Official wins safety award from peers

What happens when 300 municipal code officials from across the U.S. gather in Reno, Nev.?

Well, if you're Don Plass, you get a really heavy plaque, which he held up for trustees on Monday.

Plass, Hoffman Estates' code enforcement director, was honored in October with the 2007 International Code Council Community Service Award.

The council cited Plass for "his efforts to promote public safety, health and welfare to ensure a safer built environment."

Plass helped push legislation to keep roads safe. He helped thwart sales of radio transmitters that trigger the Opticom system, which turns traffic signals green when lights and sirens are activated so emergency vehicles can safely pass through intersections.

These transmitters were available to purchase by consumers at stores for about $90, and could have caused roadway chaos, Plass said.

Flanked by two 40-feet-tall video screens in Reno, the larger-than-life Plass addressed his colleagues about his 10 years of active service in the community.

Congrats.

Game on: The Chicago Shamrox started the season over the weekend with an 11-9 loss against Toronto. The lacrosse match drew more than 6,000 fans Saturday to the Sears Centre. The Shamrox were the arena's most consistent draw last season.

Before the game, a group of Chicago sports royalty came onto the field. Bears' kicker Robbie Gould, Blackhawks' legend Stan Makita, former Cub Randy Hundley and Carlos May, formerly of the White Sox, greeted fans.

"Then they introduced me," Mayor William McLeod joked.

McLeod attended the game to throw the ceremonial first ball, as the village has money riding on the Sears Centre's success. The $60 million arena opened in 2006, backed with a $50 million loan from Hoffman Estates. The village's newsletter now lists the arena's calendar of events below the Sears Centre's logo.

EJ&E purchase: Residents living near the Elgin Joliet and Eastern rail line could hear more traffic, as the Canadian National Railway has proposed to purchase the track. The transaction could increase the freight traffic on the railway by 20 to 25 trains daily.

The federal Surface and Transportation Board is seeking the public's comment. Comments about the environmental aspects of the plan can be sent by Feb. 1 to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E. St. SW, Washington, DC 20423, Attention: Phillis Johnson-Ball, Environmental Filing, STB Finance Docket No. 35087.

Or submit comments at stb.dot.gov/Ect1/ecorrespondence.nsf/incoming?OpenForm.