Grundy Reporter

Village of Coal City Village Board met Oct. 28.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, Mayor Terry Halliday called to order the regular meeting of the Coal City Village Board in the boardroom of the Village Hall. Roll call-Trustees Dave Togliatti, Ross Bradley, Dan Greggain, Dave Spesia, and Tim Bradley, attorney Mark Heinle, Village Administrator, Matt Fritz and Police Chief Tom Best. Remotely was Trustee Sarah Beach.

Everyone said the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes of the October 14, 2020 meeting were presented. R. Bradley moved to approve the minutes as written, second by D. Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Bradley, Greggain, Spesia, Bradley and Beach. Nays; none. Motion carried.

The warrant list was presented and reviewed. A donation was received from Lyondell Basel! in the amount of $500 to be applied towards the $725 invoice for Spring Grove Nursery. Greggain moved to approve the warrant list as presented, second by Spesia. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Bradley, Greggain, Spesia, Bradley and Beach. Nays; none. Motion carried.

There was no public comment at this meeting.

Ordinance 20-18 regarding a variance at 830 E. Division Street was presented before this Board. The Petitioner, Doris Harrison and her contractor, Joshua Holloway were present for comments and questions. Diagrams of the proposed structure revisions including the driveway/parking lot were presented. Mr. Fritz presented the following points regarding the requested variance:

• Purpose of variance-the present use is changing (residential to commercial) and there is a lack of linear frontage

• Present attached garage will be demolished in order to widen the driveway Coal City Village Board Meeting

• The commercial use will be a hair salon

• Planning & Zoning Board held the Public Hearing and comments from the neighboring property owners were heard

• Guardrails will be installed on the west and east side of the property for parking/driveway purposes

• Existing curb cut is presently less than 20 feet wide

• Entrance to the parking lot will be on the east side of the business, parking in the rear, and existing on the west side to connect to the entrance

• One-way signage will be installed

• Possible future curb cut may be requested from IDOT

• E/W alley at the rear of the property ends before the property line of 830 E. Division Street 

• The business will run independently from the other existing businesses

• Storm water concerns; a new storm drain in front and rear of the property will be installed and tie into the Village's existing storm; gutters will tie into the Village storm drains; the west end of First Street retains water when it rains; a drainage ditch is on the west side of the property by the railroad

• A sign will be on the front of the building

Following discussion, Togliatti moved to adopt Ordinance 20-18 granting a variance concerning the elimination of non-conformities allowing the standard nonconformities at this property to continue, second by Greggain. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Bradley, Greggain, Spesia, Bradley and Beach. Nays; none. Motion carried.

Ordinance 20-19 approving the financial terms for the purchase of the Police Department fleet car was presented. Mr. Fritz stated that this purchase was included in the budget. The vehicle was ordered June 10, 2020 from D'Orazio Ford and the Coal City Bank-Pontiac are financing the purchase. Payments will be due in October of 2020 and 2021. Greggain moved to adopt Ordinance 20-19 authorizing Mayor Halliday to enter into a loan with the Coal City Bank in order to purchase a police squad for the fleet, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Bradley, Greggain, Spesia, and Beach. Nays; T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Resolution 20-30 supporting the ITEP (Illinois Transportation Enhancement Project) grant was discussed by the Board. Mr. Fritz stated that the Village is being assisted in the process by NCICG (North Central Illinois Council of Government). The ITEP grant will enhance the present streetscape with the projects that were dropped from the South Broadway Reconstruction Project. The grant application requires the Village to commit to a 20% of the total project pledge with 80% of the total project coming from the State of Illinois. Mr. Fritz explained that he had been in contact with qualified Illinois artists, Rick Romero, Dante DiBartolo and Jim Bacher for the public art streetscape. Other points of discussion included:

• 2017 Coal City ITEP Grant application was turned down by the State

• Pedestrian paths will be asphalt crosswalks

• Mosaic tiles will be placed in landscape squares

• Streetscape art will consist of a mural on the pump house, pot hole art and various sculptures; the Village already possess a tornado sculpture

• Funding for the Village's share of the project, approximately $75,000, will come from the beautification fund through the Community Foundation of Grundy County; the Community Foundation of Grundy County received the funding through a rent match with D Construction and CBBEL

Spesia moved to adopt Resolution 20-30 supporting the 2020 ITEP application providing 20% funding for the entire project, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Bradley, Greggain, Spesia, Bradley and Beach. Nays; none. Motion carried.

Present from NCICG were Kevin Lindeman and Emily Byrne. They stated:

• The ITEP grant application submission details

• The award will be announced in the Spring or Summer of 2021

• Artists will be commissioned

• Concrete contractor will address the crosswalks

NCICG will complete the grant application for a cost of $2,000. Greggain moved to authorize Mayor Halliday to enter into an agreement with NCICG to complete the grant application for a cost of $2,000, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Bradley, Greggain, Spesia, Bradley and Beach. Nays; none. Motion carried.

Mayor Halliday thanked Trustee Tim Bradley for sitting in as Temporary Mayor at the last Village Board meeting. Mayor Halliday reported on the recent meeting held with Dr. Kent Bugg and others regarding the school opening challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mayor Halliday asked for the CURE grant update from Mr. Fritz. Mr. Fritz reported and added that two of the local businesses, Broadway Dance Center and Excalibur Gymnastics had received funds from the Downstate Stabilization grant. Dr. Pullara's application is still under consideration. LaPiazza recently submitted additional requested information and are awaiting consideration. Dr. Trevisan recently sold her Coal City dental practice. Mayor Halliday expressed that the emergency funding is taking too long to be received in light that the Federal Funds have been paid through the State of Illinois and the State isn't releasing the funds in a timely manner. He announced that the Grundy County Health Department still has this area in the "blue" concerning the COVID- 19 virus.

Trustee Beach announced that Small Business Saturday is slated for Saturday, November 28th.

Trustee T. Bradley reminded everyone to vote on November 3rd•

Trustee Spesia reported on the South Broadway Reconstruction project in that D Construction is moving forward with the punchlist and addressing some of the ponding areas. The planters are waiting for leveling wedges and the east storm inlets are being reviewed.

Trustee R. Bradley asked for an update on the storm damage. Mr. Fritz said the storm caused about $500 damages at the water treatment plant due to lightening.

Trustee Togliatti gave an update of the recent Planning and Zoning Board meeting.

Ryan Hansen from Chamlin Engineering was not present but had submitted an update of projects list.

Chief Best noted that the new officer was at Police Academy and doing quite well.

Matt Fritz reported:

• November 10th is a virtual meeting "Saving Dresden"

• Due to the Veteran's Day Holiday on November 11th, the next Village Board meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday, November 10th

• Recently received the estimated EAV figures from Grundy County and will proceed with preparing the tax levy.

T. Bradley moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Bradley, Greggain, Spesia, Bradley and Beach. Nays; none. Motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m.

https://coalcity-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/10-28-2020-VB-Minutes.pdf