Will County Gazette

The Braidwood City Council met Tuesday, June 14.

The board of trustees provides oversight, guidance and governance for the city of Braidwood.

Here are the minutes as provided by Braidwood:

CITY OF BRAIDWOOD

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Call to Order

Before the Mayor called the meeting to order he presented the Reed-Custer Baseball Team, 2-Way State Champions. Mayor Vehrs called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Vehrs asked our Reed-Custer Baseball Team State Champions to lead everyone in the pledge of allegiance.

The city clerk spoke before the Roll Call on behalf of Commissioner Smith and read his note. Fay is unable to attend tonight’s meeting. His wife is in a hospital in Mississippi, she had gone into another hospital Emergency Room in very serious condition. Clerk talked with Fay last night and her nurses feel she is on the mend, and he hopes to bring her back home on Friday.

Roll Call

Elected Officials present: Commissioner Hibler, Commissioner Hutton, Commissioner Tessler and Mayor Vehrs were present. Commissioner Smith absent.

Appointed officials present: City Attorney Matt Campbell, Chief Nick Ficarello and City Clerk Sue Grygiel were present. City Engineer was absent.

The Mayor spoke before public comment, presenting a Plaque from the City of Braidwood to our Reed-Custer 2-Way State Champions, great job men! Thanked the team for placing Braidwood on the map.

The Mayor told the Team that he will see them at the parade for Summerfest. Mayor asked everyone to give it up for the 2-Way State Champs!! Coach Jerry Cougill asked to speak. He said that on behalf of their players I would like to thank the City of Braidwood, the communities of Reed-Custer Township and especially the police, fire, all emergency personnel who gave our team a Welcome Home on Saturday, June 4th. That is the day that those kids will remember, not just for winning the State Championship, but for the absolutely fantastic reception they received from this community at 11:00pm at night. So many people in this community turned out to support these kids. Jerry was sitting on that bus with the kids, and these very cool, sophisticated kids were so filled with excitement for the reception and turn out from this community. This is a memory that all those people gave these kids that they will never forget and we want to thank this community for that. Jerry Cougill said it looked like the ending from the Field of Dreams.

Comm. Hutton read a letter that was given to Coach Jerry Cougill, other Coaches and Comet Baseball Team from the Chamber of Commerce. The Braidwood Chamber of Commerce requests the honor of your presence as Grand Marshall for the upcoming Summerfest Parade on July 17th at 1:00pm. Please meet on Mitchell Street behind Casey’s at 12:30pm. The Chamber will have vehicles to escort the Grand Marshalls. The Chamber would like to have all Coaches, Management, Team Players and Mrs. Cougill for all her years of support and attendance in this parade.

Public Comment

Public Comment opened and closed at 7:06pm.

Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Comm. Tessler, seconded by Comm. Hutton to approve the Public Hearing Minutes of May 10, 2016 as printed. Mayor asked for discussion. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hutton, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

A motion was made by Comm. Tessler, seconded by Comm. Hibler to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of May 10, 2016 as printed. Mayor asked for discussion. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hibler, Hutton & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

A motion was made by Comm. Tessler, seconded by Comm. Hutton to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of May 24, 2016 as printed. Mayor asked for discussion. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hutton, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

A motion was made by Comm. Tessler, seconded by Comm. Hutton to approve the Special Meeting Minutes of May 27, 2016 as printed. Mayor asked for discussion. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hutton, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

Comm. Hutton made a motion to amend the Agenda to go into Executive Session @ 7:08pm, seconded by Comm. Tessler. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hutton, Tessler, Hibler, & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

Executive Session

A motion was made by Comm. Tessler to go into Executive Session to discuss Personnel, seconded by Comm. Hutton. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hutton, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

A motion was made by Comm. Hutton, seconded by Comm. Tessler to reconvene our Regular Session at 7:14pm. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hutton, Tessler, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

Mayor Vehrs advised that there will be no action taken following Executive Session.

REPORTS BY CITY OFFICIALS

Mayor

Mayor Vehrs advised that he was at the meeting last night for Braidwood Healthy Community Coalition for Drug Awareness and the new programs that they are coming up with. Mayor said the Coalition is doing a great job. The Mayor told them he’s now retired and they need a little help, give him a call and he’ll be willing to pitch in whatever they need and support them.

Mayor then mentioned that he is seeking a motion tonight to appoint Don Labriola as City Administrator.

Comm. Tessler made a motion to appoint Don Labriola as City Administrator, seconded by Comm. Hutton. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hutton, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

Mayor then asked Don Labriola to stand up, then asked him to come up and take his seat. The Mayor said Don has been working with us awhile; he has been working with the PD. Now he will be coming over to city hall and helping us as Administrator a few days a week. We’re glad to have Don step up in this position. Mayor asked him at this time do you have a report?

Administrator

Don said at this time he doesn’t have an official report. We have a lot of work to do, catching up. He knows the city council wants development in Braidwood and that’s what we are going to work towards; economic development, roof tops and reduce the tax burden on the citizens. That’s going to be the main priority and anything else he can help the council with, the residents with that’s what I am here for and for the Chief also.

City Clerk

The clerk said the only thing she had on the Agenda was the Alzheimer’s Tag Day Request from Joe Byers and Byers Brigade. They’re asking for any of the Saturday’s in July, first being July 2nd. The clerk asked for a motion from the council for this Tag Day on July 2nd. The clerk wasn’t sure as to when the Main Street intersection would be closed and for how long, but she will advise them that they will have to use Main & Division Streets for this day.

The Mayor then spoke up and said why the reason the intersection hadn’t been closed as planned because they are waiting for parts to come in. The intersection is now planned to be closed at 5:00am on Monday morning June 20th for 30-40 days. They’re going to try and get it done within the 30 day period but having a problem with the gate arms being delivered, and the sensors that may push the project back a little farther. They are planning on working on this project 7 days a week, off only on July 3-4th.

Comm. Tessler made a motion to approve the Byers Brigade Alzheimer’s Tag Day on July 2nd, seconded by Comm. Hutton. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hutton, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

Engineer

Absent

City Attorney

Atty. Campbell said briefly that at the next meeting we should have an Ordinance amending our ordinance to allow us to establish the Collection Fund, the Collection Agency that we talked about a couple of meetings ago. We have another IDOT Letter of Understanding for crossing and maintenance probably for the next meeting and that’s all he had.

REPORTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS

Accounts & Finances

Comm. Hibler made mention that this pay period we have a very large payment going out to the Illinois EPA for payment #6 on our loan for the waste water treatment plant in the amount of $350,242.09. Comm. Hibler made a motion that we pay the (2) Check Registers totaling $613,338.34, seconded by Comm. Tessler. Mayor asked for discussion. Motion approved with 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hibler, Tessler, Hutton & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

Comm. Hibler made a motion to pay the Payroll Expenses due in the amount of $81,706.27 seconded by Comm. Tessler. Mayor asked for discussion. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hibler, Tessler, Hutton & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

Streets & Public Improvements

Comm. Smith absent. Mayor made mention what the clerk said earlier that Fay’s wife is very ill and asked everyone to keep her and the family in their prayers.

Public Buildings & Property

Comm. Hutton read his Plant and day to day Report working around town.

Public Health & Safety

Comm. Tessler read the Chief’s Press Release from 5/31-6/13/16, total calls for service 209. Update on our dispatching services. Will County is finalizing the new Sheriff’s Campus Building Plans. The new Laraway Communications Centers are in process of hiring a Director and developing an Intergovernmental Agreement, organization of the bylaws and finalizing a working budget. Hopefully things get moving and we get a signed Intergovernmental Agreement. Public Safety Administrator, Don Labriola been attending the meetings and keeping us aware of what’s happening with meetings we cannot attend.

On June 2nd Braidwood Police and DEA were involved in an investigation and subsequent arrests with delivery of a controlled substance-heroin, also assisting in the arrest were Will County Sheriff. On June 8th DEA, Braidwood Police, Will County Sheriff and Wilmington Police executed arrests and search warrants for man from Essex. This man is a consistent and substantial heroin dealer in Southern Will County, Grundy County and Kankakee Counties. Officer Chris Altiery on June 6th administered Narcan on an overdose call, female regained consciousness and then transported to hospital. This is Officer Altiery’s 6th save since starting to administer Narcan last December and unfortunately one of them was unsuccessful in saving.

Comm. Tessler addressed his agenda item and wished to table Resolution 16-15 until a further date there are some details that need to be worked out.

Comm. Tessler made a motion to table Resolution 16-15 to a further date, seconded by Comm. Hutton. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hutton, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent.

Planning & Zoning Board Report

No Zoning Board Report.

Old Business

Comm. Hutton said the freezer at the Food Pantry had issues last week. Jensen from South Wilmington replaced switches from the fan and the timer for defrost finally started working and meat is back in freezer and back to normal.

New Business

Mayor said they stopped for lunch at Polka Dot and met two couples from New Zealand. The Mayor asked them how they found Braidwood Illinois. They said the picture of Polka Dot is worldwide. As the Mayor walked out a gentlemen waved him over, the gentlemen just retired from Jack Roush Racing. They talked about Nascar and his wife really threw him off the carpet, she said they’ve been traveling for the last three months and we came to this town and told the Mayor you have the most friendliest town. The Mayor said thank you and it’s the residents here that make people welcome because sometimes you never know who’s who. They liked the old style saloon out at Freaks, Top Fuel Saloon.

Adjournment

Comm. Tessler made motion to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:26pm, seconded by Comm. Hutton. Motion approved with 4 ayes, 0 nays (Tessler, Hutton, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs). Comm. Smith absent. Meeting adjourned.