Illinois Valley Times

Village of Ladd Village Board met Jan. 28

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

The Ladd Village Board met in regular session on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in the Ladd Village Hall at 121 N. Main Avenue. Village President Frank Cattani called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm and led the pledge of allegiance to the American flag.

Roll Call: Present: Trustees Jan Martin, Dan Nelson, Brad Nicholson, Andy Ruggerio, Molly Thrasher, and Bernie Victor (6)

In attendance: Clerk Rhonda Bezely, Deputy Clerk & Treasurer Julie Koch, Engineer Adam Ossola, Building Inspector Barry Flanagan, Attys. Pat Barry & Colin Barry

Nicholson motioned/Ruggerio second to accept the January 14, 2025, regular meeting minutes as presented.

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor - Motion carried

Nelson motioned/Thrasher second to authorize payment of the bills for $126,464.42

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor - Motion carried

Ruggerio motioned/Nelson second to accept the Treasurer's Report for December 2024.

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor - Motion carried

Correspondence: A thank you from 10/33 Ambulance Service was read. President Cattani confirmed that the City of Spring Valley is paying the same as everyone else $36 per capita. Nicholson had a conversation with 10/33 personnel last Friday. He asked them why they were not advertising via Facebook or other means for people to request 10/33 Ambulance for any transfer. Nicholson told them they needed to inform people about their right to choose 10/33 Ambulance to keep their per capita fees affordable.

Public Comment: None

Committee Reports: None

Engineer’s Report: New Business: Water Tower Maintenance Bids: Engineer Ossola asked the board to approve Chamlin & Associates to conduct a bid letting for both water towers to be cleaned and inspected for 5 years. The bid will also include recoating inside and outside of the north tower in 2025. Ruggerio asked if we ever had any problem with the company that has done our maintenance for many years. The only issue was 2024 with some overspray but the company did a great job taking care of this.

Martin motioned/Nicholson second to Have Chamlin & Associates Set Bid Letting for Maintenance on the 2 Water Towers in the Village of Ladd for the next 5 years.

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor - Motion carried

Main Street Sidewalk Project: The plans are at IDOT for permit review. Nelson asked if the Presidents funding freeze will present any issues with this grant. Ossola stated that this grant is state-funded so it should be okay. This project is hopeful for letting in the Spring 2025. The SRTS 2023 project is hopeful for an April bid letting but there is some Federal Funding in this grant. If we do not hit the April timeline for the bid letting then it would be June. Nelson asked if President Cattani had spoken with Rick Smith and he has not yet.

Superintendent’s Report: Not in attendance.

Police Chief: Not in attendance

Building Inspector: Flanagan attended tonight’s meeting to discuss the new building code law that came into effect with Attorney Barry. Atty. Barry told the council that we do not have to do anything.

We may want to implement codes at some point or the State may impose them on us. There is a new statute that if a municipality has building codes in place they have to notify the Capital Development Board of what building codes they have. The Village of Ladd does not have any specific building codes in place for residential properties.

Village Attorney: None

New Business: Donation Request BUECOMM: Per Chief Frund, who was unable to attend tonight’s meeting, this will be discussed at a later meeting. President Cattani asked the council to table this request.

New Business: Video Gaming Terminal Fees: The council discussed the fees the Village has charged since 2022. A copy of the Video Gaming Tax report was shared with the council. The fees that the Village imposes are paid ½ by the business owner and ½ by the gaming terminal owner. The fees are currently $150.00 per machine. The maximum number of machines a business is allowed is 6. Victor asked what the surrounding towns were charging. $250.00 per terminal was the attorney’s response. These fees go into the General Fund.

Ruggerio motioned/Nelson second to Increase Video Gaming Terminal Fees to $250.00 per Machine.

½ of this fee is paid by the video gaming terminal owner and ½ by the business owner.

Ayes: Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor - Motion carried

Nayes: Martin

New Business: Weed Control for 2025 Village Properties: We received a bid last fall from the company the Village has used for several years. It was discussed if we wanted to continue to use D&M Landscaping or go out for bids. After discussion it was decided to continue with D&M Landscaping for weed control at Kennedy Park, War Memorial Park, and at the Waste Water Treatment Plant for spring and fall applications for weed control. It was mentioned dragging the baseball fields would help keep the weeds down. Cattani will speak with the summer help to possibly do this.

Nicholson motioned/Martin second to Accept the Weed Control Bids from D&M Landscaping for Both Parks and the Waste Water Treatment Plant As Needed Pursuant to the Quotes Received.

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor - Motion carried

New Business: Water Treatment Plant Sump Pump: After discussion, the council felt that it was best to have both of our sump pumps replaced and keep 1 of the existing pumps for a backup if still working at the time of the new pumps’ installation. Englehaupt was reached to see if we had any backups at this time. He told the council no. He was also asked about the lead time for the pumps and he was told possibly 8 weeks.

Victor motioned/Thrasher second to Accept the Proposal from Gasvoda & Associates to Purchase (2) Sump Pumps for the Water Treatment Plant for $25,964.00 which Includes Installation.

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor - Motion carried

Announcements: Liquor Licenses – Bezely announced all but 2 Liquor license renewal fees have been paid. She will contact these last 2 businesses on Thursday to remind them. Underwood’s Office sent an email regarding concerns due to the President’s funding freeze that we might have about grants the Village has been awarded but are not complete. Bezely asked about the Main Ave Sidewalk Grant $150,000.00 with no match for the Village and Ossola put the council’s minds at ease stating this is a state grant so there is no concern. Bezely also asked about the Housing Rehabilitation Grant of $650,000.00 with no match for the Village and is waiting for a response from Underwood’s office.

Atty. Barry feels that any grant money that has been appropriated already should be ok.

Cybersecurity training was investigated and Illinois Municipal League gave me information on a website that our employees are to go on and set up an account, take the training, and provide the certificate of completion to the Clerk’s office to be put in their employee files. The council wants all employees told that this is mandatory. Baseball Tournament Steve Bosi stopped in the office today and wanted to just make sure he could work with the Cavaliers Organization to Host an 8- & 9-yearold baseball tournament at Kennedy Park. They will clean up the ball fields, provide any line chalk, etc. for the tournament. They will pay $500.00 for use of the field(s). This will be on Saturday, May 31, 2025, & Sunday, June 1, 2025. 12 Teams will be in Ladd that weekend. This money will go into the Ladd Sports Account. They also would like to have a food truck. They will be licensed as required.

Bosi is hoping to get more of these tournaments to keep games being played in Ladd. NCICG requests the Village’s top 2 projects they would like funding from our legislators for grants. There were 3 projects considered. The west end sewer separation project, renovation of the Community Center to the new Village Hall. Bezely wondered about a water tower on the south end of the Village. Nicholson questioned if utilities out to Route 80 properties should be a request for possible growth in the future.

It was felt that we need to know our potential customers before we bring utilities so we have what they need. 124 N Hennepin Ave lot President Cattani was approached about the Village selling it again.

Atty. Barry will get this published in the paper again. We will contact the previous residents who have inquired in the past. Ideally, the Village would like to see a home built on this property.

Ruggerio asked Cattani if the fire hydrants that needed replacement were ordered and ready to be replaced. Cattani will investigate this. Amore Pizzeria will open tomorrow. No advertising will be done until they feel ready to take on all the orders. Regarding fiberoptic broadband, we have two upcoming meetings to get fiberoptic to Ladd, Cherry, and Arlington.

Martin motioned/Nicholson second to adjourn.

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor - Motion carried

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.

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