By Stephanie Irvine
The Village of Manhattan hired a new full-time police officer at the June 18 meeting. Officer Gerald Causer was sworn in and comes to the Village of Manhattan with 20 years of experience, most recently with the Braidwood Police Department.
Two agenda items received considerable discussion, including the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) regarding Baker Road and a smoker storage area for the new Arrowhead Smoke Works restaurant.
The IGA for the jurisdictional transfer of a portion of Baker Road again took center stage at the meeting, with a lively debate. The IGA had been part of an agreement made when the village worked with the township to get the stop signs approved on Baker Road at Eastern Avenue and was just waiting on formal board approval.
The IGA appeared on the agenda last month but was tabled after board members raised questions and concerns about what they would be responsible for fixing after the transfer.
At the last meeting, Manhattan Township Road Commissioner Jim Baltas attended to address any concerns that were raised about the agreement, questioning why this last part of the agreement had not yet been formally approved.
At the meeting on June 18, Mayor Mike Adrieansen said he provided maps to the village trustees to show the current jurisdictions of the sections of road. A discussion followed.
“I was 50/50 on this, but this map kind of fills in some stuff for me,” said Trustee Ron Adamski.
Part of the road Adamski had concerns about and he felt was in poor condition turned out currently to be in the village’s jurisdiction. Later, Public Works Supervisor John Tyk explained that part of the road was recently acquired, so the village hadn’t neglected it.
“I was out there driving around, and there’s already patches on the edges that are kind of crumbling. I was not aware we own that part, so I appreciate the maps. I now have a better understanding,” Adamski explained. He suggested that when the road was closed for the bridge they should resurface that section of the road.
Trustee Tom Doyle questioned if the bridge would be wider to accommodate things like farm equipment. Tyk said he had not seen the bridge plans.
At that point, Trustee Justin Young, who also shared concerns when the IGA first appeared on the agenda, jumped in to reiterate his issues with the agreement. Young’s issues included not having seen the bridge schematics, not knowing the core condition of the road base and moving forward on assumptions in what he felt was a rushed vote.
Those issues could be costly to repair, which Young felt would take away tax dollars from village residents. He felt everything needed to be in writing, and the village should not assume the township will fix the road to an acceptable standard but that it needs to be laid out.
Trustee Dave Beemsterboer questioned if the village didn’t take over the road if it could affect the grant process for the bridge. He felt it was very possible that it could.
“For this vote coming up, no matter how it happened, the part we’re talking about that’s already in bad shape, that’s weeping water, that’s on us already, correct?” Adamski asked for confirmation, and Tyk agreed.
Village Attorney Jeff Taylor further explained the IGA, good faith objections, and the three preconditions of the road. In the end, the IGA was approved with all voting to approve, with the exception of Trustee Justin Young.
For the Arrowhead Smoke Works discussion, owner Mike Bacon came to the meeting to present the plans he had for the exterior smoker storage. He said he consulted with the fire department and took into consideration having the storage area maintain branding.
Bacon said this storage container concept was commonly used, and the closest similar area was at Matt’s Barbecue in Lemont.
The storage area needs to be contained so water doesn’t enter the cooking area, the public is safe, and there is a designated space for wood and cooking materials out of the public eye and restaurant.
Beemsterboer took significant issue with the container, citing they had been discussing the beautification of the town. He felt if it was approved, then they would have multiple businesses wanting to use storage containers.
The board proposed ideas like fences, brick buildings, and wood enclosures, but Bacon explained he is only leasing the building, and those items would be the property owner’s decision to make. The fire department would not be happy with a wood enclosure.
“To be fully transparent, I wasn’t really aware of how big the storage container would be around here,” Bacon explained. “If anybody pointed me in a different direction, I’m more than happy to entertain it.”
Young said he respects that containers are taboo, especially with respect to NorthPoint Development, but he said through his travels, containers are a common option, and some restaurants even involve their entire concept around it.
“Once a container, always a container,” said Beemsterboer.
Questioned if the patio area or the smoker storage area would impede on the Irish Fest tent, Bacon explained it would not.
“I’m here to do what you want me to do,” Bacon said. “Just tell me what to do.”
No vote was held on the proposed storage area.
In other news, lawn sprinkling restrictions were amended to be from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. Engineer H.R. Green was approved for the Trask Street Drainage project. A liquor license was approved for Soka Japanese Hibachi restaurant, a sit-down restaurant expected to open in July.
Coming up, an intergovernmental agreement should be presented for the dog park at the July meeting. July 30 will be the open house for the new junior high. The Fourth of July parade will be happening on June 29.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.