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Blog
4/9/2009
WE DID IT! I am deeply honored and very excited to be the new Wheaton City Councilman for the West District. I congratulate my opponents, Jim McMahon and Mark Kmiecik, who both ran strong campaigns.
Thanks to everyone who supported me. A candidate is merely the face of a campaign which includes many people working on his or her behalf. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support.
To everyone who supported Mark or Jim, please feel free to call or e-mail me anytime. I share your concerns and will work hard to give a strong voice to them.
For those that didn't catch the results in the newspaper, here they are again:
Todd Scalzo...967 (50.44%)
Jim McMahon...670 (34.95%)
Mark Kmiecik...280 (14.61%)
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4/6/2009
VOTE! Election Day is Tuesday, April 7th. Polls will be open from 6:00 AM until 7:00 PM.
Below is a list of West District polling places by precinct. If you are unsure of your precinct or polling place, please contact the DuPage County Election Commission at www.dupageelections.com or (630) 407-5600.
West District polling places:
Milton 1: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 515 S. Wheaton Ave.
Winfield 7: Cantigny Clubhouse, 27W 270 Mack Rd.
Milton 9: School District 200 Building, 130 W. Park Ave.
Milton 19: St. Matthew Church of Christ, 1420 S. Gables Blvd.
Milton 22: DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Rd.
Milton 32: Wyndemere Retirement Community, 200 Wyndemere Circle
Milton 36: Vessels of His Love Church, 2131 Creekside Dr.
Milton 41: Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St.
Milton 71: Ultra Foods, 501 S. County Farm Rd.
Milton 74: Faith Evangelical Church, 2001 Lakeview Dr.
Milton 75: Faith Evangelical Church, 2001 Lakeview Dr.
Milton 80: Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St.
Milton 82: St. Matthew Church of Christ, 1420 S. Gables Blvd.
Milton 84: DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Rd.
Milton 85: Ultra Foods, 501 S. County Farm Rd.
Milton 93: Vessels of His Love Church, 2131 Creekside Dr.
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3/23/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 03/23/09 No City Council meeting tonight.
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3/16/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 03/16/09 Cesario Saga Ends?. The Cesario Development, a 16-home subdivision at the T-intersection of Main Street and Farnham Lane, was before the City Council for final approval. The Council was asked to pick one of two competing plans - one by Cesario and the other by the development's neighbor, Justice S. Louis Rathje. The Council asked the two parties to take 30 days to work out a compromise, but they declined. Finally, after much agonizing, the Council passed Cesario's plan, relying on the fact that it complied with all City codes and ordinances.
Hy Time. The City approved the purchase of two Ford Escape hybrids to add to its fleet. The SUV's come at a cost of $28,000 each, but are projected to save the City $7,000 in fuel costs over their lifetimes. The Council also expressed the less tangible benefits of reducing petroleum consumption and carbon emissions. This is in line with the City's long-term goal of implementing stronger green policies.
Takin It to the Streets. The City awarded $2.5 million to Fiala Paving Company of Bolingbrook, Illinois for the 2009 road resurfacing program. Streets in the West District that are due for resurfacing this year include:
(1) Childs St. (between Clinton & Gables)
(2) Crest St. (between Cul-de-sac / Roosevelt & Parkside)
(3) Delles Rd. (between Childs & Roosevelt)
(4) Lakeside Dr. (between Delles & Crest)
(5) Parkside Dr. (between Delles & Crest)
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3/2/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 03/02/09 Cat Clinic Claws Back. The City Council Chambers were packed with at least 50 people coming out in support of the cat clinic on College Ave. The clinic was before the City Council for the third time requesting approval for its building and parking design. The first time the clinic missed its call on the agenda; the second time the clinic's request was denied and sent back to the Planning & Zoning Board. This time, several people spoke in favor of the clinic (and their cats), and the development passed easily 7-0.
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2/17/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 02/17/09 Record Time. The Council meeting lasted approximately 5 minutes. That might be a record.
WWS Choral Classic. Ms. Mary Perrotti encouraged residents to attend this year's Choral Invitational to be held at Wheaton Warrenville South on Saturday, March 14.
Bid Night. Wheaton awarded four bids for the following goods and services: 1) $24,742.80 to Core IT Solutions LLC for a computer storage area network; 2) $30,269.55 to Kara Company for two GPS units; 3) $24,680.00 to Suburban Purchasing Cooperative for a new truck; and 4) $15,405.00 to Sauber Manufacturing to refurbish a concrete platform.
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2/16/2009
Happy Presidents' Day Here's the 2009 ranking of U.S. Presidents, according to a survey of 65 historians.
The top 5 are as follows:
1. Abraham Lincoln
2. George Washington
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt
4. Theodore Roosevelt
5. Harry Truman
According to the survey, Teddy Roosevelt has a greater claim to Mount Rushmore than Thomas Jefferson. Very interesting.
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2/9/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 02/09/09 Save the Center! Representatives from the Center for History made a presentation to the City Council to save their funding. The City has indicated that it might cut the Center's annual line item of $225,000.
Alberta Adamson, director of the Center, led the presentation. She reminded us of history's importance at the national level, such as Barack Obama's well-known reliance on Abraham Lincoln, as well as at the local level, like Wheaton's Sesquicentennial celebration.
Others who spoke included Herb Wehling, Marcia Martin, and Bill Schultz.
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2/4/2009
Hallelujah! Indeed, giant multi-national corporations work in mysterious ways.
After a decade of silence and stalemate, Jewel announced it will buy-out CVS's interest in the old downtown grocery store, thus removing the biggest obstacle to the property's redevelopment. The news is as shocking as it is welcome.
Most people would like to see the store replaced with a smaller chain, such as a Trader Joe's. Thoughts?
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2/2/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 02/02/09 New Appointees. Congratulations to Suzanne Fitch, new Planning & Zoning Board member and Tim Rater, new Wheaton Downtown Design Review Board member.
Nuclear Hot Dogs? Food vendors who operate sidewalk carts are now required to have $2,000,000 in insurance coverage. It's unclear whether the carts or the hot dogs pose the greater risk.
Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs. The City restricted parking along the east side of Bridge Street to 4-hours. This small street was one of the last, secret refuges of unrestricted parking for train commuters. It was only a matter of time before the City found out.
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1/26/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 01/26/09 Planning on Planning. The Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Board (PZB), Jim Huck, presented the City Council with a list of recommendations that would help resolve some of the issues that regularly confront the PZB. Mr. Huck's recommendations include:
Training & orientation of new PZB members
More communication between the PZB and the City Council
Updating the City's Comprehensive Plan (last done in 1999)
Administrative revisions, such as expanding the zone of public notice given to neighbors affected by a proposed development
Review of the City's parking space requirements
Exploring environmental options by hiring a LEEDS-certified staffer (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).
Train Station Available with Proof of Insurance. The City drafted a form rental agreement for organizations wanting to rent-out the Downtown train station. The rate is $500 for 3 hours on any Saturday after 5:00 PM. However, the biggest requirement is that renters must obtain insurance coverage totaling $3,000,000.
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1/20/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 01/20/09 Take It to the Bank. The City approved the construction of a new Chase Bank at the NW corner of County Farm Rd. & Roosevelt Rd. The site, located next to Burger King, is currently a vacant lot.
Sorry Charlie, you're not Ivy League. The City granted a liquor license to a new restaurant, Ivy, which will be taking over the old Johnny D's space. At the same time, Charlie's Ale House, which has closed, will have its license expire.
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1/12/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 01/12/09 Hubble's Lucky 13. The City will form a Hubble Steering Committee to represent the interests of all the stakeholders in the community. The Committee will work directly with the City's Hubble consultants, S.B. Friedman & Co., and will be composed of the following groups:
2 Wheaton City members (1 elected official + 1 staff)
2 School Board members (1 elected official + 1 staff)
2 Park District members (1 elected official + 1 staff)
2 neighborhood residents
2 neighborhood business- / land-owners
1 Wheaton Planning & Zoning Board member
1 Downtown Wheaton Association member
1 Wheaton Chamber of Commerce member
Fire Lease. The Fire Department will switch its usage of fire trucks and equipment from buying to leasing. After an exhaustive analysis, the Department concluded that leasing will lead to quicker turn-over of equipment, thus saving on the massive repair costs that come along with aging equipment. The program also will reduce the Department's inventory from 7 trucks to 5. Only 3 trucks are in use at any one time, so service will not be affected.
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1/5/2009
Monday Night Council Notes - 01/05/09 It's Always Sunny in Wheaton. Father Sunny Castillo of my very own St. Michael Catholic Church lead the invocation. Unfortunately, Father Sunny didn't regale us with his signature singing and guitar-playing. Maybe next time.
Say It Ain't So. Outgoing Director of Public Works, Joseph R. Knippen, was honored after 37 years with the City of Wheaton. After a reception, Mr. Knippen was officially recognized and received a standing ovation. Thanks again, Joe, for your many years of service and best wishes on retirement.
Well fine then! The City increased its fines for local moving violations, which coincides with increases made in the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code. Class A misdemeanors went from $200 to $300; Class B from $100 to $250; and Class C from $75 to $100.
Back to the Planning Board. The Council sent a property development back to the Planning & Zoning Board for a second round of deliberations. The plan by Cesario Builders, Inc. calls for a subdivision consisting of 12 lots at Farnham Ln. & Main St. The major sticking point is whether the subdivision's impact on an adjacent property should be considered. The adjacent property is owned and occupied by Mrs. Margaret Rathje, mother of former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Louis Rathje.
Objection! The City hired election attorney, Kenneth Florey of Robbins Schwartz Nicholas Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., to serve as legal counsel for an upcoming objection proceeding. Stay tuned.
C'mon Ride DuPage...n' Ride It. Wheaton and Glen Ellyn entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Milton Township for PACE's Ride DuPage Program. The program, which provides transportation to seniors and persons with disabilities, is projected to cost Wheaton $50,000-$85,000 for 2009, depending on Wheaton's share of ridership.
Help from Above. Wheaton signed another intergovernmental agreement, this one with DuPage County, for funding for the reconstruction of the Manchester Bridge. The County will contribute $950,000 towards the project, which is scheduled to begin this Spring.
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12/29/2008
As if we didn't have enough to worry about...
Press Release from the Wheaton Police Department:
WHEATON, IL - The highly adaptable coyote continues to flourish in the western suburbs within populated areas, mostly because of the interesting menu available in the form of dog and cat food, or easy-to-open garbage cans.
Coyotes can survive on whatever food is available, from rodents to rubbish, from insects to fruit to carrion. They can be a threat to family pets. Although no attacks have been reported within the City of Wheaton, in isolated but tragic cases elsewhere, coyotes have attacked small children.
Essentially unimpeded by control measures, abundant food has encouraged coyotes to become accustomed to the sight and sounds of humans. Consequently, coyote populations and range have expanded in recent years in the western suburbs.
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