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Lockport Township asks Crest Hill to host a back‑to‑school fair and help cover costs for non‑township residents
Summary
Lockport Township Supervisor Alex Zapian proposed adding a Crest Hill site to the township's annual back‑to‑school fairs and asked the city to provide a venue, assist with outreach and cover modest costs when registrants live in Crest Hill but outside the township. The council agreed to discuss the proposal at an upcoming work session.
Alex Zapian, supervisor of Lockport Township, told the Crest Hill City Council on May 18 that the township plans to add a Crest Hill location to its summer back‑to‑school fairs and asked the city to partner on venue, outreach and limited financial support.
"Part of the proposal there's 3 things specifically that the township would request in a potential partnership for this back to school here in Crest Hill — 1 would be location," Zapian said, noting the township will run three fairs this year (Lockport, Romeoville and Crest Hill). He said the kits the township provides cost about $24.85 each and gave a sample calculation: ten non‑township Crest Hill registrants would cost the city roughly $248.50.
Why it matters: roughly 80% of Crest Hill lies within Lockport Township, Zapian said, and holding a Crest Hill fair should increase participation by local residents who otherwise may not travel to Lockport or Romeoville locations. The township asked the city to help with outreach to residents who live in Crest Hill but are not part of the township, and to identify a city‑run location (the township proposed using Crest Hill City Hall).
Council response was supportive but procedural. City Administrator Blaine Wing said there are sufficient funds in the city's current fiscal budget to cover the township's request if council chooses to approve it. Mayor Raymond R. Solomon said the council would take the proposal under advisement and likely discuss details at a work session next week.
Council members asked practical questions about walk‑ins, verification and donations. Zapian said the fair will operate by RSVP to limit waste but that leftover ‘‘extra bags of supplies’’ are kept for occasional walk‑ins; staff verify addresses and may direct residents to other area fairs if supplies are limited. He also said the township purchases kits in bulk to reduce per‑unit costs and coordinates with nearby school districts to select supplies.
Next steps: Council members suggested a work‑session review and involvement by Crest Hill's events committee. Zapian offered to meet with the committee to finalize logistics and confirmed flexibility on timing (the event would be two to three months away).
