Crete residents can begin submitting nominations for consideration in the village’s Honorary Street Sign program beginning April 15.
The village adopted the new program last fall. This will be the first year of the program, which is designed to “allow citizens to honor people who have made significant contributions to the community.”
The program was first suggested by Trustee John Phelan in September, when he presented a sample honorary street naming program to the board.
Under the ordinance that created the program, an honorary street sign will be displayed for one year, then taken down and given to the person being honored.
The honorary signs will be approved on a case-by-case basis, and the designated street would be one block long. A completed application and $300 fee are required prior to approval.
Elected officials and those running for office are not eligible for nomination for six months prior to an election. Trustee Phelan issued a reminder to the board on February 10 that the program would begin this spring.
In other business during the February 10 meeting, trustees acted on several ordinances.
The first was a clarification to the existing solar ordinance that would allow ground-mounted solar panels only on parcels in Agriculture AG zoning and issued through the special use permit process. A representative from Merieux Corporation was present and expressed a desire to add up to 1,300 ground solar panels at his business, which is located in Industrial I-2 zoning.
Trustee Mark Wiater explained that if the board wanted to consider this request, it would be proper to remand the issue to the Planning and Zoning Commission for their review. After further discussion, a motion was made by Trustee Holly Milburn and seconded by Wiater to adopt Ordinance 2025-01. The motion passed on a 4-2 vote.
A motion then was made by Trustee Steve Bruns and seconded by Trustee Phelan to remand the issue of ground-mounted solar panels in zoning districts other than Agriculture AG Zoning to the Planning and Zoning Commission. That motion failed on a vote of 3-3.
Still another ordinance considered by the board was for a change to the Accessory Building section of the code. After a lengthy discussion, Trustee Phelan motioned to table the ordinance. The vote to table passed 5-1.
Trustees also approved Ordinance 2025-02, which granted a special use permit to Stevenson Crane, 225 W. Burville Road, for the purpose of side yard storage. The Ordinance passed unanimously, with Trustee Johnson abstaining.
Additionally, trustees considered three ordinances for the property at 201 W. Richton Road. The petitioner wants to build a four-unit townhome on the property. The petitioner indicated the style would be similar to the existing townhomes in the area. Because the existing parcel currently is zoned R1 Single Family Residence, a zoning change to R4 Multifamily Residence would be needed.
Also, a variance was requested on building setbacks. At the same time, the petitioner asked for a variance from the masonry requirement.
After some discussion, a motion was made to adopt Ordinance 2025-03, rezoning the parcel from R1 to R4. Ordinance 2025-04 and 2025-05 also passed, allowing the variances on setbacks and masonry.
Under officials’ reports, Trustee Katrina Seifert told the board the village has hired a new front office clerk, who will begin on February 19.
Trustee Holly Milburn reported she attended the Laraway Communication Center Board of Directors meeting last week. The center is now fully staffed.
In his report, Village Administrator Mike Smith said he and Trustee Wiater attended a Legislative Breakfast on February 7. Rep. Anthony Deluca and Sen. Patrick Joyce were in attendance and both he and Trustee Wiater were able to speak to both legislators about issues affecting the village.
Smith also discussed that work will begin in the coming weeks to replace the Goose Creek culvert under Sangamon Street.
Police Chief Scott Pieritz was absent but submitted his report, which noted the two Special Olympics events that are upcoming. The Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game, Crete Fire Department vs. Crete Police Department, will be held on February 25, and the Special Olympic Polar Plunge will take place on March 1. Extra patrols were out over the Super Bowl weekend as the department conducted a “Drive Sober” STEP campaign. Chief Pieritz also included his Police Blotter highlights in his report.
Fire Chief Neil Haemker and his fire department responded to 166 calls in January. He also reported on an incident that occurred on February 7, when a vehicle had left the road and ended up in the retention pond in front of Crete Ace Hardware on Exchange Street. One of his probationary firefighters, who was working at Ace at the time, along with another Ace employee, approached the car and pulled the passenger from the vehicle. The passenger was treated for exposure.
Under Communications, Clerk Deborah Bachert read a notice from the Crete Masonic Lodge #763 that they will hold their spring pancake breakfast on March 2. Also, the village was notified the South Suburban Housing Center will celebrate their 50th anniversary on April 3.