Palos Heights Mayor Reflects on Economic Growth in State of the City Address

With several large-scale construction projects currently underway, Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz used his State of the City address to detail economic development over the past year. 

Speaking at a Palos Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Straz highlighted the Jewel Osco expansion project and Palos Community Hospital remodeling project as signs of economic growth in Palos Heights. 

"With people like yourselves and the great volunteers I think we have a great future," Straz concluded. 

The mayor stressed that the city's ability to maintain a budget surplus every year since 2002 has made numerous projects possible. The city was also able to use that surplus to pay off all municipal debts, Straz said. 

The fact that Palos Heights has funds available allows the city to apply for grants that pay large portions of a project, while requiring the municipality to kick in a percentage. Because that match can be guaranteed, the city has been awarded grants for numerous projects over the last year, Straz said. 

Here is a look at some of highlights of the speech:

Economic Development

• 15 new businesses opened in 2011. 
• 4 new businesses have opened in the first part of 2012
• The new Jewel Osco is expected to open in July, with a grand opening in September.
• The larger Jewel means 40 new jobs, for which Palos Heights residents will be given preference.
• A new traffic light will be installed at 128th Street and Harlem Avenue as part of the project. 
• Wendy's will occupy one of the outlots in the new Jewel development.
• McDonald's will be tearing down its old buliding and replacing it with a moder double drive-thru structure. 

Infrastructure

• Streetlights will be replaced along Harlem Avenue from Route 83 to 128th Street in the coming year.
• The stamped asphalt along Harlem Avenue in the Olde Palos shopping district will be replaced with paver bricks and new landscaping. 
• Since 2001 27 of the city's 55 miles of roads have been resurfaced at the cost of $4.6 million.
• City Hall's HVAC system was replaced with the assistance of a grant. 

Recreation

• Recreation programs drew 7,666 participants. 
• After years of losing money, the Palos Heights Pool

• A new picnic shelter will be built at Community Park in the spring.
• Electronic waste recycling was introduced at Lake Katherine and in the past few months over 9,000 pounds of waste has been recycled.
• The Cal-Sag Bike Trail is moving forward and will offer a connection to Lake Katherine and forest preserve paths. 

Police

• The Palos Heights Police Department responded to 9,117 calls in 2011.
• Detectives investigated 127 cases, of which 102 were solved. 
• 5 new officers were added, with a net staff gain of zero. 
• A new bike patrol and all terrain vehicle were added.
• Officers completed 2,900 hours of in-service training. 

Mayor Straz's State of the City address will be broadcast on PHTV Channel 4 in full. 

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