Town Council - Regular Meeting

having to do with storm damage that we had. The one I signed was only good for 48 hours, so we need to have another emergency declaration here to extend it up to 7 days. And the reason for this is it allows emergency management people to gather data and damage damage tally, which could help if it reaches a certain threshold in terms of allowing people that were impacted by by this event to to get low-interest loans or help from from the government. So, we need to be under this emergency declaration while they're gathering that data. So, that's the purpose of this meeting tonight. Can I have a motion for approval? So moved. Second. Discussion on this item? Please call the roll. Mr. Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers.

Mr. Roberson. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. That resolution is approved. A motion for adjournment, please. So moved. Second. Please call that roll. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers. Aye. Mr. Roberson. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. Preston. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. We are adjourned from the emergency meeting. We'll call to get the regular meeting in about 2 or 3 minutes.

Call to order a regular meeting for the normal town council for Monday, April 20, 2026. Please call the roll. Mayor Koos. Here. Mr. Preston. Here. Ms. Lorenz. Here. Mr. Byers. Here. Mr. Roberson. Here. Ms. Smith. Mr. McCarthy.

Here. We'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to for which it stands, God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for We don't have any public commenters at the beginning of the meeting. We do have one commenter registered to speak at the end of the meeting. We move to omnibus items that'll be taken with one vote unless council member would like to pull an item for discussion. Motion for approval.

Move approval. Second. Items on our omnibus agenda tonight are approval of the minutes of the regular council meeting of April 6, 2026, and report to receive and file town of Normal expenditures for payment as of April 13, 2026. A resolution to accept bids and award a contract to Stark Excavating Incorporated for the 2026 sump pump discharge and storm sewer improvements project in the amount of $275,154. A resolution to award the bid for the Linden Street water main improvement project to George Gilner Incorporated at a total cost of 1,338,191. And approve an associated budget adjustment. A resolution authorizing the execution of a 3-year agreement with Gateway Fireworks Displays of St. Louis, Missouri for the annual 4th of July fireworks display happening in 2026, 2027, and 2028. A resolution approving a professional services agreement with Marsh McLennan Agency for insurance broker services. A resolution to waive the formal bidding process and approve a contract with Surf Prep Incorporated for the fire department headquarters apparatus bay resurfacing project in the amount of $63,000. A resolution conditionally approving the Bramble Hall subdivision final plat plat by expedited process, and that's at 300 West Willow. Please call the roll. Mr. Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers.

Aye. Mr. Roberson. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. Yeah, omnibus agenda is approved. We have a number of items on general orders tonight. The first is a resolution to award a contract to Cunningham Recreation for the purchase of a modular playground unit, poured-in-place rubber surfacing for Rosa Parks Commons in the amount of 179,000 $629.74. Move approval. Thank you. Discussion on this item? Please call the roll. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers. [clears throat]

Aye. Mr. Roberson. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. Preston. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. That resolution is approved. Item eight is a resolution authorizing the purchase of equipment from the National Fitness Campaign, custom artwork and installation of a fitness court studio using a contractor from the NFC approved installation network for a total project cost of $199,750. Move approval. Second. Discussion on this item? Ms. Lorenz. You looked right at me. Thanks. I knew you were coming. [snorts]

Consistency of nothing. Um so, honestly, I thought we this came up previously. And what was the action taken at that time that's different from now? Um I believe the last time this was before council was talking about accepting the NFC grant. And we discussed this when we were planning to apply for an OSLAD grant program. Um we were unsuccessful in getting the OSLAD grant, but during that that meeting, boy, I forgot when it was, but I think it was the fall of last year. Um not not too long ago. Um we did indicate that we if we were going to move forward with the National Fitness Campaign, that we would be coming back to council um with this item. So, this is the night when we're coming back and asking council for uh direction. Uh we're proposing this installation for the Rosa Parks Commons, and so um Mr. Damery is here if we have questions, but certainly would eager to answer any questions council might have. So, is this um I I remember the the grant um and that was going to be upwards of like a million dollars, and we would put in 400, and they were going to match six, or vice versa, something along those lines.

That was for the OSLAD grant program through the state, yes. And the National Fitness Campaign was, I think, 60,000. Okay. So, what are we So, we are going to still make investments in Rosa Parks Commons to the tune of what amount? Obviously, this 200,000, the playground. Right. Is there anything else? Playground um that council just approved in your prior action. We're proposing this 200,000. The I believe the rest is internal expenses um through Parks and Recreation, through their budget. So, Mr. Damery, if if Sorry, if council will have Mr. Damery join us. [clears throat]

I was hoping I wouldn't have to come up cuz I my voice is limited, so Okay. But, that's okay. Um yeah, the additional expenditures are going to be mostly internal site work, a shelter, and really just making the area more accessible, more better flow, that kind of thing. Are you doing new bathrooms? We are not. Okay. That's kind of what sacrificed one of the big things that sacrificed with the with not getting the OSLAD grant. Okay. Cuz they're they run what? Uh they're pushing it it depends what we get. We we were hoping to get a two room. Um that but anywhere from 250 to 3 350. And then we had some other stuff that we had added on to that as well. That would have pushed the grant to eight $850,000 is what it we ended up applying for. Okay. Okay, thank you. I appreciate that. You know, my comment will be consistent with what it was a few months back and that is um you know interestingly I'd I'd rather invest $250,000 in new bathrooms than this particular fitness court. Having said that, I did see recently on 60 Minutes a piece on something like this. It was at um I believe focused at a um senior living facility. And so it was very much guided by programming from that facility for their residents. Um and seemed quite successful in that setting. Um I still have my skepticism that a just general open to the public um self use situation like this is going to be as effective as we think it is, but there's 36 or 40 other uh communities that have done the same investment. And you know, I guess they have a lot of money sitting around.

I for one um you know, would like I said would rather put money into uh public restrooms. Um you know, you never know when things come up. Um you know, $200,000 I think we just awarded to the police department um a few weeks ago or uh last meeting for some of the crowd control safety issues. You know that feels better to me. So. Thank you. Is there discussion on this item? Please call the roll. [clears throat]

Mr. Byers. Aye. Mr. Roberge. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. No. Mayor Koos. Aye. That resolution is approved. Uh the next four items are carried over from the last meeting. Um having to do with the uh Uptown TIF renewal. Uh so the first item is ordinance approving an amendment to the Town of Normal Uptown Renewal Tax Increment Redevelopment Project Area. Can I have a motion, please? Approval. Second. Thank you. Discussion on this item? Mayor Koos, if I if I could um jump in, I think it's important for staff to explain uh the difference in terms of the the Well, I guess we can we can I guess we should start with this one because we're some properties that we originally were going to take out of the TIF we're leaving in the TIF specifically um the Normal Public Library property is going to remain in the existing TIF. That's the change that that um is before you this evening. That's the only change from the last time you've seen this um and taken action on the new Uptown North TIF. Um the reason being that as we um moved forward with planning the new Uptown Normal TIF North area um we needed to maintain contiguity in properties. And if we pulled the Normal Public Library out of the current TIF and put it in the new TIF, then there that left some incongruent properties. So um Mr. Chrisagrossa and Mr. Duffel are available to answer Oh, there he is over there. Uh able to answer questions specifically about um this or any of the next three related items. Thank you.

Discussion on this item? Please call the roll. Mr. Roberge. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. That ordinance is approved. Item 10 is an ordinance approving the tax increment redevelopment plan and project for the Uptown Normal TIF. Move approval. Second. Discussion on this item? Please call the roll. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. [clears throat] Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers.

Aye. Mr. Roberge. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. That ordinance is approved. Item 11 is an ordinance designating the Uptown Normal TIF redevelopment project area. Move approval. Second. Discussion? Please call the roll. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers. Aye. Mr. Roberge. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. That ordinance is approved. And the final ordinance is adopting tax increment financing for the Uptown Normal TIF redevelopment project area. Move approval. Second. Thank you. Discussion? Please call the roll. Mr. Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers.

Aye. Mr. Roberge. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. That ordinance is approved. We have two items of new business tonight. The first a motion to initiate a zoning text amendment for battery engine en- energy storing systems. Move approval. Thank you. Second. Discussion? Go ahead. Did you have some introductory remarks? Go ahead. Sure, if you don't mind.

Go ahead, sure. Um Mayor and Council, this item is on your agenda. We'd like to talk a little bit about um exactly what battery energy storage is. So and uh what we're asking Council is to initiate a zoning text amendment. So with your support this evening of this action item, this would go then the next step would be to uh present it to [clears throat] the Planning Commission, receive public comment. And then after the Planning Commission process, it would come back to you for final approval. Um I I do think it's important to uh invite Ms. Davison forward so she can talk a little bit about what this is, certainly react to Council's questions. Um battery battery energy storage is um right now kind of the hot words lately are data centers. This isn't that. This is something different. So it'd probably be important to talk a little bit about what it is if that's all right with Council first before we take questions. Sure. Yes, so battery energy storage systems uh commonly called BESS. Um they are used to help stabilize the grid system and provide um a way to store energy um when there's extra energy available and then it's then available at times when the grid needs more energy fed back into it or a on a private property when that property needs more energy. Um and I feel like probably Mr. Byers knows more about this than most with his background in the energy industry. Um so uh we're just starting to hear more about it. Um we know that some people already have very small BESS systems on their own property. So like even if you have like um a solar roof through Tesla, you might have your own battery storage in your house. Um up to you know, a significant BESS installation that could be huge. Well, not probably as big, but like a stand-alone system that would almost be like um a bunch of solar panels out in a field, you know, but they would be

battery these battery um units instead. So it's it's just another part of our energy system. Uh Ms. Lorenz. Are you open for questions now? Okay. Uh probably for you, Ms. Davison. My biggest question as I read this and and I think I reread it well enough to be sure that I didn't see something that I thought would have been there and that is special use permit. Why didn't why are we not invoking that process for something like this? Sure. So the way we're proposing it, it would only be in the manufacturing districts. And in the manufacturing districts, there's already a site plan process in place, which is a public process very similar to a special use permit. The same kind of notice goes out, the same kind of public input is available. Um so if it's if it's a private BESS where it's only serving that site, similar to like when you have solar panels that only serve your site those are just considered private systems. We would only have it go through a site plan process if it would other be otherwise be required in M1 or M2. So that's based on the distance from residential zoning, which would have the biggest impact, or if it's a certain size. So like in M2, if it's more than 20 acres, you have to go through site plan anyway. But if it's smaller than that or if it's not close to residential, we feel like the design standards are just good enough. Like as long as they're screened, so you don't have to look at something unattractive, and as long as they meet noise levels, which these actually aren't very loud. Um really the aesthetics and the the noise are the things that are most going to affect the public and we think the design standards address that just fine. But if it is a certain size, if it's pretty big, or if it's closer to residential, sure we we will have a public process. And then safety is just covered by the fire protection standards. So you lost [snorts] me there a little bit. It does it ever go through a special use permit if it's large enough?

um if it's really if it's a commercial BESS installation, basically a stand-alone, which would be pretty big, that would have to have a special use process. Because it would it wouldn't be like an like an ancillary use to some other, you know, facility that's already on the property. So, if it's its own standalone site that's very large, then it would need to go through that kind of a special use process. to decide that in your planning. Say that again? You have the discretion to decide that.

it would just be It's the way it's written right now, and of course this could change during the public process. It's if it's a commercial BESS, it goes through a special use plan, and it's almost certainly going to require a site plan, too, because it's a manufacturing. So, those two just happen together in manufacturing districts. So, it would just go to planning commission. So, did I overlook the special use permit? Um you know, I think it says it on the I think it says it under commercial BESS. I don't know if it's in the report. It's on page packet page 13-8. Oh, okay. 15.15.3 dash language. Yeah. Oh, okay.

Right. So, it would be similar to solar and wind. If those are commercial installations, like in manufacturing, they have to go through the same thing where it's a site because of the site plan standards in M1 and M2, but it's also a special use permit when it's a commercial renewable energy. And talk a little bit about the safety. I did just I do see here in the discussion compliance with NFPA standards. We've learned a lot about that lately. What are concerns from a density of this sort of material? So, I just know enough to be conversational. When we go through the public process, I've actually asked um someone from fire to be there in case people want to talk about the nitty-gritty, but as I understand it, the original types of BESS were more of a hazard. Like the however the magic is that goes on inside the unit was a certain kind of chemical or process, and the way they were positioned near each other, you could have these what they call like runaway events or some some such thing. Um the way they're built now and installed, the distances they are from one another, um keeping vegetation clear around like for a certain distance around them, there's a lot of ways now that they've just been designed to be a lot safer. So, that is about as much as I know, um but the fire protocols have been evolving along with this technology, and I think one of our own staff members was on a committee to help write the most recent part of that code, perhaps. So, it's um it's We're certainly on top of it here. So, one of our fire department staff was on I I think in maybe submitting some comments, but it's something because we have Rivian here. Like we're just way ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding emergency response and battery technology and

zoning text amendment? Um Who the person Oh, everyone on staff has looked at it, yeah. Including fire? Yeah, in development committee, yeah. Yeah. All right. Okay. That's all I have. Thank you. Mhm. Further on this item? [clears throat]

Please call the roll. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers. Abstain. Mr. Roberge. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. Preston. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. That motion is approved. Uh we have a motion to approve an appointment to the Bloomington-Normal Asahikawa Sister Cities Committee. I have a motion, please. Move approval. Second. You want to uh give us some background on that appointment?

Absolutely, Mayor. Um You are appointing Ms. Sheila Dodd, uh who holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from uh University of Illinois, and she's retired from the city of Champaign, where she worked in neighborhood uh services department. Uh she was also the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County from 2011 through 2018. She currently volunteers at the Miller Park Zoo, the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, and our own Children's Discovery Museum. Ms. Dodd will be filling a vacant seat on the Asahikawa Sister City Committee with a term expiring March 31st, 2029. Please call the roll. Mr. Byers.

Aye. Mr. Roberge. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. That appointment is approved. Uh we have one public comment

That that would be Philip Waters. If you want to come forward. Uh we have very simple rules, Mr. Waters. We just ask you state your name for the record, and you have 3 minutes. All right. Hi, everybody. Thanks for having me. My name is Philip Waters. I'm usually a pretty comfortable public speaker, but I'm very nervous right now because I'm putting myself out there. So, um again, my name is Phil. I work at a local allergy office, and I have some patients in here. I'm specialist in clinical research. I have a deep understanding of FDA scheduling protocols and drug safety and efficacy profiles. Uh I worked here from 2014 to 2019. I moved up to Chicago, and I was the research operations director for the large for the Illinois region for the largest retina research company in the country. Uh I have I'd like to think I have a little bit of a thorough understanding. I'm also a recovering addict. I was an alcoholic during COVID, during the lockdowns. I got myself drinking. I had a couple weeks um where I was just home by myself, isolated, got myself physically dependent. That was really hard. My last drink was November 11th, 2024. And I recently uh lost my sobriety to something that they are selling in your town that I have been shocked to learn how few doctors that I've spoken with, and I'm talking dozens, are familiar with this. It's called kratom. You've got it at gas stations. You've got it at these shops. I know that I was just there last Wednesday to speak to some representatives and some senators. I know we have House Bill uh 5242 and Senate Bill 3160. I know we're waiting on that. I want to tell you about my experience real quick. It I didn't do enough research into it. I knew it was a plant from Asia. It was a leaf. It was ground up. I made sure I got something natural. It's not unlike me to take supplements. I take quite a few. All things you've heard of. I added this on. I was on it for a couple months. There's a honeymoon phase where it gives you a little bit of a

body relaxation with a mental focus like caffeine. It was quite nice. I really enjoyed it. Um after the honeymoon phase, I became dependent. I learned this because one day I got to work, and it was time to take care of patients, and I was out, and I couldn't stop thinking about going to the tobacco store to get some kratom. I said, "Oh, no, I got something wrong going on here." When I stopped that kratom, I had opioid withdrawals. It hits your opioid sensors. My hypothalamus was messed up. I was wearing a coat in the office and having to lie about the air conditioning. I was sweating. I was having fevers. I had restless leg syndrome. At night, I slept about 6 hours over the course of the week. I had um severe anxiety, brain fog, GI issues, diarrhea. I had cold and flu-like symptoms. I started doing my research I should have done a long time ago. I learned that a lot of people have to get on Suboxone for this stuff. I learned that my experience was actually pretty universal. The only opponents to this are some people who have really chronic pain uh who say it's better than some of the stuff on the market. I do think there's a layer of dependency in there that is clouding their judgment. I think you got something that Bloomington has already banned. I think you all are waiting reasonably for uh Springfield to make a decision, and I'm asking you here um you know, why? Why are we waiting to to ban this? Um it's messing lives up. It's messing lives up real bad. Um and it's not just me. Get on the communities. Go to go go online. Did I go to go on social media and go look up quitting kratom. There's two of them. There's a kratom subreddit, and there there's a quitting kratom. You'll see. Go watch the videos of people who work in these shops that are saying that they gosh, they wish they could stop selling this to people cuz they come in, they're buying one, and they're buying five, and they're buying six. They're racking up thousands of dollars. And I was on regular kratom. They are synthesizing this. They're taking out the psychoactive stuff. It's called 308. Look it up. They're selling it in this town. Interactions at gas stations that I've had that you all probably wouldn't think anything of. When I see a guy kind of acting weird, "Hey, you got any You're out of that? Okay, well, if you get some, will you let me know?" It It's I'm

If you haven't heard of it, if you if this is surprising you, I I do think that if this isn't banned, that you will um remember this as maybe an introduction to it because it's going to affect more people. Um It was about It was about a week about a week until I started feeling better. Um and started kind of getting my life together, but I lost a lot of things during that time. Um It makes you emotionally gray. You can't get too low. You can't get too high. Mr. Wa- Waters, I'm going to ask you to wrap it up. I would just like everyone to to consider what what the community needs right now. Thank you. Thank you. Before taking a motion for adjournment, do we have concerns? Mr. McCarthy. Thanks, Mayor. Um I guess first I want to start off um by um thanking all uh town staff and first responders for all your work over uh Friday and Saturday and the weekend uh and responding to the storms. I know that was a lot of work. And uh I won't speak for everybody here, but I everybody I spoke to in the town, and it was quite a lot, everybody was greatly appreciative of of uh all the hard work um not only of the town, but the city and the county as well. So, thank you to everybody on that. Um this is my first opportunity publicly. I wasn't here at the last meeting. Uh I I there was a code of ethics uh brought up in that last meeting. I didn't have the opportunity to speak to it. I just wanted to go on record saying that I'm supportive of it even though I didn't get a the opportunity to vote on it. Thanks, Mayor. Thank you. I was just I'm glad you brought up the issue this weekend and our first responders and and staff. The work you did was incredible this weekend. You were mobilized. You were well

organized implemented incredibly well and I'm going to ask Ms. Reese to share the statistic that you told me earlier today about how much material compared to March. Yes, in 2 days that the public work excuse me, public works and parks and recreation department have been working 12-hour shifts or so to clear up trees and debris. Public Works has been very active in going through all sorts of neighborhoods and continuing curbside collection of brush and trees. According to Mr. Otto, if I remember the numbers correctly, in 2 days of Saturday and Sunday, we collected about 3,900 cubic yards of brush and in the entire month of March, we collected about 3,200. So, they have been very very busy and we appreciate all the work not only from public works but certainly parks and recreation and our and our public safety departments as well. Thank you. Ms. Lorenz. Yeah, I just [clears throat] want to call attention to um the ongoing discussions that are happening about response times for our fire and EMS and my inquiries recently about could we get some 30-60-90 day um data on the new fire station is being hampered by a variety of IT-related issues and I just am quite concerned that um a transition in reporting standards has is creating gaps in our data collection and kind of furthering concerns that we've exposed here about consistent data collection and standards

and now this is yet another layer in this very um odd odyssey of of how we are tracking and measuring something as critical as first responders who whose value was even more on display this past weekend. So, just want to register my very grave concerns about this latest twist of information. Thank you. Mr. Byers. Thanks, Mayor. I just wanted to acknowledge and echo the concerns raised by the public commenter. I've I've had some emails from some residents and I've kind of done some research in in a lot of really credible sources and as I understand there there are a lot of credible concerns with some of these unregulated synthetic substances that are being sold in gas stations and other places. So, I I am supportive of an ordinance that would address that maybe similar to what Bloomington's done. Thank you. I think that is certainly our plan. I'll speak to that just briefly that oh um the speaker was right. We are concerned that we don't want to have to do this twice and see what the state is attempting to do. If the state does not do anything or if they do anything or if they what they do is not what we think is appropriate to the standards we'd like to see in our community, we will bring that forward. I think that's important to say. We we recognize the concern. I've heard the same thing that you've heard from from people and it's uh

[clears throat] I think it's prudent to wait until the state has done it, but if it stalls or or stretches out or is uh not up to the standards we'd like to see, we will act on that. Motion for adjournment. So moved. Second. Please call the roll. Mr. Roberge. Aye. Mr. McCarthy. Aye. Mr. Preston. Aye. Ms. Lorenz. Aye. Mr. Byers. Aye. Mayor Koos. Aye. We are adjourned.