NEW ITEMS

 

Meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

County Board Room, County Building

Thursday, January 23, 2003, 10:00 A.M.

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PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

ITEM #1

 

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,

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, the Members of the Cook County Board were deeply saddened by the death of Jose Maldonado, Jr., a man with an irrepressible spirit and a passionate energy who will be greatly missed by his family, his friends and by all who benefited from his extraordinary life; and

 

WHEREAS, born in New York City on September 30, 1948 to Jose Maldonado, Sr. and Carmen Figueroa and raised in Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jose Maldonado’s sharp intellect earned him high honors and a degree in mathematics at the University of Puerto Rico; and

 

WHEREAS, Jose Maldonado served as a dedicated bilingual math teacher and baseball coach whose professional expertise and personal approach with thousands of young Latino students of Lake View High School enriched their lives in ways they will never forget; and

 

WHEREAS, in his continual quest to discover new horizons, Jose Maldonado left teaching to become a Loan Officer and later Operations Manager for People’s Choice Mortgage Corporation, founded by his brother in 1988; and

 

WHEREAS, when the day’s work was done, Jose Maldonado transformed himself into a salsa sensation, booking bands at local dance clubs, dancing the night away to salsa music, and forming lifelong bonds with his family of salsa aficionados; and

 

WHEREAS, Jose Maldonado touched the lives of many in little ways and his treasured memory will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew him; and

 

WHEREAS, like the island of Puerto Rico itself as expressed in its anthem, “La Borinqueña”, Jose Maldonado’s life was a “flowering garden of exquisite magic” inspiring everyone to follow their passions and their dreams.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Members of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County do hereby honor the life and memory of Jose Maldonado, Jr. and extend our heartfelt condolences to his devoted mother, Carmen Figueroa-Maldonado, his loving brother, Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado, his two stepdaughters, Yobett Estrada and Yadira Muñiz, his stepson, Andy Muñiz and his niece, Leslie Ann Jeremias; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to the family of Jose Maldonado, Jr. as a symbol of our deepest sympathy.

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Commissioner Daley, 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 Silvestri, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted.  President Stroger called for a rising vote.  The motion carried unanimously.

NO CASH BID REQUEST - VILLAGE OF ROBBINS

 

ITEM #2

 

Transmitting a Communication, dated January 22, 2003 from

 

DEBORAH SIMS, Chairman, Finance Tax Delinquency Subcommittee

 

Submitting a request from

 

JUDD M. HARRIS, Esq., Judd M. Harris & Associates, Law Offices

 

The Village of Robbins is requesting tax certificates from the No Cash Bid Program for the submitted list of tax delinquent properties:

 

See exhibit "A" submitted with resolution.

 

The Village of Robbins hereby requests the Cook County Department of Planning, Office of Economic Development, to bid, on behalf of the Village of Robbins, on the tax delinquent properties.  The intended use of the parcels is redevelopment. Village of Robbins, on the above mentioned tax delinquent properties.

 

The intended use of the above-described parcels is redevelopment.  Village Ordinance number 5-28-02 states the acquisition and redevelopment of these tax delinquent properties is in the best interest of the Village of Robbins.  A certified Resolution formally requesting the Village of Robbins to participate in the program has been submitted along with a current title search of the parcels, a Sidwell map of the area, and photographs of the properties.  The benefit of obtaining these parcels and restoring their ability to contribute to the tax base of the community adds both fiscal and social advantages for the Village of Robbins.

 

The Village of Robbins has retained Judd M. Harris, Esq. to file the petitions for tax deeds for the above mentioned parcels.

_________________________

 

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

 

Commissioner Sims, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved that the communication be referred to the Finance Tax Delinquency Subcommittee.  (Comm. No. 257220).  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS

 

ITEM #3

 

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

 

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

 

Co-Sponsored by

 

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

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, Bill Huffman began his career in public service as a Recreation Leader with the Chicago Park District in 1970; and

 

WHEREAS, in 1978, Bill started working for Cook County as an Operating Engineer I assigned to Cook County Jail; and

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued

ITEM #3 cont'd

 

WHEREAS, in 1981, Bill was promoted to Supervising Chief Engineer at the Department of Corrections; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill’s thorough knowledge of the trades, his integrity, and his interpersonal and leadership skills provided the basis for his rise through the ranks; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill served as the Director of Buildings and Grounds at Cook County Hospital from 1983 - 1990; and

 

WHEREAS, in 1990, he was promoted to Deputy Director of the Office of Capital Planning; and

 

WHEREAS, since 1992 Bill has served as the Director of Facilities Management where he was responsible for the programming, construction planning, maintenance and operation of all Cook County facilities that total more than 15 million square feet; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill served as the County Coordinator during the Chicago Flood in 1992; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill served as the Project Manager of the successful Traffic Court renovation and relocation saving considerable taxpayer dollars; and

 

WHEREAS, in addition to his day-to-day facilities responsibilities, Bill was responsible for all regulatory compliance and response issues with various city, state and federal agencies; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill was most recently responsible for the successful coordination and relocation planning of the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill’s commitment to both Cook County government and the trade community resulted in his appointment as a board member of the Cook County 911 Board and as a trustee of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 399; and

 

WHEREAS, on February 7, 2003, William R. Huffman will retire from public service after more than thirty years; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill will begin a new chapter in his life at the University of Chicago where he will serve as the Associate Dean for Facilities in the Biological Sciences Division; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill Huffman is the father of two terrific young adults, Lauren and William, and the loving husband of Dr. Patricia Rush; and

 

WHEREAS, Bill Huffman is a consummate professional whose myriad contributions to Cook County government will be sorely missed.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, John H. Stroger, Jr., along with all the Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of all citizens of Cook County, do hereby congratulate and thank William R. Huffman for his many years of exemplary service and send ‘best wishes’ for good health and happiness as he enters a new phase of his professional life; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to William R. Huffman in recognition of the countless contributions he has made to Cook County Government.

_________________________

 

Commissioner Daley, 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 Hansen, 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

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, Kup's Column, which celebrated its 60th Anniversary on January 18th of this year, has the distinction of being the longest-running newspaper column in the nation; and

 

WHEREAS, Irv Kupcinet, who began his legendary career in 1935 as a sportswriter for the Chicago Sun-Times, still maintains a voracious appetite for knowledge and continues to display the unrivaled work ethic he developed early in life; and

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Kupcinet's voluminous Rolodex, engaging writing style and reputation as a down-to-earth “regular guy” helped to make Kup's Column the most-widely read feature in Chicago; and

 

WHEREAS, in addition to excelling in print, “Kup” has the distinction of being a pioneer in the electronic medium known as television; his ground-breaking program, Kup's Show, premiered in February 1959, and ran for a record 27 years, providing richly-textured insight into the lives of celebrities from around the globe; and

 

WHEREAS, as a result of being on the cutting-edge and years ahead of its time, Kup's Show was honored with the prestigious Peabody Award for nearly three decades of innovative television programming; and

 

WHEREAS, Kup also has the unique distinction of being a member of four Halls of Fame, one for journalism and one for sports; in addition to the Jewish and University of North Dakota Halls of Fame; and

 

WHEREAS, now, as he approaches the age of 91, Mr. Kupcinet still has the “fire in his belly,” and continues to be an inspiration to individuals from all walks of life and from all over the globe.

 

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 applaud the varied journalistic and humanitarian contributions of Irv Kupcinet; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to Irv Kupcinet to help commemorate 60 years of journalistic excellence.

_________________________

 

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

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, 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.