Village of Ladd Village Board met June 25.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Ladd Village Board met in Regular Session at 6:30pm on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in the Village Hall. President Mike Grivetti called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Roll Call: Present – Trustees Frank Cattani, Jim Manning, Jan Martin, Dan Nelson, Andy Ruggerio, Mike Urbanowski (6). In attendance – Attorney Pat Barry, Clerk Diane Chandler, Treasurer Rhonda Bezely, Assistant Police Chief Israel Ramos, Superintendent Doug Englehaupt, Engineer Adam Ossola, Building Inspector Barry Flanagan
Grivetti presented a framed certificate to part-time police officer Melissa Hunter to recognize her graduation from the Police Academy.
Motion Cattani – Second Manning to accept the (June 11, 2019 meeting) minutes, as presented.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
Motion Ruggerio – Second Urbanowski to pay bills of $122,364.00.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski Motion carried 6-0.
Motion Urbanowski – Second Cattani to accept the Treasurer’s Report for May 2019.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
Village Investments: No action taken.
Correspondence: None
Public Comments: None
Committee Reports: Streets & Alleys – Cattani questioned and Englehaupt confirmed that a tree on the Village berm at 102 North Bureau Avenue had already been trimmed.
Engineer’s Report: Main Street Alley Water Main Improvements – Ossola reported that the project has a few hundred feet of sewer that will need to be removed to make room for the new water main.
Motion Cattani – Second Martin that the Main Street Alley Water Main Improvement construction project is to be paid wholly from Village funds, state grants or loans and/or federal grants or loans.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
Ossola informed the Board that a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) for the Main Street Alley Water Main Improvement Project would pay $500,000 for construction costs. Currently, his total cost estimate for the job is approximately $1.1 million. Some other source of funding will be needed for the remaining $600,000. If the grant application were submitted in August 2019, it would need to include the funding source of the $600,000, which the Village would be committed to regardless of what happens with the grant. There is not enough time to secure an IEPA (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) loan before the August application deadline. Austin Taylor of North Central Illinois Council of Governments presented three options for discussion purposes:
• To continue to move forward with the full project scope. Expecting the railroad and IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) to provide easements/agreements by August 29. Secure financing option other than IEPA loan.
• Continue to move forward with partial project scope. Remove the northern railroad section of the project to eliminate possibility of a point deduction due to a delay in acquiring all necessary grant information. Seek to complete the railroad section of the project outside the grant project. Possibly funded with an IEPA loan?
• Do not submit the project for the 2019 CDBG round. Apply for an IEPA loan this fall/winter and submit project with necessary railroad and IDOT easements during the 2020 CDBG round.
Taylor informed the Board that the 2019 grants would be awarded in late Spring 2020 and a grant agreement to open bids would likely happen in August 2020. Following discussion, the Board agreed to apply for the CDBG in 2020. North Main Avenue Water Line – Ossola reported that IDOT has everything they need for the project to be approved.
Superintendent’s Report: Sewer Cleaning – Englehaupt reported that the sewer cleaning and televising has been completed. A line in a South Chicago Avenue alley was found to have a section of pipe missing and heavy tree roots and an old flagstone manhole near the water tower has three collapsed sections. He has contacted JW Ossola and Illinois Valley Excavating for proposals to replace the manhole and three sections of pipe.
Chief’s Report: None
Inspector’s Report: Fencing Regulations – Flanagan stated that the current fencing regulations do not specify which types of fencing are allowed in town. He added that fencing between two neighbors in a residential district should be somewhat attractive. Barry will seek some additional information for the July 9th meeting.
Attorney’s Report: Public Comments Policy – Barry stated that the Village does not have a formal policy for citizens to address the Board and presented an ordinance establishing rules for Public Comments.
Motion Manning – Second Urbanowski to pass “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY FOR THE VILLAGE OF LADD BOARD MEETINGS”.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
Pole Attachment Agreement – Barry has prepared a pole attachment agreement with Ameren allowing them to attach their gas-metering equipment to a Village-owned utility pole.
Motion Ruggerio – Second Urbanowski to authorize President Mike Grivetti to sign a pole attachment agreement with Ameren.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
Motion Urbanowski – Second Martin to concur with the Plan Commission’s recommendation to grant a request for variance to Neil Swingel for a reduction in side-yard setback from 5’ to <1’ to construct a 30’ X 30’ detached garage on his property at 209 North Western Avenue.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
Motion Ruggerio – Second Cattani to grant a liquor license to the Ladd Men’s Club (for Ladd Daze on July 19-21, 2019) and to waive the license fee.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
The Board reviewed a spreadsheet of fees charged by area municipalities. It was noted that Village liquor license fees hadn’t been increased in over 30 years.
Motion Cattani – Second Ruggerio to increase annual liquor license fees for Class A to $500, Class B to $400, Class C to $55, and Class D to $500, effective February 1, 2020; to increase the fee for a Peddler’s Permit to $50; and to establish an annual fee of $50 for a pawn shop.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
Motion Martin – Second Cattani to approve a Travel, Meal & Lodging Expense reimbursement request of $67.05 from Rhonda Bezely.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
Motion Cattani – Second Manning to accept a proposal from Connecting Point Computer Center for a one-year warranty on the file server.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski
Motion carried 6-0.
No action was taken on two proposals received to repair an exterior wall at the Village Hall. The Board agreed that a new Village Hall would be a better option.
Chandler suggested instituting a municipal business license requirement for new business owners in Ladd. Barry will prepare something for the July 9th meeting.
Announcements:
• Grivetti announced that he would like to bring back the music on Main Street. Since it was discontinued, petitions containing 100+ signatures and numerous social media posts in support of reinstating the music have been received. In an effort to compromise, the Village plans to lower the speakers on the poles, which will broadcast the music down rather than out; to play a wider variety of music and to decrease the hours that the music plays.
Motion Ruggerio – Second Cattani to adjourn.
Ayes: Cattani, Manning, Martin, Nelson, Ruggerio, Urbanowski Motion carried 6-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:53pm.
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