Rosemont board meeting draws crowd for 60th anniversary
Rosemont celebrated its 60th birthday Wednesday by doing what it's been doing over its history: building more buildings.
Usually sparsely attended, the village board meeting Wednesday morning drew some 100 village employees, residents, department brass and state legislators, who enjoyed cake and coffee after the 15-minute meeting.
Following typical Rosemont board meeting protocol, Mayor Brad Stephens provided a short description of each ordinance or resolution, before calling for a vote of the six-member board, with no discussion or opposition.
On approval of a construction management contract for building of a new recreation center at Dunne Park, Stephens said, "That property was at one time part of a (garbage) dump. So was a lot of this area. But look what we can do."
Wednesday marked the 60th anniversary of Rosemont's incorporation, after 84 residents decided to form their own town to get municipal services.
The village is spending $3.6 million on the new Dunne Park gym and other improvements behind the Westin Hotel and apartment buildings near River and Higgins roads. It's also putting aside $500,000 to resolve potential ground compaction conditions.
Rosemont is planning several community events to celebrate its 60th anniversary, including the rededication of the renovated waterfall at River and Higgins roads May 8 and the unveiling of a statue honoring late Mayor Donald E. Stephens outside village hall June 19.
His son Brad Stephens said he's seen the statue in clay form at the studios of Timeless Creations, which created the Michael Jordan statue outside the United Center and Harry Caray sculpture outside Wrigley Field.
"It's phenomenal. I walk in and I expect to get my (butt) chewed," Stephens joked. "It's that real."
The 8-foot-tall bronze-cast statue will be placed on top of a fountain, which is being built outside the east side entrance of village hall, 9501 W. Devon Ave.
Brad Stephens on Wednesday also announced plans to create two busts of his father to be placed at the convention center and the museum of Hummel figurines bearing the late mayor's name.
At the latter location, 9513 W. Higgins Road, there are also plans to have a historical display about Donald Stephens, who ran Rosemont from its incorporation in 1956 until his death in 2007.