Stickney to designate parking for veterans; will add more police officers

Stickney Mayor Jeff Walik swears in his son, Robert, as a probationary police officer. (Supplied photo)

By Carol McGowan

The Village of Stickney has approved the installation of parking signs to designate spots for veterans.

At the November 15 Village Board meeting, Mayor Jeff Walik revealed the sign and explained why they were going up at various locations in the village.

“I was recently at Jewel in the village, and saw a World War II veteran, walking with two canes to get into the store.  He was quite a few spots from the door.  I wanted to make sure we had a spot at our village facilities for our veterans to park close.”

Within the next few months, four police officers will be hired from the current New Hire Eligibility List and Lateral Policer Officers Eligibility List.

Police Chief Jim Sassetti said this is being done through a grant.

The village hired a new probationary police officer last month.

Robert Walik, son of Mayor Jeff Walik, was sworn in last month to fill a vacancy of an officer that resigned.

The hire was unanimously approved by the village board at the October 18 meeting, where Robert Walik was congratulated by all village officials and employees.

Sassetti made mention that so far this year, the village has received six grants, totaling $697,820.30, with two more grants in the works.

One of the grants was from IDOT for traffic safety.  Sassetti said this will be used for seat belt checks through November 28, and reminded all to Click It or Ticket.

An ordinance was approved for an Intergovernmental agreement for the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).

The village will also start to collect a utility tax from Commonwealth Edison on electric bills issued within the village.  This is something that other municipalities have done, and Stickney will not get its share of the tax that will add up for funds for the village.

Two more liquor licenses were approved and the ordinance was amended regarding liquor licenses.  One will go Hawthorne Racetrack, and the other is currently open.

In other recent Stickney news, an ordinance was passed authorizing a memorandum of understanding between the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Village of Stickney regarding the Sheriff’s Treatment Response Team.

Sassetti explained that this will partner the village with the sheriff’s department to connect residents in real time to mental health and substance abuse services when law enforcement is called and determined it may be needed.

The Response Team uses a model for mental health incidents which pairs law enforcement resources with assistance from licensed professionals to connect individuals suffering from a mental health issues and substance use disorders with treatment to help them.

Those involved aren’t obligated to speak with the team, and the service is voluntary to take part in.

Sassetti said this is in compliance with the Safe-T Act and is free of charge to the village.

A resolution was approved to authorize the purchase of an HVAC system for the village from Air Comfort.  This was needed as the unit is 20 years old and has been repaired three times this past summer alone.

The last time it went out, it wasn’t able to be fixed and it was determined that a new system was needed.

Air Comfort of Broadview submitted the cheapest of three proposals.

The village board also recently approved a proposal from Stanley Convergent Security Solutions Inc., to purchase an access control system for the village.

This is for the replacement of an antiquated security system that needs replacement.

Through the end of November, there’s a collection at village hall for Operation Support Our Troops.

All donations will go to a warehouse that distributes collections to our troops.

The village will have its Senior Christmas Luncheon on December 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., then the Family Christmas Party will take place from 2-4 p.m. at the health department building.

Pet Pictures with Santa will be on December 17 from 1-3 p.m. at the Stickney Pavilion at 41st and Ridgeland.