[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6748200,"mediaKeyId","5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8","parentId",5341596,"title","Skokie amends contract, plans excavation to inspect transmission main thrust restraints; estimated cost ~ $200,000","audioSeconds",987,"startMs",4534000,"endMs",5521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8&start=4534&end=5521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8/thumbnail_4534000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6748200/Skokie/Cook-County/Illinois/Skokie-amends-contract-plans-excavation-to-inspect-transmission-main-thrust-restraints-estimated-cost-200000","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6748200-c1cecf5cfc6026d72d6b27da66eaa21e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775906472&Signature=FzgzADFSGhnTZA5LYBaMFGLMbprsLFF5hgIDGlep6h0mHKfifEhKHyU-wkQOgOBRkDsxm8eWGN3EWvpG3WlELGbvA6nHLntEPxzpE0yMnerTvppNhvwaqcAGXJP0GZq0Q8DmZAL5L-lTHEnt8-gMaoWziICJf2hUKN7lozT~~PpIhgmhO4RoPr4D7NdbK1mHVQ8V1Bqi-7e87d5BvPHVSRKhJCqZ7GoAxBLpH-Jglk3aMfe4n1c33wgQpmc4~pmpqCBplM-f6Fl5aYc5e2TzCmXKYzNKyf4vGNqvIlexoW8xuD-Mfm4E~dv4Dd1T4wZTV0SDDI~9027qJNd-EMPIsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Skokie, IL","date","2025-07-08T03:47:15Z","article","The Skokie Village Board on July 7 authorized staff to amend an existing contract with Joel Kennedy Construction to excavate and inspect two transmission main joints and to remove and replace piping connections and thrust restraints discovered to be vulnerable during a February break.

Public Works and engineering staff told the board the investigation is partly forensic\u0000to determine the configuration and condition of existing wye fittings and thrust restraints\u0000and partly proactive: because the excavation will disturb the existing soil and restraint systems at nearby similar joints, it is prudent to replace fittings and install new thrust restraints while crews are mobilized.

Russ Rietfield, the village\u0000s engineering director, explained that the work will convert certain wye fittings to elbows and install new restraint hardware; Max Slanker, director of public works, said bids returned from the open market were higher than expected but Joel Kennedy Construction is already mobilized for the village\u0000s 2025 water-main replacement work, allowing staff to bring the work in under a time-and-materials arrangement at a lower cost.

Staff estimated material costs at just over $165,000 and put the total anticipated cost at roughly $200,000. Funding will come from the village\u0000s water system contingency fund. Trustee Robinson moved the contract amendment; Trustee Lisonbee Levy seconded. The motion carried by roll call.

The board asked staff to prioritize neighbor outreach, including advance notice of any planned outages or excavation activity in the area. Staff said unused purchased components will be returned when possible.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 07, 2025 Village Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Skokie officials approved amending an existing contract to excavate and inspect two transmission main joints and to replace thrust restraints, with staff estimating total costs around $200,000 paid from the water system contingency fund.","taxTitle","Skokie, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",3818,"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},6748205,"Skokie board approves $40,000 strategic-plan contract with CP2 Consulting",2085,2520000,4605000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8&start=2520&end=4605","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","/articles/6748205/Skokie/Cook-County/Illinois/Skokie-board-approves-40000-strategic-plan-contract-with-CP2-Consulting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6748205-745a26ac5ce868050bcac6c3d5909a49/orig.mp4?Expires=1775906472&Signature=Demmf0Vf8-rqWwD2ba0jPuJUkkmJFx9wr7GYrM4ukWp-3vXcM15UqoVo5A3~lPlhH93djnkcwn3w9ylsvxwZQ1PSurAOdSPygVK1fuWZeLKoQ3m27EpCCWScjs5L0DTb4uGGYmn5QIe0aZqe6SclvrliT9okC7kC9zuTAC5MJM6jaMkhezhEHk0O0NE1ZyJSnTkPAXQ04ULt9HVx6gjj2SK4X3wb8AKTNiQIrY4ObS660D827nueK7frB4rlZfhnezJxCiLdTinJZkOI57wseGrbX3jV0qk0~iwAeriI~qSzAyOyK2r20HWQVfEYbl~j4nhtS7oIj0HCJbibk~XLnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Village of Skokie Board of Trustees voted July 7 to award a consulting contract to CP2 Consulting to develop and facilitate a comprehensive strategic plan for the village, with the contract capped at $40,000.

Village Manager John introduced the item and said six responses were received to a request for qualifications; staff recommended CP2 based on experience with municipal plans. Corey Pours Plasch, president and CEO of CP2, described a mixed outreach approach that will combine surveys, focus groups and in-person events and said the firm would adjust formats to reach nontraditional participants.

Mayor Tennis said Skokie has never had a strategic plan and praised staff for moving quickly. Trustees pressed CP2 on outreach, language access and measurable outcomes: Trustee Schechter asked how focus groups and nontraditional outreach would be selected; Trustee Lisonbee Levy asked which languages the survey would be translated into and how the consultant would reach residents who do not use the internet; and Trustee Iverson asked how the plan would define and track measurable outcomes.

Pours Plasch said the firm will use a combination of the village\u0000s 2024 reweighted resident survey data and new outreach to reach underrepresented groups, include one open-ended question in surveys to capture free-text concerns, and define measurable outcomes once community goals are established. The mayor said he will convene a small inclusion team to advise outreach.

Trustee Lissa Levy moved approval; Trustee Kehmani Levy seconded. The motion passed by roll call.

The contract funds will pay for the consultant\u0000s facilitation of community engagement, surveys and deliverables that the board and staff expect to use as a roadmap for priorities, actions and metrics. The board emphasized that reaching immigrant, limited-English and other hard-to-reach residents is a priority and that the plan should include specific measures for success.","The Village of Skokie awarded a contract not to exceed $40,000 to CP2 Consulting to lead development of a comprehensive strategic plan, with the board stressing outreach to diverse communities and measurable outcomes.",{"_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},6748196,"Plan commission backing, neighbor opposition and split votes as Skokie weighs 7852 Lincoln Ave Buddhist center",4639,6617000,11256000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8&start=6617&end=11256","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8/thumbnail_6617000.jpg","/articles/6748196/Skokie/Cook-County/Illinois/Plan-commission-backing-neighbor-opposition-and-split-votes-as-Skokie-weighs-7852-Lincoln-Ave-Buddhist-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6748196-b6912335eb084853949b8f1f8db86418/orig.mp4?Expires=1775906472&Signature=VtdHXBEVaYGzoHbWVS0-kuwOvW77flVw-IcXK3V1H7p46sCnS2M65OAPJbJlgQfzApBno~GlH4ksHe3KmPYArRhefFI8l0XlvU3YTNWsV~NELdFCHxJ1kCjjx8520YVu7X6aOTGc5jZANGm-RntrRPvPsejsBdj4HMa5suTcE7pcm3kHY6xheK69xRaff4pEKi2kU16iil1wxoC~ipihfghTo7dT~koVigL6SmYJRnjnB5anrpphmWfRuJ1g4sM5eZb5sT0egCWENxXoL0RdmW46RZdvbyFa58SpuaEOtkSw7fOhzqcH-4DYSGtEBuaj2wZMNlqsuE10ILabDSlF2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Village of Skokie took separate votes July 7 on a multi-part application from Dharma Drum Mountain\u0000s Chicago chapter for a three-story building at 7852 Lincoln Ave that would house a religious assembly and a small dormitory for visiting teachers and retreatants.

Plan Commission Chair Paul Luke summarized the planning commission\u0000s recommendation to grant site-plan approval and special-use permits for religious assembly and dormitory use subject to conditions. Commissioners and staff discussed off-street parking, limits on the frequency of retreats, requirements for special-event permits for abbot visits and neighborhood outreach prior to final approvals.

Several neighbors testified at the board meeting, raising consistent concerns about parking availability on adjacent residential streets (Babb Avenue and Mulford), traffic and pedestrian safety at Lincoln Avenue and nearby schools, building scale and loss of privacy for adjacent homes. Petitioner representatives said routine programming involves small groups (often single-digit class sizes) and that larger gatherings, including an Abbott visit of up to 200 people, would be infrequent and subject to special-event permitting.

On separate roll-call motions the board considered the three related items. The transcript records a mixed roll call on the site-plan approval vote (individual votes were recorded on the transcript but the file does not clearly record a final aggregate tally); the special-use permit for religious assembly (case 2024-32P) passed by roll call (4-2). The special-use permit for dormitory use (case 2024-34P) resulted in a 3-3 tie; the mayor\u0000s tie-breaking vote was recorded as \"nay,\" and the dormitory request failed.

Conditions discussed by the planning commission and staff included limiting retreats that use the dormitory to no more than six weekends per year, requiring advance notice to public safety when retreats occur, and use of off-site parking agreements; staff noted those off-site agreements can change and would need to be monitored. Several trustees urged continued outreach to neighbors and careful enforcement of conditions should the project move forward on the approved elements.

The board\u0000s votes leave the applicant with approval for a religious assembly use but not the requested dormitory; that outcome affects the project\u0000s program and any future applications must return to the village for additional approvals.","The Plan Commission recommended approval for a three-story religious assembly with dormitory rooms at 7852 Lincoln Ave subject to conditions; the board approved the special-use permit for religious assembly but the requested dormitory use failed after a tie vote was broken by the mayor\u0000s nay.",{"_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},6748187,"Skokie residents press board on ICE activity, fireworks complaints and neighborhood maintenance",803,1692000,2495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8&start=1692&end=2495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5341596-2cfe7f9964306cfbc95a69767eb61fd8/thumbnail_1692000.jpg","/articles/6748187/Skokie/Cook-County/Illinois/Skokie-residents-press-board-on-ICE-activity-fireworks-complaints-and-neighborhood-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6748187-3b1f2972863e48010f4a3c7609b78f37/orig.mp4?Expires=1775906472&Signature=H0VmEnhPra2Q9yfas7IFmvho6LBneaCWGnCfrFRTeV-g~efFW8c0EP1f7hXE6D14J5sNQG445jfFVkxS0AZLK8sMACoLoBNvcXt0c71jO9zF6DOqosaQa0aWJBY0yXuPsDVsG~P2QRAL0l8T4APIivtMfoSDn4pEF1mY0mCwnWicu6dbA~xd9lmnJcx9SEKc5SqyXXzbQ-qZu~aMQr3CA7qGj-Xips6jZhEmdAfCOGj9j0tu1RvmGCZzlhjCuCF9TqtVFQ81EU3XR0Nvh~-O-iU9La8oluv~l6V8-ZSdiAZGx2VFfI9cJ~IF6MWcx7EiJFoQOVOv8xcGf0XVbuiBqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple residents spoke during public comment at the July 7 Skokie Village Board meeting, focusing on a federal immigration enforcement incident over the weekend, illegal fireworks and neighborhood maintenance issues.

Several speakers, including Emmy Yamauchi and Lina Nanda, said they were alarmed that agents in tactical gear arrested a local resident and asked whether the village would inquire whether warrants were presented and whether agents should be masked while operating in neighborhoods. A village official reported the village had reached out to the governor\u0000s office, state legislators and to U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky\u0000s staff regarding the incident; trustees and the mayor said a rapid-response team is working with the family affected and encouraged residents to use village website resources.

Other public commenters reported fireworks during the July 4 weekend that they said sent dogs to the emergency veterinarian and left piles of spent fireworks containers in the street; one resident said she repeatedly called the non-emergency municipal number but saw only brief police checks. The speaker asked the board for stronger enforcement and for cleanup of debris and cited public-safety and animal-safety consequences.

A number of speakers also raised property-maintenance concerns involving ComEd right-of-way grass and dog waste on nearby parcels; one commenter said an Illinois Commerce Commission complaint is pending and requested reinstatement of pre-pandemic maintenance schedules.

Trustee Robinson and others emphasized the village\u0000s position as a welcoming community, said the village is working with partners and that resources and training (including a rapid-response training) are being coordinated for residents and community groups. The board did not take policy action during the meeting but said it would continue outreach to state and federal offices and that staff would follow up on the fireworks and property-maintenance complaints.","Dozens of residents used the public-comment period to press Skokie trustees about a recent federal immigration enforcement action, report fireworks-related pet injuries and urge enforcement of property-maintenance rules; trustees said the village is coordinating with state and federal offices and that a rapid-response team is active.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Skokie amends contract, plans excavation to inspect transmission main thrust restraints; estimated cost ~ $200,000

Skokie board approves $40,000 strategic-plan contract with CP2 Consulting

Plan commission backing, neighbor opposition and split votes as Skokie weighs 7852 Lincoln Ave Buddhist center

Skokie residents press board on ICE activity, fireworks complaints and neighborhood maintenance