La Grange Park funds flood relief project, OKs local grocery tax
'The annual debt service on the proposed bonds is anticipated to be nearly equal to the current debt service and therefore no increase in the sewer rate is required,' finance chair Robert Lautner told the board before the vote, referring to 2006 sewer bonds whose debt will be retired this year.
The debt service on the 2006 bonds is approximately $390,000 per year. The debt service for the new bonds will be paid for by revenue from the village water and sewer system customers at their existing rate.
The current estimated cost of the Sewer Separation Project is $12.5 million. The village had previously accepted $4 million in funding assistance from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and, in doing so, committed the village to issue up to $5 million in bonds to help finance the project.
Costs above the $9 million from the bonds and MWRD money will be paid by other grants and village reserves, officials said.
The project is designed to provide flooding relief to the area of the Village bounded by 31st Street on the north, La Grange Road on the west, Homestead Road on the south, and the Illinois Harbor Belt railroad on the east.
The area contains local low areas, including the intersection of Barnsdale Road and Jackson Avenue, and on Monroe between Forest and Barnsdale roads which have suffered increased flooding in recent years. It was particularly hard hit by the May 17, 2020, floods that devastated parts of La Grange and La Grange Park.
Separating the Forest Avenue, Homestead and Barnsdale roads storm sewers from the storm sewers along 31st Street will provide relief to the area, officials said. Tentative estimates indicate the bonds will be put out for sale before the end of July and the bond closing would be by August 18, 2025.
In other business, the board addressed a potential budget shortfall by approving a municipal grocery sales tax of one percent.
The tax is scheduled to begin January 1, 2026 and will replace the state grocery sales tax that expires at the end of 2025.
'The village's estimated grocery sales tax revenue is between $250,000 and $300,000,' Lautner said introducing the ordinance.
He also noted that the village's fiscal year 2025-2026 budget approved the grocery sales tax as revenue in the General Fund.
'As a resident and a taxpayer, I hate that we have to continue this tax and potentially miss the opportunity that we might be able to save a little,' Lautner said. 'But the other side of that coin is that to lose the significant revenue of over a quarter million dollars would have a direct impact on the services this village provides, and that's something we cannot afford to do.'
The tax was approved unanimously, but some trustees did so grudgingly.
'I see no way around it, so I'm going to support it,' Trustee Michael Sheehan said.
His colleague Karen Koncel called it 'a necessary evil.'
'I know we need the revenue, but this is definitely not my way of pursuing that revenue,' she said.
The next La Grange Park Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m., June 10 at 447 N. Catherine Ave.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
11-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
La Grange Park preparing to welcome new bagel shop to 31st Street
In the latest move to enhance the 31st Street business corridor, the La Grange Park Board of Trustees approved an economic incentive agreement with a new eatery. Financed in part by 31st Street/Barnsdale Business District funds, the operators of Jimmy's Bagels plan to redevelop the property at 716 E. 31st Street into a bagel shop and cafe. 'I'm really excited to be opening up in La Grange Park, the town that I live in,' said Jimmy Zars, the owner of Jimmy's Bagels. 'The farmer's markets and everyone that I've interacted with so far over the last year or two has been really positive and I'm really excited to have this place.' Zars has lived with his wife in La Grange Park since 2018 and has been selling bagels the last two years at various farmer's markets, including one in La Grange. But this will be his first brick and mortar establishment. It's scheduled to open in November 2025. 'I've always been a fan of a good bagel, especially a New York-style bagel,' Zars said after the meeting. 'I got started making them about two, two and one-half years ago, just for friends and family. I wanted to try it out and people really like them.' Success with friends and family convinced Zars that there might be a career opportunity, so he began selling his bagels to the public, beginning with the farmer's markets. Part of his success has been due to his New York-style approach, which involves boiling the bagels before baking, resulting in a softer texture. 'I try to shape them so they work well with a sandwich,' he said. Preparations for the new store will include interior improvements, installing new equipment such as a kitchen exhaust hood system, plumbing and electrical upgrades, structural work on walls, sinks and refrigeration units. The total investment by Jimmy's Bagels will be in excess of $82,750, of which $74,200 is eligible for the incentive agreement. Trustees were positive about the addition of the business to La Grange Park. 'You've got a strong following and I hope you bring all your farmers market friends with you to La Grange Park,' Trustee Mike Sheehan told Zars. 'I wish you nothing but the best of luck.' His colleague Bob Lautner agreed, saying 'it's good to see, I'll say home grown residents investing in the community. It's much appreciated.' As the Jimmy's Bagels economic incentive agreement was on the July 8 agenda for discussion only, it will be an action item on the July 22 meeting agenda. The 31st Street/Barnsdale Road business corridor was also the subject of two additional discussions July 8. One was a Letter of Agreement for professional services for creating a 31st Street Corridor Transportation Plan. The area in question is 31st Street from La Grange Road to Maple Avenue and Barnsdale Road from 31st Street to just north of 26th Street. After issuing requests for proposals, village staff chose Kimley-Horn for the work, being the most qualified and familiar with La Grange Park. The agreement with Kimley-Horn calls for a fee of 'not-to-exceed' $224,733, to be offset by a $180,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation's Statewide Planning and Research Grant Program. The village is also amending the 31st Street/Barnsdale Business District to include the property at 1024 Newberry Ave. The village approved purchase of the property in November of 2024 with the intention of demolishing the existing house and turning the property into a municipal parking lot. Including the Newberry Avenue property in the Business District will legally allow it to benefit from special funding mechanisms such as the 31st Street/Barnsdale Road Business Development District. Along with the economic incentives for Jimmy's Bagels, the 31st Street corridor transportation plan and the amendment to include the Newberry property in the Business District will be action items on the July 24 meeting agenda. The next La Grange Park Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. July 22 in the Village Board Room, 447 N. Catherine Ave.
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
La Grange Park funds flood relief project, OKs local grocery tax
A project in La Grange Park meant to address flooding problems won't result in higher water and sewer rates for residents after the La Grange Park Board of Trustees unanimously approved an ordinance to issue $5 million in bonds May 27 to help fund the Central Area Sewer Separation Project. 'The annual debt service on the proposed bonds is anticipated to be nearly equal to the current debt service and therefore no increase in the sewer rate is required,' finance chair Robert Lautner told the board before the vote, referring to 2006 sewer bonds whose debt will be retired this year. The debt service on the 2006 bonds is approximately $390,000 per year. The debt service for the new bonds will be paid for by revenue from the village water and sewer system customers at their existing rate. The current estimated cost of the Sewer Separation Project is $12.5 million. The village had previously accepted $4 million in funding assistance from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and, in doing so, committed the village to issue up to $5 million in bonds to help finance the project. Costs above the $9 million from the bonds and MWRD money will be paid by other grants and village reserves, officials said. The project is designed to provide flooding relief to the area of the Village bounded by 31st Street on the north, La Grange Road on the west, Homestead Road on the south, and the Illinois Harbor Belt railroad on the east. The area contains local low areas, including the intersection of Barnsdale Road and Jackson Avenue, and on Monroe between Forest and Barnsdale roads which have suffered increased flooding in recent years. It was particularly hard hit by the May 17, 2020, floods that devastated parts of La Grange and La Grange Park. Separating the Forest Avenue, Homestead and Barnsdale roads storm sewers from the storm sewers along 31st Street will provide relief to the area, officials said. Tentative estimates indicate the bonds will be put out for sale before the end of July and the bond closing would be by August 18, 2025. In other business, the board addressed a potential budget shortfall by approving a municipal grocery sales tax of one percent. The tax is scheduled to begin January 1, 2026 and will replace the state grocery sales tax that expires at the end of 2025. 'The village's estimated grocery sales tax revenue is between $250,000 and $300,000,' Lautner said introducing the ordinance. He also noted that the village's fiscal year 2025-2026 budget approved the grocery sales tax as revenue in the General Fund. 'As a resident and a taxpayer, I hate that we have to continue this tax and potentially miss the opportunity that we might be able to save a little,' Lautner said. 'But the other side of that coin is that to lose the significant revenue of over a quarter million dollars would have a direct impact on the services this village provides, and that's something we cannot afford to do.' The tax was approved unanimously, but some trustees did so grudgingly. 'I see no way around it, so I'm going to support it,' Trustee Michael Sheehan said. His colleague Karen Koncel called it 'a necessary evil.' 'I know we need the revenue, but this is definitely not my way of pursuing that revenue,' she said. The next La Grange Park Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m., June 10 at 447 N. Catherine Ave.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Yahoo
Field grows for successors to Robin Kelly, 5 either running or exploring options
The field of potential successors to Robin Kelly as 2nd Congressional District representative is growing, with five people either announcing their candidacy or exploring a possible run. This week, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller said she's formed an exploratory committee comprised of south suburban mayors to study her options. Yumeka Brown, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Matteson village clerk, said Tuesday she is a candidate after initially forming a group to explore a run. She is also president of the Rich Township Democrats. Lynwood resident Eric France, whose father worked for several Chicago mayors, plans to announce his candidacy at a news conference Saturday in Burnham. With Kelly running to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who's not seeking reelection, Kelly's representative seat in Washington appears up for grabs, but with the primaries still nearly a year away the field of contenders could grow or shrink. Kelly served in the Illinois House and won a special primary in 2013 for her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, had previously said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run. Miller, a Lynwood resident in her second term as 6th District commissioner, was elected to the Cook County Board in November 2018 after winning the Democratic primary that March. Miller is vice president of the Illinois Democratic Women organization and former president of the Democratic Women of the South Suburbs. She said Wednesday her exploratory committee is comprised of Dolton Mayor Jason House, Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry, Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa, Olympia Fields Mayor Sterling Burke and South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. If Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. She previously told the Chicago Tribune she won't circulate petititions later this year to run for another congressional term. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term earlier this month, said she was working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. France, of Lynwood, heads up The France Group, a management consulting firm started by his father, Erwin France. Erwin France spent nearly 20 years in public service beginning in 1967 when former Mayor Richard J. Daley brought the St. Louis native to Chicago as one of his administrative assistants, according to a Chicago Tribune obituary. He worked in consulting jobs with city agencies during the administrations of former Mayors Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne and Harold Washington, according to the obituary.
