[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6235678,"mediaKeyId","3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136","parentId",3397003,"title","Trustees discuss flag-flying policy, ask staff for list of recent proclamations","audioSeconds",238,"startMs",1664000,"endMs",1902000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136&start=1664&end=1902","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136/thumbnail_1664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235678/Arlington-Heights/Cook-County/Illinois/Trustees-discuss-flag-flying-policy-ask-staff-for-list-of-recent-proclamations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235678-657bec1fe6d22cc880822fc2232e5747/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140029&Signature=B~wNqbZsYbgi-2LnRjD~zv1~iamydkEVbOPgoUlf~rdZ7HhLcCWYHgeN1R3pK0rdTWAN0L6ci9yXfEFUbcbRqpVspGdMlyZUvSXcSMpqohqipxRnAa9Ak6BsG-L4jeDPoawhi1Ipb~RrjHTUucGsaJfCFgSK67ioHYD-MW5R-OgXNEnPG0ct~bVbh0Ctn~yHVLKTHVS6Ka-3F~r~66IoJ4F-i1w0qsBI9LVvsHRi3EpLyItlzDODvE-YwSQtAV0fLnw4FRHOJmY-po3wwt4S71gAGGchXRiD~SrMA0EOXLmo7PSMfhP9RlChyuMKIVOyQidr8jKr5ewav944fOZXpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Arlington Heights, IL","date","2025-05-20T08:32:58.67Z","article","Trustees discussed the village’s approach to flying flags and issuing proclamations during the May 19 meeting and asked staff to provide a summary of recent proclamations and the written policy governing flag displays.

Trustee Manganaro noted proclamations recognizing International Widows’ Day, Juneteenth and Bridal Month were on the packet and asked whether publishing them made them official village speech. He said he understood the village “has the possibility of choosing to fly a flag for any of those acknowledged events for which we have... determined we support.” The village attorney and staff responded that the village generally can engage in municipal expression and that there is a policy in place governing flag-flying.

Trustee Shirley requested that, if the board reopens discussion, the village manager provide a summary of all proclamations the board has signed over the past year; Shirley observed the board appears to approve multiple proclamations monthly and said a historical list would be useful. Trustee Shirley also asked for the written policy or ordinance that governs flag-flying; staff said a formal board action or policy exists and that staff would supply it.

Other trustees cautioned that previous discussions focused on precedent—if the village authorizes one non-governmental flag, it could lead to additional requests—and noted the board previously debated limits. A trustee suggested staff identify whether discussion should occur in a Committee of the Whole or a regular board meeting.

No formal change to the village’s flag-flying policy was made at the meeting. Staff agreed to provide trustees with (1) the written policy or ordinance that governs flag-flying and (2) a list of proclamations the board has approved for the board’s review at a later meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 19, 2025 - Board of Trustees - Village of Arlington Heights, IL","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees discussed whether the village should fly flags for observances such as Juneteenth and directed staff to provide a list of proclamations and the existing policy; some trustees raised concerns about precedent and ordinance vs. policy authority.","taxTitle","Arlington Heights, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",2642,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6235681,"Resident urges village to use leverage if professional football team returns to Arlington Heights",171,762000,933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136&start=762&end=933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136/thumbnail_762000.jpg","/articles/6235681/Arlington-Heights/Cook-County/Illinois/Resident-urges-village-to-use-leverage-if-professional-football-team-returns-to-Arlington-Heights","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235681-19271c2fcac2648401d866f0304be5ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140029&Signature=YH6QCBZmGOzm5t1dtmpXxa3kg6PouRUqYFWY1Dez0EEO-i249-MnDBEiYAI7VObRDXb~89TNw2Vq76ErCXiP7BT7GdkOXsBheeHJ5c-TWSPu3l39QNioM7t9rmYA69RwE3tKCErVnBdxLzEtDImV5cG7~aKKvc7D3ibiRA6tCPmq5~V3LdbteRyop~AtwWR7UWMMLwvXrvMVS~MmppA3QZAASp-uQU4cUR~8pThTva2XdCAuJdY2ZMQBsY~sBawEwdkvpj919T5N8eUYKwoPj318dz3Gzidiw01MexQKUOHleZoMVbnwcnKmTFAgePURjYn5QWOUgbOmDURAUl9njQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Resident Keith Mones urged the Village Board to use community leverage if a professional football franchise announces plans to locate in Arlington Heights, telling trustees the village is “in the driver's seat” to negotiate community benefits in exchange for property-tax subsidies.

Mones said the returning franchise—described in his remarks as the “billionaire Arlington Heights Bears”—would likely seek property-tax subsidies such as a tax-increment financing district (TIF), a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) or other long-term tax arrangements. He referenced a schools memorandum of understanding that, he said, would freeze property assessments “for 23 to 40 years” and criticized past closed-door approvals; he urged the village to press for funds for education, affordable housing, infrastructure, public health and street safety as part of any negotiation.

President Tonali responded from the dais that there are no secret closed-door meetings and that if a team announces intent to come to Arlington Heights “there'll be a process that is going to begin and there'll be an enormous amount of opportunity for every resident, every business owner to become educated and participate in all the dialogue that's gonna happen.” Tonali added that the board “will all have something to say” and that the board was “committed to work for our neighborhoods.”

No board action, referrals, or formal negotiations were recorded during the meeting; the remarks occurred during the public-comment period. The board did not identify any pending application from a franchise during the session, and staff made no commitment to formal negotiations at this meeting.

Mones’s remarks also included a policy prescription that the village use its negotiating leverage to secure community investments commensurate with any tax concessions granted to a major project.","A resident warned that a returning professional football franchise could seek large property-tax subsidies and urged the village to secure community investments in exchange; the mayor said any announcement would trigger a public process.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6235686,"Neighbor urges action after near-miss at Kensington and Windsor school crossing",132,1049000,1181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136&start=1049&end=1181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136/thumbnail_1049000.jpg","/articles/6235686/Arlington-Heights/Cook-County/Illinois/Neighbor-urges-action-after-near-miss-at-Kensington-and-Windsor-school-crossing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235686-65c8eaf7199a66200e80f1ce34b625cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140029&Signature=URc4vulZ3K0a8iYJrdYEUqfckGNteNeU4ImWul0s51PRZOGAdlwVj~h4LmqjdUYaZxhEVeqHRNCIy3ujq-cSrzdt3ZDcrbzAajn3BS5cfKA5lw8Hm~BJOMuFiSQAyIobDHZaqg3P7j7MrSLlyfUIsvhNLcTVRYJ03SPI-KISMgwBqS9a3gZU9050F265bLTeTjzsjqGOOEzNPzppN1ZWnhmpkSpWQ8PztW-JsJpU2ZuWal86XJ0kF4NFPfkloAyISRTCul3pMtgZlf2Ov57tQVWpJ8kwApgWlIItgCpcE5SIaahHiwVHwx1SK1wFohSEMSKvY4kJAE3aZ2I2PX3Dfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Resident Matthew McDonnell told the Village Board on May 19 that a recent incident at the Kensington and Windsor crossing left schoolchildren and a crossing guard exposed to danger and called for safety improvements.

The matter matters because it involves student safety at a school walking route. McDonnell said two vehicles “ran right to where the crossing guard was standing” and missed children “by seconds,” and that the crossing has been an ongoing problem for “20-plus years.” He described prior attempts by neighbors to add mid-street crossing barriers and flags; those measures were removed after being repeatedly struck.

McDonnell said Kensington is a state road and that two blinking lights on either side of the crossing “do very little.” He asked whether a road study, additional lighting, a stop sign, or other measures might be pursued and offered to meet with village staff after the meeting; the mayor and village manager responded that staff would follow up. The village manager extended a business card and the mayor said the manager had already taken note.

Trustees did not vote on any specific traffic action during the meeting. Village staff or the manager were asked to follow up with McDonnell and advise which jurisdictions or state agencies (if any) should be contacted to pursue engineering or enforcement remedies, or whether a village-led petition or local fundraising would be appropriate.

McDonnell identified himself as a Windsor School parent and PTA participant; he encouraged neighbors to pursue additional steps to make the crossing safer.","A resident described a recent close call at the Windsor School crossing on Kensington and urged the board to pursue traffic-safety measures; village manager offered follow-up from staff and the resident said the road is a state route.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6235691,"Village board grants six-month extension to preliminary plat for Chestnut/Rand sites",94,1321000,1415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136&start=1321&end=1415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136/thumbnail_1321000.jpg","/articles/6235691/Arlington-Heights/Cook-County/Illinois/Village-board-grants-six-month-extension-to-preliminary-plat-for-ChestnutRand-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235691-c5ca929ecdced6584d1748303f43bd7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140029&Signature=AfqLueA1IZ-O73~fqT2w6hlG9iz-838FGeHQxyF6uNXJ3IfgP84n2p89D7vEW6knEtOJtPDZ~p1IRVA0AdmTrR-EYDZpYdaEOsc8PtKnqzLzo3pc3MuZ3Gdttv8J9QSuRjRI~4phkfwcE3KRvTyAtpIDaW7Toy4TznFk9nAQPmHpbcrr-VuwzwS6hdh2dHlMzukNDly-3Bq~wM-wjOZpOmj4jjbKo7lgliQRHUC7IOBJEdrt5afUD6Q2fz4Apf0XgKaxBYSB5UZofxyfNa2COoroTvP8A1a-OHvePeiv3nvKeEwh7ZbxQzN0RAYrAHzJ0~Fz21-2EG61tdf3lezVow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arlington Heights Village Board approved a six-month extension to the preliminary plat of subdivision approval for 2201 North Chestnut Avenue and 315 West Rand Road during its May 19 meeting.

The extension allows the petitioner additional time to secure bids and updated cost estimates that staff said could affect the ultimate site design. Village staff recommended extending approval through Dec. 2, 2025.

The petitioner told the board that two remaining bids had not yet arrived and that cost estimates were outstanding. Staff said it supports a six-month extension “to allow him some additional time to get some cost estimates that may or may not affect the ultimate site design.” Trustee Bertucci asked whether there was any concern the updated pricing could make the previously approved financing infeasible; the petitioner replied there was “a $300,000 gap.”

Trustee Lebeds moved to approve the extension “to the preliminary plat of subdivision approval for 2201 North Chestnut Avenue and 315 West Rand Road, approved under resolution 20 four-seventeen 7 from 06/03/2025 until 12/02/2025.” The motion was seconded by Trustee Santa Maria and approved by voice vote.

No additional conditions or amendments were recorded on the motion. The board returned the meeting to the president after the item and did not indicate further public hearings were scheduled during the session.

Staff reference: the motion and staff recommendation cited a requested extension to Dec. 2, 2025 to permit updated cost estimates and potential design changes before final plat action.","Trustees approved a six-month extension to the preliminary plat of subdivision approval for properties at 2201 N. Chestnut Avenue and 315 W. Rand Road to allow the petitioner time to obtain additional bids and cost estimates; staff recommended the extension because pricing could affect final site design.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6235696,"Arlington Heights Fire Department swears in Ben Eschner as lieutenant",179,157000,336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136&start=157&end=336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397003-d1f9185765ffdd99d82735abbe48f136/thumbnail_157000.jpg","/articles/6235696/Arlington-Heights/Cook-County/Illinois/Arlington-Heights-Fire-Department-swears-in-Ben-Eschner-as-lieutenant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235696-f99323bd19cd8bfeb1aeedb8d359eeb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140029&Signature=QtHn3VSuinj0Pu2ljyNMcEMCD0-O1-4LX3KRivYq~GNma3pPuTyENhF29rjYVP0BgxnMDepQ0nNG3rg6JWZxqc1gQtugcxbWmtlM5Hqe2RkLQkEt-mCnzONVUS-d8FhL9X7~IJQX0hrZ~vidCDfNpeXCSkAnRHno7hQKpPEr0J8dSIAgiAUObgQhnPpNpNir4KgslVhLELwJvXdQ5KOAiFe02cggHcO8Cct5dKjnRMhYgiJ7YGNk~t~1LadBRMt7ZXg-pwsNa50ZFb2F05iAim1A84DbTi6LkIuFWheKG2UdN6yGupCrQVtQ0dsUWljZKXHkomd6iYBVuKE8cY7ojQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lieutenant Ben Eschner was sworn in to the Arlington Heights Fire Department before the Village Board during its May 19 meeting.

The promotion matters because it fills an operational leadership role on the department’s engine company and recognizes completion of an extended selection and training process that department leaders said takes about five to six months.

Chief Harris (Arlington Heights Fire Department) told the board that candidates invest “about 5 and a half to 6 months” in the process and sacrifice personal time and family time while preparing. He introduced Eschner and outlined certifications the board said Eschner earned, including company fire officer, fire service instructor I, hazmat technician, hazmat incident commander, paramedic, fire apparatus engineer and fire investigator. The chief also noted Eschner earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection and Safety Technology from Oklahoma State University and serves as an adjunct professor in the Harper College fire science program.

During the swearing-in, Eschner spoke directly to the department and his family, thanking leadership, mentors and his spouse. He said, in part, “I understand there's a lot of responsibility in this position, and I'm ready to take it on.” He also read his oath at the lectern: “I, having been appointed to the office of fire lieutenant in the Village of Arlington Heights in the County of Cook, do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States…and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office according to the best of my ability.”

Eschner said he plans to continue mentorship work and to “support you the way I've been supported,” adding a note relayed to him by a deputy chief: as a lieutenant he is now responsible not only for his crew but “for the families of your crew.”

The board did not take formal action associated with the promotion during the meeting; the event was conducted as an official swearing-in and public recognition of Eschner’s assignment.

The promotion follows standard departmental selection and certification steps described by Chief Harris and reflects internal advancement rather than a board policy change.","The Village Board witnessed the swearing-in of firefighter-paramedic Ben Eschner to the rank of lieutenant during its May 19 meeting; department leaders and Eschner cited a months-long selection and training process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Trustees discuss flag-flying policy, ask staff for list of recent proclamations

Resident urges village to use leverage if professional football team returns to Arlington Heights

Neighbor urges action after near-miss at Kensington and Windsor school crossing

Village board grants six-month extension to preliminary plat for Chestnut/Rand sites

Arlington Heights Fire Department swears in Ben Eschner as lieutenant