Manteno Village Board Revises Public Participation
By Andrea Arens
In a consent agenda with no discussion and no dissension, the Manteno Village Board unanimously voted to revise the public participation rules for village board meetings.
The revised ordinance provides that each speaker addressing the board be given three minutes, but once the three minutes is over, if the speaker does not stop, their mic will be shut off, and they can be removed from the podium.
It also allows the village board to remove anyone not abiding by the rules, prevents anyone from repeating the same comments, prohibits yielding of minutes to other speakers, and limits public participation to 30 minutes total for each meeting.
Conversation between speakers and audience members also is prohibited, and all of it only applies to audience members, not board members.
Several residents spoke in opposition of the change regarding the change in commentary addressing the board to prohibit those speaking out against the Gotion battery manufacturing deal that was struck last fall.
Resident Robert Forsythe said as he addressed the board, “This is a self-inflicted wound on you. We didn’t do this to you; you did this to yourself. You should be ashamed of yourself to limit us.”
Also approved under the consent agenda was a proposal from HR Green of New Lenox to geographic information system map all privately owned security cameras by residents in the village. Under the proposal for ___________, HR Green will create the map identifying all security cameras installed by residents, even Ring cameras, in order to assist the police department with investigating crimes in the area. Manteno did offer $100 rebates for resident-installed security cameras.
Another unanimously approved consent agenda ordinance prohibits any itinerant merchant, including food trucks, from doing business in the village without first obtaining a license. Itinerant merchant is defined as any person who transports tangible personal property for sale within the village and does not maintain an established location in the village. Transient merchant is similar but includes any occupation of a building, room, vehicle, structure, or vacant lot but does not maintain an established store, office, or distribution warehouse. Any itinerant merchant, transient merchant, or food truck will now be required to complete a thorough application and pay a $50 fee to the village.
3 Comments
Illinois News
Classifieds
Markanich Twins Selected in Major League Soccer Superdraft
Spread the loveBy Stephen Nelson Two recent Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School graduates, who are twins, are going to be playing Major League Soccer following their selection in the first and second rounds of the league’s super draft on January 11. Anthony Markanich, a 2018 BBCHS grad and now a senior at Northern Illinois University, was…
MPD Office Manager Honored for 20 Years of Service
Spread the loveBy Eric Peterson Manteno Police Chief Al Swinford presented Manteno Police Department Office Manager Carla Hilbert with a plaque to celebrate her 20 years of service with the department. He commented that, in conjunction with the difficulties of the ever-changing clerical work within the office, her communication skills are what truly set her…
Panthers Win with Solid Defense
Spread the loveBy Stephen Nelson The Manteno Panthers Varsity Boys Basketball Team scored their sixth league win of the season at home on Wednesday night, January 19, while hosting the Central Comets. The 6-2 Panthers held the lead wire-to-wire in the game and were led in scoring by Nicky Johnson, who had 9 field goals. Also…
Police Investigation in Rash of OD’s
Spread the loveBy: Stephen Nelson An investigation into a rash of seven overdoses in one day in Kankakee continues as police say six of the victims are believed to have been at a party at the same address the night they ended up in the hospital. One of the six never made it to receive…
Teacher Shortage at Crisis Level in Central Illinois
Spread the loveEducators report burnout, exhaustion, and no clear end in sight. By Taylor Vidmar Lee Enterprises For Capitol News Illinois Editor’s Note: Taylor Vidmar is a student in the Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois-Springfield. She is a reporting intern at the Capitol for Lee Enterprises. SPRINGFIELD – There was once…
Lee’s Rental Celebrates New Location with Ribbon Cutting, Grand Opening
Spread the loveLee’s Rental, Inc., celebrated a new location on Friday, January 14, with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Manteno Chamber of Commerce. Lee’s Rental, which just marked its 10th year in business, now is at 275 N. Grove Street in Manteno. They specialize in party inflatables, bounce houses, moonwalks, inflatable movie screens,…
St. Rose of Lima Chapel to Hold Monthly Mass
Spread the loveSt. Rose of Lima Chapel offers a mass on the last Friday of the month at 6 p.m. This month, the mass will be held on Friday, January 28. In addition, St. Rose offers weekly times for “adoration,” held on Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. in the church. Remotely, adoration is held…
Manteno Chamber Joins New All-In Initiative
Spread the loveManteno Chamber joins more than 50 Chambers across state urging Illinois Legislature to provide additional economic/regulatory relief for businesses. The Manteno Chamber of Commerce joined the initiative “Chambers All-In for Economic Recovery,” which is a collaboration of chambers across Illinois. The coalition calls on the Illinois Legislature to prioritize economic and regulatory relief…
KVTA Winter Production: ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’
Spread the loveTheatre in your backyard continues! Kankakee Valley Theatre Association proudly presents its third production of the 2021-2022 season “Peter and the Starcatcher,” this February. The small, intimate cast of 16 will bring this laugh-out-loud production to life for the Kankakee area. Performances are scheduled for Saturdays, February 5 and 12, at 7 p.m., plus…
Rep. Haas Comments on HR598
Spread the loveThe SAFE-T Act is ineffective, poorly written legislation that has and will continue to make Illinois and all those who live here less safe. That is why I am co-sponsoring HR 598 to repeal the SAFE-T Act. I said it a couple of weeks ago in my press conference, but I will say…
State Officials Cut COVID Schools’ Isolation Time
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Even as schools across the state are facing staff shortages and high student absenteeism brought on by the latest COVID-19 surge, state officials said they would adopt new, shorter quarantine times as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. Last week, officials with both the Illinois State Board of Education…
Local Business Bare Blue for Bradley Police Department
Spread the loveBy Eric Peterson The new year has been highlighted with the color blue. Homes and businesses across Kankakee County can be seen with blue lights, blue lines, and American Flags at half-mast as our community stands in solidarity to show support for critically injured Officer Tyler Bailey and to express anguish in the tragic…
Future Fundraising Efforts to Support Officer Bailey and Sergeant Rittmanic
Spread the loveBy Eric Peterson While many businesses have already stood together to raise much-needed funds for the families of fallen Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and severely injured Officer Tyler Bailey, there are several other opportunities for community members to show their support. January 23, from 2– 6 p.m.: Northfield Square Mall will use the former…
Crime in Manteno, Surrounding Areas
Spread the loveBy Melanie Holmes Emotions run high in the face of crime. No one should have to face the wrong end of a gun barrel just for doing their job, but it does happen – as this area knows full well in light of the recent loss of Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and the critical…
Chess League Begins a KPL
Spread the loveInterested in competing with other chess players? Kankakee Public Library, 201 E. Merchant Street, will sponsor a chess league, beginning on Saturday, January 22, at 10 a.m. Registration is $20, call 815-939-4564 to reserve a space, and a full schedule will be provided. Note: Playoffs are April 2 and 9. Cash prizes will…
Sounds like they are trying to SILENCE voices that do not agree with them. Wow. Makes we want to come voice my opinion. Manteno has been sold to chyna. Your mayor and our governor have sold you all.
This “ board” needs taken out! They sit amongst each other and think their better then others.unbelievable! Im sure the deputy dogs are right their with the public paid for police vehicles to suppress voices..take em out!
Manteno board should be ashamed! What a bad move for Manteno and their residents.