HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 5.7.24 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL 

Appearance

  • The City Council voted to approve new business signage and outdoor seating for ami. Jerusalem Kitchen (148 Green Bay Rd.). 

  • The City Council voted to approve new business signage for HP Ventures Group dba HighPoint Living (246 Green Bay Rd.).

  • The City Council voted to approve new business signage for HP Ventures Group dba HighPoint Living (440 Green Bay Rd.).

  • The City Council voted to approve new business signage for HP Ventures Group dba HighPoint Living (546 Green Bay Rd.).

  • The City Council voted to approve new business signage for JJ Service Center (433 Sheridan Rd.).

  • The City Council voted to approve new business signage for Lucky Bamboo Food (114 Washington Ave.).

  • The City Council voted to approve new business signage for Top Spa & Nails (110 Washington Ave.).

Appointments

  • The City Council voted to reappoint Catherine Regalado and Janell Cleland to the Library & Community Center Board of Trustees for 3-year terms; Catherine currently serves as the Board’s Secretary and Janell as its Vice President. Many thanks to both Catherine and Janell for their longstanding and impactful contributions to the Board.

Finance

  • The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $901k; the lion’s share of this total ($789k) is related to the ongoing sanitary system and roadway improvements on Sheridan Rd. and Bank Ln.

Infrastructure

  • The city pumps, treats and supplies water directly from Lake Michigan. The water is drawn through a 16-inch intake pipe located one half mile from the shoreline at a depth of 25-feet below the lake’s surface. Various contaminants, including microbial, inorganic, pesticides, herbicides, organic chemicals, radioactive elements, turbidity, sodium, lead, and copper, are monitored to ensure water safety. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates community water suppliers to publish a Consumer Confidence Report, also known as an annual drinking water quality report, that informs residents about their local drinking water quality. The city’s 2024 report - which covers the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 - confirms that the city’s drinking water met all EPA and state water health standards, with no water quality violations recorded. Kudos to the city’s water operators for again achieving this all-important objective.

  • The city – along with more than 60 other government agencies (e.g., Deerfield, Highland Park, Lake County, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lincolnshire etc.) – participated in a bid to purchase deicing salt for the 2024-25 winter season. The City Council voted to accept the lowest qualified bid from Morton Salt for up to 1.5k tons of salt at $84.11 per ton (which represents a 2% increase from the 2023-24 winter season price).

Parks & Public Spaces

  • The city purchased vacant land at 341 Waukegan Ave. (i.e., the property just north of the Bent Fork Bakery) for the purpose of developing a new pocket park (click here to see renderings). Environmental remediation of this former gas station site and construction of the park are underway, with construction expected to be completed this summer. The City Council voted to approve two work orders - related to the disposal of contaminated soil to an EPA approved hazardous waste landfill facility and the installation of electrical infrastructure for lighting - with Mariani Landscape at a cost of $52k.

  • The splash pad at Everts Park is planned to be reactivated on May 9th.

Public Safety

  • The city recently celebrated Police Chief Dave Wentz’s 25-year work anniversary. Although many of his efforts may not be visible to the general public, Chief Wentz has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership of the Police Department and continues to do so.

Public Works

  • The city’s longtime Public Works Superintendent recently retired. In response, Assistant to the City Manager, Marc Facchini, was promoted to the new position of Assistant City Manager/Public Works, in which he will direct the Public Work Department. To fill additional gaps, city staff presented a 3-year proposal from Sciarretta Enterprises in which they would provide various services (e.g., respond to emergencies, oversee maintenance projects and related billing, maintain the Public Works garage, maintain city equipment and related asset inventory, address resident concerns, assist with budgets and schedules, obtain project bids and proposals etc.) in exchange for utilizing the Public Works garage at 552 Bank Ln. For services outside of that scope, Sciarretta Enterprises would provide laborers at set hourly rates (1 laborer at $57.50 per hour and 2 or more laborers at $37.50 per hour). The City Council voted to approve the proposal.

Other

  • The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from April 16, 2024.

  • The Library & Community Center’s May newsletter is here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s May newsletter is here.

  • The city has openings on multiple volunteer boards (e.g., Appearance Review Committee, Board of Fire & Police Commissioners, Firefighters’ Pension Board, Library & Community Center Board of Trustees, Police Pension Board); please contact me if you are interested in learning more about these opportunities.

  • I had reprints made of the rare book, 28 Miles North: A Story of Highwood (Wittelle, 1953); if you would like a free copy, please reply to this email with your address and I will drop one off at your home before long.

Meeting Records

  • A video recording of the Regular Meeting is here.

  • Minutes from the Committee of the Whole Meeting are here and minutes from the Regular Meeting are here.

    These write-ups are purposefully brief. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you would like additional details or have questions.

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June 4, 2024

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April 16, 2024