Illinois Valley Times

Coal City Village Board met March 26

Here are the minutes provided the board:

At 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 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, Pam Noffsinger, Tim Bradley, Bill Mincey and CJ Lauterbur. Also in attendance were attorney Dan Lev, substituting Mark Heinle, Police Chief Chris Harseim, Matt Halloran from Chamlin Engineering and Matt Fritz, village administrator. Absent: none. 

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The regular meeting minutes of March 12, 2025, were presented. Lauterbur moved to approve the minutes as written, second by Mincey. Roll call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Mincey and Lauterbur. Nays; none. Absent; none. Motion carried. 

The warrant list was presented. Mr. Fritz included an additional proposal amount $9,716 for 5th Ave Chopper Pump improvement of to the warrant list. There were no objections regarding this addition by the Board. Greggain moved to approve the warrant list as written, second by Togliatti. Roll Call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Mincey and Lauterbur. Nays: none. Absent; none. Motion carried. 

There was no public comment at this meeting. 

Chief Harseim introduced the newly hired officer, Monica Daugherty: Chief Harseim explained Daugherty will start at the Police Academy on May 4th Officer Daugherty is an Army veteran. Chief Harseim thanked every officer who attended, 10 out of the 15 officers were present for the swearing in for Officer Daugherty. Clerk Baxter swore in Officer Monica Daugherty and Chief Harseim presented Officer Daugherty with her badge. Officer Daugherty introduced her fiance, two children and mother-in-law whom was in attendance, Officer Daugherty thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve the community. 

Mr. Fritz presented the Board with special event application by Darien Fincher for May 3, 2025 to host a block party at 930 E Short Dr. Mrs. Fincher filled out the required application and got three other residents in agreement of this request. Mr. Fritz explained the police department will provide barricades and extra patrol during event to ensure traffic safety. There were no objections by the Board. 

Ordinance 25-06., adopting the 2025 updated Coal City Zoning Map. Mr. Fritz explained the Village revises the zoning map on a necessary basis, which the Village plans to use this format of revising zoning map in future years to easily track changes. The zoning map needs to include a commercial-zoned property adjacent to O'Reilly's Auto Parts to spilt and amended to RM-1 and Meadow Estates commercial corner being amended and re-subdivided into RS3. There were no comments made by the Board. Lauterbur moved to adopt Ordinance 25-06, adopting the 2025 updated Coal City Zoning Map, second by Greggain. Roll Call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Mincey and Lauterbur. Nays: none. Absent; none. Motion carried. 

Ordinance 25-07, amending the RS3 residential subdivision at the southwest corner of Berta & Foxgrove to provide 5 buildable lots within Meadow Estates, Phase 7. Mr. Fritz explained the developer of the property, Mark Scaggs has made adjustments regarding the lots that were approved at the regular meeting on January 8, 2025. Mr. Scaggs would like to downsize the lots from 6 to 5 to enhance the lot square footage from 6,278 to 6,600 to increase the depth of lots alongside Berta Rd lots, Mr. Scaggs is also eliminating one lot along Foxgrove St. to accommodate the depth of other lots. Lauterbur moved to adopt Ordinance 25-07, amending the RS3 residential subdivision at the southwest corner of Berta & Foxgrove to provide 5 buildable lots within Meadow Estates, Phase 7, second by Mincey. Roll Call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Mincey and Lauterbur. Nays: none. Absent; none. Motion carried. 

Mr. Fritz presented the proposed FY26 Budget on file at Village Hall and set the April 23rd Regular Meeting for its final adoption. Mr. Fritz explained the fiscal year for 2026 is May 1st- April 30, 2026. Mr. Fritz explained prior for final adoption, there needs to be a public hearing regarding the proposed budget, which will be posted in the local paper on April 9th. Budget meetings have begun to read the budget in further depth. Mr. Fritz explained aside from the capital projects that are in place, the operational budget is smaller than last year. Mr. Fritz included the expenditures operations list amounts. Mayor Spesia explained that we already had one review meeting of the budget and have four upcoming review meetings. There were no other comments made by the Board. Bradley moved to approve to place the proposed FY26 Budget on file at Village Hall and set the April 23rd regular meeting for its final adoption, second by Mincey. Roll Call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Mincey and Lauterbur. Nays: none. Absent; none. Motion carried. 

Mr. Fritz presented to the Board demolition bids for 435 S Mary Street. Mr. Fritz explained that the village has received funds called "Strong Community" Illinois Housing Development Authority funds administrated by North Central Illinois Council of Governments. This allows demolition of structures that will allow the area go back to a green field site allow surrounding properties to go down in value or deal with property code infractions. With this grant, this allows the demolition to occur without the village spending first, and it come without lien. The structure and code violations will be removed and will sit as a green field site. Mr. Fritz gave the bids for the demolition, Troutman Excavating gave us the lowest bid in the amount of $13,500. Mayor Spesia wanted to clarify that restoration backfilling and seeding are also included in the bid, Mr. Fritz confirmed it was. Togliatti moved to select Troutman Excavating to complete the demolition of 435 S. Mary for a cost not to exceed $13,500, second by Greggain. Roll Call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Mincey and Lauterbur. Nays: none. Absent; none. Motion carried. 

Mayor Spesia congratulated Officer Daugherty coming abroad the Coal City Police Department. Mayor Spesia announced he attended the ribbon cutting for Fitness Premier for their "Relax & Restore". Mayor also explained him and Trustee Lauterbur attended event held by GEDC for D Construction for 43 years in business, where D Construction explained the hiring challenges they have with IDOT. Mayor Spesia congratulated D Construction for being in business for 43 years. 

Trustee Lauterbur also announced that the event held by GEDC to celebrate D Construction for 43 years in business was a great event and thanked them for the invitation. 

Trustee Bradley announced he attended the event for Will County By The Numbers Event, he explained it was a great event and was interested by the information that was provided for our area. Trustee Bradley reminded everyone the budget review meetings will continue on and thanked everyone for their hard work and participation during the meetings. Trustee Bradley asked for clarification regarding the FEMA funds that is not available anymore, Mr. Fritz explained that those FEMA funds were going to pay for the backup generator however since the funds are available and the backup generator it is not to bid yet, everything is hold until further notice. 

Clerk Baxter reminded the Board that Grundy County Economic Interest filing still needs to be completed by the some board members by May 1st. Clerk Baxter explained that there will not be paper copies mailed out unless requested however asked for paper copies for Trustee Noffsinger and Trustee Togliatti. 

Dan Lev was present on behalf of Mark Heinle, Village Attorney. Mr. Lev announced Mr. Heinle will be present at the next meeting. 

Matt Halloran, from Chamlin Engineering reported Brandt Construction brought in extra crew to complete water services, the crew members have found several issues that needed to be resolved. Mr. Halloran gave an updated on the Water Treatment Plant, stating the roof is just about complete. 

Police Chief Chris Harseim congratulated Officer Daugherty for her new position at the police department. Chief Harseim explained that will be the second woman officer on staff. Chief Harseim gave an update regarding the administration position for hire, he explained there was 34 applicants turned in. Chief explained after the deadline for applications hits, Kristi and Deputy Chief Mike Imhoff will conduct interviews. 

Matt Fritz, Village Administrator reminded the Board the GEDC Annual Legislative Breakfast is on May 12th at 8am, if anyone wants to attend. Mr. Fritz thanked the Board for attending the previous budget review meeting. Mr. Fritz explained the audit has been completed and review meeting has been scheduled. Mr. Fritz explained a final dollar amount that will be used for local streets, will also be completed soon. 

Bradley moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:29p.m., second by Lauterbur. Roll Call- Ayes; Togliatti, Greggain, Noffsinger, Bradley, Mincey and Lauterbur. Nays: none. Absent; none. Motion carried.

https://coalcity-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/VB-Meeting-Minutes-03-26-2025-Web.pdf