Board of Trustees - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call the June 11th Indian Head Park Board of Trustees meeting to order. Clerk, could we please call roll?

Trustee Ayanoko? Absent. Trustee Saldana? Here. Trustee Eck?

Here.

Trustee Donnersberger? Trustee Sveska? Trustee Gazus?

Here.

Can we please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? Alrighty very quick Village presidents report if you can just bring up. There's two items that are Something I wanted to let all of you know about they're fun things there is going to be a time capsule celebration and concert on Tuesday June 23rd at the pleasant dale park district it's sponsored by the pleasant dale park district and the pleasant dale park district foundation which is the foundations arm of pleasant dale park they're having a joint opening celebration of the fiftieth anniversary time capsule that is buried. So they've actually brought it up and they're going to go through what some of the items are that were buried in 1976 at Pleasantdale Park. And in that evening, we've also been invited to... bury some Indian Head Park historical items. So I need some ideas of what we could put in the time capsule from Indian Head Park. And if you have any great ideas, let me know sometime this week because we need to get these prepared and plan what they need to fit in when the Park District is doing the big thing. So several of the Park District municipalities are participating, Burridge, Willow Springs, Indian Head Park, and others. So not only are they going to do the time capsule, but they're also having food trucks at 5 o'clock. The time capsule celebration will be at 6 o'clock, and then there is going to be a concert, a band concert after the ceremony. So we would love everyone to join us for a great evening, so please put that on your calendars. Next up is the Highlands Civic Association Safety walk so there this is the second year that they've done a safety walk from the Highlands Elementary School parking lot to Highland Queen and It's a way to meet all of your neighbors both from Indian Head Park and Lagrange Highlands and other neighboring municipalities This is going to be with Cook County Police and our other police officers from the different municipalities they bring all the police cars over there and It's a great way for the kids to meet all of our police and have a fun, really a couple of hours to spend walking to Highland Queen with everybody and getting ice cream all together and really spending time together as a community, which is really fun. We did it last year and it was a great time. So please, come and bring your family and walk with us from the Highlands Elementary parking lot to the Highland Queen at 5.30 on 622. It starts at 5 o'clock. The food trucks open at 5 if you want to have dinner, and then 6 will be the ceremony. That is it for my report. Can I have a motion, please, for the consent agenda? And one item. We need to take out item... and move that to new business. So if you could.

Move approval of the consent agenda amended to take out item G, consideration of resolution 202618 to the regular agenda.

Great, thank you. Can I have a second please?

Second.

Great, any questions on the consent agenda? Items? Hearing none, can we have a finance report please?

Yes, ma'am. The financial summary for the month ending May 31st of 2026, our cash on hand at April 30th, 2026 was $3,096,650.06. ALL PAYMENTS FOR MAY OF 2026 WERE $469,944.04. OUR TOTAL REVENUES FOR MAY OF 2026 WERE $357,749.90. AND OUR ENDING BANK BALANCE AT MAY 31, 2026 WAS $2,984,455.92.

Great. If there are no other questions on consent agenda, can we please have a roll call vote, please?

Trustee Ayanaka? Trustee Saldana? Aye. Trustee Eck?

Aye.

Trustee Donnersberger? Trustee Sveska? Aye. Trustee Gazzas.

Aye.

And you'll need to call me because we need to.

President Wittenberg.

Aye, thank you. All righty, moving on to new business. Can I have a motion for item I, please?

Are we going to do item G?

Oh, I'm sorry.

And it is, let's do G first. Motion to approve, not just to discuss, right? Okay, I move approval of resolution 2026-18, adopting a mission statement and core values for the village.

Second. And I think Gavin and Brandon will be handling this.

Exactly. So before Brandon reviews the proposed mission statement and core values, I wanted to briefly explain why staff is recommending their formal adoption. Every organization operates with a set of values, whether they're written down or not. And the purpose of adopting a mission statement intentionally and core values is to create a shared framework that helps guide decision making, resource allocation, service delivery, and organizational priorities. For local government, a mission statement helps answer the question, why are we here? And core values help answer the next question, which is how do we go about doing what we do, which is to serve the community. By formally adopting these statements, the Village establishes a consistent set of principles that can be referenced when developing budgets, evaluating projects, setting goals, setting organizational priorities, communicating with residents, and onboarding future employees and elected officials. This is intended to provide clarity and alignment so that decisions are made consistently and with a common understanding of the village's purposes and expectations. With that, I'll turn it over to Brandon to go through the details of the mission statement and core values that we've drafted.

The proposed mission statement goes, the Village of Indian Head Park provides responsible stewardship of public resources to support a prosperous, resilient, and livable community for the residents and businesses that call Indian Head Park home. And the proposed core values reflecting the principles that will guide the village operations are transparency and community engagement, specifically we communicate openly provide accurate and timely information and encourage meaningful dialogue with residents businesses and stakeholders we conduct the public's businesses in a manner that builds trust promotes community involvement and supports informed decision making The second value, efficiency. We make the best use of public resources by continually improving processes, eliminating waste, and delivering high quality services in a cost efficient matter, cost effective matter. The final core value, accountability. We are responsible stewards of public resources, honor our commitments, and respond promptly to those we serve and are accountable for our decisions, actions, and results. If adopted, staff intends to incorporate the mission and values into the village communications and organizational documents, including the village website, annual budget document, strategic planning efforts, and employee onboarding materials, and anywhere else that may be appropriate.

Like our website, which is being updated.

I have a question. How does this affect what we've done or what we'll be doing going forward?

Well, I kind of went through that with, it's gonna give us some guiding principles. It's gonna make those guiding principles transparent and clear to residents and businesses. And it's going, I think it's going to up our professionalism is how I'd sum it up.

Well, we haven't had this in the past. Has that impacted us by not having this? Pardon me?

I believe it has affected us in the past. I think we're better off if we have clearly stated principles, values, and a clearly stated mission, and if we all understand and accept that, particularly with staff, then I do think we will produce a better product.

Okay, thank you.

Does anybody have any feedback on the actual text that's been written or think of any other things that you would like to add to this or any other ideas that you have that we may not have thought of? Any other feedback? Trustee Saldana?

So we don't have to come up with changes right now. Mission statements usually are short, and that one is really good, simple, and guiding principles can evolve with the passing of time, because there's changes in technology and understanding of humans. So we're good. Okay, good start.

So if there's no other feedback or changes, I think we need to vote on these, correct, as a board? So could we have a roll call vote, please?

Trustee Ayanoko? Trustee Saldana? Aye. Trustee Eck?

Aye.

Trustee Donnersberger? Trustee Sveska? Trustee Gazas? Aye. And President Woodenberg?

Aye. Thank you. Now we're going to move on to item I, a new business, please.

Move approval of ordinance 2026-10, increasing the number of video gaming licenses in the village from five to six.

Second.

The item before you is a proposed ordinance that will allow the amount of gaming licenses in the village to increase. The way the code operates is very similar to liquor license. We need to increase the amount of gaming licenses that we have before we can issue an additional gaming license. The specific code states in Section 8274A, the total number of video gaming license, video gaming location license issued under this article shall be provided from time to time by the Village Board of Trustees. So essentially, the Board of Trustees will increase the amount of video gaming locations and then the liquor commissioner, President Amy Jo Wittenberg, I apologize, will issue the actual license. So today, we would like to increase the number of locations from five which currently belong to Wolf's Head, Debbie's Slot Lounge, Oak Pantry, 7-Eleven, and Bonnie's Bistro. And we would like to increase that to six for applicant stars and stripes. And if they are granted, If we choose to increase the amount of gaming location licenses to six and we choose to grant them the gaming license, they plan to install six gaming terminals, which is allowed. The only necessary documents which they have provided is the state of Illinois application, which they were approved for. and our own application, which is attached as well in the memo.

I do have a question. Looks like the entity answered the morality and felony offense questions in the affirmative, but there was no explanation. So do we have an explanation for the entity's Positive responses to ever been convicted of a felony offense, yes, and convicted of a crime involving dishonesty, gambling, and or moral turpitude. I realize the manager answered those negatively, but is there any color on those responses?

The applicants are in the audience if you want to...

So under the first part of, under Stars and Stripes, Sports Lounge, Percent Director, yeah, so those were just incorrectly answered?

Yes. Okay.

And then are you? Do you want to address us, please?

Thank you.

Are you Dan?

Yes. No for everything.

I guess I would say that answers my question, which is maybe he should resubmit that so it's on the record as negative.

Mm-hmm.

I think that's a great idea. So maybe if you follow up with staff, sir, what Trustee Gazas is referring to is there was a page 13 of the application to the state. So thank you for clarifying that for the record. But I agree with Trustee Gazas. Just for the purposes of the paper document, assuming that um it was answered incorrectly you'd want to submit a new one so that their the application is correct okay so i guess my question is then i got to come back the following month to the board because no no no no this is just paperwork okay yeah i have no problem taking care of that tomorrow morning when i come pay though if it gets approved pay the whatever i need to pay

Thank you. Do we have any other questions or comments? Thanks for reminding us.

Well, gee whiz, I hope not. If there are no other questions, then I believe we need a roll call vote.

Trustee Ionaco. Trustee Saldana. Aye. Trustee Eck.

Aye.

Trustee Donnersberger. Trustee Sveska. Trustee Gazas. Aye. And President Wittenberg.

Aye. That motion has carried, and now we will move on.

Move approval of ordinance 2026-11, amending chapter 30 of the code of ordinances regarding the protection of roadway shoulder improvements within public rights off-way.

Second.

So the reason we're bringing this ordinance to the board is that Public Works is preparing to implement a multi-year program to restore repair and improve gravel shoulders throughout portions of the community that do not currently have curb and gutter these shoulders are an important part of the roadway system and They help support the pavement edge, improve drainage, reduce roadway deterioration, provide a recovery area for vehicles, and extend the useful life of village streets. Over time, some of the shoulders that we do have have been altered by adjacent property owners or contractors through activities such as removing gravel, extending turf to the edge of the pavement, regrading shoulder areas, or incorporating portions of the right-of-way into private landscaping. These activities can undermine the effectiveness of the shoulder system and increase maintenance costs. The proposed ordinance creates a clear enforcement mechanism to protect village installed shoulder improvements and allows the village to require restoration and reimbursement when shoulders are damaged, removed, or altered without authorization. It also prohibits encroachments such as landscaping, decorative stone, fencing, or other private improvements that interfere with roadway shoulder improvements within the public right of way. Staff, if this is passed, will conduct a public education and outreach effort as the shoulder restoration program moves forward so that residents understand the purpose of the improvements and the expectations regarding their protection. We're recommending approval. Joe Coons is here to answer any specific questions you have about roads, road conditions, and gravel shoulders.

Any specific questions on gravel shoulder and the ordinance and why we are doing this?

I do have a question. So since some people have encroached on the right-of-way, those people are going to be notified of the changes when you come in and rectify the situation?

Correct, yeah. Depending on where we are, if it's the way it is right now in the areas that we're not going to touch, I'm not going to. you know, get on them because I'm not going to do anything with them right now anyway. But when we get to these spots that need to have something done, I'll reach out personally, let the homeowners know I'm not just going to go in there and start turfing stuff without letting them know what our intentions are. If need be, I'll have a copy of the ordinance in hand so I can hand it off to them while I'm there.

Yeah, I can see them, especially if it has been going on for many years, if someone moved in, them expecting that that is their property...

when it's not, but just to make sure that we don't get into a fight. Exactly, and like Gavin said, we'll try and do some education there. But yeah, we'll definitely knock on the door before we start tearing it up.

Any other questions? All righty, hearing none, can we have a roll call vote, please?

Trustee Ayanoko? Trustee Saldana? Aye. Trustee Eck?

Aye.

Trustee Donnersberger. Trustee Sveska. Trustee Gazas. Aye. And President Wittenberg.

Aye. All righty. Moving on to item K, please.

Move approval of ordinance 2026-12 amending appendix A of the code of ordinances to increase the water consumption rate.

Second. Second.

This ordinance will increase the village's water consumption rate from $12.70 per 1,000 gallons to $12.97, an increase of 27 cents per 1,000 gallons of water. The increase is being proposed in response to a wholesale water rate increase imposed on the village by the City of Countryside. As you know, we purchase water from Countryside, who purchases it from McCook, who purchases it from the City of Chicago, and each of those intermediaries add their own increase each year. The increase consists of an 11 cents per 1,000 gallon pass through from McCook and an additional 16 cents per 1,000 gallon increase resulting from a water rate study completed by the city of Countryside. HISTORICALLY, THE VILLAGE OF INDIAN HEAD PARK HAS ADJUSTED ITS WATER CONSUMPTION RATE WHEN WHOLESALE WATER COSTS INCREASE. THIS ORDINANCE FOLLOWS THAT PRACTICE BY INCREASING ONLY THE VOLUMETRIC CONSUMPTION CHARGE AND LEAVING ALL WATER SERVICE AVAILABILITY CHARGES UNCHANGED. THIS APPROACH ALLOCATES THE INCREASE DIRECTLY TO WATER USAGE RATHER THAN INCREASING FIXED CHARGES PAID BY ALL CUSTOMERS. In addition, staff is currently soliciting proposals for a comprehensive water rate study that will evaluate the overall financial condition of the water utility, including operating costs, maintenance needs, capital improvements, and long-term sustainability. The proposed ordinance addresses only the immediate wholesale increase from Countryside, while that broader analysis is underway, and we'll go through that analysis with the Finance Committee, and then they'll have a recommendation, and we'll bring that to the Board And the reason that this didn't go to the Finance Committee first is that we just got this increase from Countryside late last week.

Any questions on the water rate increase? Hearing none, can we have a roll call vote, please?

Trustee Ayanoko. Trustee Saldana. Aye. Trustee Eck.

Aye.

Trustee Donnersberger. Trustee Sveska. Trustee Gazas. Aye. And President Woodenberg.

Aye. All righty. It is now time in our meeting where we can have public comments. Clerk, did we receive any public comments in email today? Not that I'm aware of, no. Are there anybody here that would like to address the board? All righty, hearing that there's nobody that wants to address us this evening, we will move on to reports. Trustee Gazzis, do you have anything? No report. Trustee Eck?

No report.

Trustee Saldana? No report. All righty, we'll move on to the Village Clerk. Any report this evening, Village Clerk?

I do not, no.

Did you wanna talk about vehicle stickers?

i do not have the sheet in front of me okay um we can come back to you if you want to go get it it's up to you oh that's right uh vehicle stickers um we are they expire on june 30th as most people should be aware of and we are going to be open late for extended hours next tuesday the 16th until 7 pm for all of your vehicle sticker needs So that's the only opportunity left for the rest of the pre-expiration period to have some extra time to get it. Otherwise, we are 9 to 4. And the turnaround time, if you're planning on doing this by mail or online from our fulfillment center, is about three weeks. So if you don't get them this week, I would advise coming to Village Hall to get them in person or putting your payment in the Dropbox and we ship them directly from our office, which cuts down some time. But otherwise, you have until June 30th, and then late fees get applied.

Great, thank you. Village Treasurer, I think you gave your report. Village Attorney?

No report.

Village Administrator?

I'LL LET BRANDON START OUT WITH HIS PORTION OF THE REPORT.

JUST SOME UPDATES REGARDING THE HERITAGE CENTER, HERITAGE SITE. TUESDAY, JUNE 16, THE SAME DAY AS OUR EXTENDED HOURS, WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE A WALK THROUGH AT THE HERITAGE SITE WITH PLANNING RESOURCES INC. THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED AT 5 P.M. Other updates regarding the heritage site is we most recently staff sent out a RFP for surveyors to go out and measure the land. And we will finalize that decision on Monday. Regarding Sacajawea Park, Most recently, staff had a survey completed, and now that Planning Resources, Inc. has received that survey, they are in the process of developing the plan, specifically what materials to use for the equipment, and staff is expecting Planning Resources, Inc. to finish their development within the next few months. That's all I have. Thank you.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. A significant portion of that review is focused on ensuring that approval authority is assigned at the appropriate level throughout the code, including determining which matters should be handled administratively by staff, which should require planning and zoning commission review, and which should ultimately require action by the village board. Establishing those approval thresholds correctly is important to ensure that the code is both legally sound and administratively workable. EFFICIENT AS ONE OF OUR VALUES SAYS. I AM CURRENTLY INCORPORATING THE FINAL COMMENTS FROM LEGAL COUNSEL AND EXPECT TO PROVIDE THAT UPDATE, LIKE I SAID, TOMORROW FOR REVIEW IN ADVANCE OF THE JUNE 17 JOINT MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ZONING. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL SPECIFICALLY BE ON THE ZONING CODE. AS A REQUIREMENT BEFORE THE BOARD CONSIDERS APPROVAL AT THE JULY 9TH MEETING. AND JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, THE ZONING CODE DOES INCLUDE THE FENCE SECTION, THE FENCE ORDINANCE. SO I KNOW EVERYBODY IS EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THAT FOR FORMAL CONSIDERATION. Anyway, I do appreciate all of your patience throughout the process. The goal we have is to ensure that you adopt a modern, clear, and legally defensible zoning code that will serve the community for many years to come. SO THAT'S THE ZONING CODE. THE OTHER BIG PROJECT IS THIS TRIANGLE BUSINESS DISTRICT AND OUR WORK WITH SB FREEDMAN ON THAT. LAST WEEK THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REVIEWED THE DRAFT TRIANGLE AREA MARKET STUDY AND I ALSO SENT THAT TO YOU ALL AND TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. IT'S BEEN SENT. And the committee discussed the redevelopment alternatives presented by SB Friedman. The purpose of that discussion was to identify priorities, concerns, and areas where additional analysis may be needed before moving forward. And we'll get that information, the things that came up in their discussion, back to SB Friedman for the next steps. Overall, the committee generally agreed that waiting for incremental redevelopment opportunities to occur on their own is unlikely to produce the type of transformation envisioned for the triangle area. There was support for a phased redevelopment approach focused on assembling key vacant properties and redeveloping sub areas while preserving flexibility for future redevelopment opportunities. A significant portion of the discussion focused on multifamily residential development The market analysis report identified multifamily housing as the most realistic catalyst for redevelopment, and the committee discussed opportunities for rental housing, senior housing, mixed-use development, market rate housing. There was also discussion regarding the importance of creating momentum through visible investment that could encourage additional redevelopment as we build some synergy.

Yeah.

WE SHOULD, BUT DOES THE COMMUNITY AGREE IS THE QUESTION. SO AS WE GO FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS, WE, AGAIN, SPEAKING TO OUR VALUES THAT WE'VE PUT OUT THERE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE WILL ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. AND IF THE COMMUNITY DOES THINK HIGH RISE AND BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, THOSE, EVERYBODY THAT MAKES UP THE COMMUNITY, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, AND IT'S FEASIBLE, AND WE HAVE A DEVELOPER, DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, ALL THOSE FACTORS WE WILL LOOK AT. BUT AS WE DO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT ON THE MEETING ON THE 17TH, THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THAT WAS TO HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S that we're required to have before you consider amending the zoning code overall I do want to add discussion of the triangle business district to that meeting because it's it's an opportunity to have the Planning and Zoning Commission and the board at the same time talk about it I've realized some of you on the board will not be at the meeting but I am open to your comments before, after, and during the meeting, of course. But there are several questions, policy questions, that we will at some point need direction from the Village Board as we move forward working with S.B. Friedman. And I'll email these all to you, but just so you know, the questions, and we came up with these in discussion with S.B. Friedman about the market analysis study. FIRST, WHAT LEVEL OF VILLAGE INVOLVEMENT IS APPROPRIATE IF SITE ASSEMBLY BECOMES NECESSARY? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT ROLE, IF ANY, SHOULD THE VILLAGE PLAY IN ACQUIRING OR HELPING TO ASSEMBLE REDEVELOPMENT PARCELS? SECOND, WHAT TYPE AND SCALE OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS LOCATION, TO YOUR POINT? THIS INCLUDES QUESTIONS REGARDING DENSITY, BUILDING HEIGHT, PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND OVERALL PROJECT CHARACTER. THIRD, SHOULD THE VILLAGE CONSIDER SENIOR HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING OR OTHER SPECIALIZING HOUSING TYPES AS PART OF A REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY? IN A LOT OF CASES, THOSE TYPES OF HOUSING CAN GET YOU FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE. So, but there needs to be a decision. Is that the kind of housing the community and the board wants? And then finally, what trade-offs, if any, would the village be willing to consider to facilitate redevelopment? Examples could include infrastructure investments, parking flexibility, density allowances, or other redevelopment. incentives now I'm not asking the board to answer those questions tonight but I do encourage you to review the study and begin considering those issues issues in advance of the joint meeting with the PZC FOLLOWING THE JUNE 17 DISCUSSION, STAFF WILL PROVIDE BOARD'S FEEDBACK TO THE EDC FOR ANY FURTHER REVIEW AND SB FREEDMAN AT THE SAME TIME SO THEY CAN BEGIN REFINING REDEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS AND CONDUCTING FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY ANALYSES. That work will include development of pro formas to help us better understand what types of projects are realistically achievable and the level of private investment that may be required and whether any public participation or redevelopment incentives would be necessary to make a project feasible.

When is the next EDC meeting then?

They had talked about it last week, having another meeting later this month, but we haven't scheduled that yet. If it's necessary, we'll decide by next week if that's necessary or not.

Okay. So if you all can go through the SB Friedman presentation of options, understanding that the EDC picked option two, I believe it is, right?

YES, THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF ALTERNATIVE TWO WHICH IS THE REDEVELOPMENT SUB AREAS IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT. SO ASSEMBLING DIFFERENT, THEY IDENTIFIED I BELIEVE THREE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO ASSEMBLE EACH OF THOSE ONE AT A TIME AND BUILD OUT THOSE RATHER THAN just let development happen haphazardly as it happens, or the other end of the spectrum would be assembling all of the parcels into one giant parcel, which has its own complications.

so if you would do that board so on the 17th we can have some of those discussions I think it's a great opportunity as Gavin mentioned to have planning and zoning there as well and we get their feedback to understand what people are feeling about that option too anything else Gavin no ma'am Alrighty, I think we're on to department heads. I think this evening we just have public works. And did you have a police report you wanted to give? Okay, we'll go with the police first. Do you want to do that? Okay, how about Joe?

Fine. Thank you. So a couple of things. We have an update on some of the county work that's being done. You may have noticed that they've been doing some patchwork on Wolf Road and Plainfield Road. I recently met with the county on an unrelated item and asked them, because it looks like they just kind of came through and they were done. They are not complete with their patching program. They said they will be continuing with that in the next couple of weeks. While I did meet them for an unfortunate accident that happened, they were cutting the grass up on Plainfield Road between Plainfield and Keokuk, and their mower slipped and knocked down a bunch of the newly planted trees down there. So we met, discussed it. They're very apologetic, and they're going to plant new trees for us. They're asking me to... uh use my resources to try and get some quotes for them for uh replacing the trees uh turns out they hit uh 37 of the uh smaller trees so um i'm in the process of getting quotes for them and uh they're it's going to be taken care of just so everybody knows um so they were considered more bushes right Yeah, kind of. We're going to see if we can do some diversification there, but we have to be careful what we plant there because of the power lines. So they still have to be short-growing trees in certain areas there. But we're going to mix it up. The chlorine room update, I met with Dommie Mechanical last week, and they came in, did some measuring, and they're ordering some parts. We're looking at probably a start probably of about four weeks to get the project moving forward. On the consent agenda, you notice we have the louvers for the public works garage installed. The low bid was $69,173, which came in under engineer estimates that were, I think, over $73,000 for the project. So thank you for approving that so we can move forward with that project. I mentioned at a previous meeting about the IEPA funding for various projects, water main projects in town. And we submitted to get a loan through the IEPA and I got the results back. They do it on like a scoring matrix to see if you qualify for funding. And the cutoff for scoring was 385 points. We scored 225 points on three separate projects, which would be Pontiac Water Main, Blackhawk Trail, and Cascade Water Main. So we did not make the first round of funding, and that pushes us to the bypass funding, which will be determined at the end of the year in December. There's no real rhyme or reason how they decide. The IEPA just kind of picks who they want to fund. So the scoring doesn't matter at the end of this one because we already did score. It's not like we could score higher. The good thing is we didn't score high because our system is in good shape. We don't have any violations or massive water loss. That's good news, but on the bad side news of it is that we don't get the funding first and foremost, but we could qualify for that bypass funding, so we'll know more about that in December.

any questions on that before i go any further real quick the when you say the it's there's no rhyme or reason you mean for assigning the bypass funding the bypass there's a lot of reasons for that first yeah i spoke get over with our engineers and they

You know, they could pick a bunch of smaller projects just if they have extra money and say, you know, let's hit all these small ones and get them out of the way. It's not like they go down the list and just keep going. It's kind of more open season what they decide.

And the source of the money for the bypass funding is those grants, those that did score higher than 385,000. If they aren't ready to start with the project or they've decided they don't have the capacity or for whatever reason they're not going to do it, that money goes back into the pot and becomes the bypass fund.

So just because these top tiers got it, if they're not ready to go, the money goes back in the pot and that's how we get the bypass funding.

And it is, the bypass funding is also low-interest, it's just not forgivable.

Right, a lot of these top-tier ones, percentages of it are forgiveness loans, not the whole thing. So like, for instance, this project was, you know, $7.1 million. It's not all forgivable loans, it's partial, and then the rest is low-interest loans. But for us, it would be just a low-interest loan, or anybody that gets the bypass funding is low-interest loans.

So are you gonna talk about this year's project then or?

That's the Pontiac project and we're ready, shovel ready, plans are done, we're ready to go with that project. We're gonna see if we can,

you know get the funding in december and be ready to go spring okay because i got a couple emails this week from residents wondering because they see marks on the street they're seeing engineering or spray or whatever on the street and wondering what's going on so we had said last year that it might be this year but your feeling now is that we wait to see if we get the bypass funding

in december i think that would be the smart thing to do since we went through the process of you know uh project just so we have that on the record project with the water main right um 1.7. Okay.

I have a question Wouldn't you be able to reimburse ourselves with the bypass money if we start earlier?

What if we don't get it? And I'm pretty sure that no if you start the project that makes you ineligible. That was the issue with the pump house It didn't didn't we cover that in our budget though?

I The money is the mill seven.

It's it's there if we want to spend it, which, like I said, we are.

So the answer to my question is we provided for it in the budget. So it's budgeted. Correct. OK. And so what you're saying now is you don't want to spend the money even though we budgeted.

I think since we went through the process.

No, no, no, no. We budgeted.

It's provided for in the budget. If we start in the spring, it'll still be on this year's budget. Exactly.

It's in this year's budget. Correct. Okay, so.

Next spring, though.

No, no, this spring.

No, no, no, no. He's saying it would be in next spring.

Next spring is still this year's budget.

Yeah, this year's budget.

Yeah, correct. It's in this year's budget.

We would be starting in 26 and be starting in 27.

yeah so we can construction season so even if we don't get bypass funding if you guys approve that you want to go ahead and go through with the project we have the money already allocated in the budget but i figure why not wait to see if we can get the low interest loans the whole point was not to blow our whole but if it's if it's alone you're going to have to repay it anyhow right correct over time instead of wiping out the entire funding that we have in our budget.

I think it's a one point. What was the interest rate?

It's low. I don't have the number. He gave us a new number. I believe it was 1.6. Say 1.7, but that's close.

1.6.

1.6, 1.7, something like that.

so this particular project is a water main and a street correct okay so i think people are a little bit concerned on pontiac because the street in some cases is is pretty torn up So if we had to wait, you know, they were thinking it might happen this year, right? So if we wait for the bypass, is there some little patching that could be done on Pontiac for the really bad areas this year?

I mean, I can cold patch the bad areas, but...

i i really don't want to spend a lot of money patching a road that's going to be replaced no we understand but like you're open to cold patching okay yeah so if there's any complaints have them reach out to me i'll be more than happy to address them i mean i just want to make sure people know that if they have of course you could do some cold patch yeah on kia cook and you know we've gotten some

We do rounds of cold patch, especially right after the snow season. But if there's anything that we miss, you know, or we maybe miss something, but anybody that has a problem or a hole or something that we don't catch, just reach out, call me, or send an email through the portal.

So what would be the project then for this year for roads?

We're looking into, I just reached out to Thomas Engineering. We're looking into possibly doing the Ashbrook subdivision.

And was that on the list or not?

It's...

The IEPA list.

No, no, no, that's just roads. It doesn't involve water. Oh, okay. That's why, the reason why this is being pushed a little too is because we want to do the infrastructure first, obviously. So Ashbrook is LaGrange Highlands water, and I actually did reach out to Mr. Schepler over at LaGrange Highlands, and they're not planning to do any underground type of work, so that would be a good candidate for a mill and resurface.

And that's the entire, all the streets in Ashbrook?

So I need to get some cost estimates. Being as it's this early in the season, we could still get it done by the end, by November if need be.

Let me come back to what I was talking about before. Gavin, didn't we provide in this year's budget the Pontiac work to be done?

Yes, we did.

And the budget period is from when to when?

May 1st through April 30th. Of? 26 to 27.

Okay, so that would include This coming summer, right? Correct. And fall. So we've provided for the funding for Pontiac in this coming budget year, right? Right. Okay, so the money is there to do Pontiac. Okay, and what we're saying is that rather than spend the mill seven out of our liquidity, we could borrow that. What's the repayment term? It's a low rate, but over what period of time? I can get that number for you. Roughly how many years? We don't know? I don't know. I don't want to give you a bogus number.

It's either 15 or 20.

I think it's 15 or 20, but we'll confirm with you.

Okay. Okay.

We've had these before, and they've been very worthwhile.

Oh, yeah. I've been down that, but I'm just saying, but when we were doing the planning, we were planning for Pontiac to be done essentially this summer.

Correct. But because we went after the IEPA, and we took the time to do five of those submissions. Six. Six, which was a lot of work. I want to make sure that everybody understands staff and strand did a lot of work to prepare these packages and Gavin and myself we all had to put all of this in so we wanted to take the chance to try to get the forgivable right which didn't happen we did get one a while back but we didn't so the second rung of that would be the bypass which would be the low interest loan That if you know so everybody was intending to do it this year, that was the original intent. But now I believe there's some thinking that we could get bypass. And in lieu of waiting, then this year, this summer, this construction season right now. what joe's idea is is to do the ashbrook paving there's no water mains being done there right mill and overlay correct yeah so it's just a mill and overlay job it's much more less it would be much less expensive much less expensive so you're still going to use part of that money that was budgeted

To do something, yes. To do something.

Correct. So I think that's what he's saying. Does that make sense?

I just want to be clear on the deferral that we provided for the money and that what we're looking to do is defer doing Pontiac until the next year on the idea that we might be able to get some long-term financing to cover Pontiac over.

And that's exactly the best way to put it.

correct thank you so does everybody understand what we're doing here because i do know that the residents are wondering so i think we have to do maybe a little bit of communication one of our it's one of our core values so we need to do a little bit of communication to make sure they know that although we were planning on it we did have it in the village voice we are going to be um you know things change and we try to make the best decisions for um using our taxpayers money so we want to try to do this it's all for the greater good is the way i look at it i mean it's not like we're not saying we don't want to do the project we're just trying to do it with the best means possible no i think it's just good to talk it through right so we all are on the same page and all of that Oh, great.

Anything else, Joe? Particularly since we had told the people on Pontiac that we were going to do it this year, that we made clear what we're doing. Thank you.

Yes, because we had made that clear.

Thank you.

So we've made a change, and I think we just have to be really good at communicating that.

anything else Joe so the Morton Arboretum grant for the trees obviously you know we planted 25 trees last fall we're finishing it up in the spring here planting 33 trees this spring and they're going to be planting them excuse me June 17th uh trees are ordered they're going to deliver and install them i would guess we'd probably get them done in a day because we did 25 last year in a day maybe a day and a half tops once that's all done i hand in the grant paperwork and we'll be reimbursed 25 000 of the 50 that we spent We also put out an RFP for a custodial contract for our building at the Village, the Public Works and the Village Home Police Department. The bid opening for that is June 26th. We've had several companies come through and visit the sites to get an idea. So we're anticipating getting some bids on that project. Our consumer confidence report for water has to be posted by July 1st. We're going to post it on the website. We should have it in before then. Lucy and I have been working together to get postcards to send out so everybody can visit the URL on there and get the report. We'll have paper copies here if anybody wants to pick them up. And then we have a Tree and Landscape Advisory Board meeting on June 24th at 6 p.m., and I'm working on getting an agenda together with Danielle. That's what I have.

ONE MORE THING RELATED TO THAT CONVERSATION TRIGGERED ME TO CONVERSATION TRIGGERED ME TO REMEMBER THAT YESTERDAY WE REMEMBER THAT YESTERDAY WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE CHICAGO WERE NOTIFIED BY THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENCY ON PLANNING METROPOLITAN AGENCY ON PLANNING THAT OUR APPLICATION FOR THAT OUR APPLICATION FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WAS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WAS APPROVED. SO WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THEM TO DEVELOP A PLAN WHICH WILL LAY OUT HOW WE PLAN PROJECTS LIKE THE WATER REMAIN IMPROVEMENTS LIKE ASHBROOK ROADS AND HOW WE FINANCE THOSE, HOW WE SCHEDULE OUR PROJECTS SO THAT WE CAN PAY FOR THEM IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY POSSIBLE. FINANCIALLY, AND THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE A BIG STEP, AGAIN, I USED THE WORD EARLIER, IN PROFESSIONALIZING OUR OPERATIONS. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS WANTED FOR A WHILE. IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. WE TALKED ABOUT IT BACK WHEN THERE WAS A PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE QUITE OFTEN. SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING PROJECT, AND JOE AND BRANDON ARE GOING TO TEAM UP TO WORK ON THAT.

That's great. Joe, do you have anything else? Gavin, do you have anything police-related you wanted to report?

Yes. Highlights of the police department activity. Chief Weatherford couldn't be here. He's... He's not under the weather. He was in Washington DC on vacation and his plane was delayed, I think the last amount was eight hours. So he's not here. He may be in the air or he may be sitting in the DC airport. But he did send me some highlights. We have completed the process of scanning evidence into our report management system to meet best practices and provide better tracking and accountability of evidence. We've been meeting with accreditation management software company for onboarding the use of their software. We should start implementation no later than July 15th. And that's to get us towards ILEAS accreditation.

ILEAP.

ILEAP, sorry.

Tier 1.

There are a lot of acronyms in that field. We have postings live now for new officers, those who would be sent to the academy before they can become full-time officers. AND FOR LATERAL POLICE OFFICERS. AND FOR LATERAL POLICE OFFICERS. SO THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY SO THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY CERTIFIED OFFICERS WITH ANOTHER CERTIFIED OFFICERS WITH ANOTHER AGENCY BUT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AGENCY BUT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COME HERE. COME HERE. TESTING FOR NON-CERTIFIED TESTING FOR NON-CERTIFIED OFFICERS WILL BE AT THE END OF we will move forward with lateral police officer applicants in the next few weeks. Surrounding towns have had recent car burglaries to unlocked vehicles. As a reminder to our residents, please lock your cars and don't leave valuables like key fobs, wallets, and money in your vehicles. We will be assisting Burr Ridge and Pleasantdale Park District with traffic control on Wolf Road for the fireworks on Friday, July 3rd. After the fireworks, traffic between the Burr Ridge Park north entrance and Joliet will only be allowed to travel northbound. So that's, we are... helping to sponsor the fireworks. So everybody take advantage. It's July 3rd when it gets dark. But we will be having our officers out there helping to direct traffic. And there are a few of our streets down there that will be closed off to parking. So we'll have a presence there too. And Public Works will be setting up barricades for that.

And they do a wonderful job every year. We walk across Joliet and walk all the way and walk back, and they are wonderful. Thank you.

So I think this is the end of our meeting, but I did want to remind everyone we are having a feral cat training program here in Village Hall on Saturday. If anybody is interested in participating in our T and our program, that training is here at Village Hall at 1030. You do not have to be a resident to join. So if you live in another municipality or you want to learn about controlling feral cats, this is an issue not only for our municipality, but others. We are doing this program so that we can make sure that from a health perspective and all of that, we're controlling our cat population. So without further ado, can I have a motion?

Move adjournment.

What's that?

Move to adjourn.

Second? Second. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you. Post vote. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The meeting is adjourned. Thank you for coming.