Village of Mokena Board of Trustees met March 26.

By Lhalie Castillo

May 18, 2018

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

Call To Order:

Mayor 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.

Roll Call/Establishment Of Quorum:

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

Jim Richmond

Joseph E. Budzyn

Debbie Engler

George Metanias

Joe Siwinski

Absent: John Mazzorana

Also present were: Clerk Jillian Hersted; Village Administrator John Tomasoski; Finance Director Barb Damron; Assistant Village Administrator Kirk Zoellner; Police Chief Steve Vaccaro; Public Works Director Lou Tiberi; Community/Economic Development Director Alan Zordan; Civil Engineer Brian Fei; and Village Attorney Lorien Schoenstedt.

Discover Mokena:

n/a

Community Calendar:

Clerk Hersted presented the Community Calendar.

Public Comment:

n/a

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 grant approval to the Mokena Chamber of Commerce to conduct its annual 4th of July Parade Wednesday, July 4, 2018, and to authorize the use of municipal/Village resources for event coordination.

Motion to authorize an agreement with Melrose Pyrotechnics Inc., of Kingsbury, Indiana, for a Public Fireworks Display on the evening of Wednesday, July 4, 2018.

Motion to authorize the issuance of a Permit to Display Fireworks to Melrose Pyrotechnics Inc., for Mokena’s annual 4th of July fireworks show to be held at the Mokena Community Park District property Wednesday, July 4, 2018, and to authorize the use of municipal/Village resources for event coordination.

b. Motion to approve minutes from the March 12, 2018 Board Meeting and Work Session.

Trustee Engler made a motion to approve Consent Agenda Items 6 (a) and (b) as depicted in the March 22, 2018 Request for Board Action prepared by the Village Administrator. Trustee Metanias seconded.

Ayes: (5) Richmond, Budzyn, Engler, Metanias, Siwinski

Nays: (0)

Absent: (1) Mazzorana

Motion carried

Presentations/Appointments/Proclamations:

Clerk Hersted read an Arbor Day Proclamation.

Chief Vaccaro presented lifesaving awards to Mokena Police Officer Stephen Chlebek and Laraway Communications Telecommunicator Cindy Wilson.

Mayor Fleischer thanked Officer Chlebek and Cindy Wilson for their lifesaving efforts.

Public Hearings:

n/a

Old Business:

Trustee Siwinski left the room.

Hickory Sage-

Community/Economic Development Director Alan Zordan presented a request from Jim Paul of Alps Enterprises, LLC, to develop 2.7 acres of land located at approximately 11215 W. First Street. The multi-family development, known as Hickory Sage, as proposed contains a total of fifteen (15) one and two-story townhome units, two detention ponds, and guest parking. The property is being considered for annexation, zoning, and a preliminary plat of planned unit development (PUD). Mr. Zordan reviewed the zoning of the property.

On September 18, 2017, the Board conceptually reviewed Mr. Paul’s plans for fifteen townhome units with two detention ponds and guest parking on 2.7 acres. The Board generally supported the plans, and directed staff to forward them on to the Planning Commission for a public hearing.

On October 19, 2017, the Planning Commission held a public hearing. During the public hearing, there were general questions from the public and Commission members regarding design and drainage of the site. Upon concluding a thorough discussion and closing the public hearing, the Planning Commission unanimously passed a motion recommending that the Village Board annex the property and approve the necessary entitlement documents necessary for the project to move forward.

On December 12, 2017, the Board reviewed draft terms of an annexation agreement. The general consensus of the Board was to support the terms of the agreement, and staff was directed to prepare final documents for adoption.

On January 22, 2018, the Village Board held a public hearing on the proposed Hickory Sage development. No one from the public spoke regarding the proposal. The public hearing was then closed and the matter tabled, as there were not sufficient elected officials present to vote on the matter that evening.

The Hickory Sage development will be accessed to and from Wolf Road via W. First Street. Once constructed, a homeowners association will maintain all of the streets (which will be private property), ponds, and common areas. The Planning Commissioners were concerned with access to Wolf Road during rush peak times, and recommended that additional signs be posted at the intersection stating “Do not block intersection”, as well as striping the roadway. The Village Board concurred, and an intersection improvement plan is included in the approval documents.

Mr. Paul intends to begin final engineering and submit a final plat of development for further review by the Planning Commission and Village Board.

Trustee Engler made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2018-O-004 authorizing the execution of an annexation agreement between the Village of Mokena and ALPS Enterprises, LLC and authorize the Village President and Village Clerk to execute same. Trustee Metanias seconded.