Trustees report Lions Club composting help, senior programs, lobbying effort and proposed railroad signage

Riverside Township — Trustees used their reports to update the board on local events and early proposals for community projects.

Trustee DeCosta said he connected the Lions Club’s Mr. Finn with a sales representative from Flood Brothers to provide larger compost bins for the club’s chicken dinner; the bins are to be delivered the Friday before the dinner and picked up the following Monday or Tuesday with staff assistance. The item was presented as an operational courtesy to support the Lions Club’s composting effort.

Trustee Clark reported that the senior exercise class and a St. Patrick’s Day lunch were well attended. Clark said she has been meeting with colleagues in Springfield to oppose legislation that would eliminate townships; she noted Township Officials of Illinois (TOI) Lobby Day on April 29 as part of that effort.

Trustee Heilenbach reported he met with Matt Buckley, the township’s director of public safety, about placing signage along railroad crossings that would include a suicide‑prevention hotline; Buckley is preparing a proposal that Heilenbach will present to the board when it is ready. Heilenbach also said a group called Thrive from Oak Park is seeking discretionary grant funding and will present to the board next Wednesday for possible approval; the mental health board will also consider the request.

These items were reported during the trustees’ reports portion of the meeting; no formal board actions were taken during that segment.