Village News
 

Table of contents

Sept.27,2007 1st Town Hall meeting NE (Arbors) section Of Justice

Oct.25,2007 2nd Town Hall Meeting NW Quarter Of Justice

November 29, 2007 3rd Town Hall meeting SW Quarter of Justice

January 24, 2008 4th Town Hall meeting SE Quarter of Justice

2007 Village Employee Appreciation Dinner

2008 fest info

2007 Police Department Awards

J.W.S.W.C. Wesley Fields Water Project Phase 4

View the completed study of the Village's fire protection as prepared by Sorensen & Wilder (PDF)

911 Seniors Phone Program

J.W.S.W.C. Wesley Fields Water Project Completed

2008 Vehicle Sticker Design Contest Winners

 2007 1st Town Hall Meeting NE (Arbors) section Of Justice

  On September 27, 2007 the Village of Justice held Its 1st ever town hall meeting. This meeting was the 1st in a series of open forum area specific meetings. The village is broken down into quarters. The purpose in this is that the mayor and trustees during these meetings will be able to hear the issues and concerns of that specific part of Justice. Not all areas of Justice have the same issues and concerns. This will allow them to become aware of the residents issues/concerns and target solutions to that areas problems. Residents can openly voice their opinions, concerns and ask questions.

  The 1st meeting was held at the Lipiniski Community Center. Many residents joined the mayor and trustees for this meeting. Some to ask questions, some to listen to the answers and some gave praise to the new administrations efforts in such a short period of time. Mayor Wasowicz, Trustees and the Department Heads answered the questions and addressed the concerns of the residents as best as possible. There were feedback/questionnaire forms handed out to all that were present to either fill out right away or to take home with them. The many questionnaires that were filled out that night were gathered up in order to review them and direct them to the department heads or the trustees based on criteria. Residents were encouraged to take the forms home, think about what really concerns them, fill out the forms and drop them off at the village hall.

 Some of the questions and concerns of this area were the young people in the area hanging out at the Lipinski Center causing trouble, making noise late at night, vandalism ect.. The response; the police had recently arrested several individuals that are alleged to have been causing the bulk off these problems. Cameras are also to be installed and hooked up directly to the police department in order to monitor and respond quicker to any issue that might occur there. Another issue mentioned was speeding motorist through the neighborhoods. These were just some of the issues and concerns that were discussed. Over all the residents in attendance were very pleased with how the meeting went, the openness, the ability to speak freely and directly to the mayor and trustees, and with the responses given to their questions. The mayor and trustees made several statements about  upcoming/ongoing projects and programs. They thanked all of the residents for coming and asked that they stay involved in their community, come to the board meetings and keep the lines of communications open because they need the eyes, ears and voices of the residents to help them make Justice a better place for us all.

This meeting started at 7pm and ended around 9pm. A lot of residents stayed after the meeting to personally greet the mayor and trustees and ask them questions.
The meetings for the remaining sections of Justice will be announced once they are scheduled.

Be a part of your community!

 2007 2nd Town Hall Meeting NW Quarter Of Justice

 On October 25, 2007 the Village of Justice held its 2nd in a series of the 1st ever town hall meetings. The inclement weather kept the turnout low but the residents that came asked many questions. Many voiced concerns over dirt bikes and quads driving through the far northern part of town and through private property to get to the area on the other side of the tracks. The police are doing their best to try and stop this activity but it is not easy to catch these types of vehicles. They asked for the help of the residents in resolving this issue. Another concern was abandoned and overgrown properties, as well as flood map issues. The properties in question are being looked at. Some are in foreclosure if that is the case the parties in control are responsible for the upkeep have been notified and if they don't  take care of them they will be fined. If the village has to cut the grass the property managers will be billed at a rate of $150 an hour. There are some of these properties that lie on the floodway which is why they are not selling and the market being in the state that it is now is not helping. The mayor explained that  the village through the engineers have been able to have some 60+ properties removed from the flood map, but unfortunately at the same time 10 have been added. He continued to say that the recent improvements that have been made in-between Banks and Blazer streets as well as the improvements to the drainage through out the village, that he is confident that when the village engineer and himself meet with the Army Crop of Engineers that they will remove more properties from the flood map. The M.W.R.D (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) has control of the drainage/runoff of the whole area and are taking measure outside of Justice were the water is mostly coming from. Mayor Wasowicz is trying to persuade the M.W.R.D . to look at were the water it is going (71St. ditch), take measures to improve the flow in Justice 1st so when the water gets to Justice from the neighboring communities it does not cause the problems that are facing us now. These were just some of the issues and concerns that were discussed. Over all the residents in attendance were very pleased with how the meeting went, the openness, the ability to speak freely and directly to the mayor and trustees, and with the responses given to their questions.
The mayor and trustees made several statements about upcoming/ongoing projects and programs. They thanked all of the residents for coming and asked that they stay involved in their community, come to the board meetings and keep the lines of communications open because they need the eyes, ears and voices of the residents to help them make Justice a better place for us all.

 This meeting started at 7pm and ended around 8:30pm. A lot of residents stayed after the meeting to personally greet the mayor and trustees and ask them questions.

The meetings for the remaining sections of Justice will be announced once they are scheduled.

Be a part of your community!

 2007 3rd Town Hall Meeting SW Quarter of Justice

 On Thursday, November 29, 2007 Mayor Wasowicz and the Board of Trustees hosted the 3^rd in a series of town hall meetings. This meeting was for the residents who live in the southwest area of Justice.

 A special guest appearance was made by Congressman Daniel Lipinski. The Congressman is very interested in what this board  and mayor are trying to accomplish in its efforts to turn Justice around. Congressman Lipinski has been instrumental over the past several years in helping our village obtain badly needed funds for programs. One of those programs was the Wesley Field Water Project. This was a collaborative effort by the Village of Justice and the Justice Willow Springs Water Commission to bring an updated water delivery system to the residents of the Wesley Fields area of Justice. This program is now complete as the Mayor announced. Those residents now have modern properly sized water lines not only for water to their homes but crucial adequate water supply to fire hydrants. Also present at this meeting were Water Commissioner Jerry Carter and J.W.S.W.C. Director Peter Newman. They announced that they are, through initial funding, paving the way for a new residential notification system for Justice and Willow Springs. This will be done through reverse 911. This benefits all residents in that they can be notified immediately by phone of any type of emergency situation that should arise.

 Some of the questions residents in attendance asked were about the “Asbury” dirt hill, streets, drainage and public services. The Mayor told residents they can expect to see the removal of the dirt at Asbury start very soon as contracts for that removal are being looked at by the village attorney. Drainage and the condition of the streets are a concern for the entire village and the board is looking to find ways to get the funds/grants needed to be able to formulate a plan to get started on repairing and upgrading. The village is not in the financial position or able to afford the complete renewal of our infrastructure.
Once the funds are acquired a formal plan will be announced, and the village will do what it can with what it has to work with. This is the same for all of the villages needs; we have to have the funds in order to do anything.
Village Treasurer Ed Rusch stated that the budget is very close to being balanced for 2008 and that they were very conservative in what income is foreseeable for 2008 in preparing the budget. The village for now is concentrating on paying down the debt and providing essential services.
Treasurer Rusch added that the debt of the village is a manageable thing. Through sound educated decision making this debt will be paid off but it's going to take time to achieve.

 Many residents expressed their appreciation that they are able to meet with the Mayor and Board Members and discuss openly the things that concern them. The Mayor and Board members would like to express their appreciation for the residents that have attended all of the town hall meetings. Their input at these meetings is invaluable resource to the village and is helping them to get a pulse on the village, its services and operational functionality. They hope that the residents will continue to attend these meetings and the regular board meetings as well. Working together with the residents, through open lines of communication, will make Justice a better community for all.

The meetings for the remaining section of Justice will be announced once they are scheduled.
Be a part of your community!

 2008 4th Town Hall Meeting SE Quarter of Justice

 On Thursday, January 24, 2008, Mayor Wasowicz and the Board of Trustees hosted the 4th in a series of town hall meetings at the Wilkins School. This meeting was for the residents who live in the southeast area of Justice. Despite the frigid temperatures many residents from the Roberts Park and Wesley Fields areas attended this meeting. Mayor Wasowicz started the meeting off by giving a state of the village address that lead into what the Board members and himself see for the village in 2008. The mayor stated the village in working hard to get bonds issued. These bonds will aid the village in many ways. The village will be able to restructure its finances freeing up assets to work for the village. Monies from these bonds will also be used for matching funds in procuring grants from state and federal levels with the help of local officials such as Congressman Lipinski who has already given the mayor his support. Congressman Lipinski knows that the village needs grants to improve its roads and infrastructure.
 A special guest attended this meeting. Lyons Township Supervisor Pat Rodgers addressed the residents. In his statement he mentioned that he is very happy to see the turnaround and progress the village has made under this administration.  Many small towns and villages are in the same situation as Justice. With state and local cutbacks funding is getting harder to come by. He pledged to work with the mayor and assist the village in any way he could in its remarkable turnaround. He realizes that many residents are having a hard time struggling with their own budgets in keeping up with the cost of living. He further stated he knows the price of gas is taking a big bite out of everyone's pocket these days, with such an  unpredictable market so much so, that he presented the mayor with two $50 gas cards which were raffled off and given to two residents in attendance. Every resident that attended received a raffle ticket upon their arrival.
 Residents asked many questions most of which were of the same concerns of all the residents in the village. Road conditions, traffic concerns and taxes. A resident asked if a stop sign could be placed on Roberts Road at 80th St. near the Wilkins school. With many people turning onto 80th to drop their children off at school and the heavy traffic flow he has been witness to and involved with many near  misses of being in accidents. Mayor Wasowicz explained that the village is aware of the problem but Roberts Road is a county road and falls under the control of the county. Justice has no authority to put a stop sign there. He said all the village can do is bring it to the attention of the county and request a traffic study, stop sign or the possibility of a turn lane. Another resident asked if there was anything the village could do about the junk yard mess at Ideal Auto. This resident's property is adjacent to that property and it is a "real eyesore" for all the residents in that area. He said the he asked the last mayor to help with this problem and got nowhere. Mayor Wasowicz stated that Ideal Auto is part of Bridgeview and that he will address the problem with Mayor Landek in efforts to get Ideal Auto to clean up their act.
 These are just a few of the concerns of the residents in this area and the residents were happy with the answers they received. They were happy with the fact that they can now be heard in meetings like these and showed their appreciation for that.
 The mayor concluded the meeting by saying that he appreciated the residents coming out on such a cold night  to meet with the village board, department heads, village clerk and himself. These meetings help them to understand the problems and concerns of the residents and to formulate solutions to them. He also praised the residents in taking an active part in how the village is run and asked for their continued involvement not only in meetings like these but in attending Village Board meetings and other functions as well. Residential involvement is key in the progression of the village. The village is in better shape than it was a short year ago. Working together Justice is well on its way in becoming all that it can and should be.

Be a part of your community!

 2007 Village Employee Appreciation Dinner

 On Friday, January 11, 2008 the village held an appreciation dinner for all of the village employees.
The dinner was held at the Lipinski Community Center. Having the dinner at the Lipinski Center saved the village over 50% of the cost from previous years when the dinner was held at local restaurants some years costing as much as $3000. If you don't know the Lipinski center is available for rent for your functions at very reasonable rates and the village this year decided to take advantage of this fine facility and all it has to offer.
 One of the highlights of the evening was when Mayor Wasowicz presented an appreciation/achievement award to Mr. Ed Figura. This came as a complete surprise to Mr. Figura. Mayor Wasowicz stated that there is no one more deserving of this award then Mr. Figura, who over the past several decades has done so much for the village. His involvement with the Zoning and Planning Commission, as a commissioner, and all of his volunteerism over the years are of immeasurable value to the village and have raised Mr. Figura to an iconic status among residents. This recognition of Mr. Figura was long over due. Mr. Figura truly represents what the statement  "Be a part of your community" is all about. Our sincerest congratulations and thanks to Mr. Figura.

 The Public Works Department honored one of its employees with an "Employee of the Year" award. Mayor Wasowicz was in agreement with Public Works Director Phil DePaola and graciously presented the "Public Works Employee Of The Year" award to Mr. William Picman. Mr. Picman (Bill) has been employed in the Public Works Department since 2003. Public Works Director Phil DePaola said of Mr. Picman "He is an outstanding employee, he is highly motivated, dedicated and always shows a high level of professionalism on the job". Congratulations Mr. William Picman.

 Congressman Lipinski was in attendance to congratulate the Mayor and all of the village employees on the fine job they have done through out the year. He also recognized the improvements and positive changes within the village. He stated that he looks forward to working with Mayor Wasowicz in assisting the village in obtaining the badly need funds to keep the progress within the village moving forward. Congressman Lipinski has been very instrumental in assisting the village in the past in funding and getting other lawmaker's attention to the needs of our village.

 Mayor Wasowicz concluded the evening by thanking all of the village employees for all their hard work, as well as their teamwork in assisting the village in its turnaround. Our village has a bright future and we will obtain our goals as long as we all continue to work hard and work together.
 A special thanks to Clerk Kathy Svoboda, the village hall employees and the special events committee for their work on preparing and decorating for this event.