Illinois Valley Times

Village of Ladd Village Board met Sept. 9

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Ladd Village Board met in regular session on Tuesday, September 9, 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 Patrick Flanagan, Jan Martin, Dan Nelson, Brad Nicholson, Molly Thrasher, and Bernie Victor (6)

In attendance: Engineer, Adam Ossola; and Clerk, Rhonda Bezely.

Martin motioned/Nelson seconded to accept the August 26, 2025, regular meeting minutes as presented.

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

Nelson motioned/Flanagan seconded to authorize payment of the bills of $120,004.50

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

Correspondence: None

Public Comment: None

Committee Reports: Nelson spoke about Deb Lorenzi’s grass from the Main Avenue Water Main Replacement, which was done approximately 2 years ago. Nelson states that the grass in her yard is not good. It is mostly crab grass. He feels this is not acceptable. We told her we would return it to the shape it was in before the construction project. Nelson questioned some corners he feels look sharp on the Safe Routes to School 2023. It was decided to hold off on any request for changes because all work was done according to the State requirements. We can reach out to him regarding grinding the sharp corners. The Village would expect a cost associated with this.

Village Engineer: The Safe Routes to School 2023 project is nearing completion. All concrete is poured, and dirt and seed work is completed for all residents affected by this project. There are still some speed signs to be installed on Route 89, along with some painting in the crosswalk. IDOT is still looking at the submittals for the signs, and they have not come in yet. Gillan Construction plans to start the Main Avenue Sidewalks in approximately 2 weeks. He plans to get the extra jobs in the Village done, also in the next 2 weeks. They also need to make some adjustments to the slope of the yard at Peterson’s house at the corner of E Cleveland and Summit. This area is getting some more adjustments to keep it less steep. New Business: Award Bid for Water Treatment Plant Roof: Bid opening took place last Friday, September 5, 2025, at 2 pm in the Village Hall. 6 bids were received, and a tabulation of all information was presented to the council. Discussion regarding the low bid contract ensued. Chamlin contacted the low bidder to make sure they were comfortable with their price since it was way lower than everyone else. They were comfortable with their bid. Ossola stated that we may need to be out there watching their work very closely just to be sure. Also, check materials and that the work is being done correctly. Victor motioned/Nicholson seconded to Award the Bid for the Water Treatment Plant Re-Roofing to the lowest bidder, Top Roofing, from Wheaton, Illinois, who bid $27,000.00. The date of substantial completion is 14 days after notice to proceed. The date of final completion is 21 days after notice to proceed.

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

Superintendent’s Report: Not in Attendance

Police Chief: Not in Attendance

Building Inspector: Not in Attendance

Village Attorney: Not in Attendance

New Business: Pass Ordinance 1196: The trustees were provided the Ordinance tonight.

Victor motioned/Flanagan seconded, passing Ordinance #1196, An Ordinance Establishing Standards for Licensing and the Keeping of Chickens in the Village of Ladd, Bureau County, Illinois.

Ayes: Flanagan, Martin, Nicholson, Victor, President Cattani - Motion carried

Nays: Nelson, Thrasher

New Business: Set Halloween – Trick or Treat Hours: This is always a tough decision, but people seem to be happier when we have it on October 31st, and the time that gets the least amount of complaints is 5 pm – 7 pm. Discussion ensued.

Nicholson motioned/Thrasher seconded, setting trick or treat hours as 5 pm – 7 pm on Friday, October 31, 2025.

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

New Business: Maps: Last meeting, a discussion regarding getting 2 large maps of Ladd for referencing at meetings was entertained. Adam Ossola provided a cost of $786.00 for 2 maps of Ladd. One being only the corporate limits of Ladd with street names for easy reading. The second one will include the corporate limits and surrounding land for economic development. The council would like to move forward with getting these. Bezely will look into getting an overlay for both maps, which would allow dry-erase markers to be used on the maps.

New Business: Ad in the 2025 Bureau/Putnam County Progress Magazine: No action was taken Announcement: FLOOR AT LCC: Bezely asked the council if she could get pricing on burnishing the floor at the Community Center. They requested two bids. She will contact Mike Edgecomb and Andy’s Carpet Cleaning. Bezely also told the council that the ceiling is falling in the back storage room.

SIDEWALK PROGRAM: Bezely asked the council if they might consider a change to the sidewalk program. She stated that since there are so many bad sidewalks in the Village, would they consider going out for bid to have a concrete company form and finish a pre-determined amount of sidewalk in the Village of Ladd annually? This would cost the Village to hire the contractor to form and finish the sidewalks, and also pay for the concrete. The public works department is willing to remove the sidewalk if it is scheduled when they have time. The Village would know exactly what they would be spending annually to help improve all Village sidewalks. LADD SOLAR 2 & 3: Information was obtained stating that Judge Geno Cafferini signed a consent to override the Village of Ladd’s Denial of the Variance. The solar farm is being allowed as proposed. FLAGS ON MAIN AVE: The Ruggerio Family donated $400.00 to help defray the cost of new flags for Main Avenue Poles. A thank you will be sent for their extreme generosity. $1,000 GRANT Sammi Sarosinski applied for several grants and was awarded $1,000.00 from Caselle Software Company, which is the Village’s Software Company. A check will be presented to the Village of Ladd at the Symposium on Thursday of this week. Sarosinski will work hard to stretch the money to provide as many school supplies as possible for all the children at Ladd Grade School. FLYING TERMITES: Bezely received a call about a Flying Termite infestation on North Central Avenue. A pest control company will be coming out to determine this situation. The resident will keep in touch with Bezely. AMEREN TRANSMISSION LINE: All council members and several employees received letters from Ameren. Victor attended Ameren meetings and was told that no interconnects would be allowed from Peru to Princeton, so advocating to get this new line as close to Ladd as possible will not do us any good. It is transmission only. NET METERING: The Village is still in need of a company or individual able to complete the Village’s Solar Inspection. Englehaupt provided some information and perspective on how the Village Council would like to proceed. Victor feels that since we don’t have any current Net Metering applications, we can find a company when we need to have an inspection done. Patrick Flanagan had a list of what Ameren does for their Solar Inspection. TREE TRIMMING EQUIPMENT: The Public Works Department bought a tree trimmer, and Mario has been trimming the trees on Main Avenue.

PATRIOT DAY: President Cattani announced that on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 11 am, there will be a special Patriot Day presentation. Frund and Sarosinki will be in charge of this event. They have invited area First Responders to be part of this event. All are welcome to attend. Cookies and lemonade will be provided to all attendees.

Trustee Thrasher asked for an update on SURF Fiberoptic Broadband. Bezely stated that there hasn’t been any contact from them. She will reach out again. Conxxus has been moving through the Village pretty quickly. Only one Comcast line was hit due to the marking company not marking it. Once everything is done, there will be representatives going door to door explaining the packages.

Trustee Thrasher asked President Cattani if Chief Frund is working on all the ordinance violations. Cattani stated that he checks in with Frund often and things are being addressed. As for the vehicle on Iowa Ave, it has current plates so according to the Village’s ordinance nothing can be done until the plates are expired. The owner is unable to locate the keys. The ordinance may need a change if the council wants something to be done. Chief Frund requested to be added to the Ladd, IL Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Facebook page so he can respond to the residents that post on this page.

Nicholson motioned/Nelson seconded to adjourn.

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

The meeting adjourned at 7:33 pm.

https://www.villageofladd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-09-09-MINUTES.pdf