Village Board: LA Cafe Update, Boy Scouts Honored

New Lenox Boy Scout Troop 44 was honored Monday with the Good Citizenship Award at the outset of the meeting.

While on a five-mile hike as part of a project on July 14 at Red Gate Woods in Palos Park,  the members of Boy Scout Troop 44, who range in age from 11 to 13 years old, encountered a man injured after falling off his mountain bike. 

Scout Master Scott Dexheimer explained that all 13 troop members had arrived for an early morning hike when they encountered 47-year-old Andy Matthews, a regular mountain bike enthusiast from Evanston. The boys noticed that he was wobbly on his bike and needed help. The man stopped and said that he had hit a rock and was thrown. His eye was swollen and he was bleeding. 

Dexheimer said the boys immediately began using the first aid skills they had learned previously. They assessed him for injuries and shock. They cleaned up his wounds and applied bandages. Matthews rested but declined an offer to seek an ambulance.

The Scout Master said the boys were up for the challenge. They knew what to do and responded responsibly.

Matthews, who attended the board meeting to thank the boys publically, said he hadn't realized how seriously was injured. It wasn't until two days after the accident that pain stirred him to seek medical assistance. Ultimately, Matthews said he discovered that his right eye socket and cheek were shattered and his nose was broken in several places. He required reconstructive surgery.

He told the boys, "I'm now the proud owner of 24 screws and three plates. What cheered me on was the thought of being assisted by the great bunch of young men from Troop 44 who came to my aid when I so sorely needed it. 

"I joked with my surgeon afterwards that I was rescued by 20 Scouts all ready to what they could to make me more comfortable and administer what aid they could

"You are a great credit to Scouting and to young men everywhere."

He thanked the group again as Mayor Tim Baldermann presented the boys with their certificates. 

The members of Troop 44 are: Nick Hill, Nathan Creech, Nick Ruskowsky, Anthony Rios, Ken Clarke, Jake Dyrkacz, Micha McBride, TJ Duracka, Bobby Pilipchuk, Kevin Dexheimer, Austin Wills, Will Lester and Michael Malloy. 

Bids awarded for road resurfacing project

Upon recommendation of Will Nash, village engineer, the board accepted the lowest bid for a road resurfacing project. Construction Co. offered the lowest bid of $522,544.65. The work is planned along Pine Street to Cedar Road from First Avenue through Fourth Avenue.

Additionally, road resurfacing is slated to be completed in the alley between Second and Third avenues, and on Oak Drive between Route 30 and Haven Avenue.

Nelson Road between Laraway Road and Country Creek Drive is also on the list as well as Hickory Street between Pine Street and Oak Drive. Warren Avenue between Haven Avenue to the Dead End is planned for resurfacing along with Gina Drive. 

A $300,000 state grant facilitated by Rep. Renee Kosel, of New Lenox, will be applied to offset the overall cost. The village's motor fuel tax dollars will be used to fund the remainder of the project. 

LA Cafe update

On the east side of Cedar Road, Architects were on hand to present an architectural sketch of the strip mall anchored by the , which burned down in January. 

The owner of the strip mall, New Lenox's Matt Ebert, said he intended to update the property. "We've got some vacant spots," but the improvements should attract business.

John Olivieri said he would try to complete the project by December, but it's more likely that it will take until January 2013 for renovation of the entire strip, which consists of several businesses, including the old and still vacant Carey Animal Clinic and Fantastic Sams Hair Salon. The price tag for construction is expected to range from $1-to-$1.5 million.