January 9, 2003 New Items

NEW ITEMS

Meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

County Board Room, County Building

Thursday, January 9, 2003, 10:00 A.M.

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PROPOSED RESOLUTION

ITEM #1

Transmitting a Communication, dated January 6, 2003 from

GWENDOLYN D. CLEMONS, Director, Department of Planning and Development

Re: BNB Land Venture, Inc.

Resolution Approving Class C Property Tax Incentive

Respectfully submitting this Resolution regarding the Company's application for Class C property tax incentive in unincorporated Stickney Township for your consideration.

BNB Land Venture, Inc. requests approval of the Class C Resolution so that the company can complete its application to the Assessor of Cook County.

Submitting the company application for Class C, the Resolution for consideration by the County Board and a Department of Planning and Development staff report for your information.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has adopted a Real Property Assessment Classification C which provides an applicant a reduction in the assessment level for a parcel requiring environmental cleanup; and

WHEREAS, Class C requires the support and consent of the County Board in cases where the parcel is located in an unincorporated area; and

WHEREAS, the County Board of Commissioners has received and reviewed an application from BNB Land Venture, Inc. for a parcel located at 4851 South Central Avenue in unincorporated Stickney Township, Cook County, Property Index Number 19-09-108-054; and

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has determined that this incentive is necessary for development to occur on the subject property.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the President and Board of Commissioners of the County of Cook, State of Illinois, that the President and Board of Commissioners support and consent to the Class C Application of BNB Land Venture, Inc. for a parcel located at 4851 South Central Avenue in unincorporated Stickney Township, Cook County, Illinois to be submitted to the Cook County Assessor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this Resolution to the Office of the Cook County Assessor.

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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Maldonado, moved that the Proposed Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion was withdrawn.

Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to defer consideration of the Proposed Resolution. The motion carried unanimously.

PROPOSED CONTRACT

ITEM #2

Transmitting a Communication from

DAVID ORR, County Clerk

GARY RYCYZYN, Director of Elections

requesting authorization for the Purchasing Agent to enter into a contract with Michael Kreloff, Northfield, Illinois, for professional services.

Reason:

Mr. Kreloff will act as a consultant to the Office of the Clerk in respect to initiatives in the Illinois Legislature and report on other introduced legislation at all governmental levels that impact the Clerk's Office. He will advise the Clerk on implementation of procedural changes necessary to comply with new federal and state laws. He will serve as a liaison with the Board of Commissioners and the Cook County lobbyists on legislative matters. He will advise and assist on intergovernmental activities and projects.

Mr. Kreloff has over 30 years of experience in election law in Illinois. He supervised the Election Law Unit for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and served as attorney to the County Officers Electoral Board. He has litigated on behalf of clients from both major political parties before numerous electoral boards, circuit courts, and courts of review. He has experience in the Illinois legislative process through advocacy on behalf of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the Illinois Attorney General's Office, the Cook County Judicial Advisory Council, and the Cook County Clerk's Office.

Estimated Fiscal Impact: $45,000.00. Contract period: January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003. (524-260 Account). Requisition No. 35240032.

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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Suffredin, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved that the communication, as amended be referred to the Committee on Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations. (Comm. No. 256938). The motion carried unanimously.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS

ITEM #3

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

DEBORAH SIMS, County Commissioner

Co-Sponsored by

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., PRESIDENT, JERRY BUTLER, FORREST CLAYPOOL,

EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY, ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN,

GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN, ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO,

JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI,

BOBBIE L. STEELE and LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, in 1953 while students at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois, Vern Allison, Charles Barksdale, Johnnie Carter, Marvin Junior and Mickey McGill formed a singing group that would later be known as the world famous DELLS; and

WHEREAS, coached by Harvey Fuqua, lead singer of The Moonglows and inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the DELLS became known as one of the most illustrious harmonizing groups ever; and

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued

ITEM #3 cont'd

WHEREAS, their unique and passionate harmony could be heard from miles around singing “Doo Wops” under Harvey’s corner street lights; and

WHEREAS, in 1956 the DELLS recorded what many writers deemed the turning point song that defined the Rock & Roll Era, their first million record seller, Oh What A Night, a song that finished at the top of the charts; and

WHEREAS, by the late 1960s the DELLS expanded their repertoire and could sing anything, be it modern, jazz, soul, classical or rhythm and blues; and

WHEREAS, the DELLS worked hard to create a diversity of sound and in 1967 teamed with songwriter Bobby Miller and arranger, Charles Stepney, who co-wrote and produced most of their songs; and

WHEREAS, this union produced 44 R&B charting records, including the number one hit, Stay In My Corner in 1968, Always Together, the number 3 hit in 1968, I Can Sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue, the number 5 hit in 1969, Oh What A Night remake and Open Your Heart, the number 5 hit in 1970; and

WHEREAS, in 1971 the DELLS entered a new phase of their career, releasing the album Freedom Means, produced and arranged by Charles Stepney that produced the outstanding single, The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind), an engaging ballad that proved to be the groups’ biggest hit in two (2) years; and

WHEREAS, the Recording Industry Association of America honored the DELLS when they certified Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation in 1973 and I Miss You in 1974 as million dollar sellers; and

WHEREAS, one of the highlights of the DELLS career was in 1991 when famous producer/director/writer Robert Townsend released the critically acclaimed hit film, The Five Heartbeats, a story based on their own lives and careers, and produced another R&B Billboard hit A Heart Is Not A House For Love; and

WHEREAS, the DELLS immense contribution, over the past 50 years, to the music industry worldwide has garnered them prestigious awards including the NAACP Image Award and the Soul of R&B Foundations Pioneer Hall of Fame Award; and

WHEREAS, the DELLS profound music career has influenced such individual artists and groups as Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Al Green, the Spinners, the Stylistics, Maurice White and Earth Wind & Fire, the Delphonics, and others.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby extends to the City of Harvey’s Hometown Heroes, the DELLS, its heartiest congratulations upon their 50th Anniversary and wish them many more years of success; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy be tendered to the mighty DELLS as a memento of this milestone.

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Commissioner Sims, seconded by Commissioner Butler, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Sims, seconded by Commissioner Butler, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.

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PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued

ITEM #4

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

Co-Sponsored by

JERRY BUTLER, FORREST CLAYPOOL, EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY,

ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN,

ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY,

ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS,

BOBBIE L. STEELE and LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Almighty God, in his infinite wisdom, has called Mamie Till Mobley, loving mother of the late Emmett Till, from our midst; and

WHEREAS, the oft-told story of Emmett Till’s savage murder for allegedly whistling at a white woman while visiting relatives in Mississippi underscores the dehumanizing and often brutal social climate that existed in our nation; and

WHEREAS, a consummate pillar of strength with unshakable faith, Mrs. Till opted to have an open casket at her son’s funeral, an act which allowed the world to see the full extent of the humiliation and torture that her 14-year-old son experienced by the alleged perpetrators; and

WHEREAS, a true Christian and “lover of the Lord,” Mrs. Till Mobley would not let herself become filled with hate, stating that doing so would “destroy her from within”; she later remarked that it seemed “...as if the Lord himself took a big eraser and erased it from my conscious mind”; and

WHEREAS, with the passing of Mamie Till Mobley, we have lost a courageous, God-fearing woman who turned a horrific personal tragedy into a potent catalyst for positive social change in our great nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than five million residents of Cook County, does hereby express its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the many friends and loved ones of Mamie Till Mobley; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to the family of Mamie Till Mobley so that her memory may be so honored and ever cherished.

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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Suffredin, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

ITEM #5

Pursuant to Rule 4-30, George Blakemore, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Blakemore spoke concerning several issues regarding Cook County.