Illinois Valley Times

Coal City Village Board met Aug. 26

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

At 7:00p.m. on Monday, August 26, 2024, Mayor Dave Spesia called to order the meeting of the Coal City Village Board in the boardroom at Village Hall. Roll call- Dave Togliatti, Bill Mincey and CJ Lauterbur. Also in attendance were Mark Heinle, village attorney, Matt Halloran from Chamlin Engineering, Police Chief Chris Harseim, and Matt Fritz, village administrator. Absent; Trustees Dan Greggain, Pam Noffsinger, Tim Bradley and Village Clerk, Alexis Stone. 

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Due to the Village Clerk, Alexis Stone not being able to be in attendance, Trustee Togliatti moved to assign the task of recording secretary for this meeting be assigned to Matt Fritz, village administrator, second by Trustee Lauterbur. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried. 

The regular meeting minutes July 24, 2024, was presented. Lauterbur moved to approve the minutes as written, second by Mincey. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried. 

The warrant list was presented. Togliatti reviewed the cost for the annual fire extinguisher inspections and Mayor Spesia asked about the payment to Garden Creations, which was due to the cost of the upcoming plant supplies required for the fall/winter planting season. Lastly, Mayor Spesia thanked neighboring Village of Diamond for their assistance as the Village's well #5 had undergone difficulty requiring many gallons to be provided by Diamond when the village's water supply was not able to produce the volume required. Lauterbur moved to approve the warrant list as written, second by Mincey. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried. 

Mr. Fritz explained to the Board Coal City Baseball League has appeared in front of the Park Board on a few occasions over the past few meetings due to the current condition of the Field #1 Press box 2 structure. They had requested an inspection of the facility from Kyle Watson, Coal City Building Official, which revealed several necessary improvements related to ensuring the structure remains safe. Michelle Miller of 1035 Heritage, Diamond IL stated she was present if there were any additional questions and informed the Board, she had acquired the quotes after calling contractor to perform the necessary work on the press box. Some discussion ensued regarding the work to be completed along with the request of Mayor Spesia that the public works department work with Coal City Baseball to ensure no flooding issues will continue due to the grade at the base of the structure. Miller's proposal was for the Village of Coal City to participate with 50% of the total proposed estimate for the work of $6,150.

Lauterbur moved to approve reimbursing Coal City Baseball $3,075 upon the presentation of the work and payment having been completed, second by Mincey. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia. Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried. 

Mr. Fritz presented to the Board that the Touchdown Club is requesting the Village of Coal City to find a period in which "Charlie Coaler" flags could be utilized as ornamentation as opposed to the American flags that are routinely utilized on the light poles along S. Broadway and Division Street within Coal City. Coal City traditionally flies American flags in these locations from Memorial Day through Veterans Day in mid-November. However, Public Works does take them down throughout the summer because of over exposure causing tremendous fading of the American flags and they tend to lose their visual impact if they are always present throughout the entirety of 6 months' time. Fritz stated there is a small window around the beginning of school until the first week of November that would allow Public Works to display the flags if they were provided by the Touchdown Club. Dirk Morris who resides at 1960 S. Berta and is the current Touchdown Club President was present at the meeting. Mr. Morris stated the club has reviewed the recommendations from the village regarding their size and proper supply and were prepared to likely provide the total number necessary to fly the "Charlie Coaler" flags along Division Street and S. Broadway should the village board allow it to take place. The Touchdown Club wished for the Board to consider the matter in hopes of seeing if the flags could still be flown for a portion of the current year. Mayor Spesia asked Heinle for clarification regarding the consideration of this agenda item. Following the advice of counsel, Togliatti moved to approve the Touchdown Club to provide an adequate supply of Charlie Coaler flags to the Coal City Public Works to allow them to be utilized for decoration along Division & S. Broadway until November on a trial basis and determine next year's plan following this preliminary trial of the plan, seconded by Lauterbur. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried. 

Mr. Fritz explained to the Board the necessity of renewing the annual emergency siren contract with Fulton Technology regarding the upkeep and maintenance of the units. Chief Harseim informed the Board this company does a good job of testing and repairing the units immediately upon learning if anything is improperly working. Fritz stated Fulton has held this contract over many years and the utilization of the equipment is primarily a function of EMA Director George Hanson to oversee and he recommends continuance of this contract. Togliatti moved to authorize Mayor Spesia to enter into contract with Fulton Technologies to maintain the village's emergency siren equipment, second by Mincey. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried. 

Trustee Mincey thanked Public Works for all their efforts to complete necessary work and prepare the streets and alleys for the annual repaving that has begun with contractor D Construction. In addition, Trustee Mincey expects work to begin on Carbon Hill Rd. between Division and the BNSF railroad crossing next week. This work is being completed under a separate contract with PT Ferro. 

Trustee Lauterbur reported the Park Board has had some busy meetings as they have been sorting through the proposals from Coal City Baseball and Coal City Softball. Following this evening's action item, the Board of Trustees may expect a proposal from Coal City Softball soon as well. 

Matt Halloran of Chamlin Engineering reported on three different ongoing projects for the Village. Halloran has been monitoring the work of D Construction mentioned previously by Trustees Mincey. Portions of Spring Road and Covey Road have been completed and Halloran is anticipating all but two portions of the paving to be completed over the next few days. The cul de sac on Big Timber required new concrete to be poured and set and the work on the tennis courts at North park has been added as well. Regarding the ongoing work at the installation of well #7, Halloran reported that Elliott Electric, a subcontractor for D Construction, was installing the electrical supply box at the detached garage in which the controls for the new well will be installed. Work on this is expected to be completed by week's end. Lastly, the water treatment plant expansion project continues forward with this week's major accomplishments to include epoxy floor coating and new piping being installed within the interior of the addition. 

Chief Harseim informed the Board the Police Departments two newest recruits who had attended the Police Officer Academy training have graduated and he congratulated new officers Joe Svoboda and Tyler Grigus. 

Fritz reported he plans to attend a Will County CED (Center for Economic Development) information session to provide information on growth and expectations within the region. 

Village Clerk, Alexis Stone entered the meeting and resumed duties of recording minutes.

At 7:33 p.m., Togliatti moved to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining allowed by exemption 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2), second by Lauterbur. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried. 

At 8:29 p.m., Togliatti moved to enter back into regular session second by Lauterbur. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried. 

Mincey moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 p.m., second by Lauterbur. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Mincey, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia Nays; none. Absent; Greggain, Noffsinger and Bradley. Motion carried.

https://coalcity-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/VB-Meeting-Minutes-08-26-2024-Web.pdf