Illinois Valley Times

Village of Ladd Village Board met April 8

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Ladd Village Board met in regular session on Tuesday, April 8, 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: Deputy Clerk Julie Koch, Engineer Adam Ossola, Atty. Pat Barry, Clerk Rhonda Bezely arrived at 6:41 pm

Thrasher motioned/Ruggerio seconded to accept the March 25, 2025, regular meeting minutes as presented.

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

Nelson motioned/Nicolson seconded, to authorize payment of the bills of $37,962.08.

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

Correspondence: A thank-you card from Donna Engels for the Villages thoughtfulness. Thank you from IVAR for helping with the 2025 Auction proceeds.

Public Comment: None

Committee Reports:

Molly reminded everyone of the Easter Hunt this weekend 1030-1130 and she was hoping that she would see everyone there.

Nelson and Victor went and looked at the trees on the berm in front of 420 and 414 N Bureau Ave. The resident is concerned that there are limbs falling off and going to land on their cars. Nelson and Victor think that we should visit them again next month to see if they are getting buds on them or if they are dead and need to be cut down. It’s too early to tell right now.

Engineer’s Report: New Business: Ossola reported that we need to pass Resolution 1186 for the Main Ave sidewalks project sent from IDOT a condition of them approving the permit for them to do work within the State right-of-way highway.

Nicolson motion/Matin seconded to Pass Resolution #1186 for Main Ave Sidewalk Grant.

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

New Business: Ossola stated that we were given the engineering agreement for Safe Routes to

School 2023 Project Construction quote and we need to pass that before they can continue moving forward with that to be bid at the end of April. This will allow us to use the federal funds with the grant to pay for the engineering costs as much as it will cover. 

Victor motioned/Thrasher seconded to Approve the Engineering Agreement for Safe Routes to School 2023 Project Construction Phase Engineering.

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicolson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor – motion carried

Cattani asked Ossola about the area at the Smith residence along the SRTS project that we had previously spoken about. Cattani stated that Smith told him it would be 20x45. That’s way bigger than we previously had spoken about and agreed to. The council stated that we would stay with the original 1/3 of the cost estimated to be around $3000 for the total project and that the Village portion would be about $1000.

Superintendent’s Report : Not in Attendance

Police Chief: Old Business: Not in Attendance

Building Inspector: Not in Attendance

Village Attorney: New Business - Pass Ordinance 1187: Attorney Pat Barry prepared the ordinances on the Power Sales Agreement between the Village of Ladd and the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency. Martin motioned/Victor seconded, to pass Ordinance 1187, Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Power Sales Contract Between the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency and the Village of Ladd, Bureau County, Illinois for the Delivery Period Commencing October 1, 2035

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Thrasher, Victor, President Cattani - Motion carried

Nyes: Ruggerio

New Business: Pass Ordinance 1188: Attorney Pat Barry prepared the ordinance on the Construction of Facilities on Public Right-of-ways. Small discussion ensued as to what this entailed. Barry stated that all that comes into town will need to come into the Clerk’s office and get a permit to do any work within the Village.

Nelson motioned/Nicolson seconded, to pass Ordinance 1188, An Ordinance Establishing Standards and Procedures for the Construction of Facilities of the Public Right-Of-Way in the Village of Ladd, Bureau County, Illinois

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

Barry stated that Tim Bott came in with a check yesterday. Barry has the deed with him for Frank and Rhonda to sign along with the closing statement. Once that is all signed, he will then record the deed and the sale will be finalized.

Cattani asked Barry if he has heard anything about Tomashewski annexing into the Village. Barry stated that he spoke with him and that he was out of town and would be in contact with him once he is back home. He was going to see where is plant was because its coming from Greenland. He said he would be back in touch with Barry. Barry will reach out to him again to see where we are at with that.

Cattani stated that we are getting a lot of traffic down Cleveland with all of the construction going on, on I-80. Cattani spoke with Maylor Kolowski from Peru asking if they could put up a sign by Plank Road stating that it is not a Truck route. The police will then be able to enforce ticketing these drivers and companies for going off route once that is placed.

Old Business: Discussion & Decision on Updated Electric Rate Study: Discussion ensued regarding why IMEA can’t provide us with the electric rates or do an Electric Rate Study. Barry stated that they do not provide any of their Municipalities with that. They will only buy and sells the electricity for their customers. We will table a decision till next meeting.

Discussion and Decision on Fair Solar Credit Rate as of 5/1/25: Small discussion ensued in regards to what over the past couple years the residents with solar have paid for electric and what kind of a credit they were given for their solar credits. Koch will put all of those numbers together for next meeting to review further and possibly make a decision at that point. The council would like to know what we pay the IMEA per KwH. Bezely looked up and stated that last month we paid the IMEA .0838 per KwH and we charge the residents .1430 per KwH. We will table this for further discussion and decision till next meeting.

Donation Request for Hall Township Food Pantry Easter Meals: Cattani stated that in the past we were getting about 15 food baskets from Valley Fresh Harvest to give to needy families in town. Those were given by a Federal Grant that has currently been put on hold. Cattani thinks with all of this that we should reconsider giving a donation to the Hall Township food Panty to help the families from our Municipality that goes there for support. Victor motioned/Nicholson seconded that the Village of Ladd donates $400 towards Easter Dinner Baskets.

Ayes: Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Victor – Motion carried

Abstain: Martin, Thrasher

Update on 109 N Main Ave: Barry stated that he was unable to get to this matter since the last meeting. Barry stated that Colin has been working on the same ordinance for Spring Valley and Peru and that we will continue to work on this for the next meeting. This ordinance would require us to have inspections on all Main Ave properties. We could file an ordinance violation on them for working on the property when a Stop Work Order Notice has been placed. We could fine them on a daily basis and the other thing we can do in do an injunction on them and take them to court. Colin will have an Ordinance for the next meeting and we will look into it more then.

New Business: Review and Discuss Quote for Shed Replacement at WWTP: There was not a quote for the meeting on what it would cost to replace it. Victor and Nelson will go and look at it to see what they think and bring that back to the council at the next meeting to make a decision.

Discussion & Decision on Synology Back-up Quote for server (Replaces Buffalo Box not working): Koch told the council that the current back up that we have is currently not working at all. Koch stated that Mark told us that we needed to get this in as soon as possible. Quote is $586.98 plus installation, setup with approximately 1 hour of labor. 

Victor Motioned/Thrasher seconded to Buy and have Mark install a Synology Backup Server not to exceed $700.00.

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher, Victor – motion carried

New Business: Donation Request from 4-H Extension and Youth Development Program: No action taken

Donation Request from IBEW Local 51 Charity Fund: no action taken Donation Request from Bpart: In the past years we have donated $250 for Bpart Thrasher motioned/Nelson seconded to donate $300.00 to Bpart

Ayes: Martin, Nelson, Nicholson, Ruggerio, Thrasher – motion carried

Nyes: Victor

Consider Having Chamlin and Associates Scope of Work for New Roof System on Water Treatment Facility: Cattani stated that he and Victor would go down and take a look at it. Nelson said that he would go on his own to look at it as well. Ossola stated that it’s a flat roof and it was put on in about 2005 or so. About 20 years old. Ossola stated that Englehaupt told him last week that there was a hole in it. He was going to have someone come take a look at it and patch it and reattach it. Per a text to Ossola it was stated that its detached over about half the roof. Wasn’t sure if it was detaching from the insulation or around the edges. Frank asked to have it table until the next meeting after they go and take a look at it.

Announcements: None

Thrasher motioned/Nicholson seconded to adjourn.

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

The meeting adjourned at 7:44 pm.

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