Jim and Lisa Heim were honored by the Countryside City Council for hosting the best party during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Jameson’s Whiskey is the key, Jim said.  (Photo by Steve Metsch)

Jameson’s Whiskey is the key to hosting a great party, Jim and Lisa Heim say.

And they should know.

Jameson’s was on the drink menu at the party they hosted during Countryside’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

And they — for the second time — were honored for having the best party on the parade route. They live in the 5600 block of South Park Avenue, near the parade’s starting point.

They received a $50 gift card to Rafferty’s Irish Pub at the city council meeting on March 26.

Angel Hernandez, the city engineer in Countryside, samples his first White Castle hamburger after the March 26 meeting of the city council. Representatives of Kearny Builders had brought in a case. They handed out White Castles during the parade and were honored for having the best float. Hernandez, who hails from Miami, said the burger was “interesting.” (Photo by Steve Metsch)

 “It’s easy,” Jim said of winning. “We have a lot of friends from St. Cletus and from LT who are Irish.”

“Come by the parade and stop (next year),” he told a reporter.

Mayor Sean McDermott said “they have a wonderful party, a large gathering every year.”

Asked if he enjoyed some Jameson’s, McDermott smiled, adding: “I have no comment about that.”

Kearney Builders was honored for having the best float. 

And, as they did on the parade route, representatives of the company brought to the council meeting a White Castle Crave Case.

Hamburgers were enjoyed after the meeting. They had handed out the famed “slyders” during the parade.

At the start of the meeting, the city presented two of those ceremonial huge checks to charities chosen to benefit from this year’s parade.

Aging Care Connection received $10,000 and Healthy Countryside received $5,000.

McDermott said that since the parade started, “more than $100,000 has been given to charities.”

Other city business

The city will pay M.E. Simpson $33,465 for fire hydrant flow testing.

Ald. Mark Benson (3rd) said the testing is done approximately every five years, “to make sure all the fire hydrants are in good, working condition and ready to go in the event of an emergency.”

The city council also approved plans to purchase a lighted Route 66 monument sign from the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.

It will be located on the north side of Joliet Road near the Illinois Harley-Davidson dealership.

City Administrator Gail Paul said the sign will be installed before the Route 66 centennial in 2026.

“It will be a nice addition,” McDermott said.

The council approved a two-month extension request for an approved variance for Autobarn Volkswagen, 6131 Joliet Road. The dealership is adding storage space.

The council also approved paying $26,422 to Unique Plumbing Co. Inc. of Brookfield for the 2024 water main replacement project.

The next city council meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. April 9.