Illinois Valley Times

Village of Seneca Village Council met April 7

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Seneca Village Council held a regularly scheduled Council meeting at Seneca Village Hall on April 7, 2025 and the meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.

Roll Call: Present: Mayor Olson, Commissioners Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Absent: None

Also Present: Village Clerk Jennifer Peddicord, Attorney Bryan Wellner and Village Engineer Casey McCollom

All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve the March 17, 2025 council meeting minutes as presented.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve the payment of bills as presented.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS, REPORTS AND ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS:

None.

OLD BUSINESS:

Commissioner Victor: A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve the adoption of Ordinance 25-11, An Ordinance Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers' Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tах.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

Commissioner Peddicord: A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Victor to approve the adoption of Ordinance 25-12, An Ordinance Amending the Text of the Zoning Ordinance to Include the Keeping of Backyard Chickens as a Permitted Use in Certain Residential Districts.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

Mayor Olson: A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve the adoption of Ordinance 25-13, An Ordinance Amending Video Gaming License Regulations. The following changes were made: (1) the mayor is now the person that approves the video gaming applications; (2) increases the terminal fee from $100.00 to $250.00, which is the maximum allowable, and (3) it eliminates the requirement for terminal operators to pay a license fee.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve the adoption of Ordinance 25-14, An Ordinance Amending Section 2-1-3 of the Village of Seneca Code of Ordinances as it Pertains to the Plan Commission.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

COMMISSIONER'S REPORT AND NEW BUSINESS:

PUBLIC PROPERTY, WATER & SEWER - WEBER:

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to Vortex in the amount of $1,950.00 for calibration of time flow monitoring system. This is required annually.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to Hawkins, Inc. in the amount of $2,756.23 for chemicals for wastewater treatment plant.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Victor to approve an expenditure Underground Pipe & Valve Co. in the amount of $1,761.00 for maintenance supplies.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to Marissa Maloney in the amount of $1,723.66 for Easter supplies reimbursement. This is for prizes and candy to be given out at the Easter egg hunt.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE - VICTOR:

A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, LLC in the amount of $2,507.50 for legal expenses.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to Wex Bank in the amount of $2,643.38 for fuel expenses.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to Revize in the amount of $1,900.00 for 2025 website hosting.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

Comm. Victor presented the annual budget for review. Treasurer Figgins advised that she averaged the. revenue for the next two years. She also noted that the replacement tax is being decreased quite a bit, from $30,000.00 down to possibly as low as $3,000.00. Comm. Victor requested any changes be made before the next meeting and any questions should be directed to Ms. Figgins.

STREETS - HIGGINS:

None.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY - PEDDICORD:

None.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS - OLSON:

A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve the adoption of Resolution No. 638, 2025 Seneca Township High School Homecoming Parade. This is done annually to allow for the closure of 170/Main Street.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve a donation to University of Illinois Extension in the amount of $300.00. This is for LaSalle County 4-H programs.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

Mayor Olson presented the subject of continuing the electrical aggregation program for discussion. The council requested that the representative from Narnia Energy come to a council meeting to discuss continuing the program.

Mayor Olson advised that there have been ongoing discussions between himself and Superintendents Dan Stecken and Eric Meisner regarding the development of the Graves property for a subdivision.

Enrollment at the schools is down a great deal and there is very little available as far as housing in Seneca. A residential subdivision would be a huge benefit to the schools and village. There have been concerns raised about the water and sewer system and the need for an upgrade in the coming years. At this point, the major concern is the village's ability to put up funds for the infrastructure. Mayor Olson does not want to issue bonds. There has been one meeting between the village council and the schools, all other meetings have been between Mayor Olson and the schools. Comm. Weber believes this is a great idea.

Mayor Olson will ask the schools to put together an intergovernmental agreement to bring back to the council.

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve the reappointment of Brooke Andreatta to the Park Board for a four-year term, ending in April 2029.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve the reappointment of Marissa Maloney to the Park Board for a four-year term, ending in April 2029.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve the reappointment of Jeff Lamb to the Planning Commission for a five-year term, ending in April 2030.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve the appointment of

Ray Jackson as Code Enforcement Officer at the rate of $150.00 per month, for a one-year term, expiring in April 2026.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

PUBLIC COMMENT:

None.

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to adjourn the council meeting.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord, Victor and Weber

Nays: None

The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

https://cms5.revize.com/revize/seneca/Docuemnt_Center/Agenda%20and%20Minutes/Mayor%20and%20Village%20Council/2025/Minutes/Minutes_2025_04_07.pdf