Worth Park District is closer to managing Altman Park

By Joe Boyle

The next phase of the Worth Park District plan to develop Altman Park has been approved by the village board.

The board approved the measure during the Worth Village Board meeting Tuesday night. The park district and village will share the costs for the boundary survey.

A resolution was approved by the village board in November to allow the Worth Park District to manage Altman Park, 115th and Beloit, through an agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Members of the Worth Park District will eventually manage Altman Park, which extends just past the pavement of the parking lot and goes as far west as the Metra train tracks.

Mayor Mary Werner said the survey of Altman Park was supposed to take place in 2016 but MWRD officials had some concerns about the process at that time.

Robert O’Shaughnessy, director of Parks and Recreation, attended the meeting and was pleased that the next phase is going to take place.

In other business, Werner appointed Kevin Sisk to become a member of the police and fire commission board for a term that will expire on April 30, 2026.

“He is a longtime member of the community and a member of the police department,” Werner said. “We are happy to have him.”

Sisk was sworn in by Village Clerk Bonnie Price and greeted by Werner. His children were also in attendance.

The board also approved a request by the Worth Lions for permission to set up their annual Christmas tree lot at 116th and Harlem Avenue from Nov. 11 through Dec. 31. The Lions will receive permission from the MWRD and will provide the necessary paperwork to use the land, Price said.

Trustee Pete Kats, who is the head of the public safety committee, said he was pleased with the effort of the police. Eight domestic battery arrests were made last month, according to police. And 12 drivers were arrested for not possessing a driver’s license.

Trustee Brad Urban, who is the head of the public works committee, said the 116th Street ditch work has been completed. The project would have been completed sooner but was delayed due to the recent wet conditions.

The village street program began this past week and will include sidewalk and curb work, Urban said. Street grinding is tentatively set for Aug. 14 but could begin sooner.

“Public works has been getting the job done,” Urban said. “We had almost six inches of rain and it looked like we were going to have flooding, but it was cleaned up that night. The guys did a great job.”

Urban also said that bacteriological samples were taken last month and tested at 10 locations. All samples passed and are IEPA compliant, Urban said.

An emergency response team that has received cuts in their budget at the state level were in attendance at the Worth Car Club Cruisers Night Monday in the Water’s Edge Golf Course parking lot.

A large crowd attended the event. According to Trustee Rich Dziedzic, who is the organizer of the Cruisers Night, $12,000 has been raised for the emergency response team.

An ordinance amending the village’s municipal code regarding limitations on the keeping of animals. The ordinance was approved to specifically inform residents that they cannot own chickens. No chickens will be allowed to be raised at residences in Worth, Werner pointed out.

Trustee Laura Packwood, who is the head of the golf committee, said the golfers have been coming out in droves at Water’s Edge. Packwood said it was expected that over 3,000 rounds would be played so far this summer.

But Packwood said that 6,247 rounds of golf have been played this summer.

“It has been unbelievable,” Packwood said, referring to the fact that the drought may have attracted more golfers. “Food and beverages have just killed it.”

Packwood said that they are just shy of $171,000 in sales for refreshments and food this year.

An ordinance was approved for a special use permit to establish and operate a driving course in the village. The board also approved a business license for My Drive Academy, 11015 S. Harlem Ave. Owner Ismail Aldalo said that most of the students will be dropped off for their driving lessons.

Werner informed the board and residents that the VAU Fallen Heroes Memorial will be at the Taste of Orland Friday, Aug. 4, through Sunday, Aug. 6, outside the Orland Park Village Hall, 14700 S. Ravinia Ave.