Thar She Blows...

Public Works Service Center, Park Ridge, IL.

...some Bad Air, according to an article in the Journal & Topics, and as also discussed in a Public Works Committee Background Memo.

The background memo states:

"B. Public Works Service Center Air Quality

The Public Works Service Center is experiencing ongoing air quality issues in the office and garage areas. Staff has been in contact with several air quality consultants on this matter to help determine the best course of action. The remediation work has been included in the proposed capital budget, which you will soon be reviewing.

We will discuss this matter."

The Public Works Committee meeting's minutes haven't been posted yet, but we are guessing the discussion did not include asking the architect of record to come in and address what appears to us to be an air pressure/air flow flaw in this award-winning building's design.

Looks like the taxpayers in Park Ridge could be spending some bucks on correcting the problem.

Oh, by the way, the architect of record is Chipman Adams Architects. Yes, that's right - the same Chipman Adams whose name partner, John Chipman, is also one of the principal investors in Norwood's Park Ridge 2004 LLC. The same John Chipman who held private talks with at least two Park Ridge aldermen seeking their "yes" votes - which he got - on a density variance for the condo project at Executive Office Plaza; that should enable his group to make an extra half million dollars or more in profits over what they would have made if the zoning ordinance was strictly enforced.

Think city officials will point out that Mr. Chipman could use any extra profits he, along with his fellow investors, will make off the density variance for the extra units at Executive Office Plaza, to cover the costs involved with correcting the problems at the Public Works Service Center? We don't suggest anybody hold their breath waiting for that.

Well, not anybody except the municipal employees who work at the Public Works Service Center, who otherwise may end up dizzy - or worse - from the diesel fumes wafting into their work space. For those folks, we strongly suggest an immediate visit to their personal physician and a complete base-line physical exam.

Another One Bites the Dust!

In February of this year, the last city council passed the Early Retirement Incentive plan (ERI). We've been watching the dominoes fall ever since.

First out the door was Joe Saccomanno, Director of Public Works.

Second out the door was Brian Emanuel, Assistant Director of Community Development who was also the top Environmental Health Officer for the City.

Third to announce his exit was Randal Coo coo cachoo Derifield, Director of Community Development.

Yesterday, City Manager Timothy Schuenke announced he's leaving to return to the land of milk and cheese, a.k.a. the State of Wisconsin.


Click on photo above for larger view

In this weeks edition of the Journal & Topics, the last paragraph of an article about the city council's Law Firm Decision? reads as much like a want-ad as it does a reporting of facts. As we told you before, Chief of Police Jeff Caudill's head seems to be next on Mayor Frimark's butcher block.

Did we say falling like dominoes? We meant that they are dropping like flies over there at 505 Butler Place!

With the exit of 4 top-tier city employees, Frimark is in the position of populating the upper echelon of city government with people he hand-picks for like-minded loyalty to himself.

We can hardly wait for the tall tales to begin spinning about "Mayor Howard Frimark; Government Reformer!"

Welcome to Howardwood!