For the past few years, Palos Heights fifth-grader Violet Sugg has turned her artistic talent into a citywide display.
The Palos East Elementary student has once again won the city’s vehicle sticker design contest, meaning her artwork will be featured on every car in town.
“I was at a carnival near the gazebo, and it just stood out to me as such a beautiful part of our town,” Violet said. “I wanted to capture that in my drawing. My mom also suggested I include the cardinal again, so it’s like the bird is visiting all the places in our city.”
Mayor Robert Straz praised her work. “This is our official city vehicle sticker,” he said. “Violet has won this contest every year since it started, and we couldn’t be prouder to have her design represent Palos Heights.”
After Violet’s big win was celebrated, the council got down to business, approving event permits, discussing safety concerns, and tackling infrastructure projects.
Alderman Robert Basso warned residents about a rise in scam attempts, specifically fake tollway service fees and Bitcoin-related fraud.
Straz also mentioned that representatives from Sheriff Tom Dart’s office had recently held a scams awareness training session at the Recreation Center. “If you get a message saying you owe money to the tollway system, don’t respond,” Basso said, adding that scammers had even targeted him in recent weeks.
The council also took the first step toward annexing Shepard High School into the city limits. After hearing from school officials, they directed City Attorney Tom Brown to draft an ordinance for review. Aldermen will take the next couple of weeks to weigh the potential impact before making a final decision.
“It’s good to see action being taken to improve pedestrian safety at Oak Park Avenue and Route 83,” said resident Michael Vanel. “That’s a busy intersection, and any improvements could make a big difference.”
Infrastructure updates were also on the agenda. The council approved plans to paint 200 hydrants, put out bids for a 300,000-gallon reservoir at the 80th Avenue Pump Station, and move forward with a $20,510 maintenance contract for city parks and planters.
Other financial approvals included purchasing a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado police pickup truck for $48,688 using drug asset forfeiture funds and installing 18 hanging flower baskets along Harlem Avenue for $6,100.
The next Palos Heights city council meeting is set for March 18.
