RESOLUTION FOR THE BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2017
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing the 125th Anniversary of the Village of Franklin Park, Illinois
Body
WHEREAS, in the 1840s, immigrant German farmers settled in an area northwest of the Des Plaines River, at a point now known as the Indian Boundary Line. By the mid-1880s, the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, the Minneapolis, St. Paul, & Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Line), the Indiana Harbor Belt and the Chicago and Wisconsin Railroads had built lines in the area; and
WHEREAS, in 1890, Mr. Lesser Franklin, a real-estate broker, initiated efforts to acquire nearly 600 acres of farmland at the intersection of these railroad lines, for the purposes of creating a modern residential and industrial community that he named Franklin Park; and
WHEREAS, on August 4, 1892, 63 residents voted to incorporate the Village of Franklin Park, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Franklin’s vision of a vibrant industrial center blended within a residential neighborhood has been realized today, as Franklin Park is now home to more than 18,000 residents, 1,200 businesses and is one of the largest industrial areas in Illinois, thanks to its proximity to O’Hare International Airport, the interstate system, rail infrastructure and intermodal facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Franklin Park has also distinguished itself in promoting innovative sustainability practices through the construction of a LEED Gold certified police station, the replacement of outdated vehicles with energy efficient electric vehicles, the utilization of natural lawn care on all Village-owned properties and the promotion of recycling, composting and water conservation practices to residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago recognized Franklin Park’s commitment to sustainability practices at the MWRD’s Sustainability Summit in 2014 and through a 2015 Board resolution commending the Village’s commitment to the health and welfare of its residents and the environment, by utilizing natural lawn care on all Village-owned properties and encouraging and educating the general public and private sector about natural lawn care techniques; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, extend our congratulations to the Village of Franklin Park on the occasion of the celebration of its 125th Anniversary; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to the Village of Franklin Park and Village President Barrett F. Pedersen.
Dated: August 3, 2017
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; TIMOTHY BRADFORD; MARTIN J. DURKAN; JOSINA MORITA; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Susan T. Morakalis, Acting General Counsel, STM:aw