Will County Gazette

City of Lockport Committee of the Whole met Feb. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

REGULAR MEETING of the Committee of the Whole of the City of Lockport, Illinois was held on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 in the Board Room, 3rd Floor, of the Central Square Building, 222 E. Ninth Street, Lockport, Illinois. Mayor Steve Streit called the Meeting to order at 7:06 pm.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT: Mayor, Steve Streit

Alderman, Jonathan Pugh

Alderman, Patrick McDonald

Alderman, JR Gillogly

Alderwoman, Christine Bergbower

Alderman, Darren Deskin

Alderwoman, Joann Bartelsen

Alderwoman, Renee Saban

ABSENT: Alderman, Patrick Sheehan

ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator, Ben Benson

City Attorney, Sonni Choi Williams

City Clerk, Kathy Gentile

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann

Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies

Chief of Police, Richard Harang

PRESS: Cathy Wilker, LCTV

ITEMS RECOMMENDED TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSENT OR ACTION AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CD-1. Special Use Permit for a Planned Development, Preliminary/Final Development Plan Review for a 30 Unit Apartment Building with Commercial Storefront (923 S. State Street)/PZC Case# 2024-002

Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies, presented the Staff Report. DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the March 6 City Council Meeting

AT-1. Right of Way Dedication of a Portion of 1602 Madison St. at the Corner of Madison St., Lawrence Ave, and South St., Lockport, IL

City Attorney, Sonni Choi Williams, presented the Staff Report and details behind the request for the right-of-way. This is a clean-up item to ensure the dedication is completed.

DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the March 6 City Council Meeting

PW-1. Appropriation and Eligibility of 2022 MFT Funds for Improvements of Streets and Highways by Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code in the Amount of $1,890,352.67

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, presented the Staff Report.

DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the March 6 City Council Meeting

PW-2. V3 Company Proposal for 2024 Old Canal Days for Roadway Construction Management for a Total Not-to-Exceed Fee of $490,245.00

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, presented the Staff Report.

Discussion among the Council ensued. Alderman Gillogly raised concerns about the plan, which would not guarantee ADA compliance, but instead make it ADA-friendly. He recommended pursuing a less costly option to improve the property. City Administrator Ben Benson responded with alternative improvements and the IEPA limitations on the site that limit what improvements the City can make on the property. Discussion about the grading on the site, and concerns about managing the stormwater. Alderman Deskin raised the question about creating a thru-street, and raised concerns about finding a way to prevent tent poles from driving thru the gravel and the proposed road. Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, informed the Council that the gates must remain closed 100% of the time; the IEPA does not currently allow the property to have a thru-street past the gate (Davies extension). The IEPA would need to modify the environmental land use controls to expand the use of the property. The IEPA does not specifically require the fencing on the road. The City has a special permit for limited events and recreation for the South side of the site; the other sections of the site are not usable for recreational use. Alderman Pugh raised questions about the gravel used on the grounds, and what can be done to reduce dust during the events. The cost of managing the dust is at a cost of $6-10K. There are grant funds that may become available to offset some of the costs.

DIRECTION: Add as an Action Item to the Agenda for the March 6 City Council Meeting

ADJOURNMENT AND EXECUTIVE SESSION

MOTION BY GILLOGLY, SECONDED BY DESKIN TO ADJOURN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 8:00 PM AND GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION CLOSED MEETING UNDER SECTION 2(C)(11) OF THE OMA REGARDING PENDING OR PROBABLE OR IMMINENT. VOICE VOTE ON THE MOTION.

AYES – PUGH, MCDONALD, GILLOGLY, BERGBOWER, DESKIN, BARTELSEN, SABAN

NAY - NONE

ABSENT – SHEEHAN

ABSTAIN – NONE

7 AYES, 0 NAY, 1 ABSENT, 0 ABSTAIN – MOTION CARRIED

https://lockport.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=lockport_5a66f60000e044dc42b9868c26ec6330.pdf&view=1