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Landscape Restoration Approved Despite Questions
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Mary Bernhard
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Manhattan American
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October 16, 2008
The landscape restoration quotes for Route 52 and Wabash Street were not received prior to the September 16 Manhattan Village Board meeting which prompted the board to authorize the development manager to call each board member individually and inform them of the low quote for the landscape restoration project.
"The majority of the board members were in agreement with the low quotes of Fawn Landscaping," Development Manager Marc Nelson wrote in his report. "The project was awarded and construction will begin."
Formal action was taken at the boards Tuesday, October 7, meeting to award the streetscape improvements to Fawn Landscaping.
The landscape restoration along Route 52 will cost $12,121.50 while the Wabash Street landscape restoration will cost $15,629.
Not everyone was on board with the approval.
Village Trustee Michael Naughton questioned the expense of the "enhanced" restoration on Wabash Street.
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"The basic landscape restoration on Route 52 covers one-half of a mile and costs $12,121.50," Naughton said. "The 'enhanced restoration' of Wabash is one-tenth of a mile and costs $15,629."
Naughton questioned why so much money was being spent on enhanced landscaping on a side street rather than a main street.
"I don't disagree with the landscape restoration, I disagree on the enhanced (more expensive) restoration on Wabash," Naughton said.
Naughton voted "no" on bid approval for $15,629 on Wabash but "yes" on bid approval for $12,121 for Route 52. Both measures passed despite Naughton's objections.
In other village business Finance Director Kevin Sing asked the board to approve the upgrading of the village's website.
"The Village of Manhattan's current website was created over four years ago with the primary goal of obtaining a presence on the internet," Sing told the board. "The current design requires the village to submit changes to an outside firm resulting in a fee every time a change is made."
Sing explained the criteria for a new site was to allow village staff to make modifications easily, host a village events calendar, allow residents to sign up for email alerts, host audio and video clips and online forms.
"Staff originally solicited pricing from local web design professionals," Sing said. "We discovered that these firms would design the site; however, the village would need to purchase third party software to make modifications."
Sing went on to say staff shifted its focus to firms that specialize in governmental websites. Sing recommended GovOffice at a cost of $2,375.
"GovOffice uses predefined templates," Sing told the board. "This means that there is not a great deal of flexibility for customization so the cost is greatly reduced."
GovOffice does however offer everything the village is looking for and under budget.
The board approved a resolution supporting increased METRA service for the Village of Manhattan.
"We are in line to get Saturday service," Mayor Bill Borgo said. "A lot of trains are sitting in Orland Park."
Borgo added that the current schedule is not user friendly with two leaving Manhattan early in the morning and coming back late at night, it did not leave any mid-day nor weekend travel options.
Borgo also reported despite rumors, Walgreen's Pharmacy was still on track for construction at the old First Bank of Manhattan site.
"The project will be delayed a little," Borgo said. "The developer is finalizing his financing and the permits are all sitting and waiting. Walgreen's is still coming."
Manhattan Village Clerk Mattie Becker announced early voting for the November elections will run from Tuesday, October 14, through Thursday, October 30, and will be available at the village hall from 9 to 4:30 p.m. Absentee balloting will take place Friday, October 31.
Becker also announced that petitions for the April elections of three village trustee seats, village clerk and mayor will be available Tuesday, October 28, at the village hall. Petitions pulled to run on the April ballot can be filed as early as January 19 but no later than January 26, 2009.
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