Village trustees resume tent ordinance
debate
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Things got a little testy at Tuesday night's Village of Chatham committee meetings at Municipal
Hall.
Village officials once again discussed the proposed outdoor tent ordinance. From a public
hearing held last week, the Chatham Plan Commission voted 5-3 against recommending approval of
the ordinance.
Mike Williamsen, the village's Planning and Engineering Coordinator, said the Commission's
main stance was that this was an issue between two neighbors.
But several village trustees were adamant Tuesday that something needed to be done before the
issue becomes bigger. The structure in question that precipitated the issue is located at 23
Ramblewood, where a large tent in the backyard is being used for storage and has been there for
years.
Jim Ruffatto, who lives next door to the residence in question, has come before the board on a
couple of occasions, complaining of old cars being stored under the tent, along with the area being a
breeding ground for rodents and wild animals.
Village trustees have tried to craft an ordinance to deal with temporary structures, but there are a
lot of gray areas.
"It's a small problem now, but if we don't take care of it, it could blow up into a bigger issue,"
trustee Matthew Mau stated.
"We have to deal with this problem," Mayor Tom Gray added.
Trustee Joe Schatteman voiced opposition, saying of the drafted ordinance, "I think the language
is horrible."
In reply, trustee Chuck Herr said, "Joe, instead of telling us it's horrible, rewrite the damn thing and
give it back to us. Just do it!"
If the ordinance is rewritten and changed in a substantial manner, it will have to go through the
Planning Commission and public hearing process again.
The discussion was left with Schatteman agreeing to talk with attorney John Myers to rewrite the
ordinance and having it up for review at the next round of committee meetings.
•A group of residents along Dover Drive in Hurstbourne are dealing with drainage issues on the
backside of their properties. A grass swale has become an overgrown mass of trees and weeds,
with standing water everywhere.
Village engineers have surveyed the situation. The recommendation is re-grade the swale, at a
cost of $1,200, and if that doesn't work, a concrete swale would need to be considered.
An initial plan of three different parties (village, homeowners, developer) paying one-third of the
cost each has been presented. Village officials debated the issue, and discussions will continue.
•Progress continues to be reported on the South Sangamon Water Plant project. Transmission
pipe is being installed in the ground at various points along the route from Buckhart to Chatham.
Boring and jacking work is beginning at the plant site as well.
•The Gordon Drive box culvert project is in full swing, though weather has hampered progress.
Flagmen have been taken off from the Gilreath/Chatham Road (Walnut) intersection due to lack of
traffic problems. Should work extend into the school year, they will be brought back out to help with
rush hour traffic issues.
•IDOT is beginning a new round of Enhancement Grants, and the village is allowed to submit a
project. After discussion, the village will re-submit its Plummer Blvd. pedestrian tunnel project, which
in 2008 had an estimated cost of $415,00, of which the village's share would be $83,000.
A tube on the north side of the road would allow for bike path and pedestrian traffic along
Plummer, and a new elementary school is expected open next to Glenwood High School next year,
which will increase both pedestrian and car traffic.
"We need to provide a safer route for kids to get off Plummer," Village Manager Del McCord said.
"It's going to be the second-most traveled road in Chatham soon."
Village officials have no idea if the project will be accepted.
•Finally, bad weather last week prompted several power outages in Foxx Creek and areas on the
west side of town. There were a number of lightning strikes, including one that hit the Main Street
substation. An old regulator will have to replaced, and a number of transformers were blown.
debate
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Things got a little testy at Tuesday night's Village of Chatham committee meetings at Municipal
Hall.
Village officials once again discussed the proposed outdoor tent ordinance. From a public
hearing held last week, the Chatham Plan Commission voted 5-3 against recommending approval of
the ordinance.
Mike Williamsen, the village's Planning and Engineering Coordinator, said the Commission's
main stance was that this was an issue between two neighbors.
But several village trustees were adamant Tuesday that something needed to be done before the
issue becomes bigger. The structure in question that precipitated the issue is located at 23
Ramblewood, where a large tent in the backyard is being used for storage and has been there for
years.
Jim Ruffatto, who lives next door to the residence in question, has come before the board on a
couple of occasions, complaining of old cars being stored under the tent, along with the area being a
breeding ground for rodents and wild animals.
Village trustees have tried to craft an ordinance to deal with temporary structures, but there are a
lot of gray areas.
"It's a small problem now, but if we don't take care of it, it could blow up into a bigger issue,"
trustee Matthew Mau stated.
"We have to deal with this problem," Mayor Tom Gray added.
Trustee Joe Schatteman voiced opposition, saying of the drafted ordinance, "I think the language
is horrible."
In reply, trustee Chuck Herr said, "Joe, instead of telling us it's horrible, rewrite the damn thing and
give it back to us. Just do it!"
If the ordinance is rewritten and changed in a substantial manner, it will have to go through the
Planning Commission and public hearing process again.
The discussion was left with Schatteman agreeing to talk with attorney John Myers to rewrite the
ordinance and having it up for review at the next round of committee meetings.
•A group of residents along Dover Drive in Hurstbourne are dealing with drainage issues on the
backside of their properties. A grass swale has become an overgrown mass of trees and weeds,
with standing water everywhere.
Village engineers have surveyed the situation. The recommendation is re-grade the swale, at a
cost of $1,200, and if that doesn't work, a concrete swale would need to be considered.
An initial plan of three different parties (village, homeowners, developer) paying one-third of the
cost each has been presented. Village officials debated the issue, and discussions will continue.
•Progress continues to be reported on the South Sangamon Water Plant project. Transmission
pipe is being installed in the ground at various points along the route from Buckhart to Chatham.
Boring and jacking work is beginning at the plant site as well.
•The Gordon Drive box culvert project is in full swing, though weather has hampered progress.
Flagmen have been taken off from the Gilreath/Chatham Road (Walnut) intersection due to lack of
traffic problems. Should work extend into the school year, they will be brought back out to help with
rush hour traffic issues.
•IDOT is beginning a new round of Enhancement Grants, and the village is allowed to submit a
project. After discussion, the village will re-submit its Plummer Blvd. pedestrian tunnel project, which
in 2008 had an estimated cost of $415,00, of which the village's share would be $83,000.
A tube on the north side of the road would allow for bike path and pedestrian traffic along
Plummer, and a new elementary school is expected open next to Glenwood High School next year,
which will increase both pedestrian and car traffic.
"We need to provide a safer route for kids to get off Plummer," Village Manager Del McCord said.
"It's going to be the second-most traveled road in Chatham soon."
Village officials have no idea if the project will be accepted.
•Finally, bad weather last week prompted several power outages in Foxx Creek and areas on the
west side of town. There were a number of lightning strikes, including one that hit the Main Street
substation. An old regulator will have to replaced, and a number of transformers were blown.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: July 1, 2010