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4 | October 20, 2016 | The Lockport Legend NEWS lockportlegend.com City receives award for fire safety Illinois Fire Safety Alliance lauds Lockport for sprinkler program Jason Maholy Freelance Reporter The city of Lockport was recognized last week with an award for a program the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance has touted as a model for other municipalities. The alliance presented Lockport one of six life safety awards Thursday, Oct. 13, at its 76th annual Fire Prevention Week Luncheon, held at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge. On hand to accept the honor on behalf of the city was 3rd Ward Alderman Darren Deskin, who, in early 2015, brought to Lockport administrators the idea to use video gaming revenues to outfit downtown buildings with overhead sprinklers and smoke alarms. “After a rash of downtown fires, city officials came together to create a resolution that would help existing downtown buildings meet current building codes,” said Jim Saletta, past president of the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance. “What Lockport came up with was a unique program that encourages the installation of fire sprinklers and smoke alarms in the historic district.” Lockport’s program offers matching grants of up to $20,000 for sprinklers and alarms to owners of building constructed before April 2003, and has allocated $40,000 toward the program each of the past two years. The grants are funded by a portion of the city’s video gaming revenues, which between April 2014 and April 2015 amounted to $138,556. Saletta said the initiative enhances the protection of structures and occupants, and improves the economic viability of the downtown properties. “For other communities that receive video gaming revenues, a model has been created that others can easily replicate,” he added. Saletta also lauded the city’s fire sprinkler ordinance, which requires buildings constructed after April Homer 33C offers free technology classes Submitted by Homer 33C Homer 33C is offering three free technology courses for parents and community members within the next few weeks. Residents of Homer 33C are eligible to sign up and attend any of the hour-long classes at Hadley Middle School, 15731 Bell Road, Homer Glen. Classes offered include: Google Search, Maps, Street View & Cardboard, 6-7 p.m. Oct. 20; Facebook How To & Security, 6-7 p.m. Oct. 27; Follow the World With Twitter, 6-7 p.m. Nov. 3. Descriptions of each course and an online registrtion form are available online at www. homerschools.org or in person at the schools. Class sizes are limited and 1, 2003 to have smoke alarms and sprinkler systems. “As a veteran of fire sprinkler wars, I truly appreciate what has been done here,” he said. “I know from my own experience there’s a lot of opposition and a lot resistance you have to overcome to pass these types of ordinances, and it takes a lot of courage to do so.” The incentive program was the brainchild of Deskin, who saw video gaming revenues as a source of funds that did not impact taxpayers. The money was earmarked for downtown improvements, but was “just sitting there,” he said. “I had a conversation with city administrator (Ben Benson), and said ‘why don’t we just use some of that money to go ahead and use toward what I call the ‘Great Wall of China’ ... these old buildings that need to be renovated. But the cost of a sprinkler system is a lot. It costs more than $20,000.” The Lockport Township Fire Protection District also offers a tax rebate program, available only to owners of properties in the historic district. The district will refund up to $5,000 of the LTFPD’s share of tax dollars over two years for installing smoke detectors, and over five years for installing detectors and sprinklers. Fires struck downtown structures in April and July 2008, with the former blaze taking the life of a 45-yearold woman at the Towpath Hotel, 933 S. State St. Homer 33C Technology Division Facilitator Jim Carpenter assists a community member. Photos submitted. will be filled on a first-come, use depending on the class. first-served basis. Chromebooks may be available to any additional Call (708) 226-7600 with questions. Lockport 3rd Ward Alderman Darren Deskin (left to right), Barrington-Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Jim Kreher and past president of the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Jim Saletta pose for a photo, Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Fire Prevention Week Luncheon at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge. Jason Maholy/22nd Century Media An inferno in which flames were reported to have shot as high as 80 feet into the air destroyed another State Street building in November 2010. Among the damaged were American Family Insurance, 925 S. State St., where the fire started; Weber’s Denim Shop, 929 S. State St.; Stephenson Photography & Framing, 927 S. State St.; and Lockport Lanes Bowling Alley, at 923 S. State St. The fire also spread to the building to the south, which housed Lockport Furniture Upholstery, 931 S. State St., and residences above; and damaged the neighboring building that served as Lockport’s original City Hall. “If we had a sprinkler system in either of these buildings, things may have been different,” Deskin said. Homer 33C Technology Division Facilitator Jim Carpenter demonstrates the basic features of the Chrome browser, such as multiple tabs and the incognito window; how to browse for and install various apps and extensions from the web store; and create and store bookmarks, which sync across all of their Chrome browsers.
lockportlegend.com news the Lockport Legend | October 20, 2016 | 5 Area early voting set to begin Submitted by Homer Township The Homer Township Clerk’s Office will be open for extended hours to accommodate early voting for the 2016 election. Early voting for the Nov. 8 election will take place on select days from Monday, Oct. 24-Saturday, Nov. 5, with extended hours the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 4. Early voting hours at the Homer Township Administration Building, 14350 W. 151st St., will be as follows: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24-Friday, Oct. 28; 9 a.m.-noon Saturday Oct. 29; 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31-Friday, Nov. 4; and 9 a.m.- noon Saturday, Nov. 5. All residents who live in Homer Township — including those who live within the municipal boundaries of the Village of Homer Glen and the City of Lockport — may vote early. The Local Election Authority may not operate outside of the Clerk’s regular hours, requiring the Clerk’s Office to remain open late during extended early voting hours. According to a Clerk’s Office statement, the extension comes at no additional cost to taxpayers because employees assisting the Clerk will have their schedules adjusted to eliminate overtime costs. For more information and questions, contact the Homer Township Clerk’s Office at (708) 301-0522. Election 2016 No contest: Many local candidates running uncontested on upcoming November ballot Bill Jones Managing Editor With the November 2016 Presidential Election right around the corner, The Lockport Legend has begun its coverage of the election. Next week, The Legend will feature candidate questionnaires for contested races with interests pertaining to Lockport. In addition to any pertinent referenda featured in issues this week and next, 22nd Century Media also is offering this week a rundown of those candidates who face no opposition on the ballot. As a reminder, it is 22nd Century Media’s policy not to run any election-related coverage in the final issue — in this case Thursday, Nov. 3 — before Election Day. This means that any Letters to the Editor regarding election-related issues and/or candidates must be submitted no later than noon Friday, Oct. 21, to Election 2016 be run in the Thursday, Oct. 27 edition of The Legend. The following is a list of uncontested candidates in the General Primary in races with interests in Lockport. Congressional District 3 Incumbent Daniel William Lipinski is uncontested on the ballot in the Third Congressional District. He also ran uncontested in the General Primary. Congressional District 3 represents all or part of Lockport, Homer Glen, Orland Park, Tinley Park and New Lenox. State Senate District 19 Incumbent State Sen. Michael E. Hastings is uncontested on the ballot in the 19th State Senate District. He bested fellow Democrat McStephen O.A. “Max” Solomon in the March 2016 General Primary to earn the Democratic nomination. The 19th State Senate District represents all or part of Lockport, Homer Glen, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Frankfort, Mokena and New Lenox. State Senate District 41 Incumbent Christine Radogno is uncontested on the ballot in the 41st State Senate District. She also ran uncontested in the General Primary. State Senate District 41 represents all or parts of Lockport and Homer Glen. State Senate District 43 Incumbent Pat McGuire is uncontested on the ballot in the 43rd State Senate District. He also ran uncontested in the General Primary. State Senate District 43 represents a portion of Lockport. State House District 37 Incumbent Margo Mc- Dermed is uncontested on the ballot in the 37th State House District. She also ran uncon- Library district to request limiting tax rate increase Max Lapthorne, Editor The White Oak Library District is holding a referendum to increase the limiting tax rate during the general election Nov. 8. The district is asking to increase the limiting rate .0305 percent for levy year 2016. The district, which serves Romeoville, Crest Hill and Lockport, requested the same percentage increase during the general primary on March 15, and 65.45 percent of voters said “no” to the proposed referendum. The district is asking for Please see Elections, 8 Sample ballot question “Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the White Oak Library District, Will County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.0305% above the limiting rate for levy year 2015 and be equal to 0.226% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2016? Yes or No?” the same percentage increase as it was in March, which means the limiting tax rate increase would cost homeowners with a house valued at $100,000 an additional $10.17, Pointon said. The majority of homeowners in the district would see a $16-$17 increase, he added. The current amount of taxes extendable is $3.46 million, and if the referendum were to pass it would Please see Tax, 8 Election 2016 Question of electing HTFPD trustees to appear on ballot Thomas Czaja Contributing Editor The Homer Township Professional Firefighters union hopes a referendum asking voters if Homer Township Fire Protection District trustees should be elected rather than appointed will pass. The Board of Trustees is composed of three members. Currently, the members are appointed by the Homer Township Board of Trustees. If the referendum is passed, Homer Township residents would elect members to the district’s Board of Trustees. Secretary of the Homer Township Fire Protection District Board of Trustees CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 815.838.4763 doxleyconstruction.com Now Accepting Credit Cards! lockportdentalgroup Family Dentistry for 52 years We accept most insurance and Discount Plans Cleanings • Fillings • Crowns • Bridges Whitening • Root Canals • Extractions Dentures • Partials • Restore Implants MON–THURS 8–9 SAT 8–2 Dr. P Bobak Dr. G Bobak Located in Lockport FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1984 • Remodeling • Room Additions • Kitchens & Cabinets • Bathrooms • Basement Remodels • All Concrete Work Dr. J Mitchell Dr. G Zaid Visit us at Sample ballot question “Shall the trustees of the Homer Township Fire Protection District be elected rather than appointed? Yes Or No” Mark Lobes told The Legend over the summer that if the referendum passes, elected officials would serve six-year terms. The referendum appears on the ballot as a result of it meeting the requirements of 1,200 signatures being collected for it and it getting turned into the Homer Township Board of Trustees and verified by the Township secretary. FULLY BONDED AND INSURED Dr. J Gerhard 4 Hygienists` www.lockportdentalgroup.net 230 E 8th St (1 blk East of Library) 815.838.6102
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