Chicago Ridge board approves consent agenda including police vehicles, rescue gear and bargaining pact

The Village of Chicago Ridge Board voted unanimously Feb. 3 to approve a broad consent agenda that authorized routine expenditures and administrative actions, including purchases intended to support public safety and emergency response.

Trustee Kowalski moved and Trustee Siegel seconded the consent motion, which passed with Trustees Davenport, Kowalski, Lenz, McFarland and Siegel voting aye. The items approved included authorization to expend $209,295.17 as set out in a February 3 resolution and multiple purchases: one Power Stari chair (approximate cost $10,425.60) to be paid from an IPRF grant; six rescue training manikins ($7,961); two budgeted 2026 Ford Police Interceptors (about $44,450.31 each plus roughly $30,000 each for upfitting); and budgeted ammunition (approximately $15,000). The agenda also approved reimbursement of $836.73 to Robert Vacari, hiring two part-time EMA officers, launching a Village Instagram account, and installing a stop sign at 106th and Parkside.

The board also approved administrative items as matters of record: the October 2025 financial report, minutes from earlier meetings and a pending projects status report. Trustees accepted Resolution #26-02-01 in support of the Illinois America250 Commemoration and approved several business-license applications for Chicago Ridge Mall locations—Buffalo Wild Wings (change from license type “D” to “DV”), Scents of Dubai and Right Way Imports LLC—subject to all applicable inspections.

The board authorized the collective bargaining agreement between the Village and the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, Chapter 246, as part of the consent package. All votes on the listed motions were recorded as unanimous among the five trustees present; Trustee Meslar was absent for the meeting.

During the public-comment portion, Deb Pyznarski thanked village officials and staff for support of the Santa Cares event, saying "She felt that the Village listened to the needs in the community and understood that this was a great event for all." President Lind thanked Public Works for recent snow response and noted the department’s heavy workload responding to water-main breaks. Trustee McFarland reported that a recent AFC/NFC fundraising event at Our Lady of the Ridge raised funds despite poor weather, and Trustees Siegel and Kowalski promoted upcoming charitable events.

The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn, which carried unanimously. The approved consent-agenda items will proceed as documented and business-license approvals remain contingent on completion of inspections.