Briefs: Wheeling could buy Kmart
The Wheeling village board agreed Monday to a preliminary option to buy the Kmart property at 780 and 880 Dundee Road. The $125,000 option would give the village six months to search for a developer to bring retail back to that area. Village Manager Mark Rooney said the board will talk about a potential developer at its meeting next Monday. If the board ultimately decides to buy the land, the $125,000 option will be used toward the $10 million purchase price.
Team SWAT wins honor
Team SWAT, a Lego robotics team based in Arlington Heights, was awarded first place in the Creative Research Presentation category for demonstrating the results of its energy audit of Alexian Field in Schaumburg, at an international competition last week in Atlanta. Eighty-one teams from 24 countries participated in the festival, in which teams competed in the areas of robot performance and technical design, research presentation and teamwork. The team recommended a combination of wind, solar and geothermal technologies to offset Alexian's energy costs. SWAT is made up of 10 boys, ages 10 to 15, who attend various home, private and public schools in Arlington Heights and neighboring suburbs.
Des Plaines ward meetings
Des Plaines 6th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten is hosting a meeting for the residents of his ward at 6:30 p.m. today at Arndt Park, 1990 White St. City Manager Jason Bajor, Engineering Director Tim Oakley, Police Chief Jim Prandini and Public Works Director Matt Dusckett will be available to answer questions. Alderman Pat Beauvais will host a 1st Ward meeting Thursday. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the first floor of city hall, 1420 Miner St. All ward residents are invited to bring city-related concerns, problems and questions to the meetings. All city departments will be represented.
Deerfield Parkway closed
The Lake County Department of Transportation will close Deerfield Parkway in Buffalo Grove from Weiland Road to Milwaukee Avenue for six days starting at 9 a.m. April 30. The road is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. on May 6. The county is closing the road to allow the Canadian National Railroad to remove the existing crossing, upgrade the rails and reinstall the crossing. A detour around the closing will be Weiland Road to Aptakisic Road to Milwaukee Avenue. For more information, call the Lake County traffic department at (847) 377-7400.