Dixmoor discusses village improvements and potential raise on commercial water rates

The Dixmoor village board was excited to share that the district is having major improvements during its meeting on June 25.

Code Enforcement Inspector Cleo Butler, spoke of a renewed sense of cooperation between the City and its residents: “Cutting the grass, removing the garbage can, that was a major issue for us.”

Trustee Angela Franks-Muse brought up a discussion of an ordinance for rental housing after issues with rental properties with both renters and landlords. “We want to put something in writing for people, so everybody will be on one accord, and the village understands what’s going on to the properties, because a lot of times we don’t find out,” said Franks-Muse.

According to Muse, there have been repeated issues where the mayor or the clerk won’t know of an issue between tenants and property owners until it cascades into a village problem. An ordinance that aimed to remedy the matter was briefly discussed before being tabled until July. She did not specify what issues are occurring.

Police and public works department reports

Dixmoor Police Chief Eric Armstrong reported 281 tickets for the month of June and roughly 8 other cases were closed for this month’s time period. The department seeks to hire a part-time clerk.

“Right now we’re working with one clerk…. that only worked 10 hours a week, it’s causing strain on the paperwork… that need[s] to go into market court,” said Chief Armstrong.

The board also approved the appointing of a Superintendent for the Public Works Department.  “Well, the young man that’s been working around that department over here [for] about a year now, I feel he deserved that… as the acting superintendent right now,” said President Fitzgerald Roberts. “He knows all about the water system that we have out here, pretty much… he knows how to read the maps and work the equipment over there.”

Commercial rates for business meetings and building management

The board tabled a measure increasing commercial water rates for businesses until it hosts a town hall meeting with local businesses. The increase is due to a domino effect brought on by Chicago.

Chicago increased its water rates. Municipalities that receive water from Chicago, in turn, increased their rates, including Harvey, which supplies water to Dixmoor. “They’re just catching up to what the actual cost to deliver water is, so that’s what that’s about,” said village spokesperson Travis Akin about the increase.

Mixed-use development project

The board discussed and approved a mixed-use redevelopment on 147th St., providing 90 condominium units and retail on city-owned land. The proposal was presented to the board last year, Fitzgerald said.

Public comment

Resident James Davis decried trash-filled alleys near Hoyne Ave. and Cooper Ave. that has prevented him from parking his vehicle. “I can’t park my car in an alley with all that flooding, nobody putting down rocks, trees in the way,” said Davis. 

“There’s trees, deadly weather, ain’t getting cut down…I’ve been complaining about this for long [time], because I told [president] Fitzgerald, he been knew […].”

The village will use asphalt to fill holes, Fitzgerald said. Tire dumping aggravates those problems, but “we picked up 22 tires last month from back there,” Fitzgerald said, “so it’s just a constant ongoing thing back there.”