Cicero’s Town Board Continues And Implements Liquor Sales Policy And Police Agreement
The Town of Cicero continues to revise liquor license regulations, mandating that liquor license holders stop selling alcohol by midnight starting December 31, 2024. The Town also made a new deal with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, updating job terms for police officers with starting salaries between $90,481 and $102,670.
The Town of Cicero trustees were selected and presented with an award during their bi-weekly board meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, by the Morton 201 Foundation for being a corporate sponsor, securing tables for the foundation’s dinners, and for uplifting the Morton 201 foundation events. April Alonso/Cicero Independiente.
By Leslie Hurtado
The Town of Cicero Board of Trustees and President Larry Dominick met twice in June 2024 to discuss various ordinances and resolutions.
In June, the Town passed policies in agreement with town departments and implemented business rules. They decided that liquor license holders must stop selling alcohol by midnight starting December 31, 2024, to reduce emergency calls. Additionally, Cicero made a new deal with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, updating job terms for police officers with starting salaries between $90,481 and $102,670 based on experience, and including a $10,000 signing bonus to retain officers. The agreement lasts until December 31, 2025.
You can access the documents shown in this recap by clicking on these links: June 11 and June 25. For live streams of these meetings, visit our Facebook page.
PERMITS
The board recently issued permits for back-to-school events and religious services at Life Church Midwest and Knights of Columbus, as well as a permit for Sam's Club to set up a table at the Town of Cicero to provide information to residents on September 24, October 22, November 19 and December 17.
RESOLUTIONS
The Town continued to revise its previous liquor license regulation by passing an ordinance that has been approved to amend the language in Chapter 10, Section 10-58 of the Town Code, requiring liquor license holders to halt alcohol sales at midnight. This change impacts new and existing licenses after December 31, 2024, and plans to reduce the volume of emergency service calls. Alcohol sales are prohibited between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and between 12:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday each week.
Cicero has introduced a new ordinance to manage electric vehicle charging stations. The ordinance simplifies setting up charging stations on public properties to eliminate license fees. The Town agreed to a deal with Fountain Pros LLC to maintain the water fountains at Laramie Park Splash Pad and the Cicero Municipal Center. Starting on June 1, Fountain Pros began preparing the fountains for use. They maintained them for 16 weeks until they shut them down after Labor Day. The total cost for this season's maintenance was $5,100.
Cicero has approved the purchase of insurance for vacant properties from Berkshire Hathaway, which Alliant Insurance Services facilitated. This insurance, which manages unoccupied buildings and protects against potential damages and legal issues, costs $30,327 for the policy year from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025.
The Town also renewed its special events insurance with National Specialty Insurance Company to cover town-sponsored events, including festivals that involve alcohol sales. This policy protects the Town from possible legal issues during these events. The insurance starts on August 1, 2024, and ends on August 1, 2025, costing $6,000 for the year.
TOWN SPENDING
The Town has entered into an agreement with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, effective through December 31, 2025. The deal updates employment terms for police officers, setting starting salaries between $90,481 and $102,670, based on previous experience. It also includes a $10,000 signing bonus, paid in several installments to promote retention.
Cicero approved the purchase of two ambulances for the Cicero Fire Department, costing about $400,000. This decision allows the department to replace older ambulance vehicles. The ambulances were purchased from R Enterprises, LLC without a bidding process due to the urgent need for these specific vehicles.
The Town has approved a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to improve parking on the L-Strip on Cicero Avenue. The project includes roadway improvements on 49th Avenue from 25th Street to Cermak Road and 34th Street from Central Avenue to Laramie Avenue. The total cost of the project is $750,000.
They have also allocated $180,000 for road improvements, which include resurfacing streets, replacing curbs and gutters, and updating storm sewers. The project started on June 24, 2024,and is expected to finish by November 8, 2024. Final project approvals and payments are scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2025.
Cicero approved a deal with All Around Amusement, Inc. to provide rides and games for Cicero Fest, which took place from June 20-23, 2024. This agreement included services like setting up amusement rides and attractions. Cicero paid All Around Amusement $30,000 plus a share of the ticket sales.
Cicero resident, Gerardo Nava, speaks during the June 11, 2024 Town of Cicero board meeting and has spoken multiple times at board meetings to share his concerns in the community. April Alonso/Cicero Independiente.
COMMENTS
During the town meeting, Gerardo Nava, a Cicero resident, raised concerns about the storm advisory committee's recent discussions. He highlighted 21 petitions for alleyway repairs and emphasized the need for clear communication and proper funding.
Recalling past experiences of receiving only physical notes as notice for alleyway work, Nava requested better communication to inform residents about upcoming projects. He concluded by appreciating the effort to address these concerns.
Leslie Hurtado is a contributing reporter with Cicero Independiente. She graduated with a B.A. in Communications at Northeastern Illinois University. She worked at several news rooms including WBEZ, WTTW, Telemundo and City Bureau.
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