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Politics & Government

Mayor Distributes Golf Outing Money to Local Organizations

Mayor's Drive for Charity raised nearly $26,000 in April.

The Village Hall parking lot and meeting room were packed Monday night, although nothing controversial was on the Lemont Village Board’s agenda.

Instead, representatives of non-profit groups turned out to receive checks from Mayor Brian Reaves.

The annual Mayor’s Drive for Charity golf outing, held in April at Ruffled Feathers Golf Club, raised nearly $26,000 for Lemont organizations despite cold and rainy weather.

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“We have a full room—either there’s something wrong in town or I’m giving money away,” Reaves quipped Monday.

Thirty groups that support food pantries, schools, Scouts , the arts, senior citizens, police, athletics and other causes received varying amounts. Reaves moved from the board dais to a podium, called the group’s name and handed out envelopes.

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The groups had submitted funding requests and the mayor said he decided on the amounts. “The lion’s share went to food pantries,” Reaves said.

Afterward, the board turned its attention to mosquitoes, food and drink.

Public Works Director Ralph Pukula announced that the season’s  has started. Pukula noted that the village has saved $61,000 by having public works do the abatement instead of a private company.

The village has sprayed areas prone to mosquitoes and will probably start neighborhood spraying Friday.

“Please don’t follow the truck [spraying chemicals],”  Pukula said, drawing laughs from officials. “It seems like mosquitoes are getting worse and worse every year, and this is the wettest spring we’ve had.”

Residents can contact the Public Works Department and request an automatic call-back to alert them to when trucks will be spraying in their neighborhoods.

Regarding food and drink, the board approved annexation and rezoning of a triangular piece of land just over a half-acre for a hot dog stand at 10985 S. Archer Ave. Also approved was a special use for a drive-up window. 

Owner Gus Tingos has said he hopes to have the stand up and running this summer.

Tom Gangas, owner of , 1243 State St., was granted a special use for an outdoor seating area in Lemont Village Square. Gangas plans to lease the vacant Wine Emporium building and use it for banquets and possible “high-end”  music such as a jazz band or “dueling pianos.”

A staff report stated that the “outdoor area would help promote business”  in Lemont and the design of the area “should help mitigate any adverse effects such as noise and illumination.”

In another matter, officials lamented a stalemate in Springfield that could cause an abrupt shutdown of  capital projects statewide. Officials estimated that 52,000 workers could be idled. 

In Lemont, engineering work on two projects—Walker and McCarthy roads, and the triangle of Walker Road, Archer Avenue and Derby Road—could be halted, said Village Administrator Ben Wehmeier.

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