Kankakee Times

The Kankakee City Council denied a request for a conditional use permit for Cornerstone Services Inc. at its Jan. 1 meeting.

Cornerstone Services Inc. develops housing projects for people living with disabilities and currently manages several properties throughout Kankakee County, including some in Kankakee City. 

The permit would have allowed the company to proceed with a new project at 1401 Navajo Court with a real estate tax exemption valued at approximately $11,000. 

Concerned that the city could not afford to lose another $11,000 from the tax base and that the proposed plans were not suitable for the proposed location, Alderman Larry Osenga moved to deny the permit request. His motion was approved unanimously.

The council also spent substantial time discussing the city's representation at this year's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day breakfast in Bradley. The issue was brought up by Alderman Steve Hunter who was disappointed that other local and state government officials attended; he did not see any representation from Kankakee City. 

The observation was echoed by Pastor Nathaniel Randle who was concerned the absence was sending the wrong message.

"Don’t tell me or show me that you don’t care about people of color and the things that they care about and love," Randle said. "Don’t show me that. Because if you do, I got a problem."

Though much of the discussion was about mayoral representation, Alderwoman Chasity Wells-Armstrong responded by pointing out that she and four other aldermen were at the breakfast.

The council also awarded the city's 2016 Public Works Department fuel contract to Gas Depot and announced a new card Kankakee police will be required to give to pedestrians they stop that includes the officer's name, badge number, incident number and the reason for the stop.