed at how well they were written and how heartwarming they were,” said Village President Bill Rodeghier. “I really appreciate your moms and dads bringing you all out here this evening, and sharing with us what I thought was a very poignant and wonderful expression of why it’s great to live here.

“I think people need to hear this once in a while, especially in these days when things are a little bleak in the rest of the world.”

The meeting was otherwise largely routine, with an omnibus-vote passage of the following:

• Liquor-license approvals pertinent to the coming expansion of Hillgrove Cellars from a wine store to a combination wine store and restaurant bistro.

• Additionally, a approval for Hillgrove Cellars to operate an outdoor café.

• A liquor-license approval for St. John of the Cross’ March 2012 endowment trust fund gala.

• The approval of multiple contracts: a $35,000 maximum to Nels Johnson Tree Experts of Evanston for tree-trimming, a $90,000 maximum to Sinott Tree Service of La Grange for tree removal and a $68,530 maximum to Brickman Group of Mokena for landscaping.

• The approval of an exactly $130,107.22 payment (from two grants, from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and from the Illinois Clean Energy Program) for the installation of lighting in Village-owned buildings, to be installed by Twin Supplies.

• A resolution determining the 2011 Village property tax levy.

• A resolution approving the 2012 Board meeting schedule.

• An ordinance permitting the disposal of a Village-owned 2008 Ford Crown Victoria.

In a brief financial report, Trustee James Horvath noted that Village spending through October is at 81 percent of the budget, below the 83 percent (10 of 12 months) allotted.

Complete budget details for 2012 will be published in this week’s edition of the Suburban Life, and a public hearing will occur at the December 5 Board meeting.

The Village Hall will be closed on Thursday the 24th (Thanksgiving Day) and Friday the 25th.