Illinois Valley Times

Coal City Village Board met Nov. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

At 7:01 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Mayor Dave Spesla called to order the meeting of the Coal City Village Board meeting in the boardroom at Village Hall. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Beach and Mincey. Nays; none. Absent; Bradley. Also in attendance were Village Attorney Mark Heinle, Police Chief Chris Harseim and Matt Fritz, village administrator.

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes for the Regular Village Board meeting on October 25, 2023, will be presented at the next meeting on November 20, 2023.

The warrant list was presented and reviewed by the Board. Mr. Fritz stated a slight change in the warrant list included a $100 Future Farmers of America ("FFA") sponsorship fee was included. Mr. Fritz also explained the new park in Meadow Estates has begun construction and the pickleball court for which the surface was included on the list will be installed In spring. Greggain moved to approve the warrant list as amended with the FFA addition, second by Beach, Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Beach and Mincey. Nays; none. Absent: Bradley. Motion carried.

There was no public comment at this meeting.

Ordinance 23-31, review preliminary ordinance for proposed 2023 Tax Levy was presented. The proposed levy for the Village to be collected next summer of 2024 was reviewed by the Board. Mr. Fritz explained there will not be a need to hold a truth in taxation hearing for the general obligation property taxes of the Village because the total level is below 105% of the amount levied in 2022. Mr. Fritz said the property value is up, the audit line has Increased for the first time in a decade due to the overall cost of auditing and the Police Protection line has hit the max every year with no capability of gaining more unless there is a successful referendum. Beach recommended pulling funds from Parks to help pay more patrolmen to have more surveillance to our parks. Greggain moved to set the 2023 Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Village of Coal City, Grundy and Will Counties, Illinois for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2023, and ending April 30, 2024 at the upcoming December 13, 2023 regular board meeting, second by Beach. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Beach and Mincey. Nayas; none. Absent; Bradley. Motion carried.

Resolution 23-16, IHDA Resolution of support for strong communities. Mr. Fritz explained The Illinois Housing Development Authority ("IHDA") has begun a "Strong Communities" grant in 2020 funded by the Illinois Rebuild capital bonds. The Village utilized North Central Illinois Council of Governments ("NCICG") to apply for and administer this IHDA grant to demolish and restore abandoned residential properties within the Village in the allotted amount of $84,000. Mr. Fritz explained this grant will not make it necessary for the Village to pay demolition upfront. Beach moved to adopt Resolution 23-16, accepting the IHDA Strong Communities Grant of $84,000 to be administered by NCICG, second by Mincey. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Beach and Mincey. Nays; none. Absent; Bradley. Motion carried.

Mr. Fritz presented to the Board the proposal for improvements to Garfield and 113 intersection which Includes replacement of the traffic control box at Garfield and Division. The state of Illinois is responsible for 66% of the total cost of improvements with Coal City paying for the remainder for its local road. This cost is $29,228.38 and will provide modern traffic controls that can be utilized by future cameras on the poles. Togliatti moved to authorize the purchase of new traffic control technology to be Installed by Meade at the intersection of Garfield & Division at a cost of $29,228.38, second by Beach, Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Beach and Mincey. Nays; none. Absent; Bradley. Motion carried.

Mr. Fritz presented to the Board the annual maintenance contract for State Route 113 for Meade Electric. Mr. Fritz explained that Coal City has utilized maintenance contracts for portions of the roadway in which signal- controlled intersections are shared with local roads controlled by a municipality. The company provides maintenance that must meet state guidelines. The regular monthly maintenance contract is minimal at $179.84, of which Coal City pays $80 per month. Greggain moved to authorize Mayor Spesia to extend the monthly traffic signal maintenance contract with Meade Electric concerning those intersections involving State Route 113, second by Togliatti. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Beach and Mincey. Nays; none. Absent; Bradley. Motion carried.

Mr. Fritz proposed to the Board to add Trustee Dan Greggain as an additional signer for the Village checking account in case of an event where Mayor Spesia is unable to sign. Togliatti moved to approve Mayor Spesla adding Trustee Dan Greggain as an additional signer on the Village checking account, second by Beach. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Beach and Mincey. Nays; none. Absent; Bradley. Motion carrled.

Mr. Fritz explained to the Board that the State Legislature adopted the Paid Leave Act for All Workers Act which will provide additional guaranteed time off for any employees within the State of Illinols with few exceptions. This act shall require any employee who works regardless of being considered full or part time to credit with one hour off work for every forty hours worked to accumulate at least 40 hours of leave within one year's time. The Board discussed how the Village should proceed in 2024 including, no payout for sick days, and allowing on to take time off 90 days following the start date and possibly providing employees 5 days off upfront at the start of the year.

Mayor Spesia reported he met with Representative Jason Bunting from 106th Illinois Legislative District to go over common issues in our surrounding communities. The following issues that were mentioned were police staffing, tax levy amounts, struggles with grant writing and needs regarding the zoning of solar farms. Mayor Spesia wanted to commemorate Marine Corp's birthday and Veterans day and thanked those for their service.

Trustee Mincey reported Second Ave project is moving along well.

Trustee Beach reported the construction of the new Meadow Estates playground is going well and kids are allowed to start playing on it.

Trustee Togliatti wanted to remind the citizens that residents are still burning. The burning of landscape waste is prohibited within the Village limits between April 1- November 30.

Mark Heinle, village attorney reported that the closing of the two parcels on Broadway closed and was successful. Heinle also stated he is looking into a class action lawsuit we may benefit from regarding water pollution, and he will keep us updated on the process.

Police Chief, Chris Harseim reported there was a nice article about officer Josh Nugent written. Chlef Harseim went over the following reports.

2023 Total CAD Events

2023 Calls Requiring a Report

2023 Citation Totals

2023 Verbal Warnings

2023 Traffic Crashes

2023 Criminal Charges

2023 D.U.I Reports

2023 P- Tickets

Grundy County Proactive Unit Significant Activity Report

Matt Fritz, village administrator wanted to thank all the veterans for their service.

Mincey moved to adjourn the meeting second by Beach. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Beach and Mincey. Nays; none. Absent; Bradley. Motion carried at 8:06.

https://coalcity-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VB-Meeting-Minutes-Web-11-08-2023.pdf