The Rundown: Palos Hills Committee Meeting

The Main Story: During a very brief Palos Hills City Council Committee Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9, the council recognized and thanked residents who won the Palos Hills Beautification Contest. The contest awards residents and businesses that spend extra time caring for their lawns and gardens.

The program began as an idea from Alderman Marty Kleefisch and has gained in popularity each year. Five judges visit each ward and select houses based on the presentation and care of the lawn, shrubs and trees, and color accents. Only the front and side yards are judged. Winning residents were awarded a certificate and had their photo taken with Mayor Gerald Bennett and Alderman Kleefisch at Thursday's committee meeting. Residents also receive a sign to place in their yard recognizing their house as a winner.

Alderman Kleefisch also thanked the judges, who he said spend a lot of time visiting each home and bossiness in their assigned ward.

This years judges were: Linda Gruener, John Griffin, Frank Bennett, Alderman Bill Hanson and Sharon Kleefisch.

The Quote: "We want to thank our homeowners for taking pride in their property," The Mayor said. "It seems like each time one home puts [the award sign] in it's front yard, the next year even more people from that block participate."

Other News: Alderman Kleefisch announced that the city will begin taking bids on Friday for the new storage facility at the Palos Hills Police Station, which was discussed at last weeks council meeting.

Alderman Frank Williams announced that the city will begin the 2010 Road Repair project on Sept. 14. The project is slated to take 25 days.

Under the project, 73rd Avenue, 73rd Court, 74th Avenue, 75th Avenue, and 75th Court will all be repaved between 103rd and 105th streets. Interlochen and Aspen drives will also be repaved. The money was secured through a state grant for road projects.