TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 19, 2022
COMMITTEE ON REAL ESTATE
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Authority to grant a 10-year non-exclusive easement to Chicago Eruv, Inc. to continue to maintain, repair and remove an eruv on District property located along the east bank of the North Shore Channel between the Peterson Avenue bridge and Howard Street, traversing Chicago, Lincolnwood and Skokie, Illinois. Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00
Body
Dear Sir:
On August 9, 2012, the District granted a 10-year easement to Chicago Eruv, Inc. (“Chicago Eruv”) for the sole and exclusive purpose of maintaining, repairing, and removing an eruv on District property located along the east bank of the North Shore Channel between the Peterson Avenue bridge and Howard Street in Chicago, Lincolnwood and Skokie, Illinois. An eruv is an area which symbolically extends the private domain of Jewish households into public areas, permitting activities within it that are traditionally forbidden in public on the Sabbath.
The subject easement facilitates a portion of the eruv consisting of a six-foot section of a 48-inch high fence at the northeast corner of the Lincoln Avenue bridge and three light poles located on District property located along the east bank of the North Shore Channel, one pole at each of the bridges over the Channel at Devon, Touhy and Howard Streets traversing Chicago, Lincolnwood and Skokie, Illinois, and two 2" square steel tube "doorways" at the south edge of the Peterson Avenue bridge and under the northern portion of the Lincoln Avenue bridge in Chicago, Illinois.
The subject easement, as amended, expires September 15, 2022. Chicago Eruv has requested a new 10-year easement. The District's technical departments have reviewed the subject request and have no objections to the easement.
Chicago Eruv will comply with the District's standard insurance requirements including bodily injury and property damage liability; however, it has requested that waivers previously granted by the Board continue as to the environmental liability coverage, performance bond and document preparation fee since it is using the property for a public purpose and there is minimal environmental risk associated with its use of District land.
It is requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize the grant of a 10-year easement to Chicago Eruv, Inc. to continue to maintain, repair and remove an eruv on District property located along the east bank of the North Shore Channel between Peterson Avenue bridge and Howard Street, traversing Chicago, Lincolnwood and Skokie, Illinois. Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00.
It is also requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and the Clerk be authorized and directed to execute said easement agreement after it is approved by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:MTC:MM:vp
Recommended, Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for May 19, 2022
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