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City Council News
by Jude Coyle

1. Agent Jim Roache from the Orland
Park FBI office presented plaques
to Sgt. Ismael Haro, Cpl. Frank Podbielniak,
Det. John McSweeney, Offi -
cer Michael Elton, Officer Jerry Colone
and Det. Dennis Seppessy. A bank in
Joliet was robbed on April 30th of a
large amount of money. The FBI provided
Sgt. Haro with a list of addresses.
Because of the BIPD’s investigation,
one man was indicted and two others
will be. Cpl. Bernadine Rzab and Offi -
cer Tomas Padron were also recognized
by the FBI although neither were able
to attend the meeting.
Jason Stamps of Northwestern
University presented certificates to
Deputy Chief Michael Cornell and
Sgt. Thomas Morey for completing
the Executive Management Program,
which is a 3 week seminar for Command
Offi cers. Cpl. Bernadine Rzab
was recognized for completing the
Staff and Command program. This a
10 week program to provide training
to front line supervisors. All of Blue
Island’s supervisory staff has completed
this program. The Executive Management
program is the next level.
Chief Hoglund explained that new
offi cers are required to have 60 hours
of college credits. They are encouraged
not only to complete their Bachelor’s
degrees, but their Master’s as well. Sgt.
Kevin Sisk earned his Bachelor’s from
Eastern University and his Master’s
degree at Governors State University.
Offi cer Timonty Sisk earned both
degrees from Governors State.
Next Chief Hoglund presented a
Combat Cross/Gallantry Star to Officer Timothy Sisk. On April 28th,
the Subway at 12121 S. Western was
robbed. Upon hearing the report, Officer Sisk located the escape vehicle at
119th and Ashland. When he activated
the emergency light at the intersection,
the suspect used evasive maneuvers.
Officer Sisk pursued. The suspect
crashed into a utility pole and two men
tried to escape on foot. Again, Officer
Sisk pursued. When Welton Wiley
turned and raised his arm, Offi cer
Sisk, believing he had a weapon, shot
Wiley twice. Officer Sisk stayed with
the wounded man while maintaining a
visual on the other, Angelo Strickland,
who was apprehended a shot time later.
A Combat Cross/Gallantry Star was
awarded to Officer Tomas Padron. On
January 1st, Officer Padron responded
to a report of shots fired on the 2200
block of 119th Street. The Officer approached
a man who was seen recklessly
firing a weapon. He tried to talk
to Patrick Williams, who first seemed
to be ready to cooperate by lowering
his gun. Williams then raised it again.
Offi ce Padron shot Williams twice,
injuring him and disarming him.
Life Saving Awards were presented
to Officers Padron, Moller and Brandenberger.
On December 23, Officers
responded to a report of a residential
fire at 12127 S. Greenwood. Upon
arrival, officers learned that John S.
Fedeanis was still inside the burning
house and needed assistance as he
had recently had bypass surgery. The
Officers entered the house, saving Mr.
Fedeanis’ life.
2. Mayor Donald E. Peloquin
reported that as soon as he receives the
proper instructions, the Chatham and
Division Street bridges will be closed.
The City does not have the money to
conduct the necessary inspections and
complete necessary repairs. General
inspections to the undercarriage will
continue regularly to be sure that
nothing impedes barge traffic. The City
will continue to look for funding, but
until then, all traffic will be routed to
Western and Ashland.
3. A conflict has arisen on the
Western Avenue project as the contractor
had based his bid on using fly ash
in the concrete. IDOT doesn’t allow it
as it causes spider cracks. The City is
returning the bid to the contractor for
another quote. Work from 119th Street
to 127th will begin in 2 weeks, and
there will be turning lanes at 123rd
Street.
4. Curfew for the summer months
is 10:30 on Sunday through Thursday,
and 11:30 on Friday and Saturday.
There are sirens to indicate curfew,
although the City is soliciting funding
to improve them.
5. Attorney Jim Brosnahan asked
the Council to consider an ordinance
providing an Appropriation for Corporate
Purposes for the Fiscal Year beginning
May 1, 2010 and ending April
30, 2011. An appropriation is not a
budget, but a wish list for the next
fiscal year, and as such, the beginning
of a budget. Actual spending during
the corporate year ending on April
30, 2010 came to $21,506,448.00.
Last year’s Appropriation came to
$41,820,162.00. For the year ending
on April 31, 2011, the Appropriation
came to $41,138,754.00.
6. An Ordinance was presented to
the Council that would restrict parking
to ‘resident only’, at 2845 Minnesota
Avenue. An Ordinance allowing for
‘handicap’ parking only at 2212 123rd
Place was presented.
7. A resolution for approval of a
Class 8 Real Estate Tax Incentive
Abatement for construction by Aetna
Development Corporation, for property
located at 12960 S. Ashland was
presented. Aetna plans to build a
10,000 square foot commercial building.
It qualifies for the abatement
because this plot has been vacant for
the past 24 months and is in need of
substantial revitalization.
8. The final matter was a resolution
authorizing the City Clerk and Mayor
to sign an Memorandum of Understanding
with the City of Chicago,
Village of Bellwood, City of Burbank,
City of Calumet City, City of Chicago Heights, Village of Dolton, City of
Evanston, City of Harvey, Village of
Hazel Crest, Village of Mount Prospect,
Village of Oak Park, Village of
Riverdale, Village of Schaumburg and
Village of Skokie. The Office of Justice
Programs of the U.S. Department of
Justice provides federal leadership in
creating agreements, such as this, for
the distribution of funds, and the creation
of programs to help fight crime.
Blue Island receives Justice Assistance
Grants (or J.A.G.) which are used to
provide bike, all terrain vehicles, foot
and extra tactical patrols.
9. All items were agreed to.
10. Alderman Jan Ostling reported
on behalf of the Public Health and
Safety Committee. The Fire Department
received 312 total fire and emergency
services calls. Call to patient
contact averaged 4.94 minutes. In
May the Police Department answered
2,754 calls. Seventy cases were assigned
to 5 detectives, which included
1 death investigation, 4 sex offenses, 1
weapon offense, 1 home invasion, 10
robberies, 1 attempted child abduction,
3 aggravated batteries, 3 burglaries
including auto, 2 larcenies and 8
missing persons. Forty seven cases
were resolved, including 4 sex offenses,
1 child abduction, 4 aggravated
batteries, 5 robberies, 17 residential
burglaries, 3 burglaries including
auto, 2 larcenies, 8 missing persons.
Search warrants were executed on May
6th and 8th. A firearm was recovered
during the first search, and drugs and
paraphernalia during both. On May
10th and 13th, Sgt. Haro assisted the
Lansing Police Department with a
homicide investigation, while on the
24th and 25th Cpl. Rzab assisted the
Dolton Police with a homicide investigation.
Both are members of and
were acting with the South Suburban
Major Crimes Task Force.
11. Ron Young had spoke at the
Public Health and Safety Committee
about fire protection, and wanted
to clarify his remarks. He held up a
graph showing how synthetic fabrics
can burn at a temperature of 800
degrees within three minutes. Baby
clothes that are treated with fire
retardants will lose their effectiveness
within ten washes. He held up maps
showing how Blue Island is dissected
by trains and by the Canal, and how
fire vehicles are hampered because of
it. In answer to most calls, the Fire
Department will send out a three man
immediate response crew even though
the National Fire Protection Agency
recommends 4 man crews. Two men
should immediately attack fires at the
source while two men wait in reserve.
He cited a situation in Texas where a
church caught fire. The area was using
a mutual response system much like
the system used here, wherein several
departments respond when a fire call
goes out. He said four departments
responded, including one manned
by volunteers. Because of the mix
of training, of fire station cultures
(meaning that the responders did not
come from the same firehouse) and
communication procedures, a wooden
truss roof collapsed, killing four
firefighters. He advocated for better
services. Mayor Peloquin responded
that even if it meant bringing one
more man on at each location for
every shift, it meant hiring at least
1.2 extra men per position because of
Kelly days, vacations, ambulance duty,
etc. Mr. Young said, “I understand
vehicles aren’t cheap and man power
isn’t cheap.” Mayor Peloquin then
suggested that Mr. Young work with
him in implementing a fire protection
district. They could work together
to form a commission. Mr. Young
agreed.
12. Carlos Salgado asked when
the bridges would be closed. Mayor
Peloquin said it would be within the
next two weeks. Mr. Salgado asked if
work was planned on Vermont Street
between Western and Division. Mayor
Peloquin said, yes.
13. Carol di Pace Greene reported
that the graffiti on the wall at 2741
Orchard was finally removed. She had
called Tim Duggan of Tom Dart’s
office.
14. The meeting ended at 8:05. The
next meeting is July 13th, at 7PM at
the East Annex.

Committee Meeting Schedule:
Finance Committee: July 6th
6PM, East Annex
Judiciary Committee: July 6th
5PM, East Annex
Community Development
Committee: July 6th, 7:30 PM,
East Annex
Recreation Committee:
July 7th, 6:30 PM
Public Health and Safety
Committee: July 20th, 6:30PM
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