Grundy Reporter

Coal City Village Board met March 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Mayor Terry Halliday called to order the meeting of the Coal City Village Board in the boardroom of the Village Hall. Roll call- Trustees Dave Togliatti, Ross Bradley, Dave Spesia and Sarah Beach. Absent were Trustees Dan Greggain and Tim Bradley. Also in attendance were Attorney Mark Heinle, Police Chief Chris Harseim, Ryan Hansen from Chamlin Engineering and Matt Fritz, Village Administrator.

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes of the March 6, 2023 Village Board meeting were presented. Spesia moved to approve the minutes as presented, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

The minutes of the March 15, 2023 Budget meeting were presented and reviewed. R. Bradley moved to approve the minutes as written, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

The warrant list was presented. Spesia moved to approve the warrant list, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

There was no Public Comment at this meeting.

A letter of request by the Will-Grundy Counties Building & Construction Trades Council and Kankakee/Iroquois Counties Trades of AFL-CIO to hold the annual D.a.d.'s Day (Dollars Against Diabetes) on June 17, 2023 was presented. The Board approved the request with the stipulation that the Chief of Police notify the collectors of the fund raiser are not allowed to collect at the traffic intersections as they requested.

Ordinance 23-04, amending the liquor control regulations for an additional Class A License be approved by the Board was presented and discussed. Mr. Fritz stated that Luevano's located at 435 W. Division Street had obtained a conditional use permit to serve craft beers and other drinks within the barbershop. The background check is completed for the liquor license. The ordinance establishes one more Class A liquor license, brings the total to two. Togliatti moved to adopt Ordinance 23-04 increasing the total number of Class A liquor licenses by one more for Luevano's, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Ordinance 23-05 amending the Village's Code regarding solar panels was presented to the Board. Mr. Fritz explained the new revisions permit a greater amount of the roof be utilized for solar panels along the street side but the shape to remain rectangular on the street side. A Public Hearing for the change was conducted at the Planning and Zoning Board, approved, and they are making the recommendation for the amendments to the Village Board. Togliatti moved to adopt Ordinance 23-05 amending the Solar Panel Installation Requirements within Section 156.62.1 of the Village Code, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Ordinance 23-06 abating the taxes previously levied for levy 2022 related to the sanitary modernization project was presented to the Board. Mr. Fritz stated that this is the first year for the abatement. Funding source for the project comes from sanitary surcharge, approximately $150,000 per year with the TIF funds providing the additional funding. Spesia moved to adopt Ordinance 23-06 abating the levy year 2022 tax previously recorded for the debt related to the sanitary modernization project bonds, second by Beach. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Resolution 23-02, accepting the 2023 IHDA (Illinois Housing Development Authority) Grant Agreement was approved by the Board at their March 6, 2023 meeting. The resolution will provide $350,000 funding for the IHDA Grant to assist residents in fixing/repairing their homes. The Grant is administered by NCICG (North Central Illinois Council of Governments). Approving the ratification will insure the Resolution was appropriately adopted after informing the public of the Board's intent to ratify for at least 48 hours prior to its ratification. Spesia moved to ratify Resolution 23-02 accepting the 2023 IHDA Grant Agreement, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Resolution 23-04, amending the FY23 Budget to allow necessary expenditures was presented to the Board by Mr. Fritz. He explained that five funds are impacted and need to be adjusted. He explained the affected line and the adjustments necessary to align with the FY23 Budget. R. Bradley moved to adopt Resolution 23-04 amending the FY23 Budget to allow for necessary expenditures, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Discussion was held regarding the new rates for utility billing. Mr. Fritz explained that the topic was presented at the recent water and sewer committee meeting and the recommendation for the FY24 rates is an increase of 7%, the garbage rates will remain the same and the $5.00 per month per account surcharge will continue. Mr. Fritz explained the basis for the increase. R. Bradley moved to approve the new rates for FY24 to include an increase, beginning June 2023, the garbage rate remaining the same and the $5.00 surcharge to continue, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Ryan Hansen presented the results of the bid letting held on March 20, 2023 for the 2nd Avenue Storm & Water Main Improvements. Mr. Hansen explained the scope of the project and the affected area. There were two bidders with the apparent lowest bidder being D Construction of Coal City, Illinois, with the bid amount of $1,263,317.10. The engineers estimate for the project was approximately $1.25m. Spesia moved to approve the lowest bidder, D Construction, in the amount of $1,263,317.10 for the work involved at N. 2nd Avenue to improve utilities within the neighborhood focused primarily upon storm drainage, water main replacement along with road restoration, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Chief Harseim announced the resignation of Officer Kasher effective April 3, 3023. It is the determination of the Fire & Police Board of Commissioners to select Officer Kashers replacement. Spesia moved to authorize Mayor Halliday to submit a letter to the Fire & Police Board of Commissioners to hire an additional full-time officer, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Mr. Fritz informed the Board that the Village has outstanding water bills amounting to $6,009.42 which have been deemed uncollectable. This is an accumulated amount of over ten years. This is one-third of one percent of the total fees collected on an annual basis. It is recommended that the Village waive these closed accounts. The Village will continue to attempt collection of past due accounts that exceed $100.00 for the next 3-5 months. R. Bradley moved to instruct the utility billing clerk to waive inactive water/sewer account balances of up to $100.00 more than 200 days outstanding in which the clerk deems the responsible owner or occupant unreachable, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried.

Chief Harseim presented the Coal City Police Department Year End Summary Report for 2022. Included in the presentation was the Activity Summary; the (UCR) FBI Uniform Crime Reporting and (NIBRS) National Incident-Based Reporting System; State Traffic Cash Report and Coal City P.D. 2022 summary. Various officer awards and activities were presented. The Board thanked Chief Harseim.

Mayor Halliday said that he would be out of town, not returning until April 15th therefore he would not be at the next Board meeting on April 12th.

Trustee Beach gave a handout of the proposed park at Meadow Estates. Along with playground equipment there will be benches, a pickle ball court and possibly a water fountain. She also stated that the next Chamber Connect event will be held on March 23rd at "The Cove."

Clerk Noffsinger stated that the consolidated election will be held on April 4th and wished all the candidates good luck.

Attorney Heinle spoke regarding the waiver of the inactive water/sewer accounts and stated that the Village might consider enforcing a deposit for these services on the owner occupied properties. The Board will consider the suggestion.

Ryan Hansen reported:

Waste Water Treatment Plant start-up went well

Well #3 is scheduled for repair on April 7th.

A survey of the streets will be conducted and a Street & Alley Committee meeting will be held to discuss the next street/alley repair list for 2023

Mr. Fritz reported:

Congratulations to the Middle School Wrestlers State Competition Jacque Allen was congratulated on her retirement as of March 17th Presented a year to date Budget Status Report

Mayor Halliday congratulated the Coal City High School on their musical production with over 5,000 attending over the six performances.

R. Bradley moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Beach. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain and T. Bradley. Motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

https://coalcity-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/VB-Meeting-Minutes-Web-03-22-2023.pdf