Frustration erupted Wednesday in Ford Heights because the Village Board met for the primary time following the appointment of interim Mayor Freddie Wilson, who was elevated final week to mayor of the impoverished group regardless of being in his first time period as a trustee.
Roughly 50 individuals had been available to witness how the Board would transfer on after their former mayor resigned as a result of a prison conviction.
After Wilson failed to handle former Mayor Charles Griffin’s embezzlement of village funds in addition to considerations over his private ties to Griffin, the gang grew to become stressed.
“Give us one thing — inform us one thing,” one man stated through the public remark interval earlier than strolling out of the assembly. “Say ‘hey guys — we’re going to do higher’ … Give us some sort of hope for tomorrow.”
Wilson confirmed that the village owes hundreds of thousands to neighboring Chicago Heights, which provides water to Ford Heights. Chicago Heights has been making an attempt to gather debt totaling about $2 million for greater than a decade, together with suing the village.
“We’re making an attempt to work out some sort of plan in need of litigation, in a hope that we are able to come to some sort of settlement on a month-to-month quantity to be paid,” Wilson stated on the assembly.
He stated Ford Heights continues to pay Chicago Heights $30,000 a month to settle that debt, an quantity he could attempt to enhance to $40,000 in coming weeks.
In response to questions from residents about why Ford Heights stays in a lot debt, Wilson blamed Annie Coulter — the mayor who served from 2017 to 2021, between Griffin’s two phrases.
“Ms. Coulter didn’t pay no payments,” Wilson stated. “I don’t know if I ought to say it or not, nevertheless it’s the reality.”
Wilson directed all questions on Ford Heights’ debt to village lawyer Mike Stuttley, who stated he isn’t certain how a lot the village at the moment owes Chicago Heights or if Coulter did not execute funds to the village.
He stated Ford Heights residents are paying about $60 per 30 days for water, which can proceed till the village is ready to repair damaged water mains, which might price between $2 and three million.
“What we’re making an attempt to do now’s apply for grant cash that may enable us to restore the water mains,” Stuttley stated. “It’s received to be finished.”
Some residents additionally expressed considerations surrounding Ford Heights’ lack of a public library, regardless of persevering with to gather taxes for a library district. Alyx Bibbs, who had lately returned to her hometown on a break from her education on the College of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, stated she believed the funds had been being mismanaged and wished solutions.
“I’ve encountered firsthand sacrifices with reference to the truth that we don’t have a library, and a number of the funds are used in the case of the library district,” Bibbs stated. “There was a scarcity of accountability, a scarcity of transparency. I believe all of us right here deserve that respect of that transparency.”
In response, Wilson stated “the village has nothing to do with the library.” He additionally requested residents to provide him an opportunity to settle into his new position.
A number of residents defended Wilson, saying the group ought to give him an opportunity to show his price as a frontrunner earlier than judging him as much like his predecessors.
Wilson will function interim mayor till the seat is up for election subsequent 12 months. Senior Trustee Tina McMichaels in addition to former trustee and Coulter ally Ladell Jones have introduced their intent to run for the place.
In the meantime, Wilson acknowledged the board has two open seats as a result of current resignation of Jimmy Viverrete and Wilson’s personal promotion to interim mayor. He plans to fill the seats on the board’s subsequent assembly at 5 p.m. Oct. 16 at 1343 Ellis Ave.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
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