[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6311158,"mediaKeyId","2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a","parentId",2396599,"title","Residents and council debate City Hall closure after 1.8-inch snow event","audioSeconds",2456,"startMs",2015000,"endMs",4471000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a&start=2015&end=4471","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a/thumbnail_2015000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6311158/Crest-Hill/Will-County/Illinois/Residents-and-council-debate-City-Hall-closure-after-18-inch-snow-event","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311158-1d6b7c483e0756d4e2dda72ee991aa87/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161590&Signature=Bkw2ZXcUltKmWIhyZGlEXvlPGZSZeZuRATen69uzN7lWSFXr0UemHgK1AWzxWBxbWAu7SWypKyHXpF6wKDWBvddwGd0ScNP~7z-7RwK4X38WGRi~2RHrKlk5cmjgDKbcC~6rYNSWOhSfoAyrqiNRP1R6DHYijiFLDzMO1488wkbXGzEkK0Z7xfMVLBqQ5wYvNEbnuRDb-rxGyH-ML0p2OPnI0yttscYHCC-lpiMu6Hq3q0lZQA6mxfib-K5U1xwrpUMVL9C64To7i5ZDJv4TdXxtN-9MYTN4GDEXqHB7bqVXaYQyLr8CidFB0S4HGxFfWjraxR9B2OuKBVyNN6Kr4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Crest Hill, IL","date","2025-02-22T20:21:45Z","article","Residents and several council members criticized the city administration’s decision to close City Hall early during a Feb. 5 snow/ice event that the National Weather Service recorded as about 1.8 inches of snow.

Resident Linda Dyke asked on the record for details and review. “I would like to know… how much money was spent to pay employees for going home early on a day when we only had 1.8 inches of snow?” she asked, and said social media had been critical of the city’s decision.

City Administrator Tony Graff and other officials said the decision was made by department heads in the interest of safety and to allow public-works crews—who had been working extended shifts—to complete operations. Graff said he and department chiefs monitored conditions and that the extra hour the next day allowed crews to finish parking-lot and road work: “I use my best judgment also working with the public works and police chief… the decision was made in regards to safety.”

Several council members asked for clearer guidance on when City Hall should close or employees should be permitted to leave early. One council member said neighboring municipalities kept offices open and suggested the city adopt a standard rule, for example tying building closures to a parking ban threshold. Graff said staff would consult other managers and prepare options for the council.

Why it matters: Critics said closing the building for a relatively small accumulation harmed municipal service continuity and cost taxpayers; administrators said the closure balanced staff safety, the heavy workload on public-works crews and resident access to safe facilities.

Ending: No policy change was adopted at the meeting. Council members requested a future work-session item on clearer storm/closure guidelines and on how decisions about paid time are handled when closures occur.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02-18-2025 Crest Hill City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and some council members questioned the decision to close City Hall early during a storm that produced about 1.8 inches of snow; city administrators defended the choice, citing crew safety and operational needs and said they would review guidelines.","taxTitle","Crest Hill, Will County, Illinois","taxId",56197,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6311163,"Council approves five public-works repairs and contracts totaling more than $1.1 million",312,2688000,3000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a&start=2688&end=3000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a/thumbnail_2688000.jpg","/articles/6311163/Crest-Hill/Will-County/Illinois/Council-approves-five-public-works-repairs-and-contracts-totaling-more-than-11-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311163-df5b2128102508f390d42bd2df942a50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161590&Signature=d2yZozVMLC~mpmDT8qPgnhaBVWahed9dww7oC1SQ~w6O5~0qABSTrFPlFAEdXHZ93dLMOV70~DqUve~~EClhDQWmYC8VYbqGdbRvCGjfsGR4xhpCpqFyha~lEG5e1HeQtJ7NW5kgHoQ11t2HYUdxaxFS-wyvtiY-Teka3l3CJuWSm5De5vvwHAPPEEpgSwgI65ToT9HHKWJYs5CC1myBBUcU9rw4ADmV9EWAgXM3pDjLWnyUvj7YEiihjm5lI8kpnHF~lzoVETDPZlT10kLcicH-XoBg8HiV6hAiYZ8-aA30Gtl7uLdsM93KKEgi0HstjFULYqyr6QRG6~HP4r6QfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director of Public Works Julius Hansen presented five action items the council approved during the Feb. 18 meeting, including equipment repairs, construction pay requests and professional-service agreements.

“We have 5 action items tonight. I’ll be brief,” Hansen said before the roll calls.

Votes at a glance
- Repair of three influent pumps at the East STP plant: approve repairs by Flight for an amount not to exceed $60,000. Motion carried (roll call: Dorel Jefferson; Claudia Gazelle; Tina Oberlin; Mark Sapidi; Nate Albert; Joe Cubaugh; Scott Dyke; John Fermeffin — all recorded “yes”).
- Change Order No. 4, Williams Brothers Construction — East Water Reclamation Facility phosphorus-removal upgrades: change order $161,000, adjusting the contract (presenter noted amended contract total rose to about $4,944,000). Motion carried (roll call recorded “yes” votes from council members present).
- Agreement with Strand Associates for on-call wastewater engineering services: not to exceed $25,000. Motion carried (roll call recorded “yes” votes from council members present).
- Pay Request No. 25 to Visserink Construction: request of $866,374.75 to be sent to the Illinois EPA for approval and disbursement. Motion carried (roll call recorded “yes” votes from council members present).
- Resolution approving proposal from M.E. Simpson Inc. for leak surveying, meter testing, valve assessment, hydrant assessment services and release of six frozen seized valves: total $111,390. Motion carried; recorded as Resolution 1288.

Hansen and other staff provided brief answers when council members asked for cost clarifications; for example, council members confirmed the change-order amount and were shown the cumulative contract total for the phosphorus upgrades. The pay request to Visserink will be forwarded to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for approval and disbursement as part of the project’s funding process.

Ending: All five items were approved by roll call without recorded dissent. Several council members later thanked public-works crews for snow response work during that week’s storms.","The council approved five public-works items: pump repairs ($60,000), a $161,000 change order for phosphorus-removal upgrades (amending a multi-million-dollar contract), an on-call engineering agreement ($25,000), a pay request to Visserink Construction ($866,374.75) for IEPA disbursement, and a Simpson Co. services resolution ($111,390).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6311168,"Several Crest Hill business owners seek waiver of late-license penalties; council schedules review",264,804000,1068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a&start=804&end=1068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a/thumbnail_804000.jpg","/articles/6311168/Crest-Hill/Will-County/Illinois/Several-Crest-Hill-business-owners-seek-waiver-of-late-license-penalties-council-schedules-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311168-b31c9e23e53a92af472f4b5356e7842f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161590&Signature=UllN8lcgIDzBTpHROTiOc2RHdM5o8q1l5m7c~pRQnjgCqP8pWR3aZM97ZCg2deGD1F1Uo81MsVyM9B2NUOpJAdvJiLHDNiElhT6UK9j7FMrz-XWUldkdPdEqVnVd2VXAVFtvXOVehCExO1Qxt3TpDoWTd5Z8iJk9UWt8Y1RUZItvqNi1mCbo56OpbYRZ6yBL~sBtZAmMV-JPbS9tkaAcXMpv4FKgwnKC7lRG1moAnKt~wtmjMGzuT02iNazO1enNlvw~xfAuXksMleZdsh-F~tRaHkH~XSxCwmLEkzVcsMFYun5R5Y58khDIUn-K1ta8NB7VzGNVame0E0A7LT5qug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Four business owners who said they operate in Crest Hill told the council they paid a $200 late penalty after missing the standard $50 annual business license payment and asked the council to waive the penalty.

Teranum Adele, who said she works for Adele Pediatrics and that her husband owns a pediatric practice at 2226 Weber Road, said she usually pays the annual license on time but missed this year while traveling and subsequently paid the $200 penalty. “I paid the fee that was the penalty fee of extra $200 instead of the $50,” she said, asking for a waiver.

Mayor and council members told the speakers they could not take action because the matter was not on the meeting agenda. City Attorney Mike Steph suggested the council schedule a broader discussion of late fees so the council could consider waivers and any policy changes at once.

Council staff said they would place the four named businesses on the next work-session agenda so the council could discuss each request: Adele Pediatrics; Hendricks and Bumper (represented by Laura Boyne); Prestige Brick Pavers and Landscapers (represented by Raul Salazar); and Del Toro Transmission (represented by Omar Ibarra).

Why it matters: Business-license penalties are assessed administratively but residents and business owners said they want a one-off waiver in light of late payment; the council indicated it preferred to review the issue as a broader policy matter rather than decide individual waivers during a regular council meeting.

Ending: Council and staff told the speakers the requests would be placed on the next work-session agenda for formal consideration. No waiver or vote occurred at the Feb. 18 meeting.","Four local businesses asked the city council to waive a late business-license penalty; council said it could not act because the item was not on the agenda and agreed to place the requests on the next work session for consideration.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6311175,"White Oak Library District outlines service expansions tied to April referendum",546,35000,581000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a&start=35&end=581","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396599-3373d4ce9f31548a5d617b601e2d111a/thumbnail_35000.jpg","/articles/6311175/Crest-Hill/Will-County/Illinois/White-Oak-Library-District-outlines-service-expansions-tied-to-April-referendum","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311175-4a194e633bcd0cdb7bc029365982e310/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161590&Signature=I0~nOU3C1kM1Kds1O0SPcy7QF3VEfDiGP-otzlUcCOLn3aXraNzQz3lhpwdkC9Z-QkBknrjdcv~Y0zsd072x41iTmNGIv6vEDxnEXzLgHhYyAFsM5k1S5GowTesqoHal9HsKWGTO9U52MUoFqf6W7hrnBGk0xoKQPSE~VthxKjJV5KSdk1GJv3gx0h4ujiYsSgnqoBjg6h1FUgSdnbxOsqbc0586Ca8QULhPG5X~LC1oG3411qqO9ZLmJZsB314brv~311GLrai3dY-VOriQLPuYIyj2jcAt3jKHUuTapboq4rfCdSPbEiDLlvgaFS6TCaD0lzASDcFkrFSoKsV4lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scott, director of the White Oak Library District, gave Crest Hill City Council an informational presentation on a referendum question that will appear on the April 1 ballot.

The district is not asking the council to take a position, Scott said. “I’m not asking any way to vote any 1 way or another,” he told elected officials. He described three main goals the district would use the revenue to accomplish: restore some Sunday hours and extend late Friday hours; expand outreach, including a bookmobile; and pay for growing digital content such as ebooks and streaming services.

The measure’s estimated local tax impact, Scott said, would be about $20 per year for the “average home” in the library district, which the presenter said is valued at roughly $235,000. If voters approve the question, the district expects to begin using the funds in the budget year that starts July 1, 2026.

Why it matters: The district said its population skews older—about one in four residents are seniors—and planners want to increase services for both seniors and young children. Scott said digital lending is growing rapidly and is expensive for libraries: he gave one example that a newly released ebook can cost the district about $80 while a print copy might cost $20; digital licenses are often single-user and time- or usage-limited.

Council members and members of the public voiced support for the library’s mission. A resident who spoke during the meeting told the council, “Reading is critical to children,” and described formative experiences reading school library books. Another resident praised the Libby app and said the district’s ebooks and audiobooks are heavily used.

The district’s presentation packet—provided to council members and said to be available on the district website—includes a longer FAQ sheet the presenter identified as the primary information source for residents interested in the referendum. Scott also noted that the White Oak Library District is 103 years old and that the last time the public approved an operating levy was in 1929.

Ending: The presentation was informational; council did not take action. Council members asked where residents could get more information; the presenter said details are on the library’s website and in the packet materials distributed to council members.","White Oak Library District director Scott explained a ballot question for April 1 that would fund longer hours, outreach including a bookmobile, and digital content; district says the measure would cost an average household about $20 per year if approved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents and council debate City Hall closure after 1.8-inch snow event

Council approves five public-works repairs and contracts totaling more than $1.1 million

Several Crest Hill business owners seek waiver of late-license penalties; council schedules review

White Oak Library District outlines service expansions tied to April referendum