Aldermen Want Real Flowers, Not Fake (Des Plaines Journal)

By TODD WESSELL

JOURNAL & TOPICS EDITOR

Real won out over fake Monday death when aldermen beyond all question to place suspension baskets full of live, colorful flowers along downtown streets in lieu of fake silk flowers.

City Manager Jason Bajor and Public Works Director Matthew Dusckett recommended that the city spend $45,300 to purchase 180 baskets of artificial silk flowers to hang without interruption downtown streetlight poles. Aldermen, yet, voted to procure baskets of live flowers explaining that limited residents preferred real plants.

"This is a hot sending out in Des Plaines to keep live flowers," proclaimed Ald. Jean Higgason (4th).

"I received a huge number of calls," added Ald. Laura Murphy (3d) explaining that nearly all were in be favorable of buying real blossom baskets to beautify the city’s central business region.

A few weeks ago, Bajor and Dusckett asked for permission to buy silk flower baskets to hang from downtown light poles explaining that they will require less vindication and thus save money. At Monday night’s assembly, Bajor once afresh asked to buy silk flowers saying they are used successfully in Wheeling and Niles. The use of silk flowers, Bajor explained, will allow the city to better use its Public Works personnel and not require frequent watering and care.

In recent months, City Council has authorized the spending of hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve the appearance of the downtown area. Purchasing flower baskets is one of those related projects. With the exception of Ald. Don Smith (7th), six of the seven council members in attendance at Monday night’s joining said they prefer real flowers. Ald. Tony Arredia too said real flowers are better. He said in two years, the colors of artificial flowers will "bake out".

"Everything around us is plastic. Silk flowers are just another step into what’s not real," said Arredia.