7-07-2021 5:56am

Village of Roscoe launches 2021 street repairs, under budget, and approves liquor license

Michael McGinnis Editor

Anthony Donato of Deerfield is adding Lucky 777's to his string of gaming parlors.

At its June 6 meeting, the Village of Roscoe Board of Trustees approved a Class "BL" (Boutique Gaming) liquor license for Anna’s Lucky 777 at 5257 Swanson Rd. Unit 4 in Roscoe. The current owner of Lucky 777's Slots And Video Poker is getting out of the business and surrendering their license. The new owner, Anthony Donato, who already runs nine locations, is applying for a new license, so the number of gaming licenses allowed in the Village of Roscoe will not increase. Usually whenever the Villages approve a new license, it increases its limit first. Donato plans to buy the current owner's second location as well.

Via Zoom, Donato said three of his nine locations are larger family restaurants, including the Broadview Family Restaurant which received $350,000 in tax increment financing money. His business Anna's Gaming Cafe, which calls itself "Chicagoland's premier gaming parlor," has locations in Cicero, North Riverside, Hoffman Estates, Northlake, & Belvidere. Their website says, "Anna's Cafe proudly serves authentic Italian Coffee through its partnership with Lavazza! Breakfast Sandwiches, and light meals are available at most locations. Beer & Wine is happily served in moderation!"

Donato told the Village Board, "I'm looking forward to working with you on this café concept." When Trustee Carol Gustafson asked for details on the café concept, Donato said he didn't plan to change the existing gaming parlor, which has been successful for eight years, except for new paint and a new marketing concept. Trustee Gustafson has previously stated her belief that the Village of Roscoe has enough gaming parlors already, and was the only trustee voting against granting the license. She fears that Roscoe is being defined as a center for businesses which don't bring in new money.

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On the recommendation of Brandon Boggs, Village Engineer, the Village Board voted to accept the $380,976.27 bid from Rock Road Companies to perform pavement milling and resurfacing with minor aggregate base repairs for Sheringham Drive and Promontory Trail, plus the replacement of a culvert and the removal of excess paving material for River Street and the entrance to Riverside Park. Since the 2021 Residential Street Program bid came in under budget, the Village Board will explore other street improvements later. One street in need of repair is Prairie Flower.

At the beginning of the meeting, Village President Mark Szula offered congratulations to Avani Joshi as she prepared for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Orlando, Florida. He said, "We would be honored to host Avani and her family at a future meeting once they have returned from Orlando."

Szula also recognized the Roscoe Police Department for their recent first place finish in the Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge, organized by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. The department had received high rankings in this competition before, but this was their first top ranking. Sergeant Alex Truman coordinated the effort for the Roscoe Police.

Steve Stromquist, deputy treasurer for the Village of Roscoe, reported that the Village has cash on hand of $5,742.781 in the general fund and $968,084 in the motor vehicle fund. He said income has exceeded expenses.

The Village Board authorized the addition of a total of three more police officers. After the meeting, Chief Jamie Evans explained to Roscoe News that officers are leaving for normal personal reasons - two officers are moving - and four officers, including herself, will be retiring around 2026. "That's 60-80 years of experience leaving at once." Some police veterans have been asking to transfer from the big city into quiet Roscoe but there were no openings until now.

The Village Board granted a special use permit to the Roscoe Lions Club for the 111th Annual Fall Festival on September 10-12, which includes use of Leland Park, fireworks, and street closure for a parade. Food trucks will be set up for parade watchers but not at Leland Park. Police Chief Jamie Evans said they will start closing Main Street on September 12 at 10:00 a.m. and will reopen it at 1:00 p.m. The parade starts at 11:00 am at Main and Bridge Streets.

Later, at the Committee of a Whole meeting, some of the trustees suggested that the Village require a refundable deposit for the use of its parks. Village Attorney Josef Kurlinkus said when the sponsor of a special event doesn't leave the park in good shape, the Village sends a bill.

Police Chief Jamie Evans asked the Committee of a Whole to establish a fine for the use and possession of fireworks within the Village of Roscoe. She said it should be easy for officers to issue a Noise Order Violation (NOV) except the ordinances don't allow a NOV for fireworks violations. Similar to traffic tickets, if noise violators don't pay a NOV at the Village of Roscoe, a Notice to Appear (NTA) goes into effect, which goes on their record and they have to face a judge at the courthouse, who may set a higher fine. Roscoe Police generally issue violators both a NOV and a NTA. (Though they aren't always enforced, Federal and Illinois laws prohibit fireworks.)

Village Ordinance § 91.061 says, "It shall be unlawful and it is hereby prohibited for any person to store, sell, offer, or expose for sale, or have in possession with intent to sell or to use, discharge or cause to be discharged, ignited, fired, or otherwise set in action within the limits of the Village, any fireworks, firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes, Roman candles, fire balloons, or any combination whatsoever designed or intended for pyrotechnic display, except after having obtained a license as hereinafter provided."

Village ordinances don't yet specify fines for fireworks violations, only for