City Council, February 11, 2020
Longtime resident and activist Rachell Orozco addressed the board to honor fellow citizen Barbara Ennis who passed from this life on February 2nd. Ennis was the Executive Director of the Blue Island Women of Worship Outreach Ministry located at 12654 S. Maple Avenue. This ministry used to have a halfway house but could no longer keep it open because of funding issues.
However, the group continued to help the homeless and women in need. Orozco stated, “It’s our responsibility as citizens to help each other. Ennis and the Women of Worship did other volunteer work including serving food at Black Culture Nite.” Ennis’ final voluntary act was when she donated her body to science.
Ald. Cazares, 2nd Ward, brought up the issue of the recent exaggerated water bills. He wanted insight into what caused the problem and assurance that it wouldn’t happen again. Mayor Vargas said there was a meter issue, a glitch on some of the machines, and residents have come in and have been courteously dealt with on a one-on-one basis. Clerk Heuser conceded that the readers were old resulting in a reader error, and this would likely be brought to the Municipal Services Committee in the near future.
Cazares asked about residents who paid the mistaken higher amount? Heuser said the amount paid would be carried forward to the next bill. Ald. Johnson, 1st Ward, wanted to know if this was the same issue that occurred in his ward a couple years ago where there was no reconciliation. This was believed to be a computer issue. Vargas reaffirmed that new equipment is needed and the Finance Committee would address this. Anyone with water bill issues can call the Water Department at 597-8605.
Present were Mayor Domingo Vargas, Clerk Randy Heuser, Attorney Kelly Burke, Treasurer Carmine Bilotto, and Aldermen Annette Alexander, Raeann Cantelo-Zylman, Candace Carr, William Cazares, Kevin Donahue, Bill Fahrenwald, Tom Hawley, Johnny Hill, Dexter Johnson, James Klinker, Mike Mech and Nancy Rita. Aldermen Fred Bilotto and Alecia Slattery were absent.
The water bill situation is scary. Makes a person wonder what is going on with the city. Also makes us appreciate the Alderman for bringing this matter to the meeting. They are doing their job. Very good. Good to read about the nice lady who helped everyone. It shows that there are nice people out there that still care.
I only covered a few of these council meetings and this is the first time that I heard Ald. Cazares say anything. I’m also glad he brought it up.
I think these types of problems are common in many of the older small towns. I am a citizen of Blue Island. It seems to me that our money problems are at the core of many of our problems – old equipment, road repair and a slew of other shortfalls. We are an old and dying community. We need to do something about that.
The administration of government over the last many years has lacked the ability to move us forward. Look at areas around us, Evergreen Park, Crestwood, Oak Lawn. Look at how they have prospered. Even many of the smaller communities around us have found ways to stay alive. Blue Island seems to be on the brink of death. How do we fix it?
I think it comes down to proper leadership. As always, that can only happen when there’s an election and “changing of the guard.”