The briefs: Meetings on the move
Meetings on the move
Today's Hoffman Estates village committee meetings have been moved. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. Lincoln School, 1650 Maureen Drive. The meeting was moved to help facilitate discussion about the proposed sale of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern rail line. The Western Area Committee meeting is also slated to take place.
More on EJ&E possible sale
Another meeting related to the possible acquisition of the EJ&E rail line by Canadian National railway will be hosted by the Illinois General Assembly on Thursday. The legislature's railroad safety committee has scheduled a public hearing for 10 a.m. Thursday in Room 16-503 of the James R. Thompson Center, at Clark and Randolph, Chicago. The committee has asked Canadian National, Metropolis 2020 and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to testify before the board. Interested citizens may sign up on site to testify, but there is no guarantee that everyone will get an opportunity to speak. The sale needs federal approval before it can become official. CN officials said if the sale were approved, they would use the acquired EJ&E railroad lines as a Chicago bypass route for all current and future freight traffic from its Canadian and U.S. rail network. Many local communities, especially those in the Barrington area, are protesting sale, saying it will cause numerous safety and traffic problems.
Forum on park referendum
The Barrington Park District will host a forum Tuesday to present its referendum proposal to voters and answer questions. The park district is asking voters permission on the Feb. 5 primary ballot to build a new community center at Langendorf Park. The forum will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the park, 235 Lions Drive. For details, call (847) 381-0687.
Business briefing coming
Representatives of Rolling Meadows will discuss issues of importance to the business community, including changes in business license fees, obtaining permits, roadway improvements and new city ordinances Wednesday morning. Speakers include representatives of the fire, police, public works and community development departments. Those interested should register today by e-mailing office@rmchamber.org or calling (847) 398-3730. The event, which includes continental breakfast, is from 7:45-9:30 a.m. at Park Central, 3000 Central Road, and costs $10 for chamber members and $20 for others.
Des Plaines wins contest:
Des Plaines has come out a winner in the fourth-annual Cans for Cash: City Recycling Challenge at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' meeting in Washington, D.C. The program encourages cities to compete against each other by collecting aluminum cans for money. During October, more than 50 cities collected over 191 million used beverage cans. Des Plaines won in its division, which is based on population. The winners received $5,000 awards.
Catholic school honored
Saint Colette School in Rolling Meadows will receive a special presentation at noon Wednesday from U.S. Department of Education officials in honor of its selection as a 2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School and to celebrate Catholic Schools Week this week. Saint Colette is one of seven Catholic schools in the Chicago area and 50 private schools nationally being given the honor.