Illinois Valley Times

Coal City Village Board met Feb. 12

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

At 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Mayor Dave Spesia called to order the regular board meeting of the Coal City Village Board in the boardroom of the Village Hall. Roll call- Trustees Dave Togliatti, Dan Greggain, Pamela Noffsinger, Tim Bradley and CJ Lauterbur. Absent; Trustee Bill Mincey. Also in attendance were attorney Mark Heinle, Ryan Hansen from Chamlin Engineering, Chief Chris Harseim and Matt Fritz, village administrator. 

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The regular meeting minutes of January 22, 2025, were presented. Lauterbur moved to approve the minutes with corrections, second by Bradley. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Noffsinger, Bradley, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia. Absent; Mincey. Abstain; Greggain. Motion carried. 

The warrant list was presented. Mayor Spesia commented the warrant list format looked good. Lauterbur asked if the village received a check from softball. Fritz stated once it is approved for purchase the village will get the check and order the pitching machine. Lauterbur moved to accept the warrant list as written, second by Greggain. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley and Lauterbur. Absent; Mincey. Abstain; none. Motion carried. 

There was no public comment during the meeting. 

A Letter of request submitted from Will-Grundy Counties Building & Construction Trades Council and Kankakee/Iroquois Counties Building Trades of the AFL-CIO to hold its annual D.a.d's Day (Dollars Against Diabetes) fundraiser on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Chief Harseim stated he would reach out to them to coordinate logistics. Mayor Spesia stated the group raised $68,000 last year, which is impressive. Bradley gave kudos as he is a diabetic. 

Ordinance 25-02, adjusting gaming terminal fees in line with the state maximum fee. Fritz explained the adjustment would increase the fee to the state maximum of $250 per terminal versus the current fee of $25, which was the state maximum at one point in time. Fritz conveyed to the board the information within the board packet indicated the businesses in town are doing well with gaming. Fritz also explained other communities around Coal City are charging the maximum or getting there. This increase, if passed, will go into effect with the renewal this year in April. Mayor Spesia indicated this increase would offset the cost for the Broadway beautification. Lauterbur moved to adopt Ordinance 25-02 adjusting video gaming terminal licensing to the state maximum fee of $250 per terminal, second Greggain. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley and Lauterbur. Nays; none. Absent; Mincey. Abstain; none. Motion carried. 

Hansen explained work has been done on North and South Broadway as well as inspection work by Brandt Excavating for the IEPA lead service replacement project. Hansen is requesting a second disbursement payment for Brandt Excavating in the amount of $123, 066.00. Lauterbur moved to authorize payment to Brandt Excavating in amount of $123, 066.00 bringing the project total to 17.9% of the total projected costs, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley and Lauterbur. Nays; none. Absent; Mincey. Abstain; none. Motion carried.

Fritz explained the village received multiple bids for audio/visual upgrade for the village board room with Low Voltage Solutions (LVS) being the lowest. Each company came into the space and we discussed what the best solution would be to cover the space. The estimated cost came to just under $38,000 and Fritz described to the board how the audio/visual would be displayed in the room including individual monitors being split amongst the board members to view presentations if needed. The board had a few questions about the TV monitors located on the walls as well as the video option. Adjustments can be made as we move forward. Bradley stated it was nice to be utilizing LVS even though not a local business but local to the community. Bradley moved to authorize the purchase of Low Voltage Solutions audio/visual meeting room solution in the amount of $37, 776.70, second by Togliatti. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley and Lauterbur. Nays; none. Absent; Mincey. Abstain; none. Motion carried. 

Bradley thanked those that attended the finance committee meeting and asked everyone to check their emails for the upcoming budget meeting dates, which are in March. 

Hansen updated the board on Well #7 with weather permitting should be finalized within the next week. Hansen stated the water plant construction is progressing with walls up and the roof structure in place. Hansen also indicated the water tower construction project will be starting up in late May to early June. Mayor Spesia requested an update on the North Broadway project. Hansen explained there was a kick-off meeting with the sub-contractor Christopher Burke Engineering which they discussed the construction schedule with a start date of FY2027. Phase 1 is currently underway with the drainage designs, setting the profile of the roadway and once that is complete it can be brought to the board for comments on the design. 

Police Chief Harseim went over the reports for January 2025, which included; CAD Events, Calls Requiring Report, Criminal Arrests, D.U.I, Citations, Traffic Crashes, Verbal Warnings, P-Tickets. Harseim also went through the Grundy County Proact Unit report. Harseim stated what an amazing job the Proact Unit has done since 2021. Spesia asked once a case is over where does the money go that was ceased. Harseim explained it goes into a seized account, once awarded it goes into a forfeiture account then it is distributed to the agencies that created the Proact unit to be spent on police related items. Harseim stated he nominated the unit for a Meritorious Unit Award through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and should hear something soon as their hard work doesn't go unnoticed. Spesia inquired about new recruit Matt Janosek if he is still in field training. Harseim explained he is currently in week five and doing well and Cody Hakey is in week six of police training and is also doing well. 

Fritz informed the board the codification process has begun for E-Code and should be updated within the next 3 to 6 months. This will allow for all of the text amendments passed to be incorporated in the written code books and online. The records retention application has been submitted to the Illinois State Archivist thanks to work that has been done by Linda Sula. This process assists in disposing a lot of documentation and records that are stored. Fritz announced Tyler Valiente is being considered for Operator of the Year Award at his state association. Fritz also attended the Coffee and Company event at the Diamond Suites with the 

Chamber of Commerce. 

At 7:32 p.m. Trustee Bradley moved to enter executive session to approve executive session minutes per ILCS 5 120/2(c)(21)(Jan 24th, Aug 26th and Nov 13th), Personnel Matters ILCS 5 120/2(c)(1) and Discussion of pending litigation ILCS 5 120/2(c)(11), second Lauterbur. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Bradley, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia. Nays; none. Absent; Mincey. Motion carried. 

Following the executive session, the regular meeting resumed at 8:05 p.m. Roll call; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Lauterbur and Mayor Spesia. Absent; Mincey. Also, Heinle, Harseim and Fritz.

Approval of Resolution 25-01 approval of retirement agreement with Bonnie Wieczorek. Fritz explained Wieczorek has been with the Coal City Police Department for over 20 years and this agreement will allow her to inform us of her retirement date well in advance. This will allow for a smooth transition for teaching her replacement her tasks as well as additional new tasks. The benefits will allow her to have some additional benefits, which will include her time on the other side of January 2026 in addition to whatever is owed to her when she decides to retire between May 15th and September 15th. Bradley moved to adopt Resolution 25-01 providing the retirement agreement with Bonnie Wieczorek, second by Togliatti. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley and Lauterbur. Nays; none. Absent; Mincey. Abstain; none. Motion carried. 

Bradley moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:07 p.m., second by Lauterbur. Roll call-Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Lauterbur and Spesia. Nays; none. Absent; Mincey. Motion carried. 

https://coalcity-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/VB-Minutes-02-12-2025-Web.pdf