Voting Meeting: Liquor and Raffle Licenses, Village Manager’s Car Upgrade

Monday’s voting meeting of the Western Springs Board of Trustees was a quick and smooth ride through the simple and unanimous passing of a few uncontroversial ordinances.

Under the Village’s new raffle-license ordinance, two licenses where issued: one to Lyons Township High School, and the second to the Western Springs Historical Society. License fees and bonds were waived for both licenses.

Ordinances for the St. John of the Cross Parish Family Festival Event (July 21-24) were finalized, including approval of a temporary carnival permit and approval of the use of certain roads for a 5K race. The liquor code was also amended to allow the parish to serve alcohol as part of the event.

The quirkiest motion of the night was to repeal approval of funds to purchase a work car for Village Manager Pat Higgins—and promptly re-pass a slightly larger amount for an upgraded version of the same car.

In March, the Board originally approved $22,419 for Higgins to receive a 2011 Ford Taurus, but the dealer was unable to deliver all requisite parts due to the disasters in Japan. The new approval is in the amount of $23,914, for the same car from a new dealer, with the addition of leather seats at a “competitive cost.”

“Normally we wouldn’t purchase a vehicle with leather seats, but it’s a $1,300 difference,” said Village President William Rodeghier with a laugh. “Manager Higgins will ride in comfort now.”

Other financial approvals were $76,948 for two Ford F550 trucks through the state purchase program, $31,132.50 (to M&A Cement of Bensenville) for sidewalk replacement, $20,000 for salt for maintaining Village streets and another $20,000 for sidewalk maintenance.

During his financial report, Trustee James Horvath told the Board that the Village is currently carrying a property-tax surplus of over $500,000 from the first three months of the year.

“It’s nice to see plus numbers,” Horvath said, but added, “I don’t want the public to be disillusioned by that. We’re basically repaying reserves we had to tap into. We’re not a half million flush—we’re still in the red and gradually catching up.”

Horvath also said that the State of Illinois has paid off all of its 2010 income-tax debts to the Village, but still owes approximately $265,000 for January, February and March.