Village of Frankfort Committee of the Whole met March 8.
Here is the agenda provided by the committee:
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Keith Ogle called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 5:32 P.M. on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the Village Administration Building, 432 W. Nebraska Street, Frankfort, Illinois.
ROLL CALL
Village Clerk Katie Schubert called the roll. In attendance were Mayor Keith Ogle, Clerk Katie Schubert, Trustees Adam Borrelli, Margaret Farina, Michael Leddin, Jessica Petrow, and Dan Rossi. Staff in attendance included Assistant Village Administrator John Burica, Police Chief Leanne Chelepis, Deputy Clerk Theresa Cork, Director of Community and Economic Development Michael Schwarz, Public Works Superintendent Terry Kestel, and Utilities Director Zach Brown.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES (FEBRUARY 8, 2023)
Trustee Farina made a motion, seconded by Trustee Borrelli, to approve the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting of February 8, 2023. A voice vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion carried. Trustee Rossi abstained.
2023 WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM – OREGON STREET AND SYCAMORE LANE WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENTS – BID CONSIDERATIONS
Director Brown reported each year the Village undertakes a Water Main Replacement Program in an effort to improve reliability and water quality in the Village’s water distribution system. He noted the FY 2023/2024 Water Main Replacement Program (Program) includes projects in two separate locations including Oregon Street (between Locust and Maple) and Sycamore Lane (between Nebraska and Sauk Trail). Director Brown reported the Village received bids from three contractors and H. Linden & Sons Sewer and Water, Inc., provided the low bid in the amount of $920,161.00. Staff commented on the coordinated efforts of the Utilities and Public Works Departments to take advantage of water main replacements prior to street resurfacing.
Trustee Borrelli abstained from the discussion and voting due to his residence on Oregon Street.
Trustee Petrow made a motion, seconded by Trustee Farina, to forward a recommendation to the Village Board to accept the low bid and award the contract to H. Linden & Sons Sewer and Water, Inc., in the amount of $920,161.00.
Clerk Schubert called the roll. Ayes: Trustee Farina, Leddin, Petrow, and Rossi. Nays: None. Absent: Trustee Savaria. Abstain: Trustee Borrelli. The motion carried.
NPDES REQUIREMENTS
Supt. Kestel reported the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), which administers the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, requires all permit holders to complete certain activities annually to remain compliant in the program. The six minimal control measures for this permit are: 1) public outreach and education (on storm water quality issues); 2) public involvement and participation; 3) illicit discharge detection and elimination; 4) construction site storm water runoff control; 5) post construction storm water runoff control (in new developments & redevelopments); and 6) pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations. Supt. Kestel presented a summary of control measures and activities the Village undertakes which satisfies compliance requirements for the program. He then answered questions from the Board regarding some of the activities that the Village undertakes as part of the NPDES permit program.
ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS FOR DATA CENTERS - DISCUSSION
Director Schwarz reported staff occasionally receive inquiries about industrial property that may be available for data centers. He noted these are typically large industrial buildings which house banks of computers for cloud storage and are associated with high water and electricity consumption. He further noted that the Village’s Zoning Ordinance is silent on this type of use. He then explained different types of data centers, including edge data centers which are smaller facilities and often located near cell towers. Director Schwarz sought direction from the Board regarding these types of facilities.
Members discussed establishing regulations for data centers and the growth of data centers in Illinois. Concern was expressed regarding the scale of regional and cloud data centers and their water usage. Staff noted that a data center would most likely justify construction of a well due to high water consumption and recommended updating the Zoning Ordinance to address these types of facilities.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the committee for staff to research best practices for regulating data centers and to prepare draft Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments to add a definition for the term “Data Center” and update the Table of Permitted and Special Uses accordingly.
OTHER BUSINESS
• Illinois House Bill 2531
Mayor Ogle noted that a hearing for HB 2531 took place earlier today and it appears the South Suburban Airport may be gaining traction.
• CrossFit Rua
Mayor Ogle reported he received a request from Steve and Dawn Hussey, owners of CrossFit Rua, to be placed on a Committee of the Whole agenda to make a presentation of their proposal to offer chiropractic use in the I-1 Limited Industrial District which was discussed at the February 8th Committee of the Whole meeting. It was the consensus of the committee to sustain their previous decision and not support a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to allow chiropractic use in the I-1 District and that the Hussey’s are welcome to speak during public comments at any of the Village’s public meetings.
• Capitol Bill – Public Parking
Mayor Ogle shared that Senator Hastings had indicated the possibility of state funds in the new capital bill for downtown parking in Frankfort. He noted the budgeted $200,000 for downtown parking in the previous bill was never funded.
• 123 Kansas Street Water Tower Inspection and Analysis
Mayor Ogle noted that staff recently emailed the 123 Kansas Street Water Tower Inspection and Analysis report conducted by Willett Hofmann & Associates, Inc. on October 25, 2022 and the maintenance inspection performed on June 22, 2022 by Dixon Engineering, Inc. to Board members for informational purposes.
Utilities Director Brown answered questions from Board members regarding the reports and noted industry standard for regular inspections of a tank by an independent third party is once every five years. The previous inspection was performed in 2018 but due to the deterioration of the exterior coating it was performed sooner to evaluate the safety of the structure. The overall recommendation of the report is to demolish it when the tank is in need of any major repairs. The cost to make all the recommended repairs and repainting is estimated at over $800,000.
• KidsWork Museum
Mayor Ogle noted the KidsWork Museum will provide a presentation at the April 12th Committee of the Whole meeting of some current happenings.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no comments from the public.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further business, Trustee Farina made a motion, seconded by Trustee Rossi, to adjourn the Committee of the Whole meeting of Wednesday, March 8, 2023. A voice vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion carried. The meeting at 6:19 P.M.
https://files4.1.revize.com/frankfortil/2023-03-08-cow-min.pdf
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