Squire Restaurant owners are honored during village board meeting

By Jude Kaider, Correspondent

      Antioch Village Trustees honored Spiro Liarakos and his wife, Fay, during the Feb. 20  regular board meeting.

      The Liarakos have been the owner and operators of the Squire Restaurant, 1145 Main St., for 24 years. The family restaurant is slated to close its doors for good next month, due to commercial development scheduled for the northeast corner of routes 173 and 83, where the restaurant is located.

      During Monday night’s meeting Mayor Lawrence M. Hanson presented the couple with a Certificate of Appreciation. The presentation had been planned as a surprise and Liarakos and his wife were visibly moved by the ceremony.

      Hansen praised the generosity of Liarakos, who often contributed food to municipal workers during times of emergencies, such as last year’s crippling blizzard on Groundhog Day.

      Trustee George Sakas recounted how his family lacked a refrigerator for four days when they first moved to Antioch, and how they spent virtually all of their mealtimes at the Squire. Trustee Scott Pierce called the Squire, “the heart of the community.” Liarakos thanked the mayor and those in attendance.

      Hanson also issued a mayoral proclamation on behalf of Women’s History Month occurring this March. The focus of the observation is centered on women’s education and women’s empowerment. Mabel Lou Weber of the Lake County Women’s Coalition accepted the proclamation.

 

In other board news

      • the Village Board voted on a number of resolutions under the Consent Agenda, including amendments to the Employee Policy 3.1 dealing with paid holidays, the ordinance approving the Lavelle final plat of subdivision, the increase of IMRF hourly standards to 1,000 hours, a raffle license for the Open Arms Mission to be held on July 15, a raffle license for St. Peter’s Auctioneer’s Night to be held on April 21, a special event liquor license for St. Peter’s Auctioneer’s Night to be held on April 21, a special event liquor license for the AYLL (Antioch Youth Little League) Charity Poker Tournament. All resolutions were approved;

      • measures voted upon during discussion of regular business included payment of accounts payable as prepared by staff, a resolution accepting the SWALCO (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County) Recycling Task Force report and a resolution regarding IDOT permits for construction on state highways. All measures were approved;

      • James Keim delivered the Administrator’s Report. He noted his office was currently working on village budgets. Also discussed at length was the continuing discussion and cooperation with Antioch Township to resolve possible water and sewage issues facing the Tim Osmond Sports Complex Phase II C construction.

      Antioch village regulations state that the facility must connect to sanitary sewers but the geography of the complex is such that a variance may need to be issued allowing for a septic field or holding tank.

 

APD News

      Antioch Police Chief Craig Somerville gave an upbeat report on the decreasing crime in Antioch, due to neighborhood watch groups, a pro-active police force and cooperation with other area police forces.

      Somerville noted that over the past calendar year graffiti and juvenile vandalism has dropped by 19 percent, motor vehicle burglary has decreased 66 percent and traffic crashes are 19 percent lower.

      Since September 2011, over $98,000 in property and $38,000 in cash has been recovered for theft victims.

      • one public comment was made to the Board noting that Feb. 29 is Antioch’s 120th anniversary of its incorporation as a village.

      The meeting lasted one hour. Mayor Hanson chaired the meeting with trustees Mary C. Dominiak, Jay Jozwiak, Scott A. Pierce, Ted P. Poulos and George C. Sakas in attendance. Trustee Dennis B. Crosby was absent. Approximately 30 village residents attended the meeting

      Antioch Board of Trustee meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month at the Municipal Building, 874 Main St. in Antioch. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and are open to the public.


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