by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (July 22, 2019) – The July 16 series of meetings began with a Public Hearing about the 2020 budget, followed by the regular Village Board meeting and the Committee of the Whole meeting. The Lansing Journal is providing full articles on some of the business that was conducted (see links at the end of this article), and other items are summarized in the highlights below.
Budget approved
“Budgets are just a prediction of where you’re aiming to be for that year,” explained Village Administrator Dan Podgorski at the beginning of the Public Hearing. “Sometimes certain revenues are not realized, or certain expenditures are not needed that were budgeted for, and that’s why you have a “Budget-to-Actual” difference.”
Podgorski continued, “The budget that’s being presented here is a balanced budget with anticipated revenues in our general fund of $29,423,784 and budgeted expenditures of $29,413,901.” The Village also has a number of restricted funds, such as TIFs, whose monies can be spent only on specific functions. Some of those funds have current balances that will be added to anticipated revenues to offset projected expenditures. Village Treasurer Arlette Frye also emphasized that though the budget is balanced, it is predicated on a 4.9% tax increase, which will be voted on later this year.
There were no questions asked during the Public Hearing, and the annual appropriation ordinance (the budget) was unanimously approved during the Board meeting that followed.
Related: How taxpayers can voice questions about proposed Village Budget (July 12 article)
Indiana Avenue resurfacing
A Community Development Block Grant from Cook County provided the Village with $200,000 to spend on resurfacing part of Indiana Avenue. That amount was enough to cover the cost from School Street to Glen Terrace, and the administration agreed to add the rest of Indiana Avenue—all the way to Torrence—to the 2019 street resurfacing plans.
New TIF
A Public Hearing was held on July 2 regarding the proposed Torrence Avenue/172nd Street TIF District, and it was favorably received, reported Administrator Podgorski. As a final step in the process, Trustee Mike Fish made motions to approve three ordinances:
- Ordinance # 19-021, adopting the Torrence/172nd Street 
redevelopment project area TIF plan 

- Ordinance # 19-022, designating the Torrence/172nd Street redevelopment project area, a redevelopment project area pursuant to the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act 

- Ordinance # 19-023, adopting Tax Increment Allocation Financing for the Torrence/172nd Street redevelopment project area 

Approval was unanimous.
New Lansing businesses
Trustee Brian Hardy, who chairs the Building and Economic Development Departments, listed a number of new businesses that have opened in Lansing in the past month, including:
- Clear Expressions Speech & Language Services (18340 Torrence)—a home-based speech/language therapy business
- Cook DuPage Transportation Company, Inc. (2200 Bernice)—a warehouse auto service
- BRCT Insurance Group, Inc. (2 River Place #C)—an insurance agency
- The Hanger Boutique (3521 Ridge)—a clothing boutique (see July 5 article)
- Walle Closing Out (17328 Torrence)—an outlet store
- Beauty Trends (16737 Torrence)—beauty supplies
- She Gog Enterprises, LLC (3312–14 Ridge)—a gym/dance studio
- Christie Pilar Jewelry Outlet (16797 Torrence)—jewelry sales and repairs, new owner
- Tiny Town of Lansing (18144 Glen Terrace)—child care, new location (see June 14 article)
Fox Pointe fencing
A bid was awarded to Action Fence Contractors, Inc. for additional perimeter fencing and gates around Fox Pointe at a cost of $193,800.
Besse Shirt Lettering
The new awning at Besse Shirt Lettering (18058 Torrence) qualifies for the Façade Improvement Grant Program, so they have filed a 
request to participate. The program allows businesses to submit qualified costs for reimbursement; if approved, the Village reimburses up to 40% of the improvement costs, and an additional 10% if a Lansing vendor is used.
Executive Session
The meeting adjourned to Executive Session to discuss the appointment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees – 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) and to discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body – 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) 

Other news from the July 16 meetings
The articles linked to below are also news that came out of the July 16, 2019, meetings:
- Board welcomes OTB with two dissenting votes
- Lansing Police Officer Wilson Pierce commended by Department of Defense
- New firefighters introduced to Village Board
- Troost Coffee and Tea approved for liquor license
- Nicor Gas replacing meters
The next Village Board and Committee of the Whole meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, at 7:00pm. There is no meeting on August 6 because of the National Night Out event that will be hosted at Fox Pointe.
