Paula M Hillery

The Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Plan for the Village of Hazel Crest aims to create a new vision for the area surrounding the Hazel Crest Metra station by comprehensively evaluating existing conditions and engaging residents. The plan's objectives include amplifying resident voices with a racial equity lens, fostering diverse and affordable housing types, improving walkability and access to transit services, stimulating new investment without displacement, diversifying the tax base, enhancing cultural vitality, increasing transportation choices and transit ridership, advancing transit infrastructure for affordable mobility, attracting essential goods and services, and leveraging recent developments within the Hazel Crest Creative Arts District.

The board discussed the sale of a village property on 170th Street to a daycare operator, and a feature on Hazel Crest's service line replacement program in the Illinois Municipal League. They also covered a bid opening for a service line removal project, and a leadership training session for village staff. The police department discussed Paul Oldenburg's retirement, new police academy candidates, and emergency evacuation drills with a local company. The public works department discussed hiring seasonal help, picking up a tower truck, hydrant flushing, compost opening, and branch pickup schedules. Other topics included changes to adjudication court, property rental registration, restoration of the old Higgins shopping center, new child care facilities, a new construction on the Behavior Health Unit project, utility assistance event, and a community health and service fair. The board also discussed the new website, a salary survey, cell phone evaluations, the cleanup of the historic Hazel Crest area, and the Art District.