Public hearing on change to parking
ordinance planned
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
The Village of Chatham will be holding a public hearing soon regarding proposed changes to the
off-street parking ordinance for RV's, trailers and campers.
Though an ordinance was on the docket at Tuesday's regular meeting, it had to be tabled after
officials determined they would need to finalize some language issues, along with the need to hold a
public hearing on the matter before a vote takes place. That date and time will be determined soon.
The change would involve making sure the vehicles are properly licensed, and also making sure
they aren't being used for storage or as junk receptacles. Discussions will continue.
•Also at Tuesday's meeting, in which all trustees and Mayor Tom Gray were in attendance, the
board held a closed session after the 50-minute regular meeting. The closed session was held to
discuss a personnel matter, Gray stated.
The board took no action, he added, and the matter will be handled administratively.
•Village Engineer Mike Williamsen told the board that the proposed $1.5 million project to widen
parts of Gordon Drive (along with box culvert work) lost out on federal stimulus money this time
around.
The local region received $4.729 million in federal stimulus money for local projects, of which there
were 14 submitted county-wide. Chatham's project was rated fourth in the pecking order by the SATS
(Sangamon Area Transportation Study) Technical Committee. Funding, of course, ran out in the
middle of the third project.
The SATS Policy Committee will meet this week to act on the Technical Committee
recommendation. Gray will be on hand to plead Chatham's case one more time.
Two projects for the City of Springfield were approved (one with partial funding), along with one for
Sangamon County.
Chatham's proposed project involves the widening of Gordon Drive to three lanes from
Hurstbourne to Ramblewood, along with curb, storm sewer, sidewalks, bike trail and box culvert work.
Gray said more stimulus money could become available, if the federal Omnibus bill is passed.
•Gray indicated that he and Director Del McCord met recently with Ball-Chatham School District
Supt. Bob Gillum and board member Rick Carr. Discussions centered around what the Village of
Chatham's role would be if the proposed new elementary school is built within village limits. The
group went over basic services that would be needed and related questions. A site for the proposed
school has not been determined at this time.
•Gray made two appointments to the Police Commission - Sherry Anderson and Randy Council,
along with one to the Planning Commission - Miguel Calderon. All were approved by the board.
•The board passed an ordinance granting a Class C beer and wine liquor license to Walgreens.
•Resident George Bell thanked the board and village employees for their work in getting a new
fence installed between McDonald's and the properties that face it on Kirkwood Street.
"The contractor did a fantastic job, and myself and my neighbors really appreciate it," Bell said.
•Resident Jewel Brant approached the board with a number of questions about the proposed
water plant. Gray, McCord and Williamsen were peppered with inquiries for about 25 minutes.
Brant recently wrote a letter to the editor to the Clarion expressing concerns about the plant, and
Gray said the Village has drafted a response that will be published as soon as next week in the
Clarion.
Brant, a former water plant operator with the IEPA, stated, "I think this whole thing is very expensive
and I think you are being very naive about the costs...I think the wells are susceptible to contamination
because they are so close to the Sangamon River."
"There are so many points you don't understand here," McCord replied. "It's better to talk about this
at a committee meeting where we could get folks from EMC (project manager) and Donahue all
involved. We rely on the experts. They have built water plants."
The total cost for the water plant has been put at $18 to $20 million, and the Village currently has
invested $2 million or so into the process already. The plant is to be located 16 miles from Chatham,
east of Rochester off Buckhart Road.
Gray and McCord also reiterated the fact that the Village has received no formal offer from CWLP or
the City of Springfield concerning a new water contract.
Gray said water rate increases to the tune of 17 and maybe 50 percent from CWLP could be
coming soon. The village's current contract with CWLP expires in 2013.
•Village committee meetings will be held Tuesday, March 17, beginning at 6 p.m.
ordinance planned
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
The Village of Chatham will be holding a public hearing soon regarding proposed changes to the
off-street parking ordinance for RV's, trailers and campers.
Though an ordinance was on the docket at Tuesday's regular meeting, it had to be tabled after
officials determined they would need to finalize some language issues, along with the need to hold a
public hearing on the matter before a vote takes place. That date and time will be determined soon.
The change would involve making sure the vehicles are properly licensed, and also making sure
they aren't being used for storage or as junk receptacles. Discussions will continue.
•Also at Tuesday's meeting, in which all trustees and Mayor Tom Gray were in attendance, the
board held a closed session after the 50-minute regular meeting. The closed session was held to
discuss a personnel matter, Gray stated.
The board took no action, he added, and the matter will be handled administratively.
•Village Engineer Mike Williamsen told the board that the proposed $1.5 million project to widen
parts of Gordon Drive (along with box culvert work) lost out on federal stimulus money this time
around.
The local region received $4.729 million in federal stimulus money for local projects, of which there
were 14 submitted county-wide. Chatham's project was rated fourth in the pecking order by the SATS
(Sangamon Area Transportation Study) Technical Committee. Funding, of course, ran out in the
middle of the third project.
The SATS Policy Committee will meet this week to act on the Technical Committee
recommendation. Gray will be on hand to plead Chatham's case one more time.
Two projects for the City of Springfield were approved (one with partial funding), along with one for
Sangamon County.
Chatham's proposed project involves the widening of Gordon Drive to three lanes from
Hurstbourne to Ramblewood, along with curb, storm sewer, sidewalks, bike trail and box culvert work.
Gray said more stimulus money could become available, if the federal Omnibus bill is passed.
•Gray indicated that he and Director Del McCord met recently with Ball-Chatham School District
Supt. Bob Gillum and board member Rick Carr. Discussions centered around what the Village of
Chatham's role would be if the proposed new elementary school is built within village limits. The
group went over basic services that would be needed and related questions. A site for the proposed
school has not been determined at this time.
•Gray made two appointments to the Police Commission - Sherry Anderson and Randy Council,
along with one to the Planning Commission - Miguel Calderon. All were approved by the board.
•The board passed an ordinance granting a Class C beer and wine liquor license to Walgreens.
•Resident George Bell thanked the board and village employees for their work in getting a new
fence installed between McDonald's and the properties that face it on Kirkwood Street.
"The contractor did a fantastic job, and myself and my neighbors really appreciate it," Bell said.
•Resident Jewel Brant approached the board with a number of questions about the proposed
water plant. Gray, McCord and Williamsen were peppered with inquiries for about 25 minutes.
Brant recently wrote a letter to the editor to the Clarion expressing concerns about the plant, and
Gray said the Village has drafted a response that will be published as soon as next week in the
Clarion.
Brant, a former water plant operator with the IEPA, stated, "I think this whole thing is very expensive
and I think you are being very naive about the costs...I think the wells are susceptible to contamination
because they are so close to the Sangamon River."
"There are so many points you don't understand here," McCord replied. "It's better to talk about this
at a committee meeting where we could get folks from EMC (project manager) and Donahue all
involved. We rely on the experts. They have built water plants."
The total cost for the water plant has been put at $18 to $20 million, and the Village currently has
invested $2 million or so into the process already. The plant is to be located 16 miles from Chatham,
east of Rochester off Buckhart Road.
Gray and McCord also reiterated the fact that the Village has received no formal offer from CWLP or
the City of Springfield concerning a new water contract.
Gray said water rate increases to the tune of 17 and maybe 50 percent from CWLP could be
coming soon. The village's current contract with CWLP expires in 2013.
•Village committee meetings will be held Tuesday, March 17, beginning at 6 p.m.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: March 12, 2009