Illinois Valley Times

Coal City Village Board met April 26

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

At 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 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, Dan Greggain, Dave Spesia and Sarah Beach. Absent were Trustees Ross Bradley and Tim Bradley. Also in attendance were attorney Mark Heinle, Ryan Hansen from Chamlin Engineering, Chris Harseim, Coal City Police Chief and Matt Fritz, village administrator. 

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The minutes of the March 29, 2023 Budget Meeting were presented. Togliatti moved to approve the minutes as written, second by Spesia. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; T. Bradley and R. Bradley. Abstain; Greggain. Motion carried. 

The minutes of the April 12, 2023 Public Hearing were presented. Beach moved to approve the minutes as written, second by Spesia. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; T. Bradley and R. Bradley. Abstain; Greggain. Motion carried. 

The minutes of the April 12, 2023 regular meeting were presented and reviewed. Spesia moved to approve the minutes of the April 12, 2023 meeting, second by Beach. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; T. Bradley and R. Bradley. Abstain; Greggain. Motion carried. 

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

There was no Public Comment at this meeting. 

The Coal City Police Department have acquired two new officers. Police Administrative Assistant, Bonnie Wieczorek, swore in officers Tyler Grigus and Nathan Stadler. Chief Harseim presented the two officers with their badges. Both officers will attend the police academy in May, 2023. The officers were welcomed by the Board. 

Representatives of the Grundy County Historical Society presented a Proclamation declaring May 31, 2023 as "Grundy County Historical Society Day" in commemoration of their 100th Anniversary. Mayor Halliday read aloud the Proclamation and respectfully will sign the document. An invitation was extended to the Board by the representatives to attend the Open House on Sunday, May 7, 2023. 

Brittney Kaluzny, representing the Hope Helps All Inclusive Playground distributed and explained the proposal for the final phase to the playground. Extensive fundraising will support the majority of the project. Mrs. Kaluzny brought certain issues and repairs needed at the playground. Discussion included: 

• Maintenance & repairs to the equipment 
• Coal City High School students assisted with Spring Clean-up to the park 
• Security-Vandalism 

1. Additional security (independent personnel, auxiliary police) 
2. Camera angles & placement 
3. "See Something-Say Something" 
4. Kudos to Coal City Maintenance Department for repairs to ADA picnic tables 

• Funding for Phase II! 
• Community Build tentatively scheduled for 1st weekend in August 
• Maintenance Department participation and projects to assist with new park equipment 
• Contracts for equipment/services (Attorney Heinle stated that the contracts could be placed in the name of the Village) 

(Trustee Ross Bradley arrived at the meeting at 7:25 p.m.) 

Mayor Halliday commended The Hope Helps Playground Committee and participants for their dedication in this project including the fundraising efforts for the park. Beach moved to accept and participate in the Final Phase III of the Hope for Helps All Inclusive Playground Construction project, second by Spesia. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Greggain, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; T. Bradley. Motion carried. 

Ordinance 23-09 a variance request at 110 E. Third Street was presented to the Board. Mr. Fritz explained that the owner, Karen Radomski, is requesting the fence in the corner side yard with a zero foot setback; a variance of 25 feet. A Public Hearing was held before the Coal City Planning and Zoning Board on April 17th with no objections to the request by neighbors. The Planning and Zoning Board are making the approval for the variance request. Togliatti moved to adopt Ordinance 23-09 granting a variance requesting the placement of a fence within the corner side yard at 110 E. Third Street, second by Greggain. Roll call; Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Greggain, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; T. Bradley. Motion carried. 

Chief Harseim along with Mr. Fritz described the necessity for the hiring of two new officers to the Coal City Police Department for replacement of two officers that have left the force. Due to the time restraints of the Police Academy, the two officers have been assigned to training already and a letter instructing the Fire & Police Board of Commissioners has been prepared for the Mayor's signature to instruct the Fire & Police Board of Commissioners to hire the necessary officers. Greggain moved to instruct the Fire & Police Board of Commissioners of the need to appoint a new candidate to fill the available vacancy within the Police Department, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Greggain, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; T. Bradley. Motion carried. 

Mr. Fritz stated that the Coal City Police Department have included in their FY24 budget the purchase of an administrative vehicle. Chief Harseim has located a 2020 Ford Explorer with 37,000 miles. The vehicle is $32,000 through D'Orazio Ford with a premium gold warranty for nine years or 125,000 miles. The present administrative vehicle will transfer to Sgt. Clark and Sgt. Clark's vehicle would be declared surplus property and sold. Greggain moved to authorize the purchase of a 2020 Ford Explorer for the Police Department from D'Orazio Ford, second by R. Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Greggain, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; T. Bradley. Motion carried. Mayor Halliday thanked D'Orazio Ford for their generosity to the Police Department and Village. 

Brothers, Dean and Ron Marketti presented to the Village a display case enclosing the personal handgun and billy club that belonged to Henry Facinelli. Mr. Facinelli served on the Village Board in 1896, elected constable of Coal City in 1902 and Police Chief in 1903. Mr. Facinelli (1850-1913) is the great grandfather of Dean and Ron Marketti, and the grandfather of their father, Marcus Marketti, former Mayor and plumbing inspector of the Village of Coal City. Mayor Halliday accepted the shadow box on behalf of the Village and the Board thanked the Marketti's for their gracious contribution. 

Mr. Fritz declared that both Mayor Terry Halliday and Clerk Pamela Noffsinger have served the Village for more than 20 years. Mayor Halliday did not run for re-election and Clerk Noffsinger did not seek re-election for Clerk, instead ran for Village Trustee for the Village. A plaque in recognition of their accomplishment was presented to each of them. Mayor Halliday and Clerk Noffsinger thanked the Board for their recognition and agreed that their service to the community was a work of heart. 

Mayor Halliday congratulated the newly elected officials who will be receiving their Oaths of Office at the May 10th meeting. He thanked the Board, Chief Harseim and Police Officers, Chamlin Engineering, attorney Mark Heinle, Village Administrator Matt Fritz, the various Community Boards, the Auxiliary Police, Public Works, and the administrative staff for their loyalty and professionalism over the last 24 years. He also thanked the GEDC, Grundy County Chamber, NCICG and the residents for their assistance and hard work. He especially thanked his family for the opportunity to serve the residents of the Village. Mayor Halliday has served on the Village's Planning & Zoning Board, as Village Trustee and Village President for 8 years. 

Trustee Beach congratulated the newly elected officials and thanked the Mayor for his years of service. She announced the "May is for Mamas" all town event scheduled for May 8th-May 14th. Receive a chance, with purchase, to win Mother's Day baskets. 

Trustee Spesia congratulated and thanked Mayor Halliday on his 26 years of community service.

Trustee Greggain wished Mayor Halliday "good luck" and enjoy his new retirement status.

Trustee R. Bradley thanked everyone for their support in the recent election. Hel recognized the good Boards he has worked with in the past years. He acknowledged the trauma the Village suffered with the tornado of 2015 and the COVID Pandemic. 

Trustee Togliatti stated that all the meetings are "open" and invited Mayor Halliday and Trustee Ross Bradley to attend. 

Clerk Noffsinger read aloud the Abstract of Votes for the 2023 Consolidated Election noting the new elected officials are: 

• Dave Spesia-President 
• Alexis Stone-Clerk 
• Trustees: Dave Togliatti

  Pamela Noffsinger 

  Dan Greggain 

She thanked the residents for the support and confidence bestowed upon her since 1998 as the Village Clerk for Coal City and looked forward to serving as Trustee. 

Attorney Heinle announced: 

• Statement of Economic Interest forms are due by May 1st 
• Sexual Harassment Training will be attended by the Board in the near future 
• All Village employees are now required to take a mandatory Cyber Security Course annually

He said it was a pleasure serving under Mayor Halliday and thanked Ross Bradley for his eye for detail and wished them both good luck in their future endeavors. 

Ryan Hansen thanked Mayor Halliday for his vision and projects during the years. He thanked Ross Bradley for his assistance in many projects. 

Chief Harseim thanked Clerk Noffsinger for her years of service and thanked Mayor Halliday for his appointment to Chief and the support to him and the Police Department. 

Mr. Fritz thanked Ross Bradley for his assistance and confidence in the daunting task of the Waste Water Treatment Plant expansion and other projects. He thanked Mayor Halliday for his many years of community service and to enjoy the freedom of his two extra nights a month, free of scheduled Board meetings. 

Greggain moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Beach. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, R. Bradley, Greggain, Spesia and Beach. Nays; none. Absent; T. Bradley. Motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

https://coalcity-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/VB-Meeting-Minutes-04-26-20232.pdf