Village Board Approves Reimbursement for Firehouse Pizza and Pub Improvement Projects
Only one dissenting vote was cast in approving both reimbursements for the projects, which will cost about $18,000 and $6,000 each.
Photos
Pdfs
In a 4-1 vote the Village of Oswego board approved reimbursing Firehouse Pizza and Pub for the improvement projects of a new water main line and fixes to the retaining wall.
The Village was approached by Firehouse Pizza earlier in the year seeking reimbursements for projects on their property, located at 65 W. Washington in downtown Oswego.
Several trustees stated that they “felt uncomfortable” with providing financial assistance to the business due to previous issues of bill repayment, treatment of staff and work orders.
“My concern is that we are not holding a business accountable,” said Johnson on Tuesday night “My vote on this will be no for the hundreds of businesses that follow our rules and procedures.”
Firehouse Pizza was requesting assistance for a waterline that needed to be extended and widened and help with the retaining wall on the back of the village owned property at 63 W. Washington.
Trustee Scott Volpe asked village administrator Steve Jones if there had been any recourse to Firehouse Pizza for the infringements, to which Jones said there had been financial penalties and that currently Firehouse Pizza is “one month to the good.”
Other trustees were in favor of supporting the projects, citing the need to help support small businesses.
“These are small business men putting their sweat into this. It’s a win-win for everyone,” said trustee Tony Giles. “Residents have asked more development. We all want downtown area to be a thriving, fantastic place.”
“We’ve got more people coming downtown than we’ve ever had before,” said Volpe. “We’ve got tax dollars coming in, this building has sales tax coming in.”
The board voted 4-1 to approve both reimbursements, with Johnson casting the “no” vote and Terry Michels, who had stated at a previous board meeting concerns about the reimbursement, as absent.
The waterline project will cost the village $17,950, or half of the total cost of the project. The replacement of the retaining wall will be about $6,000.
In This article
-
Village of Oswego Village Hall
100 Parkers Mill Road, Oswego, I -
Firehouse Pizza and Pub
65 W Washington St, Oswego, IL -
Colleen
7:50 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
The food here is horrible. Staff is lazy. Owners are the rudest I have ever met. What a waste of money.
Amy Miller Jackson
8:27 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
The food is actually really good. The staff is new and the owners seemed very friendly to me. First we want to complain there is nothing downtown, then we complain about what comes to town. I hope no other business reads The Patch before making the decision to come to Oswego. There are so many disgruntled complainers that Arm Chair Quarterback everything that happens in this town.
Steven Jack
9:39 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Check out some reviews of the place right here. http://oswego.patch.com/listings/firehouse-pizza-and-pub.
I took my family here recently and we had a good experience. Nice to have something new downtown!
Ralph
10:30 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
the reviews on Patch don't exaclty match up with the reviews on Yelp. - I tried the place for lunch last week. Place looks good inside with nice beer selections however, I was not impressed by the pizza. Too much grease for my taste. Staff was decent, for beign the only person in the place at noon I was suprised how long it took to get a slice to go, but it was not horrible service. I have not heard good things but hopefully they will get better. Too bad the owners didn't give the village staff respect or follow regs. during the build out, with out the village, they would not have the pizza place. However, good luck hopefully this place will improve and be a ncie little spot in town.
Oswegosmarts
12:38 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
This is the hang out for the real people who run Oswego. You would have to live in a cave if you didn't think the trustees were going to vote No. They do as they are told. The trustees are the one who created this mess to begin with. Renting a public building for $1.00 a month. Paying for repairs with taxdollars. Who set up this agreement ?
Jane Enviere
1:27 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Wait, what??? "You would have to live in a cave if you didn't think the trustees were going to vote No." If you did not think they were going to vote no, that means you thought they were going to vote yes. Which they did, with the exception of 2 (one absent). So what is the point? That you must live in a cave if you expected them to vote yes?
Out of curiosity - who are the "real people who run Oswego" that hang out at this pizza place?
Jane Enviere
10:31 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
I don't know -- not that new in town with a decade or so here, but whenever I've driven by there during their business hours, it's been almost or completely empty. Still curious about who these people supposedly are. I assume you are not referencing sitting trustees or the village prez, because I would think you would just name them. So, who is it that you believe is pulling the strings? A couple of names and not just a cryptic reference would be most interesting. Nothing wrong with having a theory. lol
Oswegosmarts
2:47 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Sorry Jane Let me explain. If you thought that the trustees were going to vote no on paying for these repairs.Read the Patch article about the trustees felling "uncomfortable" in reimbursing them. That's my point. Many high profile people frequent this establishment that gives them a certain status,or clout. These shotcallers or high profile poeple have always run Oswego and always will. And if you don't know them, let me be the first to welcome you to the community.
Amy Miller Jackson
9:29 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Jane, Smarts said the people who "run" the town so that wouldn't be the trustees. They may vote on things and make some policy but they have very little influence on what really goes on. 10 years in Oswego still makes you an outsider, especially if you moved to one of the newer subdivisions during the construction boom. Trustees come and go but the lifers will always be here
J. Allen
9:08 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
not a bad place tto eat alittle pricey, but have heard they are rude to their employees, they may want to work aon that because an unhappy employee means unhappy customers.
CAB
9:54 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
I thought the pizza was good.