Grant Park Chief of Police Carl Frey awarded Sergeant Alberto Castillo a pin of valor for his brave efforts during a rural property fire on March 10. Castillo was first on the scene where a machine shed was fully engulfed in flames. The fire encroached on the home, which had been overcome with smoke. Though a male occupant had escaped, a female was still inside. Without hesitation, Castillo entered the smoke-filled building and saved the female occupant.
“Al has asthma, and he should not be going into fires,” Frey said, noting that Castillo’s actions were at great risk to himself.
“People ask us, ‘Why do you guys do this because it’s dangerous,’ but that’s kind of our job. Our fire guys are here – thank you for coming. We get there before they get there a lot of times, and even though none of us are young guys, we’re not going to stand there and let somebody get hurt just because we’re older guys,” Frey said.
Castillo said simply and humbly, “I love my job,” and noted he would do it again.
Members of the Grant Park Fire Protection District, including Chief Jeff Turrell and Interim Deputy Chief Gary Hall, were present. Turrell stated they have a great working relationship and appreciate all the police department does, especially as a part-time and volunteer fire department.
Frey also acknowledged Police Officer Greg Stepich’s recognition by the Momence Police Department for his assistance in apprehending a violent offender, who was combative and had assaulted police. The offender was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a Peace officer and resisting arrest.
In regular business, the board approved a special liquor license for the event, “Spurs, Saddles + Strength” A Benefit for Luis Maldonado,” to be held on April 19. Maldonado is a Grant Park High School student who is battling cancer.
The village discussed a lien set to expire for the property at 111 North Maple Street.
Previously, Grant Park had incurred $18,115.89 in expenses for demolishing the house on that property; a lien was put on the property for those expenses, and a judgment was made against the defendant in 2018. According to Village Attorney Haley Peters, the property was put up for tax sale but never sold, likely due to the lien, until this past January, which now eliminates the village’s ability to foreclose on the property due to the lien.
Peters outlined three options for the village: Let the lien expire, which meant the village could not pursue the judgment against the defendant; conduct an asset search and then determine whether to revive the judgment at that point; or revive the judgment but not go after the defendant, which Peters said would ultimately be a waste of resources.
Trustee Ben Detloff explained that the second option would benefit the village by allowing it to try to recoup the costs associated with the house’s demolition. The board unanimously agreed.
In other news, the board approved an IDOT construction engineering agreement, updated PESA, and a lighting plan for the downtown streetscape along Taylor Street. Eighty percent of the project is grant-funded.
Trustee Frank Passini reported some shoulder work needs to be completed at 9000 East Road to address the issue. A straw poll was held to approve work not to exceed $15,000. Morgan reported it was already accounted for in the budget.
Hawkins wanted to remind the public the police department doesn’t actively look for code violations, so residents are encouraged to call if they have concerns or complaints they want addressed.
Morgan reported working on a TIF package for 109 West Taylor, which needs extensive interior and exterior work. Once he has the first-floor plan, he can submit it. The renovation plans include completely tuckpointing the building, installing a new roof, replastering, adding flooring, and painting. They estimate the project cost at $578,000 and ask for $320,000.
The Grant Park Foundation received full approval to install a “mommy and me” swing at the Community Park and a slide at Heldt Park. Scott Dillman presented the options to the board at the previous meeting; the Foundation will cover 100 percent of the costs.
Some discussion took place regarding landscaping upkeep at the Pepin property, which the village owns. Detloff suggested marketing the property as-is and seeing if someone else wants to take on cleaning it. The consensus was to table fixing it until they confirmed their options with the village attorney regarding how soon they could sell it.
After a unanimous vote, the free line dancing program will continue as a community event.
The village received an invoice from a resident. Detloff explained that last fall, the village, which normally picks up leaves, could not do so because their equipment had broken down. They mailed out a letter that notified residents of this and apologized for their inability to do so.
A resident put leaves out for pickup despite the village’s inability to conduct leaf pickup and received a bill that they sent to the village.
“Because we publicly made the statement we weren’t able to offer the service, I don’t think we’re obliged to pay this bill,” Detloff said. He explained they tried to find used equipment to allow the service, but it couldn’t be done this past season.
Hawkins advised that the bill was for $771.07.
Detloff said the individual should’ve come to the board and asked for help instead of just sending the village the bill and expecting the village to pay it. Detloff said they would help residents if needed, especially when they were sick or hurt, but they can’t offer that to everyone, so it would not be fair to cover this bill.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.