Ah, the last meeting before Christmas, and all through the chambers
Aldermen limbered and stretched and stared out but found few blamers
On this night of all nights December the eighth
Few issues caused many to agitate.
Downtown Evanston, our local marketing promoter,
Received annual funding to assist in programming for vendors
Retailers and such. Ninety eight thousand six hundred and seventy ($98,670)
Comes from the funds of TIF and Economic Development
The City itself shoulders less of a share than it did last year, so no need for despair
But rather a congratulation and a bit of celebration for its this chamber of commerce that
Lights our great tree and brings Santa down Sherman on Fire Truck no. 3.
A new Latino Resources Center is on its way
To the Civic Center basement, or “ground floor” as they say. Square feet?
Two hundred and sixty for a cool two hundred and fifty ($250)
Per month, that is, to assist our community’s Spanish speakers
Find various resources and services available to such seekers.
A bit of sadness there is unfortunately to report with the closing of Wild Wings, the Buffalo sort.
Off to Old Orchard, those Wild Wings flew back in November, it is sad but true
Council had but to clean up their now unused liquor license to make things all square,
“I read this sadly,” said Ald. Braithwaite, “Many a night I spent there.”
The parking lot project for the great Civic Center now proceeds apace
After slight delays while Council attempted to trace a lawsuit filed by one Ozinga
A company attempting to avoid a requirement that insurance for employees cover items like
Contraception for females. But with just 1% of the project the Aldermen realized that his particular
Buildout was not the one in which to raise this important issue.
So watch out next time, Evanston located Ozinga. And by the way, farewell, Judy Baar Topinka.
Without fanfare, through consent and absent discussion, the City voted to purchase Boocoo
Out of foreclosure. Now Evanston owns the former cultural institution
What’s next for the building they have yet to determine though City staff claims
That the short term goal is corner stabilization, perhaps some City programming
Or other uses. Long term, perhaps, private business paloozas.
The Emerson-Green Bay intersection has long befuddled riders, walkers and those on vacation
Trying to get from our downtown to Central Street locations, or those in the east working their way west
Of the choices presented to survey takers, it was determined the best
Option available involves removing some lanes from Green Bay street, converting to three lanes
What once had been four in a hope to cause motorist fewer pains than before.
There’s much work to be done and much remains to be seen but
Change is acoming, hold on to your spleen.
Other items included the usual assortment of contracts and water projects
Sent forth with deportment for Council to vote on without sass or ill comportment
Such as the Sheridan Road shifting, twisting repavement
Which now will include some water main replacement absent in the original presented contract
Requiring a huge change order, near $400,000 for engineering alone
But the good news is water pipes less likely to break flooding streets and halting the showers
Of some rather ripe students.
And manhole cover lining, who knew such things existed? But they do
And they cost about one thirty three, thousand that is, and delayed though they are
Because Evanston temps fell well below the degree normal this time of year, or then, more precisely
So a change order regarding timing alone allows completion of the project before too long.
Finally, a series of debt bond abatements accustomed each year as the City tries
To pay off its bonds without increasing taxes, and increases cause many cries
From all corners of the City. Instead bonds get paid by other sources, much the pity
There can’t be more abatements from sources other than you, like
TIF funds, water receipts and parking revenue.
With that, a series of annual farewells and Council wished each other well
Shouting, “happy holidays to all,” as if a spell.
And it worked, we look forward to more good work to be seen
when we all get back together in 2015.