Archive 2004

August 17, 2004

Curtiss Block:

The Village is considering proposals for development of the Curtiss block -- bounded by Main, Curtiss, Burlington and Washington. Three proposals from developers are available for review on the Village website: http://edc.vil.downers-grove.il.us/redev/curtiss.htm

Note that some of these involve the whole block -- entailing removal of the Post Office and other buildings currently on the block -- whereas others only involve removal of some current buildings. Where will we mail our letters?

All involve removal of the former Fannie May building -- some towns cherish their heritage, some bulldoze it!

Seriously, take a look and let the Village (and us) know your preferences. Unfortunately the proposals are pretty large files; if you don't have a fast Internet connection they will be slow to download.

Walgreens proposal at 63rd and Main:

Walgreens proposes to build a store in the Green Knolls shopping center at 63rd and Main, where the Lone Star steakhouse used to be, by the Ace Hardware and other stores.

Does Walgreens want to "moon" Green Knolls? Their proposal shows some options for how their building would be oriented -- their preferred orientation would have its backside to the rest of the shopping center! Details of their proposal are available at:

http://www.downers.us/pdf_files/WalgreensSitePlans.pdf

Note, a petition signed by over 1300 residents opposed the proposal as backwards and overly large. The Village Council tabled consideration of the proposal, but no doubt negotiations continue.

Neighborhood Character Petition Update

We have been collecting signatures on our Neighborhood Character Petition on Saturdays. The last couple Saturdays we have been located outside the Library and on Main St. near Curtiss. We are nearing 1500 signatures on this petition to the Village in favor of historic preservation (see details below). And if you favor historic preservation, and/or are concerned about teardowns and their effect on the community, don't forget to sign up for the Residential Development Community Dialogue (see right below).

July 24, 2004

The Village of Downers Grove is sponsoring a Community Dialogue
to seek input from residents and the local business community about
"issues related to development in our residential neighborhoods."

Note: this is not a Watch-sponsored event, but we are helping the Village
to publicize it via our website. Details appear below. Total attendance
is limited, so sign up now!

To sign up: > call 434 2255, or
                   > visit the Downers Grove website at www.downers.us

Village of Downers Grove
Community Dialogue on Residential Development
September 18, 2004
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Downers Grove South High Cafetorium

Outline of Days Events

PURPOSE:    In the spirit of “preserving the balance between tradition and progress”,
the Village is sponsoring and hosting a Community Dialogue to collectively explore our
communities thoughts and ideas about our neighborhoods. Participants, representing a
broad cross section of our community, will have the opportunity to help shape the
direction the Village takes in addressing issues related to residential development-an
opportunity to participate in the future while acknowledging our past.

TOPIC:     Issues related to development in our residential neighborhoods.

FORMAT:     Small focus/discussion groups with approximately 200 randomly selected
community members (residents, and commercial business community).

     I.    Introductory remarks by a Village Council Member.
     II.    Facilitator’s explanation of process and goals.

       A.    Participants will be divided into groups of 10 persons each for discussion
       B.    Each group will select a leader and secretary.
       C. Groups will be instructed to focus on the following three questions
             to provide structure for discussion.
             1.    What are the five to eight most desirable aspects of your neighborhood that
      you feel/believe should be preserved and/or enhanced in Downers Grove
              neighborhoods?
             2.    What are the five to eight most undesirable aspects of your neighborhood that
             you feel/believe need to be addressed in Downers Grove neighborhoods?
             3.    How do you define your neighborhood?

     IV.    Report from discussion groups.

     V.    Conclusion by facilitator will indicate next steps and how information garnered via
     the forum will be used.

To sign up: > call 434 2255, or
                   > visit the Downers Grove website at www.downers.us

LYMAN HOUSE UPDATE




This house was built in 1839 by one of our founders, the Reverend Orange Lyman, 
and is rumored to have been a station on the Underground Railroad.  

It was bought by a developer some months ago and although the original plan was to
tear it down, after much public comment and the efforts of many folks to point out the
historical significance of the house, the developer is now planning to move into the 
house rather than tear it down.  We are grateful and relieved.  However, it has pointed to 
the need for historic preservation policy in Downers Grove.

Neighborhood Character Petition

Downers Grove Watch, along with the Pierce Downer Heritage Alliance, is circulating
a petition for neighborhood preservation, addressed to the Village Council and the
Park District Board. We had the petition at our Heritage Fest booth, and have been
at the last couple Saturday Farmers Markets (thank you to the YMCA). We have collected
over 650 signatures to date. The petition reads:

"We the undersigned hereby petition the Downers Grove Village and Park District
officials as follows: Please assure our community maintains its distinctive
neighborhoods, including Maple Avenue with its characteristic collection of 19th
and early 20th century residences, by taking the following steps:

1. Cooperate to protect and preserve the Rev. Orange Lyman House, 806 Maple Ave.;
2. Tighten controls on demolition permits; and
3. Create a community-based task force to study possible preservation options and
make recommendations to the Village Council and Commissioners of the Park District."

The petition was presented to the Park District Board on July 15th, and the Village
Council on July 20th. However, we are still collecting signatures -- the more the
better! For information or to help with this effort, contact Gordon
Goodman.

Neighborhood Task Force Concept

Here is our concept and suggestion for how to implement point 3 of the petition above:

Suggestions for Community-Based Task Force

The Downers Grove Neighborhood Character Petition calls for creation
of a community-based task force to study possible preservation options and make recommendations to the Village Council and Commissioners of the Park District.
The following suggestions illustrate possibilities for the composition, charge,
public participation and deadline for such a task force.

Composition: We should seek to include representatives of the following interest
groups on the task force:

- Downers Grove Village Plan Commission
- Downers Grove Village Forester
- Downers Grove Park District
- School District 58
- School District 99
- Downers Grove Chamber of Commerce: builder, architect and realtor
- Downers Grove Historical Society
- Downers Grove Watch
- Pierce Downer Heritage Alliance

Charge: The task force should be charged to develop proposals and recommendations
for actions relating to redevelopment and preservation of neighborhood character,
including but not limited to:

- Identification and conservation of historic structures, including Sears homes.
- Educational programs involving local historic structures.
- Preservation of neighborhood character including streetscape and tree
preservation.
- Incentives for restoration and renewal of historic structures.
- Architectural standards or guidelines for new construction in established
neighborhoods.
- Improved procedures for protecting neighborhood character and historic
structures in connection with demolition permits, lot splits and
zoning changes.
- Establishment of a permanent Neighborhood Preservation Commission

Public participation: The task force should meet in public and include
opportunity for public comment at each meeting. The task force should also
make use of input from already scheduled Community Dialogue about Residential
Development. The task force may also want to hold at least one public “town
meeting” to actively seek additional public input.

Deadline: The task force should issue its initial recommendations within
six months of its first meeting.

Walgreens Petition

At the July 20th Village Council meeting, residents presented the Council with
a petition against the current proposal for building a Walgreens drug store at the
corner of Main St. and 63rd. The proposed location is in the Green Knolls
shopping center, on the former site of the Lone Star steak house. The main
objections to the proposed store are: (a) the size, at 14,000+ square feet, is 3
times the size of the structure that was there before, and (b) the orientation --
the proposal is to put the store so that it's backside is facing the other
stores! For further information about the petition contact Laurel Bowen. The
Village Council tabled the motion to consider the necessary variances for the
proposal.

Heritage Fest Survey Results

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our Heritage Fest booth to take our
residents survey.

The survey sought residents’ opinions on a number of issues affecting the village.
Of the approximately 100 entries received, 82% of all respondents said that teardowns were a
serious concern, and another 82% named local taxes as a serious concern. Almost 63% responded
positively to a question asking whether the Park District should expand reciprocal agreements
with neighboring districts to allow facility use at resident rates.

With an effort by some residents to put Home Rule on a referendum, 43% of those responding
wanted Downers Grove to give up its Home Rule status while 26% indicated they it should not.
This was the most “left blank” question on the survey with 30% of the respondents indicating they
did not have enough information to be able to make a decision.

In the area of stormwater and flooding, the good news is that 56% of all those who responded
indicated that they did not have water problems due to reconstruction or teardowns in their
neighborhood. The bad news is that 26% said they did.

Bill Waldack is a Watch member and volunteered at the Heritage Fest booth. “While we are at the
Heritage Fest, we wanted to survey residents and get a sense of what the priority issues are in the
village. It’s not a scientific poll, but more a way to get conversations started. We wanted to
share the results with fellow citizens and those who participated,” said Waldack.

June 21, 2004

Here is a description of the Pierce Downer Heritage Alliance meeting, June 16th,
2004, Lincoln Center Auditorium. The meeting focused on historic preservation
and on how to save the Lyman House, Downers Grove's oldest house, located at
806 Maple and currently slated to be torn down.

About 60 people attended the meeting. Gordon Goodman, chair of the Pierce
Downers Heritage Allliance introduced Ms. Jean Follett, chair of the Hinsdale
Historic Preservation Commission and a nationally recognized historic
preservation expert. He asked her to speak about historic preservation
generally and about prospects for saving the historic Lyman House on Maple Ave
in Downers Grove.

Ms. Follett expressed her appreciation. “I love Downers Grove, I go out of my
way to drive down Maple Avenue.”

She talked about:

Advantages of historic preservation.

-> Reducing teardowns has environmental payoffs in terms of tree preservation,
stormwater runoff, and reducing the burden on landfills. Currently 24% of
material going to landfills is construction debris.

-> Historic preservation is an economic vitality issue. Communities expect a
property tax boost from teardown construction, but then find that increased use
of city services (schools, water and sewer, traffic) more than makes up the
difference. Hinsdale has had three school referenda in the last few years,
despite (or because of) the wave of teardowns there.

Strategies for historic preservation.

-> Political activism is needed – make preservation an issue in local elections.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation publishes a number of guidebooks
on local preservation.

-> Demolition permit review – in Hinsdale and many other communities, demolition
permit applications are reviewed for historic significance. The permit review
process gives extra time for efforts to save significant structures.

-> Design review – For example Park Ridge has a design review board that reviews new construction plans. Every new house has to go through it. This has led to
a visible increase in quality of design and construction.

-> Historic districts – Are simply another type of zoning. Glen Ellyn is
considering a conservation overlay district right now. A locally designated
district can be made as loose or restrictive as you want. A well run district
can boost the appeal of a neighborhood and increase property values.

-> Conservation easements. Owners can voluntarily give an easement to a
preservation group to create a permanent obligation to preserve the house. The
Landmarks Preservation Council will hold the easement and follow up with future
owners. There is an initial cost for the paperwork but there can be a property
tax benefit in subsequent years.

Hinsdale developed its preservation ordinance five years ago. They had support
from the Mayor. The development process had three stages: (1) A survey to
inventory structures and locate historically significant ones. In Hinsdale
people said, “there’s nothing left,” but in fact the survey revealed 300 houses
and buildings with historic value. (2) Public education, including publicizing
the survey results and holding neighborhood meetings. (3) A task force
representing many points of view was appointed to develop an ordinance over 12
months. Some members were initially skeptical about preservation but came
around in the end.

The village enacted the ordinance formed a historic preservation commission.
The village led the way by landmarking three of its own buildings. Since then
another 15 owners have voluntarily landmarked their own houses. This has a tax
advantage. Landmarking doesn’t prevent you from adding on to the house if you
need more space and amenities.

The most recent town meeting in Hinsdale indicated the public is still
supportive. The main issues now are tree conservation and stormwater runoff.

Mr. Goodman then led a general discussion of options for how to preserve the
Lyman house. A sign-up sheet was circulated for interested persons. Mr.
Goodman proposed a joint “task force” of the Pierce Downer Heritage Alliance,
Downers Grove Watch, and the Downers Grove Historical Society, and anyone
interested in working on this issue. There is some support for historic
preservation on the Village Council, the community needs to show its interest to
help that support grow. PDHA and DGW will discuss starting a petition drive.
DGW will have a booth at the upcoming Heritage Fest.

June 4, 2004

$$$ Who gives money to our Village Council campaigns ? $$$

Ever wonder who contributes to local campaigns, and what they get for it?

Here is how to get campaign disclosure information from the Illinois State Board of Elections:

Go to their website, http://www.elections.state.il.us/

Click on “campaign disclosure.”

On the left side of the page click on “committees” or “candidates.”

Then search for the name of your choice, or just put in “Downers Grove”
for a listing of all the candidates or committees located in Downers Grove.
You can then click on the names to see what offices they ran for and a
listing of their campaign finance disclosure statements. Information for any
forms that were filed electronically is available online. Among the current
Village Council members, currently there are online statements available for
Krajewski, Sandack, Tully, and Urban. The new rule is that campaigns that take
in, spend, or have a balance in excess of $10,000 must file electronically.

The online statements show how much money the campaign took in and spent, and
who were the major contributors (over $150) and recipients of expenditures.

May 16, 2004

Have you looked at your latest real estate tax bill? (If not, you should soon: first installment is due June 1st.) Andy Clark looked at his and noticed that the Village-related part has almost doubled in the last 2 years! To see his letter - click on "Talk to Us" and then "village budget and taxes."

May 13, 2004

Historic Home Slated for Teardown

Recently the home at 806 Maple Avenue in Downers Grove was sold to Jacobs
Zeibell, LLC. According to the book "Downers Grove 1832-1982," by Montrew
Dunham and Pauline Wanschneider, this house was built in 1839 in the Greek
Revival style by Rev. Orange Lyman and is the oldest home in Downers Grove.

The new owners have distributed information to the neighbors indicating the
house will be demolished, the lot split and two new homes built.

If yo have not seen this house, apart from its history, it is a beautiful large house
on a beautifully landscaped large lot (the source of its undoing).

A number of folks in town, including Gordon Goodman of the Pierce Downer
Heritage Alliance, are voicing opposition to tearing down this house, and trying
to explore any way it can be saved. Your ideas and your support would be welcome.
We are still organizing but one idea is to try to have a number of people speak at the
next Village Council meeting, which is Tuesday May 18 at 6:30. More information
will be posted soon.

May 7, 2004

Upcoming Events at Citizens Advocacy Center (CAC)

On Tuesday evening, May 18th, at 7 p.m. CAC will be presenting a free 
program entitled "Tax Increment Financing Districts:  A golden 
economic development tool at whose expense?"  Mr. Robert Gildo, an 
attorney who specializes in protecting property owners from TIF 
procedures, will address the basics of TIF, how residents can monitor 
TIF development and how citizens can organize to stop TIFs.

On Thursday, May 27th, at 12:30 p.m. CAC will be having a Brown Bag 
Lunch discussion covering "Inspiration to Activism, Granny D:  
Stories of everyday people making a difference."  Doris Haddock, 
better known as "Granny D," has walked across the country to generate 
awareness of the need for campaign finance reform and is now walking 
across Chicago to register people to vote.  Learn about her story and 
the dozens of other people nationwide who practice daily democracy 
and prove that one person can make a difference.

Both of the above programs are free to the general public and will be 
held at the Citizen Advocacy Center located at 238 N. York Rd. in 
Elmhurst.  Any questions, contact us at 630-833-4080.

For information on this and other CAC activities, you can visit their website:
http://www.citizenadvocacycenter.org/

May 6, 2004:

A Word about Wildlife

The following letter from the Humane Society was sent to Mayor Krajewski and the Village Council
back in March. However, despite being mailed to Village Hall, of the three Council members we
checked with afterwards, none had received it. Makes us wonder exactly how much "filtering" is
done to mail sent our elected village officials.

The letter refers to an incident back in October 2003 in which Downers Grove Police performed
euthanasia on an injured deer. Be warned it is a little bit graphic.

                                    ***                                 ***                                    ***

March 12, 2004

Honorable Mayor Brian Krajewski
Village of Downers Grove Council Members
801 Burlington
Downers Grove, IL 60515

Dear Mayor Krajewski and Council Members:

This letter is written on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The HSUS is
the nation’s largest animal protection organization with 8.1 million members and constituents,
more than 308,000 of whom reside in Illinois. This regional office serves five states, including
Illinois.

It was recently brought to our attention that in October 2003, an incident occurred involving the
shooting of an injured deer by Downers Grove police. According to information we received, the
deer had been hit by a car and was suffering from its injuries. The incident supplemental report
indicates that the responding officers apparently roped the animal and led it to another area, at
which time, according to the report, “(Responding officer) retrieved a shotgun from Sgt. Karmia’s
squad and place(d) one slug round into the midsection of the deer.”

Mayor Krajewski, we understand the necessity of euthanasia under these circumstances. In fact,
The HSUS considers the use of gunshot to be a conditionally acceptable method if properly
performed in an emergency field situation. Our concern is that according to the police report and
additional information provided to this office, it appears the site selection on the deer’s body may
have been inappropriate, possibly causing the animal unnecessary suffering.

In order to be humane, the euthanasia technique must result in painless, rapid unconsciousness,
followed by cardiac or respiratory arrest, and ultimately death. In the case of large or wild
animals in emergency field situations where euthanasia by injection is not possible, professional
veterinary associations and national animal welfare organizations consider gunshot to the head to
ensure rapid, painless death a conditionally acceptable method. Proper site placement is essential,
and if done correctly, the animal will not suffer.

I have enclosed a copy of the 2000 Report of the Americal Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA) Panel on Euthanasia for your review. As you will see, the AVMA recommends that if
gunshot is the method of euthanasia used, the preferred target area should be the head.
Additionally, I am enclosing reprinted information from the National Animal Control Association
(NACA) training guide and a handout from a large animal humane investigations course
sponsored by The HSUS that addresses gunshot euthanasia of large animals. We urge you to
share these materials with the Downers Grove police department, so that officers responding in
future cases involving deer have the information needed to make the most humane decision
possible.

Conflicts with wildlife are dramatically increasing as areas of land are developed and natural
habitat is taken from the animals that once lived there. We predict the incident that occurred in
October will not be the last for the Downers Grove Police Department. For this reason, we
encourage the Village of Downers Grove to ensure that human-wildlife conflicts are resolved in
the most humane manner possible.

In closing, we thank you, Mayor Krajewski, and members of the council for your consideration in
this matter. Please feel free to contact this office at any time regarding this or any other animal
protection issue.

Very truly yours,

Jennifer Schwade-Brown
Senior Program Specialist

CC: Robert A. Porter, Chief of Police

                                         ***                                 ***                                    ***

Ice Cream Hardball

April 22, 2004

Letter To The Editor
Sun Publications for Downers Grove
1500 West Ogden Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540

Re: New Flavor  – Hardball Ice Cream

The ice cream man is under attack!  Commissioner Stan Urban was not greeted with 
open arms by the inner circle of the council and village hall upon his election 
in April, 2003.  Since that time he is being attacked on several fronts.

An attempt to discredit him shortly after his election with a charge of violation 
of protocol, because he prematurely released an email message sent to all 
commissioners, resulted in his being censured by other members of the village 
council.  I question whether this claim of releasing information, which would 
eventually become public, was blown out of proportion just to provide a venue 
to embarrass him and try to get him to resign.   Fortunately, Mr. Urban fended 
off the attack which is a credit to his character.

Another attempt to ruin him financially appears to be in progress.  Mr. Urban 
is owner of the “Every Day’s A Sundae” ice cream shop formerly located next to 
the cemetery on Main Street.  Mr. Urban was refused renewal of his lease because 
some owners of the syndicate which own that building have expressed interest in 
bringing another ice cream purveyor to that location.  Every Day’s A Sundae in 
being relocated to the Station Crossing building just across from the 
Main Street railroad station.  Many people wish him well in his new location.

It’s worth noting that Mr. Phil Cullen is spokesperson for the syndicate which 
owns Every Day’s A Sundae’s former location, and, is a member of a  group which 
owns Ballydoyle.  Mr. Cullen’s associates obviously have significant financial 
interests in Downers Grove. It would be interesting to find out who they are and 
what other ventures they are planning for in Downers 
Grove.


Sincerely,
Andrew J. Clark
Downers Grove, IL

April 29, 2004:

Community Forum: "Teardowns and Taxes"

More Teardowns and Taxes news:

=> The Teardowns and Taxes Forum will be rebroadcast on DGTV, Cable Channel 6, on May 1st, 8th, and 15th (that's each of the next three Saturdays) 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. So if you missed the forum, or if you would like relive the moment, you can see the rebroadcast.

=> Downers Grove Watch will also be making a limited number of copies of the tape. If you would like to have one, drop us an email at downersgrovewatch@sbcglobal.net with your name and address, or send us a membership application (click on "Join Us" for particulars). We ask for a donation of $10 per tape to defray copying costs. If you would like to be a member and receive a copy of the tape, we ask for a donation of $20. Your contribution will help defray costs for future forums and other activities of the Watch.

=> Check the "Talk to Us" page for reactions to the forum. Some interesting views!

=> Thanks to the Downers Grove Reporter for a nice treatment of the topic in their April 23 issue.

=> Help us keep the pressure up on the Mayor and Village Council for action on this issue. We welcome your comments, and more importantly, urge you to contact the Mayor and Council with your comments. Their email addresses are on the "Communicate" page.

April 15, 2004:

Our Community Forum on Teardowns and Taxes was held April 10, 2004 at the Downers Grove Public Library. It was standing room only! The crowd of approximately 175 people was treated to a lively set of presentations and question and answer sessions on many aspects of the teardown phenomenon. Three of our Village Commissioners attended -- Stan Urban (one of our speakers), Marilyn Schnell and Ron Sandack. The general feeling was one of constructive discussion. We're now looking to our Village Council and staff to follow up with some meaningful policy work and further opportunities for public input. Help us keep the pressure up!

Featured Speakers were:

Jean Follett, historic preservation consultant and chair of the Hinsdale Historic Preservation Commission
Theresa Cockrell, Downers Grove Township Assessor
Tom Cowan, Naperville builder and President of Community First in Naperville
Allison Laff, Naperville Planning Services Staff
Bruce Maki, DuPage Dept. of Development and Environmental Concerns
Stan Urban, Downers Grove Village Council

   Village Commissioner Stan Urban leads discussion.           Bruce Maki answers questions on stormwater
   runoff.


        Tom Cowan of Naperville's Community First          Jean Follett, Chair of the Hinsdale Historic
(look closely to see his Frank Lloyed Wright tie) Preservation Commission

PUBLIC COMMENT at the DOWNERS GROVE VILLAGE COUNCIL, 4/13/04

   Good evening. My name is Sarah Klaper. I am a community lawyer
at the Citizen Advocacy Center in Elmhurst. I have two issues that I
would like to address with you briefly.
   First, I know that you will all want to share in our celebration
that today, April 13th, is the 10th Anniversary of the grand opening of
the Citizen Advocacy Center. As you know, we are a non-profit,
non-partisan, community legal organization dedicated to building
democracy through openness in government initiatives. Center staff has
spent the past 10 years working in the western suburbs and around the
State of Illinois to eliminate roadblocks to citizen participation in
government processes. I hope that you will all save space on your
calendars for the Center's 10th Anniversary Celebration on June 18th
where we will be awarding Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn with the
Building Democracy Award. Your invitations should be arriving shortly.
   The second issue that I would like to address concerns the
proposed revisions to the Council Rules and Home Rule Ordinance. The
first area of concern is Council Rule 8(b) regarding public comment. As
it currently stands, commentators are permitted up to five minutes to
address the Council. The proposed change gives the mayor or other
presiding officer the discretion to determine how long each commentator
will be permitted to speak, yet that discretion is not given with any
guidelines. It brings to mind situations witnessed in other communities
in which people who agree with the mayor are permitted to speak freely,
and those who disagree are told to be quiet and sit down. No discretion
is permitted in regulating public comment, and it only opens the Village
up to legal challenges based on the 1st Amendment. I understand that
this Council is looking to expand public input into government
processes. Don't reverse that trend by adding discretionary provisions
to the public comment section of the agenda.

Thank you for your time.

Hoover Dam: Completed Ahead of Time and Under Budget
Time Overrun Penalty? $3000 per day in 1933
Parking Deck Penalty? $1000 per day in 2004

March 5, 2004

Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?

Here is a tale of Village management and one citizen’s attempt to help. Sometimes help is not
appreciated the way it should be.

On Aug. 20, 2002, village council passed Ordinance 4442. This ordinance provided, in part, that
all plantings in village right-of-ways could not exceed 10 inches in height.

At the same time, as part of the downtown redevelopment project, plantings were going in to the
downtown area that did not meet this standard. In other words, our village was violating its own
ordinance, potentially obstructing the view of motorists in an area where there are many pedestrians.

DG Watch board member Pete Hultman helpfully pointed this out to Village officials. As Pete
described it in a letter to the DG Sun,

“In September, October and November 2003, I sent letters and documenting photos (over 60)
relative to illegal plantings and safety hazards to both pedestrians and motorists to Mayor Brian
Krajewski, Village Manager Riccardo Ginex, Director of Code Services Don Rosenthal, Village
Attorney Enza Petrarca, and all council members. No response whatsoever was given to the
above letters!”

No response did Pete get. But on Jan. 20, 2004, the village acted to address the issue. Did they
remove the nonconforming plantings? Trim them down? No, they made the ordinance fit the
practice: at the suggestion of the village attorney the village amended the ordinance, removing the
10-inch maximum height, subject to motorist and pedestrian safety (Ordinance 00-01496).

A more detailed description of the chain of events may be found in Pete’s letter which was
published in the February 26, 2004 DG Sun. That letter, along with other letters to the editor is
available on the Sun website, http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/sunpub/downersgrove/.

Are we missing the safety issue here? I'm not sure. What’s definitely missing here is a smidgeon
of gratitude for Pete’s efforts. At our Village Hall there is a notice to visitors, labeled “resident input,”
which makes the following statement:

          “The Mayor, Village Council and staff appreciate residents communicating with Village
     officials. We hope you will take the time to jot down any questions, advice, suggestions,
     or opinions regarding the Village. All comments will be appreciated.”

Pete Hultman took the time not just to jot down, but to thoroughly document this instance where
the village was violating its own public-safety rules. He was met with extended silence and disregard.
Where is the appreciation?

Update -- February 9, 2004

New links added

New links have been added on the Links page to School District 69 (Puffer-Helty) and to a LaGrange citizens group, Citizens for Alternative Parking Solutions (CAPS). CAPS is fighting a move by the LaGrange village government to build a TIF-funded parking garage in their downtown. The CAPS website has a link to a statement by Barrington's mayor that explains the dynamics of TIFs in a way that will seem quite familiar to Downers Grove residents.

O'Hare Expansion Resolution

The Village Council voted unanimously on Feb. 3rd to pass a resolution in support of the proposed expansion of O'Hare Airport. Several persons spoke against the resolution during at Council meetings; to see a letter to Village Manager Ginex from Suburban O'Hare Commission Counsel Joe Karaganis opposing the resolution, go to Issues.

Update -- January 30, 2004

T

Chicago Tribune Article - Metro Near West Edition - Downers Grove Liquor Commission - Jan. 28,2004

"Panel's Turnover Downplayed" by Matt Baron

"Depending on one's perspective, the wholesale turnover on the Downers Grove Liquor Commision toward the end of 2003 represents a troubling trend or an encouraging indicator."
This is the opening statement of an article in the Trib, which may be of interest to our citizens.
The author points out that "of the seven commission members, six joined the volunteer panel within the last year. A significant factor in the overhaul was the abrupt ouster of three commissioners in the fall."
Krajewski is quoted as stating: "We have probably 400, 500 resumes of residents, and we're tryng to turn over some of the boards and commissions."
It's possible that the mayor is contemplating a change in the liquor licensing laws (See http://www.downers.us/citycode/code/ch3/chapter3II.htm#3_11 ) in response to the closing of Founders Hill and the budget deficit. The code currently requires that the majority of revenues from bar/restaurant combos come from food sales.

Voice your thoughts - Why Did Founders Hill Founder?