By Andrea Arens
Several residents attended the Green Garden Township Board meeting Monday, January 10, to address their concerns. The meeting was down a trustee, due to a family medical issue, and the assessor – for medical reasons. The board is also down a clerk, who resigned earlier last year, though that didn’t stop the meeting from occurring. As Supervisor Don Murday said, they had a quorum and would continue.
Road Commissioner Jim Hilliard reported they did some maintenance to the gravel roads and signs and installed two driveway culvers. Hilliard reported they’ve used 60 tons of salt and 10 tons of traction control on the icy roads. The department also made a ton of in-house repairs to equipment that isn’t even 10 years old, with 90 percent of those repairs made after the first three-inch snowfall.
Presently, Hilliard said they’re working on truck maintenance, getting the tree limbs cut down, and brush removed now that the leaves are off. In the future, the plan is to make it a hard surface and widen Joliet Road, plus do more tree removal there, but that would be another two-to-three-year project. Scheer Road Bridge, at North Offner, also will be replaced in a joint project with the county. The project is expected to cost Green Garden Township about $300k.
Residents were concerned with maintenance issues and roads. Resident Buddy Schultz asked Commissioner Hilliard about salting the roads, and if there were priorities when salting.
Hilliard replied, “When we’re spreading salt, I send one truck that does all the east-west streets and one truck that does the north-south streets.”
Schultz was concerned about the intersection of 88th Avenue and Monee-Manhattan Road. Hilliard explained that it was pre-salted and treated, but it just didn’t help. Another resident asked who salts Monee-Manhattan Road, and Hilliard replied it is the county, but it’s more Green Garden than the county.
Resident Kenny Stachniak explained that salt only works until negative 10 degrees. Stachniak said, “We had several days where it was -15 to -25 degrees with the wind chill. Salt does nothing at that point. Your basically just dumping salt on there and waiting for the sun to come out, then waiting for the sun to activate the salt.”
Schulz also asked about cutting up brush on Dralle. Hilliard replied he cannot cut up any more as it’s private property, and the property owner declined to allow them to cut more brush.
Schulz also requested the stop sign be moved. Hilliard told him there are placement regulations by the state in regard to the location of the stop sign.
Supervisor Don Murday noted the goal for the township was to pass the budget by April 1.
Supervisor Murday also discussed the meeting in which they invited residents to discuss properties with water issues. The committee is looking to identify those properties, the cause of the water issues, and then identify those that can be addressed with funding – possibly from the county.
Resident Ashley Stachniak asked if the committee or the identification of water issues would cost the home owners anything. Stachniak was concerned that homeowners would be charged if Green Garden found issues to be repaired. Murday replied there was no intention of cost to the homeowner.
Hilliard added that the board is trying to get people together to find solutions to, most likely, the failing drain tiles, while Murday noted the township is trying to help the homeowners who have issues.
Trustee Cherie Newton, serving double duty as clerk as well, spoke to trustees needing to update their statements of economic interest.
Newton also discussed the updating of the township website that will allow a calendar, links to county websites, contact forms, and email addresses by CLR Digital Solutions. Cost includes a $500 set up fee and a $200 monthly fee, with a 24 month commitment. Murday added the thought was to have people visit the website when they’re looking for information.
Newton also said she’s had contact with two or three people in the township to fill the clerk position. She said the candidate has to be a Republican and a Green Garden resident for one year. Candidates had to have pulled a Republican ballot in the last primary. Residents Karen Murdock and Kenny Stachniak questioned the information Newton uses to clarify if a candidate pulled a Republican ballot.
Murdock also addressed the board and asked why there wasn’t a newsletter for the senior population, because many seniors do not have the internet. Murdock added there were no senior services available. She told the board about her mother moving in and passing a month later. Murdock emailed Murday and never received a response when she was concerned about finding transportation for her mother.
Murdock reported that Senior Services will service the Green Garden area for $3,000, with Will County supplementing. Murdock said, “I will fight until something is done for senior services in this township.”
Murdock said there was too much miscommunication between Green Garden and the different entities “it was mind numbing.”
Murday said there’s a concern with liability.
Murdock continued, questioning who is the township lawyer to address the liability concerns, and Murday stated there was no lawyer on contract.
Trustee Mark Kovar said, “After this board came in in April, we’re trying to do a whole lot more to bring stuff out and make things positive.”