Highwood council awards $425,000 park contract, approves land sale and adopts burning and salary ordinances

The Highwood City Council on Tuesday voted to award a $425,000 contract to A Jewels Construction to build a park at 340 Green Bay Road, approve the sale of a small city-owned parcel, amend the city's outdoor burning ordinance and adopt a fiscal-year 2025 salary ordinance.

Why it matters: The contract funds a neighborhood park project with a targeted completion date in early summer and the burning-ordinance change narrows local restrictions for LP- and natural-gas-fired devices. The salary ordinance adjusts compensation for the fiscal 2025 budget year.

Contract for Green Bay Road park The council directed the city manager to accept the winning bid from A Jewels Construction to construct the park at 340 Green Bay Road and authorized spending up to $425,000 for the project. Council members noted a target completion date of June 1 for the park. The council acknowledged work by the beautification group on the project.

Real estate sale The council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a real estate contract to sell a small city-owned parcel in the City of Highwood. Council members asked whether the ordinance and accompanying materials specify the parcel adjacent to the veterinary clinic; staff said the packet and the city website include the survey and property description. Council members clarified the sale covers a small front quadrant of the park area and that the remainder of the park will remain open except for temporary closures to allow irrigation work.

Outdoor burning ordinance change The council voted to waive the three-reading rule and approve amendments to Section 5-4 (Outdoor Burning). The ordinance change, as adopted, specifies that the restrictions listed in subsections d(1) through d(3) do not apply to LP- and natural-gas-fired devices. A council member moved the change and Alderman Austin Peoria seconded the motion.

Salary ordinance for FY2025 The council approved an ordinance revising salary and compensation for the City of Highwood for fiscal year 2025 and waived the first reading. The motion was seconded by Alderman Fiore.

Other routine business and closing The council approved the Jan. 7, 2025, city council minutes and the Committee of the Whole minutes for Jan. 7, 2025, and approved the warrant list dated 1/21/2025. The council entered an executive session later in the meeting and announced there was no action coming out of that session. The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to award contract to A Jewels Construction for park at 340 Green Bay Road; authorize up to $425,000. Outcome: Approved. Roll-call votes recorded: Alderman Levy (yes), Alderman Fauborg (yes), Alderman Fiore (yes), Alderman Peterson (yes), Alderman Paspodarski (yes). Tally: 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. - Resolution authorizing mayor to execute real estate contract (city-owned parcel). Outcome: Approved. Roll-call votes recorded: Alderman Levy (yes), Alderman Fauborg (yes), Alderman Fiore (yes), Alderman Peterson (yes), Alderman Paspodarski (yes). Tally: 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. - Ordinance amending Section 5-4 (Outdoor Burning) to exempt LP- and natural-gas-fired devices from the restrictions in d(1) through d(3); waiver of three readings. Outcome: Approved. Mover: (unnamed); Second: Alderman Austin Peoria. Roll-call votes recorded: Alderman Levy (yes), Alderman Fauborg (yes), Alderman Fiore (yes), Alderman Peterson (yes), Alderman Paspodarski (yes). Tally: 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. - Ordinance revising salary compensation for FY2025 (waive first reading). Outcome: Approved. Mover: (unnamed); Second: Alderman Fiore. Roll-call votes recorded: Alderman Levy (yes), Alderman Fauborg (yes), Alderman Fiore (yes), Alderman Peterson (yes), Alderman Paspodarski (yes). Tally: 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. - Approval of minutes (Jan. 7, 2025) and Committee of the Whole minutes (Jan. 7, 2025). Outcome: Approved. Second for minutes: Alderman Austin Peoria. Roll-call not fully enumerated in transcript; outcome recorded as passed. - Warrant list dated 1/21/2025. Outcome: Approved on roll call during the meeting.

The council asked clarifying questions during the real estate and park items about which parcel was being sold and temporary closures during irrigation work; staff directed attendees to the packet and the city website for the parcel survey and description. The council did not take action after a subsequent executive session.

Ending: The council adjourned at 7:39 p.m.