THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2008
Top Stories of 2008: Des Plaines
By CRAIG ADAMS
Journal Reporter
Each year at this time the Journal recaps the top stories and honorable mentions of 2008. Des Plaines has had quite the year and we've been flooded (pun intended) with ideas, but here is our take on the best stories.
Casino comes to the city
In a 3-1 vote, the Illinois Gaming Board awarded the 10th casino license to Des Plaines with Waukegan receiving the dissenting vote and Rosemont not getting any. Midwest Gaming created the proposal with the city for a site at River Road and Devon Avenue. The development also provides for a nightclub and several restaurants and tax revenue sharing with between 10 and 25 needy communities. The gaming board must still conduct a suitability investigation that could last up to a year.
Opponents of the casino pointed to a city council resolution in the 1990s opposing gambling in the city and a referendum indicating citizen opposition to a casino.
Flood swamps the city
Residents suffered through a huge rainstorm on Sept. 12-13 with a river flood crest of 10.1 feet. Although many homes suffered flood damage, the work on Levee 50 mitigated much of the potential damage by shunting the water away from houses. Many streets in the city were closed for days due to the flooding and the Red Cross offered residents temporary shelter. Des Plaines later hosted a Disaster Recovery Center to help residents find assistance from state and federal agencies.
Several interesting stories came from the flood. A PACE bus drove through about five feet of water at the Northwest Highway S-Curve, splashing water into the bus; an alderman and a city official helped lead a lost Wilmette woman home, and Lake Opeka reached its highest recorded level.
Potholes and salt shortages
Several snowfalls led to a tremendous amount of salt usage and the creation of many potholes on city streets. Residents endured record numbers of blown tires and damaged cars from hitting the potholes while the city worried about running out of salt. By the first week of February, Des Plaines was down to only enough salt for two more snowstorms. Public works mixed sand and liquid chloride into the salt to stretch the supply, not knowing if more salt would become available for purchase due to widespread shortages.
Choo Choo threatened
Des Plaines continues to eye the site of the more than 50-year-old restaurant as a location for a new city hall and police station. The owner does not want to sell the land although she did express some interest in moving the restaurant to the site of the presently closed Sugar Bowl Restaurant. The Choo Choo is one of Des Plaines' most famous eateries, serving food on a model train that circles the counter.
Jason Bajor becomes city manager
In a 6-2 vote, the city's aldermen in February approved promoting Jason Bajor to the city manager position. He was the acting city manager since Dave Niemeyer resigned in May of 2007. His contract, approved several weeks later, gives Bajor an annual salary of $138,000 along with a monthly car allowance, vacation, sick, and paid leaves, certain insurances, and a retirement program.
Riverwalk completed
The project, including public walkways and flood-control levy, opened this fall after more than a year of construction. It features an asphalt pathway along the Des Plaines River from Miner Street to Ballard Road, a 10-ft. high floodwall, and a stairway to the path from the Miner Street bridge.
Budget cuts detailed
The city is facing the loss of 12 positions this coming year in an effort to save nearly $750,000 from the 2009 budget. Aldermen cut money from the Special Events Commission, from conference and travel funds, from a storefront improvement fund, and assistance to the Des Plaines Senior Center in efforts to balance the budget.
Mayoral race gets crowded
At least eight candidates have expressed interest in replacing current Mayor Tony Arredia who must step down next spring due to term limits. Among those running are Ald. Marty Moylan (2nd), former aldermanic candidate from the sixth ward Patrice McDonough, former fourth ward Ald. Dick Sayad, and residents Mike Lake, Mark Szumylo, and John Chemers. Ald. Don Smith (7th) and former sixth ward Ald. Tom Becker are considering running for the position as well.
Fire and police stations still considered
In March, the city council voted to build a new 25,000 sq. ft. fire station on city land on Central Road east of Wolf Road. However, that decision lost traction in August when the same council could not agree to hire an architect for the station. The plan was later scaled back to only 14,000 sq. ft. in size and is still pending.
City officials have been trying for several years to construct a new police headquarters. The current building spans 20,000 sq. ft.; plans of up to an 80,000 sq. ft. facility have been considered. However, due to budget constraints, the city has not been able to gather monies for a new headquarters.
Approximately $5 million is included in the 2009 budget to purchase land and begin construction of a new police station sometime in 2009. That money is from the TIF 1 fund.
Term limits stay put
City council members in August debated ending term limits for elected officials, but decided against taking the question to voters. After the residents voted in favor of term limits in a binding referendum 10 years ago, any change would require voter approval. The aldermen discussed placing a referendum on the November ballot but decided against it.
Honorable mentions
The cold winter weather scored another victim: railroad gates that blocked streets for hours. A city study showed that for a one-year period, malfunctioning gates blocked streets for 217 hours...
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake was centered in southern Illinois, but made itself felt in Des Plaines. Right after 4:37 a.m. on Apr. 18, seven residents called the police department to ask what happened...
In October, residents of Crestwood Condominiums just east of Oakton Community College were upset when the condominium association allegedly never paid the gas bills that were part of the residents' fees. The payment dispute moved into the court system...
The owner of the downtown Sugar Bowl Restaurant announced he might re-open the business yet again. The Sugar Bowl has been closed and opened several times in the last two years and is still available for lease...
A Des Plaines resident at Oakton Pavilion celebrated her 100th birthday on July 31. Sarah Molnar marked the milestone with a party with family, friends, and other Oakton residents on July 14...
U.S. Rep Peter Roskam (R-6th), State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-33d), State Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-57th), and State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan (R-65th), won their re-election bids in the November election...
Aldermen in February approved a deal to build two new hotels, two new restaurants, and a parking deck near Mannheim and Higgins roads. The development will replace the Travelodge Motel, a car rental agency, and a pavement striping company.