Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus and the Grinch were a part of the first holiday parade in Palos Heights in 2020. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)
Palos Heights making holiday plans
By Jeff Vorva
Holiday plans were made during the Sept. 5 city council meeting, months before the first flake of snow has hit the pavement.
The council voted on a resolution to request permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to close down Harlem Avenue between 127th Street and Illinois Route 83 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 2 for a winter holiday parade.
This is the fourth time the city has done a holiday parade. In 2020 during the lockdown, the village assisted citizens who organized a small-scale parade through neighborhoods in which people were able to view it from either their houses or their yards. Heather Begley, who has since become an alderman on the council, and Sharon Courtney put together the parade.
Another small-scale parade was held in 2021 but last year, the city opened it up to make it bigger and held it on Harlem Avenue.
The council also voted on a $23,911 agreement with Big Tent Events of St. Charles for a tent, tables, labor and many other items and services for the Dec. 1-2 Kris Kringle Market, 12217 S. Harlem Ave.
Other business
There wasn’t much discussion at this gathering, but there were plenty of items approved.
Water and Sewer Committee Chairman Donald Bylut requested and received more than $92,000 for four projects, including more than $55,000 for a water main lining project on College Drive.
Begley, the head of the Municipal Grounds and Property Committee, asked for and received $14,339 to go to Wold Architects and Engineers for design development for the City Hall renovations and close to $6,000 to go to Christopher Burke Engineering Ltd. for a project at Lake Katherine.
Public Safety Committee Chairman Robert Basso had the council agree to a three-year contract for the DACRA Tech Municipal Enforcement System for $1,100 a month until May 24, $1,300 a month from May 1 through April 30, 2025 and $1,500 a month from May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026.
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