Illinois Valley Times

Village of Seneca Village Council met June 16

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Seneca Village Council held a regularly scheduled Council meeting at Seneca Village Hall on June 16, 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 and Attorney Bryan Wellner

Guest: Lauri Pope

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. Victor to approve the June 2, 2025 council meeting minutes as presented.

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

Nays: None

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Victor to approve the April Treasurer's Report, payroll and payment of bills as presented.

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

Nays: None

PUBLIC HEARING:

A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve a motion to recess the council meeting and enter into a public hearing on the 2025-2026 appropriation ordinance.

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

Nays: None

Comm. Victor advised that there have been no requests to review the appropriation ordinance. Clerk Peddicord advised that a Notice of Public Hearing was published in the Morris Herald News on June 4, 2025. There were no public comments.

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Higgins to close the public hearing and return to regular session.

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

Nays: None

PRESENTATION:

Lauri Pope of Mack & Associates gave a presentation regarding the annual audit.

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS, REPORTS AND ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS:

Commissioner Weber: Old Business: Cocktails at Crotty event.

Commissioner Higgins: Old Business: 1) Starting road program. 2) River Road bridge project.

OLD BUSINESS:

Commissioner Weber: Comm. Weber announced that the first Cocktails at Crotty event was a success. Over 150 people attended. There will be another one this Friday, June 20, with BBQ & Baker providing food and Kellen Langston will be performing.

Commissioner Victor: A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve the adoption of Ordinance 25-19, 2025-2026 Appropriation Ordinance.

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

Nays: None

Commissioner Higgins: 1) Comm. Higgins announced that the road program will be starting soon. The city workers have been working in Valley View digging out the base.

2) Comm. Higgins also announced that the state had the bid letting for the River Road bridge. D Construction was the high bidder. We are unsure of the start date, but know it will be sometime in the fall, after boating season.

Commissioner Peddicord A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve the adoption of Ordinance 25-20, An Ordinance Correcting an Error in the Official Zoning Map.

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

Nays: None

Mayor Olson: A motion was made by Comm. Victor and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve the adoption of Ordinance 25-21, An Ordinance Authorizing the Village of Seneca to Enter into and for the Mayor of Seneca to Execute a License Agreement for Use of the Right-of-Way with Clearsky Systems, Inc.

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. Higgins to approve an expenditure to Seneca Sand, LLC in the amount of $2,417.25 for sand for water treatment plant.

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 Chamlin & Associates in the amount of $4,502.00 for mapping of water system. This is the last cost. It took one year to complete the entire project.

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 an expenditure to Christmas Light Installers NWI in the amount of $8,500.00 for Crotty Park Christmas lights. This is a $1,500.00 increase over last year's price. We were given a continued customer discount. The Park Board tried to find another company, but everyone was booked.

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 Seneca Ace Hardware in the amount of $1,852.07 for miscellaneous 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 Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, LLC in the amount of $2,418.75 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. Higgins to approve an expenditure to Wex Bank in the amount of $2,718.65 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. Weber to approve an expenditure to Mack & Associates in the amount of $14,000.00 for annual audit.

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

Nays: None

STREETS - HIGGINS:

None.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY - PEDDICORD:

Comm. Peddicord presented an Ordinance Amending the Text of the Zoning Ordinance to Include the Keeping of Backyard Chickens as a Permitted Use in Certain Residential Districts. This will allow chickens in single family homes in R-2 district, which is mixed residential. Duplexes and apartment buildings will not be allowed to receive a permit for the keeping of chickens. A public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on this matter and the Planning Commission recommended the amendment to the council.

Comm. Peddicord announced that the police department received a grant from The NRA Foundation in the amount of $1,240.00 for the purchase of a rifle. Thank you to Officer Tornero for applying for this grant.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS - OLSON:

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Victor to approve an expenditure to Grundy County Economic Development in the amount of $500.00 for 2025 investor billing.

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 an expenditure to NCICG in the amount of $705.90 for annual membership fees.

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

Nays: None

PUBLIC COMMENT:

None.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to enter into executive session at 5:40 p.m. to discuss the semi-annual review of executive session minutes, pursuant to 2.06 5 ILCS 120/(c)(21).

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

Nays: None

The council returned to regular session at 6:15 p.m.

ACTION FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Attorney Wellner announced that after review of closed session minutes from November 7, 2023 and December 5, 2023, the Village Council has determined that the need for confidentiality still exists and those minutes will not be released at this time.

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

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

Nays: None

The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:16 p.m.

https://cms5.revize.com/revize/seneca/Docuemnt_Center/Agenda%20and%20Minutes/Mayor%20and%20Village%20Council/2025/Minutes/Minutes_2025_06_16.pdf