Will County Republican Caucus Committee met Jan. 16.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Minority Leader Mike Fricilone called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Mike Fricilone | Minority Leader | Present | |
| Judy Ogalla | Minority Whip | Present | |
| Steve Balich | Member | Present | |
| Julie Berkowicz | Member | Present | |
| Gloria Dollinger | Member | Absent | |
| Gretchen Fritz | Member | Absent | |
| Donald Gould | Member | Absent | |
| Tim Kraulidis | Member | Absent | |
| Jim Moustis | Member | Present | |
| Annette Parker | Member | Present | |
| Ray Tuminello | Member | Present | |
| Tom Weigel | Member | Present |
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Mr. Balich led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. WC Republican Caucus - Special Meeting - Dec 14, 2019 8:30 AM
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Steve Balich, Member
SECONDER: Tom Weigel, Member
AYES: Fricilone, Ogalla, Balich, Berkowicz, Moustis, Parker, Tuminello, Weigel
ABSENT: Dollinger, Fritz, Gould, Kraulidis
2. WC Republican Caucus - Special Meeting - Dec 19, 2019 9:00 AM
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Steve Balich, Member
SECONDER: Tom Weigel, Member
AYES: Fricilone, Ogalla, Balich, Berkowicz, Moustis, Parker, Tuminello, Weigel
ABSENT: Dollinger, Fritz, Gould, Kraulidis
IV. OLD BUSINESS
V. NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion of County Board Agenda
Mr. Fricilone reviewed the Land Use zoning cases. The first case was withdrawn by the applicant and the second case was tabled at committee.
Mr. Fricilone asked if a liquor licenses had been approved for Case ZC-19-077.
Ms. Farrell replied he applied for the liquor license. The request for an additional Agritourism license will be coming to Committee in February.
Mr. Fricilone reviewed the Public Works Resolutions.
Mrs. Ogalla asked why do we use quick take versus eminent domain?
Mr. Moustis responded if it is a sensitive project that has to move forward, we ask for quick take. We don’t ask for quick take often. On 80th Ave. there is one residential property, the rest is agricultural or commercial.
Mrs. Ogalla stated I felt Mr. Ronaldson could have given more information on this. The Phase 1 was done in 2006. It is very hard for the residents to think back that far. We should have had more information that the Phase 1 was done in 2006 and the residents should have been notified in a different manner.
Mr. Moustis stated I am normally not in favor of eminent domain. The difference with quick take is they are still in court, but we don’t have to wait for the final outcome, they can continue while the court case goes on. For eminent domain you have to wait for the court case to be over.
Mr. Balich indicated he had an issue with the February appointment. I told Mr. Palmer we did not want the person being brought forward. Mr. Fricilone and I found a person who is a finance director at a bank. He does bonding, budgets and is familiar with the levy process. We don’t want the Board stacked with firemen who will vote for every tax increase and raise that comes along. I will let Mr. Palmer know our caucus is against the appointment and we want to have the other name brought forward.
VI. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Tkac stated the selection committee for the food service will be meeting on January 31st.
A discussion took place regarding the green roofs and the plants to be used at the courthouse.
Mr. Tuminello asked who will use the terrace area? There were concerns with defendants, litigators and employees using the area.
Mr. Tkac replied it is not yet set in stone. The prevailing thought and direction is to only allow access for county employees. I think the public will ask why they cannot go out there.
Mr. Moustis stated it could be an issue because who will enforce who goes out there and it is a public building.
Mr. Tuminello stated there was a good argument for why it should only be county employees.
Mr. Tkac stated you will need an employee key card to get into and off of the terrace area. Bid 1 for the FF&E bids is out on the street. Bids 2, 3 and 4 will be posted for bid on Monday. They will be due in February and the recommendation will come to the March Capital meeting. The bids for the parking lot south of the courthouse are on the street and the bid opening date is February 7th.
Mr. Fricilone asked when will we break ground on the parking lot?
Mr. Tkac responded right away. We are preparing to vacate the construction trailers. We have already vacated the Beach Building. The maintenance building is being cleared out and the mock up has been removed.
Mr. Fricilone asked will we have the parking lot done when the courthouse opens?
Mr. Tkac replied yes.
A brief discussion took place regarding the ribbon cutting at Animal Control and EMA.
Mr. Fricilone asked someone to take care of getting clergy for the February meeting.
Mr. Meyers pointed out the two appeals in Land Use will require 20 affirmative votes to overturn the PZC decision.
Ms. Farrell gave a report on the action taken by Land Use for the appeal Resolution on Center Road.
Mr. Moustis stated I have attended several of the PZC meetings where this person has spoken. Every time it is a different story. He has trailers there and we have given him relief on them for two or three years. He was going to build a building, but it never gets built. Now he needs a variance because he can’t bring in trucks. Then he starting talking about bringing an RV to the property. I think the PZC has been extremely patient with him. I will not support this. The PZC and staff have spent a lot of time on this and heard it more than once. He has had ample opportunity to rectify the situation. The PZC has given him extensions on two occasions and nothing gets done. I would recommend we support the PZC. He has never held up his end of the deal.
Mr. Meyers reviewed the language in the Resolution. A no vote will uphold the PZC decision to deny.
Mr. Weigel stated the adjacent landowner has objected and they have a 10 foot setback. There is a fence line in the middle of the property that could be impacted and that is the reason he wants the variance.
Ms. Farrell stated this has been going on for over one and half year. The property owner was in violation for having two semi-truck trailers on the property, which is not permitted in an A-2 zoning. He is still actively in violation for that. He applied for a temporary use permit to allow them. We recommended denial. The neighbor complained about it. The PZC approved the temporary use permit twice. The second temporary use permit expired in late November or early December. Because the trailers are still there, in violation of the temporary use permits there is a court date in February and we will be taking him to court for the outstanding violation of not removing the semi-truck trailers. He applied for the building permit to have a pole barn. His property is almost 10 acres and has over 600 feet of frontage. There is no hardship based upon the land of him accommodating the 20 foot setback on that property. Staff recommended denial. The PZC was unanimous in their denial, but Land Use did overturn it.
Mr. Fricilone asked what was his reasoning for not doing the 20 feet?
Ms. Farrell replied he said there is wire fence, which there is, but it can easily be moved to accommodate the building. We don’t see it as a hardship or reason why the building cannot meet a 20 foot setback. The property owner to the south, objects and will be at the meeting today. The property owner to the south does have a garage that is 10 feet off the property line. The garage was built in the 1980’s when the setback requirements were different. The garage was in compliance with the regulations at the time. Currently, it is 20 feet and we are hold this person to the 20 feet. We see no reason why he cannot meet the 20 feet.
VIII. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT / ANNOUNCEMENTS
IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION
X. ADJOURNMENT
1. Motion to Adjourn at 9:33 AM
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Steve Balich, Member
SECONDER: Ray Tuminello, Member
AYES: Fricilone, Ogalla, Balich, Berkowicz, Moustis, Parker, Tuminello, Weigel
ABSENT: Dollinger, Fritz, Gould, Kraulidis
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