Bob, your statement, “Closing on those Sundays will enable the Library to give employees a 1% pay increase,” implies an across the board 1% pay raise, which is not true. As I understand it, some library employees may receive up to a 1% salary increase, based on their performance evaluations.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Audra, no such implication was intended. The statement is not only factually accurate but it also is consistent with our unwavering custom and practice of referring to across-the-board public employee raises, expressly, as “across-the-board” or as “non-merit based.” So this would appear to be more a matter of your inference than the post’s implication.

But to the extent anyone might draw the same inference, your comment and this response should clear it up. Merci.

I stand corrected. Instead of “implies” I should have said “may be interpreted.”

I feel like I should also add that the budget we approved, as you’re aware, didn’t leave the funds originally allocated for employee raises intact but in fact reduced the total in half.

Merci.

EDITOR’S NOTE: That is correct, but that remaining half (the 1%) is still sufficient to fund the summer Sundays.

Closing the library on Sunday’s is a terrible idea. That is very disappointing to hear. If they wanted to close the Library on Sunday’s to save money fine. But to close on Sunday to give out raises is ludicrous!

I probably missed you posting about this, but I don’t ever remember seeing this Sunday library closure in the papers either.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, 12/18/13: “Park Ridge library to close on Sundays during summer.”

2014 is the year of the Horse.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Hopefully the horse’s name isn’t “Khartoum.”

Given the raises provided to most other public sector workers exceeds this 1%, it’s difficult to understand how any resident who loves the library enough to mind Sunday summer closings would begrudge such a tiny raise to our Library workers. Elves don’t re-stock the shelves, buy and repair books, plan and conduct events, etc. — human beings in our employ do. I was very upset at first about this decision to close on Sundays as I’m always there if I’m not in Centennial pool, but then I thought, why should our staff always be the ones to take it on the chin? Maybe if we experience some of the choice the Library management has been driven to, after all of its other penny-pinching, make-do-and-mend efforts over the past five years or more, then maybe we will demand different prioritizing from our elected officials. I certainly intend to.It’s gonna be a litmus test for my next aldermanic and mayoral vote.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Your comment assumes that Library staff, collectively or individually, is currently underpaid; and that it, collectively or individually, has earned a 1% raise – rather than no raise, or a 2% raise (as originally proposed by Staff), or a 5% raise. No evidence of any of those points was presented to the Library Board, however, nor was any evidence presented to demonstrate that Staff performed its duties better, in greater quantity, or more efficiently than last year or the year before that.

But if you want the City Council to appropriate more money for the Library, by all means show up at a Council meeting and tell them so. And when they ask where the money should come from, tell them that they should raise everybody’s taxes, or tell them what else they should cut to free up that money. We’re sure they’d love to hear from you.

I like the library and go there at least 2-3 times a month, almost always on Sunday afternoons because that is usually the only free time I have. I will survive the summer without Sunday hours, but I fail to see why the library should be closed just so employees can get a 1% raise if, as you say, no evidence was presented that they are underpaid. Did they get a raise last year, or the year before that, or the year before that? Is their job dangerous? Are they constantly at risk of being fired for poor performance? Are they held to any measurable perfomrance standards? How many employees quit each year to go to another library? Do they do so for higher pay?

It seems like the library is a great place to work, the work is not difficult, the hours are convenient, and the setting is comfortable, I would think that unless they are seriously underpaid the employees should be happy to have those jobs and would not need a raise if it means closing the library for one entire day. Alternatively, why not charge for computer use?

EDITOR’S NOTE: All good questions and observations.

FYI, this editor/library trustee most definitely wanted to charge for computer usage, as well as for Library programs. Charging just $2 per computer log-in/use could have generated over $130,000 at current user numbers, or over $65,000 even if usage was cut in half because of that cost. And, lo and behold, even that lower revenue number would have been more than enough to keep the Library open on summer Sundays AND to give those 1% raises!

Computer Freeloaders – 1, Summer Sunday Libary users – 0.

So elected officials should not pay attention to the results of their shortsighted policies and cuts?
Ya, remember when the mayor and aldermen campaigned on cutting the taxpayers use of our own library.

C’mon now.

So far 2014 we’ve seen side streets unplowed as of THURSDAY (stopped snowing Sunday). How many city services is the mayor cutting????

Funny, I drove by the country club area and all the side streets are done. You support the mayor, you get your streets done?. Or is it that most of the alderman could give a damn about their wards since they aren’t even around town?

2014 the year of continued “less for my tax dollar” from Park Ridge.

EDITOR’S NOTE: What “side streets” remain “unplowed”? Did you call City Hall? What aldermen “aren’t even around town” – and what exactly do you mean by that?

Who said elected officials SHOULDN’T “pay attention to the results of their shortsighted policies and cuts”? More importantly, how are cuts that eliminated million dollar-plus annual deficits “shortsighted” – especially when those cuts were still accompanied by 2%+ tax increases in order just to make ends meet?

What lies ahead for 2014?

More of the same. More of the same.

EDITOR’S NOTE: These local governmental bodies had better do better than “more of the same.”

908-The mayor won every precinct but one. If what you say is true, then you must live in that precinct. However, I suspect you are just plain wrong.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Schmidt lost Maine Twp. precinct 87, which is the area borded by Garden on the North, Crescent on the South, Cumberland on the East and Delphia on the West.

Guess we’ll avoid that area until the thaw.

Several years ago I looked at data available state wide on library operating costs.

One series showed that PR and several carefully selected, “best practice?” peers had transaction costs(op costs/circulation) of $6 per transaction.

Naperville, which operates a large, multi site system, had a cost per transaction of $3. Why is that? Naperville had an enormous volunteer program. Most libraries use volunteers and pay lip service to their value. But they don’t really like them. They have no power over volunteers and someone has to supervise them…terribly hard work.

Part of the problem might be the level of paid FTE’s. Too many staff.

How about out sourcing functions such as new purchases selection and book prep….maybe PR does this already?

Park Ridge gets credit for having its library open to the public a large number of hours per week…around 69-70. Maybe it should open at 10AM M-F. You can shoot a cannon through a library at 930AM and not hit anyone but nannies.

What about the mission? Libraries suggest that their role is to be the center of all learning in the community except swimming lessons. Who says so?

I applaud and support the editor’s concern about productivity improvements, a term that is not in the lexicon of most government employees or many Board Members.

The article on 2014 is a great service to Park Ridge taxpayers who read it. It should be widely distributed. Thank you.

EDITOR’S NOTE: You’re welcome. And thank you.

Huh- pretty well known around town that the country club is the favored area in town by the mayor and supporters.
It’s now 336pm and plenty of side streets still not done

What’s your explanation as to why country club area is done while others aren’t?

Also, I would almost guarantee that public works feels so much pressure from the mayors council that they are under serving our streets. Because I can see the anti public works alderman and mayor telling PW that they’ll have to offset a salt purchase or OT.

And the point is the mayor and the “downtown” alderman (only 3 of the 8, including mayor are even around Park Ridge regularly on weekdays) don’t give a damn about plowed/ salted streets, as long as the metra stop is good

Ryles did have a point about having a “full time” mayor would be nice. How many alderman have toured their wards?

Again, Park Ridge taxpayers are getting less for their money while mayors council supporters drool still with their April victory.

EDITOR’S NOTE: What “side streets still not done”? Have you called City Hall to complain?

Better yet, come to City Hall this coming Monday night and ask the Mayor, and “the mayors [sic] council” and the head of Public Works what kind of “pressure” for “under serving our streets” and to “offset a salt purchase or OT” (whatever that means exactly) is being applied. Bring whatever proof you have of those allegations.

And while you’re at it, bring in your proof that elected officials who don’t hang around Park Ridge all day “don’t give a damn about plowed/ salted streets, as long as the metra stop is good.”

I don’t always agree with the decisions of the Mayor and City Council but I’ve not noticed any slacking off on their parts. In addition to public meetings, at least one a week, sometimes more, I’m quite sure there is time at home spent working on city matters. And yes, they did “volunteer” for the job, so no pity party is in order.

If you don’t want to attend a council meeting to express your concerns, the contact information for the Mayor and each alderman is posted on the city’s website. If you have an issue, contact them, don’t just sit back grousing and think that’ll make things better.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Exactly.

The comment was to reflect on “what to watch for in 2014”, which was a very good article. I’m not the only person who has noticed some service decline without any lessening of taxes.

Yes, I will be watching how our city services are being handled. So far we see cut library hours and noticeable snow on streets well after a storm.

Just because we may have supported the mayor doesn’t mean we aren’t going to watch him and hold him accountable.
Politicians suck when people stop watching results.

EDITOR’S NOTE: ABSOLUTELY! The more people who pay attention – close attention – the better off we are.

But so far we’ve got are a bunch of anonymous complaints about all the unidentified unplowed streets. And anonymous complaints about cut Library hours even though plenty of money could be generated to restore those hours – and even give those 1% raises – if the Library began charging for computer usage and programs.

Or if it went to referendum to raise ITS tax levy, separate and apart from the City’s tax levy – to provide whatever additional revenue it needs and/or wants. Hey, maybe Mel Thillens, Dick Barton, and the folks who ran Our Parks Legacy could run an “Our Library Legacy” referendum drive for the November election so that, by next year, the Library could be awash in its very own cash that it wouldn’t have to beg from City Hall?

I tend to agree with the comments about snow removal-not that I think certain areas of town are better plowed than others but that basically the snowing plowing is bad-particularly when compared to towns like Niles, Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect. We have lived here for over 20 years and this has always been the case. It was one of the first things I noticed when we moved here. Thankfully snow only affects a few months of the year.

In driving around town, side streets like Lincoln, Crescent, Fairview, Delphia, Gillick, Western to name a few are snow packed and slippery and not plowed to the curbs. If salt is used it is only used at the intersections and sparingly. And yes calls have been made to PW. Even streets like Prospect (all the way from the south end to the north end) and Belle Plaine are not plowed to the curbs and when cars are parked on both sides of the street they become three lane roads-can a fire truck get through some of these streets? Why can’t the snow plow drivers remove the snow up to the curb?

Even now, several days after the snow has stopped the above named streets are snow packed and icy. And the plows have not been back around to clean up the areas where people have moved their cars that were once parked on the street.

It makes the snow plow drivers job more difficult though when people do not get their cars off the streets and onto their driveway or into the garage on the alley. The city rule should be there should be no street parking on any street in town for a period of time after the snow stops to give the drivers a chance to clean up the streets properly.

As far as 2014 goes, it will be interesting to see just how many of the amenities are built at on the Youth Campus property. Not sure that $13,200,000 will provide what Mel Thillens, the OPL group and the PRPD said was going to be included on the 11 acre makeover. The PRPD could not even fix a portion of the parking lot at Centennial without going over budget.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Now we’re finally getting somewhere…at least we’ve got some streets named, although we know for a fact from traveling over portions of some of them that not all portions of those streets are un/under-plowed.

We suggest you come to the next Council meeting and let the Council know, because anonymous comments to posts on “evil blogs” (see Frimark, Howard) are not all that persuasive to public officials.

Snow: the polar vortex froze and turned into unplowable Ice whatever side streets weren’t plowed. It’s like that everywhere not just in park ridge.

Flooding: $10,000 flood control systems for every house in town won’t solve all of the flooding problems. It’s naive to think that the every man for themselves solution is the best solution. The town floods for a variety reasons. At least 2x in 2013, once on 2011, 2009 and 2008 1 out of every six houses has made a flood claim in the last 6 years in park ridge. I was only here for the 2013 floods and they were awful. This much flooding is not normal for park ridge. Des plaines, sure, it’s called “the plaines” and it’s next to the river. But PR should not be flooding like this. It’s more than just a ‘DIY sump pump’ problem. If anything the results do the Burke survey show that its a long term community problem that won’t be solved by every house retrofitting overhead sewers or putting in sumps and check vales. Overheads and sumps won’t do anything where you need a canoe to make your way down the block.

Library: I’d be interested to know the salaries of employees and how they compare to other libraries in the area before deciding whether or not they should be entitled to a 1% raise. It makes a big difference if they’re all underpaid or if they’re already grossly overpaid….

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you were constantly beset with burglars entering your house and stealing, the first order of business would not be to demand that the City hire more cops – it would be to put locks on your doors.

So if you flood, job one is protecting your own home – with overhead sewers and check valves, with your own money (“YOM”), not demanding the City spend $100 million on program that is designed primarily to address only 10-year flooding. That being said, impassable streets and floodwater at and over the doorsteps is problematic. But is it worth $100 million?

Good article.
The “Polar Vortex” ended Tuesday. Driving around yesterday, I noticed several streets with snow (not ice) on them. Talcott/Prospect intersection had snow as of yesterday, except one spot where there looked to be 20 pounds of salt spilled out. West of Cumberland (Glenlake, to the greenwood, to lois up to Western) and East of Cumberland (Peterson, Courtland, Crescent had several streets that were snowy.
As someone who frequently drives around the surrounding communities, the other nearby areas were way better and always are. Very surprised as of yesterday roads still weren’t good.

Regarding 2014 and flooding, I have no idea how the city council can even come to a decision. Do they have confidence that $100 Million would even solve the problem? If there isn’t confidence in the hundreds of thousands already given to Burke for the final plan, how do we move forward with decades of bonds to pay for something that may/may not work? We are already on the hook for possible decades of repayment (TIF) for something that was a failure.

One thing not mentioned above in 2014 is in the developments going around Park Ridge. Developers are looking to add over 500 people to the population of Park Ridge over a few projects throughout the city.

The vote was 5-2 to approve the old Advocate building for 121 units.
We talk about declining infrastructure, however, simultaneously the city council votes to approve special variances on increasing density and putting further stress on our infrastructure?

This is what makes me shake my head about politicians. They tell us about things they “want’ then vote completely the other way. Did they buy the whole “LEED Certified” crap? Sounds like the experienced developers know how to sell a plan that tramples on our zoning laws.
Trammel Crowe simply wants to maximize their dollars, not improve the community. And, there is nothing wrong with that, that’s where our local government steps in to tell them to adhere to code. If Advocate (or whoever owns that building) can’t sell it for the price with the variance…they can lower the price.

Once a monstrous apartment building is there, it ain’t going away and will pave the way for more like it. No thanks.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The essence of every complaint being raised by commentators re plowing is twofold: (1) Are we getting the service from Public Works that we are paying for; and (2) if so, should we be spending more for improved service? Either contact your aldermen or come to City Hall on Monday night for the Public Works portion of the COW meeting.

Regarding 2014 and flooding, $100 Million isn’t intended to “solve the problem” – unless “the problem” is 10-year flooding.

Regarding the “old Advocate building,” the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the 121 units with various conditions, and the City Council approved the first reading, with additional conditions. There still needs to be a second-reading Council approval.

Readers of this blog know that we generally support strict enforcement of the City’s Zoning Code – OR changes in that Code so that the exceptions/variances don’t end up consuming the rule. And we’re no fan of increased density; but, as the developers have demonstrated, the Code would enable them to actually house even more people (270, in 3-BR units) in the 88 residential units the Code currently allows than the 190 who are projected to live in the 121 smaller units. See CP&D Dir. Jim Testin’s 12/16/13 Agenda Cover Memorandum for the 12/15/13 Council meeting.

It sounds like only a few P&Z folks bought “that whole ‘LEED Certified’ crap,” and another few of them bought the “pocket park” crap. Others bought what appears to be a legitimate benefit: stormwater detention. But if this project and other like it are problems, then those folks at P&Z are the first line of defense against them – and they’re the ones who probably need a wake-up call because you’re right: It is up to City government to enforce our laws, or change the laws.

Finally, let’s not get carried away: as we understand it, this “monstrous apartment building” will basically be the same size as the current Advocate building.

“Driving around yesterday, I noticed several streets with snow (not ice) on them”.

Streets with snow on them?!?!?! AAHHHHHH!!! The horror! I am amazed!! You are truly a lucky person to have actually survived this terrifying experience to make it back to your computer to report it to us!!

Yes, the last think we need is those useless nannies and those unproductive children who clog up our library while their moms are working to pay Park Ridge taxes. They should be home watching reality TV instead. And we certainly don’t want to be part of the solution for the unemployed or underemployed or unhoused or what-have-you by letting people use “our” computers for free.
What’s next, a dime (no, make that a quarter; we have expense!) to use the public toilets?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks for admitting the Library serves as a babysitting/entertainment service for children and their nannies. We knew you could do it.

And great analogy: Using a computer is like using a toilet.

You really should identify yourself and take full credit for such bon mots.

I know this was not mentioned in your article but what is bothering me is the number of developers that have taken a look at Park Ridge as their apartment building haven (slight exaggeration). We have had a few developers come in seeking approval of variances, not small but rather large. Close to 40% over in some. One was approved (NWH/Greenwood) only due to the fact it was rezoned and they finally came back within specs. Now we have developers at 205 Touhy seeking 121 units and huge variances. P&Z seems to like their interest here and approves most with some minor modifications.

I have lived here only a few years and moved away from Chicago to get away from this. I don’t want the apartments and I do not want the MINIMUM 10% sec.8 housing required by law. (yea, Nimby) What other social services do we supply here for people on Sec 8 or would we need to? ie, the Maine Township food pantry. I also think developers fill their vacancies after a while with them bringing that number up. I thought this town was basically maxed out and the answer is to build up? Stressing our weak infrastructure and declining schools. I think this town is headed into the wrong direction with the apartments and the P&Z and council needs some direction as to what is best for the city as a whole. rant over…thanks

EDITOR’S NOTE: Some folks will remind more recent residents that Park Ridge used to have a population of over 40,000 and things worked just fine. That may be the case, but we think apartments are not good for Park Ridge.

That being said, opinions vary; and so long as the buildings comply with the Zoning Code – and whatever variances P&Z and/or the Council want to permit – they can be built.

A question that should be asked: Is Park Ridge better off with a vacant Advocate office building or an apartment building? And in that same vein: If the apartment building was not built, would the Advocate property be developed commercially – like the Whole Foods property was when the developer decided not to go ahead with the Executive Office Plaza condo development?

Anon 1:24- Yes, there are these things called “snow plows” and usually within 3 days after a snow, they have time to come around and do their job. If there is snow on a street it means a plow hasn’t come through in awhile, if there is ice, it’s possible it melted and re-froze. Need any other lessons?

But, please stay satisfied with your government services, you are in a great state for just that! Expect nothing from the government that you pay for. Just keep takin’ it and enjoy.

Anon 1:24- One more thing. Did you check the salaries and OT paid to Public Works dept? From the paycheck they are getting I expect premium snow removal.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you know what the average (or median) annual pay – including OT – is for the people who drive the snow plows during the winter? Do you even know each and every PW employee, or even the exact number of employees, who operate the plows? Do you know how much the make per hour over the course of the year?

If so, please advise because we don’t and, therefore, can’t reasonably opine on whether they should be providing “premium” snow removal.

The salaries are on the city website. Click “budget” then go to the section with the salaries.
It doesn’t differentiate which guys drive plows.

Mostly all of the public works members are at the “senior” levels.
Besides the PW Director & Supervisors, salaries appear to be between $55,000- $75,000 + benefits. Not sure which are the ones that are snow plow drivers, but no matter what, that is pretty costly to us. Assuming average is $60k ($31.25/hour)
OT is probably time and half? So that’s $46.88 per hour (total ballparking it.)

PW Director was quoted in the paper as saying he paid $75k in overtime due to the storm. The point wasn’t a “cost” remark, it was a “success” remark that other commenters brought up.
I’d actually pay more (or appropriately) for streets done better. It’s a safety issue.

So yes, I want to make sure we are getting what we are paying for.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Fair enough. Now, if you’d “pay more” for better plowing, how much more? And for how many other things would you “pay more” – such as flood control, more cop shop enhancements, more frequent street and sidewalk repair, keeping the Library open on summer Sundays?

There are all sorts of “safety issues,” but despite the complaints voiced by certain commentators on this blog, we have not heard reports of an increase in collisions.

What lies ahead and what lies behind is not near as important as what lies within.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thank you, Zen master.

3:33:

It is not a matter of expecting nothing. It is a matter of being realistic. I don’t know if you noticed but it was freaking cold for the first 3 days of the week. It was soooooo cold that they closed the schools for 2 days. Now I realize that is not that big of a deal except for one thing. Road salt does not work when it is that cold. If road salt does not work and it is that cold, the snow on the side streets gets packed down and plows cannot get down to bare pavement.

As an aside, it did snow for a rather long period of time. I think it is fair to say that the main streets need to be kept open. That combined with parked cars make it difficult to keep the side streets up to your expectations.

By the way, I live on a side street with parked cars. In fact there is still a car at the end of the block plowed in and untouched since last week. My wife drives the 4WD SUV. My car is rear wheel drive and I do not have a problem.

I suggest you take a look at the positive side of this snow plowing issue. At least it gives you something to whine about.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Good points. But it’s still a legitimate question of are we getting value for our tax dollars; and, if so, do we want to spend more of those tax dollars on even better service?

And we understand that while regular rock salt only works down to about 20 degrees, when it is infused with liquid calcium chloride it begins to melt the ice and snow on the roads immediately, even in zero degree temperature.

I am all for getting our moneys worth. I think the council and the Mayor should take a look at that. Actually, I would hope they would already know the answer….if they are on top of things.

As to spending more for even better service……no!!….make that hell no!!!!

Editor,
I did say “appropriately” also. Should we not expect reasonable snow removal is already built in our taxes? The post wasn’t about being cheap, it was about what we should expect. I watch a lot of meetings, and I can’t remember any direction to Public Works to save money on snow removal. Maybe, I’m wrong.

The library being closed on Sundays is actually a reduction in city services and the cop shop and other things you brought up are completely different issues. Justify the reasons as you’d like, but to a taxpayer, we are getting less than we did last year for our dollar.
I already paid more for flood control (my own). Now will it fail tonight? Who knows.

Has outsourcing snow removal ever been looked at?

EDITOR’S NOTE: We have no recollection of the Mayor or City Council ever telling Public Works to scrimp on snow removal. But EVERY City service and its related expense is interdependent, so cop shop enhancements impact snow ploying impact Library hours impact…. So when the City spends more in one place it has to spend less in another – UNLESS it wants to raise taxes.

ANON ON 01.10.14 4:26 PM

I agree also, primary streets were fine and secondary were driv-able. Most don’t understand that salt only works to a specific temp unless its treated w C Chl. I do think that they need to plow near the schools a little better. They were plowed 2-3 feet from the curbs on each side which turned it into a 1 way basically. $hitcago spent over 11.2 Million this year(10 days). Snow removal is expensive, streets are fine. slow down

Baaaaa these Schmidt sheep commentors are ridiculous. So we can’t talk about what kind of city services we should receive in 2014 during a real time event to discuss?
Looking above I don’t think he was even mentioned but the sheep must defend the city at all costs!

Baaaaaa

EDITOR’S NOTE: Who is “defend[ing] the city at all costs”?

If you want Schmidt to drive a plow, say so.

PD:

Did a bit of googlin’ on the salt issue. You are correct about the calcium chloride being good to zero degrees but apparently not in the sub zero temps we had for several days. Below is a link to story from a few days ago in Indiana that addresses the issue.

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Crews-Still-Working-On-Roads-Salt-Isnt-Helping-Much-239159861.html

EDITOR’S NOTE: That’s correct. All we were pointing out is that 20 degrees is NOT the limit for effective salting.

Anon 1.10 you’re moaning about how you moved out here to get away from apartments but it’s not like they were built as of yesterday.

Anon wrote: “Closing the library on Sunday’s is a terrible idea. That is very disappointing to hear. If they wanted to close the Library on Sunday’s to save money fine. But to close on Sunday to give out raises is ludicrous!”

It would be ludicrous is that was the only purpose (and it’s unfortunate that it was implied as such in this blog). Actually, when one considers the fact that those people working on Sunday will now be losing five hours out of their weekly schedule (they will probably not be able to make the hours up during the week), I bet if you ask them, they would rather the hours than the measly raises. It also needs to be remembered that the City hasn’t given the library employees raises in quite some time.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Since when?

So…will the employees losing their summer Sunday hours make that up with a 1% raise – assuming THEY all get 1% raises? If not, will they begrudge raises to their fellow employees?

Another Anon wrote: “It seems like the library is a great place to work, the work is not difficult, the hours are convenient, and the setting is comfortable, I would think that unless they are seriously underpaid the employees should be happy to have those jobs and would not need a raise if it means closing the library for one entire day. Alternatively, why not charge for computer use?”

The library is a wonderful place to work but the work can at times be difficult, and as with any job, it’s easy to assume otherwise unless you work there. And it can be a hectic place to work (despite what people may assume) especially since everytime the mayor and his pals want to glow in the eyes of the taxpayers, they start carving away at the library causing the employees to have to work harder with less resources to try to give the same quality of service (certain members of the board may not realize this since they so infrequently use the library). That being said, I reiterate that the library personal has not had a raise from the City in quite some time.

The library is the most used institution in this town. By all age groups. The taxpayers get more than their money’s worth from it. It’s unfortunate that certain people in power are blind

Blogger
“as the developers have demonstrated, the Code would enable them to actually house even more people (270, in 3-BR units) in the 88 residential units the Code currently allows than the 190 who are projected to live in the 121 smaller units. ”

First and foremost there would need to be a zoning change from commercial to residential to even get to this point.
————————————
Patch — The City Council in September rejected a 33-unit townhouse development adjacent to Gateway Estates that included four more units than allowed under the Zoning Ordinance and was six feet taller than allowed. At the time, aldermen expressed concern about the developer’s plan to expand the city-owned stormwater detention basin as a “public benefit,” questioning whether it would cause flooding to the east.

EDITOR’S NOTE: And your point is?

Perhaps a town like Niles has better snow removal because the have 90 PW employees vs. the 45 that park ridge employs

EDITOR’S NOTE: Unless they’ve got enough plows or shovels for all 90, we doubt it.

LLE-the City Council does not determine whether the Library employees get raises. The Library Board determines that. The Council only determines the Library’s property tax levy. It is entirely up to the Library Board to decide how to spend its money, whether to charge user fees and whether to ask the taxpayers for more tax money through a referendum. Note the City charges all kinds of user fees, for example, city stickers and your water bills. There is no reason why the Library Board cannot do the same thing. But it is their absolute right not to, and that is not the business of the Council. Commenters who claim the aldermen (and I) are targeting the Library are just plain wrong.

Regarding the snow and ice removal, we will be breaking it down at the meeting next Monday. But I can say right now that I only received a couple complaints, and of the two aldermen I spoke with, one had no complaints and the other only a couple as well.

Does that mean PW did a perfect job? Probably not. I think they did a fantastic job during the storm and in its immediate aftermath. By Wednesday and Thursday, I had some of the same concerns that I heard on this blog regarding residual snow, especially on side streets (including the Country Club area I might add). I found the writers’ comments to be useful in that regard. We will be addressing those concerns on Monday. Overall, however, based on what I have seen and heard, I believe the residents would give PW high marks.

Finally, I can confirm that the aldermen have never given even the slightest hint to PW to cut back on services during weather events. To the contrary, I suspect the consensus would be to spend what it takes to provide a high level of service, so long as that money is being spent wisely. It is our job to make sure it is.

Thank you for your comments Mayor Dave. We look forward to watching Monday night as well.

I am a supporter of yours, Mayor Dave, and if I ever thought you were overstepping the bounds of your authority I would soon be a former supporter. But your comments remove any worries.

To my comment regarding the editor’s implication that the library is closing Sundays partly for the benefit of 1 percent raises for employees, the editor wrote:

“EDITOR’S NOTE: Since when?

So…will the employees losing their summer Sunday hours make that up with a 1% raise – assuming THEY all get 1% raises? If not, will they begrudge raises to their fellow employees?”

Not completely sure what the “since when” refers to but if it’s in regards to the claim that the city employees (which include library employees) haven’t received a raise in a number of years, I believe the answer to that is the past three years at least. In fact, I think it was Mayor Schmidt who put the kaibash on all raises. Of course, as a library trustee, one would think the editor would know this.

As to the rest of his curiously worded response: I’m not psychic so I don’t know if those who don’t get 1 percent raises will begrudge those who do (if that was the question) nor do I really think that has anything to do with the point I was making (though it’s a wonderful example of misdirection).

But to the editor’s question: “So…will the employees losing their summer Sunday hours make that up with a 1% raise” (which was the original point I was making), no, it will not, and a library trustee should know this if he bothered to do the math). Quite the contrary actually. Let’s take the example of a half time worker making $13 an hour (which too some may sound like a lot. Guess what, it isn’t). Most employees are expected to work at least one Sunday a month. Some work more than that. Let’s go with just the one Sunday idea. A 1 percent raise for $13 is .13. At half time hours, that .13 would give an added $10.40 per month. Hey, I wouldn’t sneeze at it, but I lead a hard life. But by not working Sunday (and not being able to make that time up during the week) the employee is losing $65 a month before taxes. Hey, may not sound like a lot but you’d better believe I’d not sneeze at that either. If Sundays are part of that employees regular schedule, then for the month, he or she is losing $260 a month. Just as the taxpayers do, the library employee, someone who perhaps has worked years for the library, has budgetted on a certain amount coming in. Now, a portion of that is being taken from them.

So, to really hammer it home for the editor: The employee working four Sundays loses 5 hours (and again, they’re not going to be allowed to make up those hours) and $260 a month, and gains, thanks to the beneficent council, board who whoever dreamt up this controversial plan, a whopping $10.40 a month. That’s $249 and some change they now have to make up.

And if indeed raises are in the future (it’s one of those, “believe it when you see it” deals), and if it is merit based, then not every employee will be seeing that grand 1 percent. I can just imagine how frustrating it would be for those who don’t get one and haven’t gotten one for the past three years (oh, and I believe at their highest, raises were about 3 percent. Not a landslide).

My point was that it was disingenuous to present the Sunday closing issue as if the 1 percent raises for the employees was a huge factor in the decision to close Sundays. It wasn’t. In fact, when options were being weighed for how to handle the budget issue, along with closing Sundays were the suggestions that raises be lowered (again, hilarious considering the lack of said city raises for years. So it would go from 0 percent to what, -.5 percent?) as well as a reduction in employee pay. Yeah, that’s right, take away the money that many of the people worked many long hard years to earn. I lived through that at another job during the 2000s (and I hadn’t received a raise from there in several years). It’s not fun. And I wonder how many taxpayers would like that to happen at their job.

So quite frankly, to even combine the notion of these 1 percent raises with the concept of closing Sundays as if the raises were such a deciding factor is quite pathetic considering how some trustees were (and probably still are) so willing to throw the employees under the bus.

So to speak.

If the 1 percent raise was such a huge amount of money, it is doubtful it would happen.

Now, I find the editor’s vote against the Sunday closure a respectable thing. That institution is well used on Sundays and it really is short changing the taxpayers (no matter how much the Mayor and his cronies want to crow about saving the taxpayers money). But what I do not understand, and what I do think is unfortunate, is that including the library raises so blatantly with his reporting on the Sunday closing, he does what sadly so many people in and outside of this community have been doing for the past several years: Pitting the taxpayer against public employees (many of which are citizens of this community). Words and how their presented have power. Which is why you have comments stating how “ludicrous” it is for the library to be closed on Sundays to give the employees a 1 percent raise (when in fact, whether or not the raise was part of the package, the library would still be closed on Sunday). I promise the reader, if that were the main consideration, the employees would never see a raise (and as I said, it’s anyone’s guess if they ever will see a raise).

For the record (and to insert some much needed information for contextualization purposes) as with any organization, some library employees deserve raises, some don’t. All have gone for years without any raises despite the rising cost of living (I notice that the vehicle stickers haven’t exactly lowered in price, for example). Some could be better employees, but the majority of them are damned good employees who love their job, love the library and love the many patrons who visit (the majority of employees who stay there are not doing it for the fabulous pay, which is not fabulous). These are people who bake cookies for the holiday open house WITHOUT compensation. There is not a huge portion of full time staff (as one person in this thread questioned the ratio of FTEs) because the city wants to save money on benefits, so they hire a large percentage of part time and half time staff. And those staff work their asses off to make things run as smoothly as they can as the council slices more skin off it every year.

I keep reading things about “money that is wisely spent” and again, I say that this institution gives the best value for the taxpayer money. They do not spend willy-nilly on frilly little things. What they spend is done so with the patrons in mind. The mayor and his cronies look upon it as a wasted resource and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Plus it is a boon to uptown, bringing in people whether local or outside Park Ridge who visit the library and then patronize one of the 500 restaurants we have in town. There is a reason that, during the asbestos removal project several years ago when the library was closed for six weeks, merchants in the area experienced a sharp decrease in their business.

So it would be nice if all these facts were presented when discussing the library budget so that people could a clear picture of what exactly is going on regarding the library.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Your “facts” aren’t, which probably explains why you don’t sign your name to such a magnum opus.

EVERY budgeted item impacts every other one, so 1% raises that cost the Library $25,000 actually do consume the $20,000 it takes to keep the Library open summer Sundays (according to Library management). So do other expenditures, but the raises just happened to be the budget item most similar number to the cost of summer Sundays, which is why we used them.

Your contention that the Library “gives the best value for the taxpayer money,” bringing in residents and non-residents alike who “patronize one of the 500 restaurants we have in town,” etc., is just more of the unsubstantiated balderdash too many people dishonestly toss around in desperate attempts to make some erroneous point or another. The idea that an Edison Park resident who comes to the Park Ridge Library will also stop at Wally’s, or Goldy’s, or Perry’s, or D’Agostino’s, etc. is silly.

Finally, you fail to mention – no surprise there – that this editor advocated making up the summer Sunday revenue without cutting raises but, instead, by charging for computer use, programs, etc. But the Library management and a majority of the Board remain so wedded to the idea of free, free, free that they would prefer to cut summer Sundays. Don’t forget to thank them next summer.

Mayor Dave wrote: “LLE-the City Council does not determine whether the Library employees get raises. The Library Board determines that. The Council only determines the Library’s property tax levy.”

And the library board can only work with the crumbs the council is willing to give it, Mayor Dave. If a levy is voted against (as it recently was) then the library board doesn’t have much control over that, does it? Though it’s win/win for you. Starve the library dry and then blame it all on the board when the issue raises some hackles.

Funny you mention city fees. As indicated, the cost of some city services (vehicle stickers for example) has gone up. I’m guessing because the cost of living and doing business has gone up. Yet an increase in tax levy for the library, the most utilized institution in town, is out of the question.

EDITOR’S NOTE: When you can provide data that demonstrates that the Library is “the most utilized institution in town,” let us know and we’ll re-visit the veracity of that statement.

Since no one else has commented about EMBs, I will chime in. Apparently you have tuned out the many discussions about EMBs in Park Ridge. It is not just about distracted drivers. It is about how do you regulate these signs so that they do not impact the residents of Park Ridge, since the majority of the commercial spaces are located within or in close proximity to said residents.I doubt there is anyone who lives in our great city, homeowners or renters alike, who wants to have the blinking signs shining in their bedroom windows (otherwise known as an extremist point of view per Ald Milissus)! As was discussed in the many P&Z and city council meetings, the restrictions needed to protect our residents would not hold up in a court of law. This issue was discussed ad naseum for over two years between the sign committee, P&Z, and city council meetings. None of the groups could come up with a viable plan. The only way to ensure the residents would not be impacted, was to ban the signs in entirety. There could be areas within Park Ridge where these signs may work,, but there was no consensus on how to prevent the proliferation of these signs once the “door” is opened. This may not be a big issue to you, and it seems a few our our elected officials are in agreement,, but it could impact the residents negatively. How about this novel concept, let’s think about the residents first, since we are the majority in this town.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We ALWAYS “think about the residents first,” but we haven’t heard a “majority” of those residents beefing about EMBs.

354am While I believe your comment to be completely bunk, if it is true, the indictment is on the mayor and city council.

Thowing your hands in the air and giving up because the elected officials can’t figure out how to regulate something is an excuse.

It’s not about the “residents” first, it’s about the creepy wing of city council (and the weird preservationists) who believe that a driver would see a light and freak out and hit a pole.
Or the precious “character” (which means Park Ridge is better than everyone else, so please don’t come through our area) which gets thrown out there as an excuse for any change or progress in town.

The only thing an EMB would distract them from is from texting probably while they drive. The far away “majority” of residents, live no where in sight of busy streets with businesses.

The EMB issue is an example of why some get frustrated with doing business in this town. Every issue is anti-business but look there’s Whole Foods. (actually don’t look you may hit a pole by being distracted by their green sign).

EDITOR’S NOTE: Yeah, and Amphora and Morningfield’s shut down because of no EMBs and various other enemy-of-business policies, right?

LLE is correct when he blames the mayor and council.

It’s dishonest for the mayors council to sit here and take no responsibility. They CUT the budget. What do they think is going to happen.

The result of legislation success and failure should be measured and this is a failure.

EDITOR’S NOTE: LLE is a “he”? That’s a start. Now, does “he” have a real name, or is “he” just too shy to have people know that “he” is the source of these wonderful ideas about City government?

Hey Anon, I wondering which meetings you attended, because I was at every one of the meetings sans the sign task force rewrite meetings. I cannot recall a single meeting where the discussion of drivers freaking out when they saw a lighted sign was brought up. The word distraction was used, and rightfully so. The point of the EMB is for drivers to notice the said establishments sign, while driving of course, and the flashy part is so that your eyes are focused on it and not non-flashy signs. That was one part of the discussion. The part where the most objections occurred was the legal aspects of where or more specifically where not to allow the signs. If one church is allowed the signs, how can we legally not allow another church to have the same type of sign (freedom of speech issue). Also, the schools and park district wants these signs. In most of the locations, and there are a few exceptions, the locations are right in the middle of a residential area. So – what is your solution, since you didn’t bring your ideas forward in the last 2 years. I am more than interested – since a body of 9 commissioners and 7 aldermen, and 1 mayor could not come up with a reasonable, workable, solution that would not impact the residential areas of our fine city. Not business friendly? I can tell you, I do participate in the city functions that are specifically designed to promote the businesses in Park Ridge. We have a fine city that does have it flaws, but being non-supportive of business is not one of them. The offensive opinions of short sighted, resident be damned, is one I don’t agree with.

prresident- there was a quote in the paper from alderman mazzuca worrying about distracted drivers so you better take better notes.

Some emb opponents may genuinely worry about the legality issue but be honest. Primariily it’s about the powerful preservationist group that hates change, business and outsiders.

Has anyone looked around to see how other cities handled embs? There can’t be a distance from homes issued combined with a time approval? The preservation group won’t let it pass no matter what. It’s set up to fail then say “we tried”. Leading by inaction.

I think I understand your position now. I see you are looking at a snippet of information quoted in a newspaper. It is not that you are informed or knowledgable of the subject, since your comments are really one sided. If you went to a meeting, or even looked at the video online, you would have seen that there was discussion on where and what time etc. I will agree with you that Ald Mazzuca did bring up the distracted driver scenario, only to rebut a comment of the EMB supporters that distracted driving by EMBs doesn’t happen. Of course Ald Mazzuca did his homework and cited statistics where distractions really do happen. But facts be damned, we are against business, don’t want change, and hate outsiders. It really isn’t about the quality of life for the residents in Park Ridge. But instead of bashing you, let me give you some information of what was discussed. The original idea was to limit the parcel size to 2 acres or larger. That would have eliminated 95% of the businesses in PR, but schools, parks and churches would be allowed with additional restrictions. Our city atty said that would not hold up in court. It was also restricted to arterial roads, which became a fuzzy definition in itself, trying to restrict to Touhy, Devon, NW Hwy, Dempster, etc. but that also included Prospect, Cumberland, and other major residential streets. Don’t forget, the idea is not to impact residents. Touhy has commercial and residential, Devon-same, NW Hwy-same, and on and on. So how can you do this and not impact residents. I am sure there are individuals who don’t want the signs, no matter what, just like there are individuals who want the signs no matter the impact. Trying to find the middle ground was extremely difficult and it was not decided in a 10 minute discussion. This was really thought out and debated. The end result was there isn’t a way in PR, not what other towns do, for a solid plan that would not impact residents. I really would like to hear an idea from you on how to make it work, preferably something new that wasn’t already discussed. There will be at least 3 more meetings at City Council about the entire sign ordinance. I invite you to come to them and share your insight on this matter. I think what you will see is truly Leadership on the council, thinking about residents and businesses alike.

Congratulations PRRESident hads personified the Park Ridge elected officials above. I have seen meetings I mentioned the one about Mazzuca because even the paper picked up on how stupid or dishonest his comments were.
iPods, makeup , iPhones, GPS those are distractions. Spinning stats is dishonest.

Your generic hyperbole of “impacts residents” and “middle ground” is such an excuse for the absence of leadership

EMBs is a small issue that really only the residents opposed will even know or care about it. To me it’s just another result of failure/inaction.

However this website is excellent for local coverage and if you look at every issue presented to city government you can use the exact same generic phrases.

Every resident should THANK the boards and committees.
They do a spend a lot of time and do a job where there can be no victory because the mayor/council are just parading you around to pretend they are actually doing something.

Many have no forward looking ideas and just want to preserve their cocoon.

But thank you for your work, I wish elected leadership valued it more.

So, is it that you disagree with the decisions that were made or was it the methodology that was used that you find fault in. The way I see it, the council debated the issue. It wasn’t a slam dunk. Both sides presented their points of view. Democracy in action. The relatively few businesses that would have benefitted from this vs the residents, and the residents prevailed. I do not agree with the council on every issue, and have voiced my opinion against them on subjects that went against a committee recommendations. But what I saw on this topic, was exactly what I expect from my city council. A discussion, both for and against, since you need both sides in a debate, with a decision rendered. Not always an easy thing to do, and it doesn’t always come out with the result I am looking for.. So what are you looking for? The outcome to be about what you want? And no one else’s opinion matters? Oh, and I still haven’t seen your input on how this can work where it won’t impact the residents. It’s seems it is just you and me who are talking about EMBs, and I would love to discuss the pros and cons of your ideas.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Let the business community and/or schools/churches come up with a plan if EMBs are so important to them. Otherwise, let it become a non-issue.

The mayor states in his city propaganda newsletter “there are no cuts in city services” the library’s newsletter states $500,000 cut by the city council. Of course this will lead to cuts. Did the mayor and apparently this blog editor forget the library is part of the city? The library should become it’s own taxing body. Then the true value to the citizens could be weighed.
And regarding flood control, the mayor said the taxes go to supporting the city. Mayor, the people are the city.
Pompous and arrogant but it shows..never argue with someone who buys his ink by the barrel. Just vote them out!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Hate to break it to you, Ace, but the Library IS its own taxing body: It already sets its own levy within the limits prescribed by the Illinois statute governing library district tax levies; and it can even raise its levy to Park Ridge taxpayers beyond that limit, assuming the taxpayers vote for such a levy increase in a referendum where “the true value to the citizens could be weighed” by countable votes.