Worth approves new parking, traffic regulations

By Joe Boyle

Two ordinances were passed at the Worth Village Board meeting Tuesday night requiring changes for pedestrian crossings and vehicular traffic.

Police Chief Tim Denton said one ordinance needed to be amended regarding pedestrian and vehicular traffic. It needed to be made clear that individuals should not be walking along main streets and roadways. The one exception is if people have a permit for specific events in which donations are being collected for certain causes.

The board also amended another ordinance that has been discussed at several previous meetings. The new code regulates the parking of motor vehicles on residential property within the village.

The amended ordinance requires that all vehicles and trailers park only on hard surfaces approved by the village. The village had been receiving complaints from residents that some homeowners were parking trailers, SUVs and trucks on lawns.

Examples of hard surfaces include asphalt and concrete in accordance with the public works department. Vehicles that should not be parked or stored on a public street include a bus or school bus, tow truck or road tractor. This also includes trailers and boats.

Officer of the Year

The Worth Police Department honored Investigator Joel Frias as the “Officer of the Year” during the meeting. Denton presented Frias with a plaque honoring him for his service and dedication to duty to the department in 2023.

“This award is important because it comes from his peers,” Denton said. “They picked him to have this award.”

Polar plunge update

Trustee Brad Urban said 16 “plungers” have already signed up to take part in the annual Law Enforcement Polar Plunge on Saturday, March 9, in the parking lot of the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Post 991, 11001 S. Depot St.

The first series of plunges will take place at 11 a.m. The next series of plunges will continue at 1 p.m.

Urban kidded members of the board that they could volunteer to take a plunge on that day. Denton then joked that with the mild January and February weather that it may be 80 degrees by then.

“We could put some ice cubes in the pool,” Mayor Mary Werner said with a laugh.

But Urban added that with the unpredictable weather, he is certain that it will be cold that day.

In a related matter, a new server system for the police department, Dell PowerEdge, was approved for $17,656.09 with a five-year warranty. The village has decided to go with a larger server with greater capacity. Denton said that we should most likely not need another one.

“It should last us a long time,” Denton said.

Trustee Pete Kats, chairman of the public safety committee, said that police had a busy January. He again marveled at the number of offenders who were arrested for not having a driver’s license (14), or driving with a license suspended or revoked (10).

Urban, who is the chairman of the public works committee, said there were nine water main breaks last month and all have since been repaired. Public works has scheduled to clear and trim alleys as time and weather permits, Urban added.

An amendment was approved for a special use permit authorizing Fattoush Hookah Worth Inc., 10700 S. Harlem Ave. The lounge and the Fattoush restaurant is under new ownership. Ameer N. Farhan, the son of the previous owner, will take over the businesses.

Another ordinance was approved for a lease agreement with Proven Business Systems LLC regarding the addition of a new Xerox copier machine.

The board also approved by a 4-1 margin for the operation of Leader’s Academy of Illinois Inc., 11315 S. Harlem Ave. The tutoring center is designed for children ages 5 to 15. No more than 15 students will be in the center. Four or five teachers will be utilized.

The only concern initially was if the center was near a business selling tobacco, which it is not. The lone dissenting vote came from Trustee Laura Packwood.

A business license was tentatively granted for Ali Baba Grocery, 6856 W. 111th St. owner Ali Mutar said the business will be strictly a grocery store and a bakery.

Packwood, who is the chair for the golf committee, said that the Water’s Edge Golf Course has been doing well, especially with the mild weather. She also said the fish frys at the Water’s Edge Clubhouse drew a large crowd for the first two sessions.

“We are excited about the golf season,” Packwood said.