Mokena Board of Trustees proposes cemetery plaque

By Lhalie Castillo

Mar 5, 2017

The New Village of Mokena Board of Trustees met Feb. 9 to propose a cemetery plaque.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:

"The Village of Mokena Board of Trustees is located at 11004 Carpenter St, Mokena, IL 60448."

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR SESSION

11004 Carpenter Street, Mokena, Illinois 60448

Session #001 January 9, 2017

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Frank Fleischer called the Regular Session of the Board of Trustees to order at 7:00 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Board of Trustees and members of the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Fleischer wished everyone a Happy New Year and his wife Happy Birthday.

ROLL CALL/ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM

Clerk Patt called the roll and the following Trustees were present:

Jim Richmond Joe Siwinski Debbie Engler George Metanias John Mazzorana

Absent: Joseph E. Budzyn

Also present were: Village Clerk Patricia Patt; Village Administrator John Tomasoski; Finance Director Barb Damron; Engineer Paul Pearson; Director of Public Works Director Lou Tiberi; Police Chief Steve Vaccaro; Assistant Village Administrator Kirk Zoellner; Community/Economic Development Alan Zordan and Village Attorney Carl Buck.

DISCOVER MOKENA

N/A

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Clerk Patt presented the Community Calendar.

CONSENT AGENDA

Village Administrator John Tomasoski presented (2) items on the Consent Agenda for Board approval. These items are strictly administrative in nature.

a. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2017-O-001, an Ordinance pertaining to the classification and number of Liquor Licenses issued in the Village of Mokena; and to authorize the Village President and Village Clerk to execute same.

Administrator Tomasoski explained the ordinance will change the number of Class E liquor licenses. This will allow Balagio’s Ristorante to serve liquor when they open for business next month. A representative from Balagio’s announced they hope to be open by the second or third week in February.

b. Motion to approve minutes from the December 12, 2016 Board Meetings.

Trustee Mazzorana made a motion to approve Consent Agenda Items 5 (a) and (b) as depicted in the January 5, 2017 Request for Board Action prepared by the Village Administrator. Trustee Siwinski seconded.

AYES: (5) Richmond, Siwinski, Engler, Metanias, Mazzorana NAYS: (0) Absent: (1) Budzyn Motion carried

FINANCE REPORT

Finance Director Damron presented the accounts payable list for January totaling $861,607.37. She highlighted the following invoices to be paid.

• $120,360.00 Bank of New York Mellon – P & I on Downtown Bonds

• $ 26,801.88 Compass Minerals America – Road Salt

• $ 67,000.00 GEA ME US Inc. – Centrifuge Filter

Trustee Engler made a motion to approve the monthly accounts payable in the amount of $861,607.37. Trustee Metanias seconded.

Trustee Mazzorana congratulated the Perfect Attendance recipients on the bill list.

AYES: (5) Richmond, Siwinski, Engler, Metanias, Mazzorana NAYS: (0) Absent: (1) Budzyn Motion carried

PRESENTATIONS/APPOINTMENTS/PROCLAMATIONS

PUBLIC HEARINGS

OLD BUSINESS

Historic Landmark Plaque Agreement with Will County for Pioneer Cemetery Assistant Village Administrator Kirk Zoellner presented an agreement with Will County for the placement of a historic landmark designation plaque at Pioneer Cemetery.

On November 17, 2016, Pioneer Cemetery was designated a Will County Historic Landmark by the Will County Historic Preservation Commission and the Will County Board.

In follow-up to this designation of Pioneer Cemetery as a County Landmark, the Will County Land Use Department is donating a commemorative plaque to the Village of Mokena for display in the cemetery. In order to accept the donation, the Village must agree to affix the plaque on or near the cemetery grounds and consent to incur any expense(s) pertaining to mounting and maintenance of the plaque. In addition, the Village must agree that the location of the plaque on or near the cemetery grounds is subject to approval of the Will County Historic Preservation Commission in an effort to protect, preserve, and maintain the historic integrity of the property.

Staff is proposing the plaque be mounted atop a simple iron pedestal in close relative proximity to the cemetery’s flag pole. Such a treatment would be consistent with the approach taken in other cemeteries that have attained County Landmark status.

Trustee Mazzorana made a motion to approve an agreement with the Will County Historic Preservation Commission for the donation of a Historic Landmark Plaque for Pioneer Memorial Cemetery and to authorize the Village President to sign. Trustee Siwinski seconded.

AYES: (5) Richmond, Siwinski, Engler, Metanias, Mazzorana NAYS: (0) Absent: (1) Budzyn Motion carried

Matt Galik, local historian and Board member of the Will County Historic Preservation Commission, presented the plaque to Mayor Fleischer and thanked the Village Board for its support.

Mayor Fleischer thanked Matt, the Historic Preservation Committee and the Will County Board for all of their efforts.

NEW BUSINESS

Grass Mowing Bid Recommendation Public Works Director Lou Tiberi presented a mowing and maintenance contract for Village owned properties for the upcoming year.

The contract up for Board approval this evening is for the mowing and trimming of Village-owned parcels at the Village Hall, the police station and ESDA facility on Front Street, Village water towers, well sites, pumping stations, the wastewater treatment facility, and all commuter parking facilities. In addition, 41 easements and 55 detention ponds are included within the contract scope.

Included in the 2017 maintenance program only is the Grasmere linear strip, which the Village maintains in alternate years with the Mokena Community Park District.

New areas included within the scope of this year’s contract that were not included in the Village’s previous contract include an additional 9 acres of area to be mowed, bringing the total to 169.12 acres of Village properties, ponds, and easements under contract. New areas include landscaped medians on Lincoln Highway/U.S. Route 30 and a new pond located in the Ginger Creek subdivision.

The contract was bid for a two-year period, with a mutual option to extend the contract for an additional year. A formal bid opening was held Wednesday, December 28th at the Mokena Village Hall. Two bids were received and opened, with results as follows:

Contractor Bid Amount

Year 1 2017

Bid Amount Year 2 2018

Combined Total

Beary Landscaping* $69,660 $69,660 $139,320

Twin Oaks Landscaping

$72,318 $67,547 $139,865

* Recommended Bidder

Village staff is recommending approval of the low bid from Beary Landscaping of Lockport. Beary has performed this work for the Village for the past four years, and has done a satisfactory job throughout the Village.

Included in contract specifications is a provision to eliminate mowing in weekly intervals in an effort to reduce costs (if necessary), or in the event of drought conditions when weekly mowing might not be necessary. (One weekly mowing in the new contract equates to approximately $2,400.)

Trustee Engler made a motion to approve and accept the bid for the 2017 and 2018 Mowing and Maintenance contract to Beary Landscape Inc. of Lockport, Illinois in the amount of $69,660.00 for 2017 and 69.660.00 for 2018, with the mutual option to extend the contract for 2019 and to authorize the Village President and Village Clerk to execute the necessary contract documents. Trustee Metanias seconded.

Trustee Mazzorana commented on the fine job Beary Landscaping has done in the past. He inquired if Pioneer Cemeter is included in the bid. Public Works Director Lou Tiberi confirmed that it is.

AYES: (5) Richmond, Siwinski, Engler, Metanias, Mazzorana NAYS: (0) Absent: (1) Budzyn Motion carried

PUBLIC COMMENTS

N/A

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS

Administrator Tomasoski requested Economic Development Director Alan Zordan to update the Board on development and business activities. Mr. Zordan provided an update on pending development projects, announced new businesses and highlighted businesses for health and fitness.

Administrator Tomasoski reminded residents that the Village Hall is available as a warming center if needed.

He also announced a state law that went into effect on January 1st that doubles the fine for crossing railroad tracks when the railroad gates and warning lights are activated.

TRUSTEE’S COMMENTS

All of the Trustees wished everyone a Happy New Year.

Trustee Metanias announced he is retiring as a football coach.

CLERK’S COMMENTS

Clerk Patt wished everyone a Happy New Year.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

Mayor Fleischer commented on National Law Enforcement Day and expressed his support and appreciation of Mokena’s police personnel.

Mayor Fleischer thanked Mokena residents and businesses for their holiday decorations.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

N/A

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Mazzorana made a motion to adjourn the Regular Session at 7:25 p.m. Trustee Siwinski seconded.