City Council Amends Chicago Heights Liquor Code

Want to get rich in Chicago Heights? Liquor may not be quicker.

The Chicago Heights City Council approved a 20 percent reduction of total liquor licenses within one year, according to a statement by Mayor David Gonzalez's office. The Council voted unanimously Monday to amend the city's liquor code, which reduced that number of permitted Tavern and Packaged Liquor Licenses by four. Gonzalez pointed out that some of these taverns were associated with “hot spots” of thriving criminal activity.  "I'm proud of this administration, and all their support in reducing the number of liquor establishments," stated Gonzalez in the release. "I believe the reduction in liquor licenses increases the integrity and safety of our city," Gonzalez said. Sign up for our daily newsletter to stay updated.  Like us on …

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Another Liquor License Reduction and New Library Board Members: On the Agenda

The Chicago Heights City Council meets Monday, Aug. 6, with several items on the agenda.

Mayor David Gonzalez and the Chicago Heights City Council will meet Monday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. There will be time allotted for public participation and comments. Click on the PDF above to see the full agenda for the city council meeting. The meeting will be taking place at the Chicago Heights City Hall building, inside the council chambers. Like Chicago Heights Patch on Facebook for updates. Sign up to have our newsletter delivered to your inbox.

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On the Agenda

City Council Looks to Bring Back Electricity Referendum

The Chicago Heights City Council meets Monday, July 16, with several items on the agenda. A public hearing will precede the meeting.

Mayor David Gonzalez and the Chicago Heights City Council will meet Monday, July 16, at 7 p.m. There will be time allotted for public participation and comments. There will also be a public hearing, beginning at 6:45 p.m., to discuss the City's appropriations budget for the next fiscal year. Click on the PDF above to see the full agenda for the city council meeting. The meeting will be taking place at the Chicago Heights City Hall building, inside the council chambers. Like Chicago Heights Patch on Facebook for updates. Sign up to have our newsletter delivered to your inbox.

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On the Agenda

Mayor Gonzalez to Appoint New Police Chief

The Chicago Heights City Council meets Monday, July 2, with several items on the agenda.

Mayor David Gonzalez and the Chicago Heights City Council will meet Monday, July 2, at 7 p.m. There will be time allotted for public participation and comments. Click on the PDF above to see the full agenda for the city council meeting. The meeting will be taking place at the Chicago Heights City Hall building, inside the council chambers. Like Chicago Heights Patch on Facebook for updates. Sign up to have our newsletter delivered to your inbox.  

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The List: Which Name Works Best for the New Industrial Park

The mayor will be coming up with a name soon. It could be one of these suggestions. Vote for your favorite!

Two weeks ago we asked Patch readers to suggest names for an industrial park planned for the east side of the Heights. The park will be located in the 1700 block of Wentworth Avenue. Gonzalez said the city is currently working with Ginkgo Planning to create a brochure that will attract industrial businesses to the Heights. Read the original story "Mayor Planning Major Industrial Project on Lower East Side" to learn more about the planned industrial park. The comments came rolling in, with many posters showing more concern over the state of Chicago Heights than naming the industrial park. Regardless, between the article, email, Facebook and word of mouth, readers came up with several good name ideas. Just attach "Industrial Park" to the end…

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On the Agenda

Council Could Amend Chicago Heights Gambling Regulations

The Chicago Heights City Council meets Monday, June 18, with several items on the agenda.

Mayor David Gonzalez and the Chicago Heights City Council will meet Monday, June 18, at 7 p.m. There will be time allotted for public participation and comments. Click on the PDF above to see the full agenda for the city council meeting. The meeting will be taking place at the Chicago Heights City Hall building, inside the council chambers.

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Christopher Paicely

8:40 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Nothing that dramatic, Winston, as far as I know. The amendment was more of an update, having Chicago Heights adopt the current state gambling regulations, including video gambling. I'll post a more detailed article about what happened soon.   more ›

On the Agenda

Council to Discuss Amending the City's Liquor Code

Chicago Heights City Council meets Monday, May 21, with several items on the agenda.

Mayor David Gonzalez and the Chicago Heights City Council will meet Monday, May 21, at 7 p.m. There will be time allotted for public participation and comments. Click on the PDF above to see the full agenda for the city council meeting. The meeting will be taking place at the Chicago Heights City Hall building, inside the council chambers.

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Update: House Passes Bill Allocating Millions Toward Childcare

The bill did not appear likely to make it to the House floor for a vote, but was attached to another bill and given new life.

Updated May 17, 2012: Illinois lawmakers passed House Bill 6164, Wednesday, after it was attached to Senate Bill 2450, according to State Rep. Anthony DeLuca. The bill would allocate more than $70 million toward childcare for low-income families all over the state. Out of 116 state representatives, 113 voted in favor of the move. House Bill 6164 was supported by Gov. Pat Quinn and aimed at making up for the state short-changing childcare facilities for the last three months of the fiscal year. As of Monday, Bill 6164 had missed all of the deadlines for making it to the floor for a vote and still sat in the rules committee. "It has not gone through a committee," DeLuca said Friday. "The only way that bill is going to be seen on the floor is…

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Janet Panico

2:08 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The state does "owe" providers for childcare tuition payments for children who attended their facility in April 2012 and now into May of 2012. Hopefully, funds will be available to cover childcare tuition in June 2012 also. This will cover the 4th quarter of the state's fiscal year which runs July 1 through June 30 annually. The state has an annual budget every year, just ran out this last …   more ›

Heights Childcare Facilities Fight to Keep Funding for Low-Income Families

Weary of getting shorted on state funds, several child-care facilities are bringing their voices to Springfield.

It has happened in the past, and it may happen in the future. The State of Illinois has told childcare facilities it is out of money and they are on their own for the rest of the fiscal year. Last week, the Illinois Department of Human Services sent letters to childcare facilities that included the following statements: "We have requested additional funds from the General Assembly but to date we have not received any additional dollars. Without additional money, we can't continue to pay for child care services. ... Without more money, bills for most of April services and all of May and June services will be held until July 2012.  Payments will resume in July when the FY13 budget is available.  We are sorry for the hardship this creates for…

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City Acquires Joe Orr Strip Mall, Alderman Concerned About the Future of the Property

"I just don't want to see this building torn down," Ald. Josh Deabel said during the discussion at the May 7 Chicago Heights City Council meeting.

After months of legal discussion, the Chicago Heights City Council voted in favor of acquiring the strip small formerly housing Ace Hardware on Joe Orr Road. But one alderman is worried the City will tear the strip mall down and create another vacant lot. The property, located at 190 Joe Orr, was being maintained by the city and therefore had a lien against it. It also had hundreds of thousands of dollars in back-taxes piling up and is showing deterioration along the roof, according to Corporation Counsel T.J. Somer. The city's plan was to execute a deed in lieu of foreclosure, eliminate the back-taxes and repair the building. "The benefit of that is always, when we do these kinds of deals . . . is that we make it marketable again," Somer …

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