Trustees Sworn In; Village Board Approves Recapture for Silver Cross

Trustees David Smith, Annette Bowden and Ray Tuminello were sworn in for another four-year term at the regular meeting of the New Lenox Village Board Monday. The three incumbents faced no challengers in the April 2013 election.

Mayor Tim Baldermann thanked them for their years of commitment to the village and their willingness to continue toward that end.  "We have six dedicated individuals that serve up here. They do a tremendous job. There's a wealth of experience up here. They do a wonderful job."  

In other business, the board approved three recapture agreements to benefit 1900 Silver Cross Boulevard. Because the hospital, after the economy tanked, was stuck paying the total cost of the south approach intersection improvement at Route 6 and Silver Cross Boulevard, trustees voted to establish a series of recapture ordinances.

Action to waive the first and second reading of proposed ordinances that give Silver Cross Hospital the right to recapture costs from incoming developments along Route 6 and Silver Cross Boulevard dominated the board meeting.  

While Silver Cross Hospital moved ahead with its plans to build the medical facility, which opened its doors in February 2012, other developments, such as the Zaremba Group's 97,000-square-foot retail center called Cedar Crossings came practically to a halt. The recession hit hard and heavy, postponing significant progress on the Cedar Crossings development.

Cedar Crossings was first slated to open in 2009.  

As a result, Silver Cross Hospital developers paid the full $2.7 million for the intersection of Route 6 and Silver Cross Boulevard south approach. Their rightful share of the project should have been $847,146, said Robin Ellis, community development director. Their share breaks down to 25 percent of the cost of intersection improvements or $520,321, and 50 percent of the cost of the Silver Cross Boulevard south approach or $336,824.  

Consequently, village trustees voted unanimously to arrange for three recapture agreements that work to return $1.8 million to Silver Cross. The village agreed to reimburse Silver Cross for the funds that it expended from the collection of recapture fees from incoming developments on property in the area.

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