Heights Plans to Lower Board-Up Costs, Names Street After Late Mayor

The City of Chicago Heights will soon start getting rate quotes from private companies to maintain yards and secure abandoned and neglected properties.

At the Monday night meeting, the city council decided too much money was being spent boarding up abandoned houses and voted unanimously to publish requests for qualifications from private companies. 

"We've been spending nearly $200,000 a year in board-up services," Mayor David Gonzalez said. "We're trying to find out whether it's cheaper to do it with employees or subcontract them out."

The city is also responsible for cutting the grass at the properties, another expense that is far too high, according to Corporate Counsel T.J. Somer

"Board-ups and lawn cutting take up a substantial amount of expense that the city incurs every year," Somer said, adding that sub-contracting might prove to be cheaper. 

Fourth ward Ald. Joshua Deabel questioned the cost of one of the board-ups  appearing on the city's most recent list of bills, as it was listed at costing around $1,550. Director of Code Enforcement Don Garcia said the property was probably damaged by fire, requiring more materials and manpower to secure it.

Deabel supported talking to private companies. "Anything to bring down the costs," he said.

Seventh ward Ald. Sylvia Torres questioned the necessity of spending money to board-up and maintain so many homes and properties.

"The majority of them are probably foreclosed homes," Gonzalez replied. "The homeowner abandons it, and it's open to drug or graffiti problems . . . It has to be done to secure the building. We just have to see how it works money-wise."

Health Care for Discounts

The St. James Health Center and the City of Chicago Heights made an agreement for the hospital to continue serving indigent patients without compensation.

St. James representative Tom Senesac from the hospital said nothing has changed in the way the organization helps the needy, but that St. James is required to have a memorandum of understanding with the local community to maintain its federal benefits.

"This is basically an acknowledgement of our commitment to continue to provide uncompensated care within the community," said Senesac. "It allows us to meet one of the three criteria for us to participate in a federal program to purchase discount drugs for outpatients at a discount of about 25 to 30 percent."

Senesac said the drugs on which the hospital receives discounts fall into a specific category.

"These are just drugs that are used in an outpatient setting at the hospital. It's not filling prescriptions," Senesac explained. "Our biggest benefit is in chemotherapy and intravenous."

Corporate Counsel T.J. Somer commended the hospital for providing a large amount of health care to people who can't afford it.

"I think the figure is upwards of $20 million every year that St. James provides in uncompensated health care," Somer said, which Senesac confirmed.

Gonzalez also had kind words for the hospital

"We do appreciate everything St. James does for the residents that are low income and the seniors," Gonzalez added.

A New Street Name

The city council paid tribute to the late Mayor Alex Lopez, by naming a section of East 23rd Street "Mayor Alex Lopez Honorary Way."

Second ward Ald. Sonia Perez became teary eyes when she spoke about Lopez.

"He taught me how to do this job, how to love this job," Perez said. "He was a great man, a great friend."

Gonzalez followed Perez in praising Lopez for his commitment to serving Chicago Heights.

"He was one of the most unselfish men you would ever meet," Gonzalez said. "It just gives me great honor to name 23rd Street after him."

The mayor presented the street sign to Lopez's family members in the council chambers at City Hall. Lopez died in August of 2010 of a heart attack while watching a basketball practice.