Will County Gazette

Village of Channahon Board of Trustees met March 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Student Council President Crombie called the meeting to order at 6:25 p.m. and Student Council Vice President Sirek led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call was taken with Trustees Greco, Host, McMillin, Perinar, Scaggs and Slocum present.

Student Council Members present: Morales, DeBartolo, Elise Petrick, Contreras, Evan Petrick, Johnson, Crombie and Sirek.

Also present were Village Administrator Thomas Durkin, Director of Community Development and Information Systems Mike Petrick, Finance Director Heather Wagonblott, Director of Public Works Ed Dolezal, Chief of Police Adam Bogart, Village Attorney David Silverman and Village -Clerk Kristin Hall.

Student Council President Crombie informed everyone present that anyone who speaks at the meeting shall be deemed to have given his/her consent to the recording of their likeness and speech. This meeting is being recorded.

CITIZEN/SPECIAL REQUESTS/PUBLIC HEARING

PUBLIC COMMENT

George Skorup, resident of Channahon, came to address the body tonight because of explosive discharges that he keeps experiencing in his neighborhood. It's been going on for over a year now. Efforts have been made to make report and in the last report, he specifically requested that an officer come to his house to make a written report, so that he could address this body. No officer has been by yet and it was three weeks ago that he made his last request. He also stated that he has a couple of requests.

VP Moorman Schumacher asked if he was talking about fireworks or some other type of explosive device.

Mr. Skorup stated that since he can feel the repercussive force, from over 200 feet away, it is not a firework and is considered under the State Law as an explosive device or bombs. We are far above your typical firework. He brought a petition and he would like it to be read into the record for the members of the public. He is very happy to have the students here and hope this proves as a learning experience for them. The second request is he would ask that when the reading is taking place that none of the names or address information be read into the public record. The third request would be that any reporting that would be in written form, that would be put on a website, would be redacted in the same manner. Upon review of this petition, you will see that petitioners had come back by my home and asked that their name be taken off, because after talking to their spouse, they were afraid of some sort of physical or property retaliation would come of it, if this was disclosed. If any of the young people are paying attention to the Trump trials, it has come up that this information is commonly redacted from public disclosure until some time that the matter is brought before a court of law.

VP Moorman Schumacher stated that if a petition is presented to the Village, she would guess that the document would become public record.

Attorney Silverman stated that any document given to the Village becomes subject to the Illinois Open Meetings Act. He would suggest if it is something he wants to present to the Village, that he take it home and redact the information and then send it to the Clerk or the Mayor.

Mr. Skorup asked what kind of weight does the petition carry if the names are redacted.

Attorney Silverman stated that he didn't know, he is just letting him know what the law is. He stated that we cannot redacted the names because it would be a public document.

Mr. Skorup stated that he would like to change his request that in this forum, for tonight's events, that only the body of the petition be read into the public record. If information is requested by FOIA that information be given beyond that point, they have the right to request that information but it does not have to be disclosed at this point.

VP Moorman Schumacher stated that if you want the body of the petition to be part of the record; her suggestion would be that you read the body of that and don't present the petition itself to the Village at this time because it would become public record. He can read it in and it does become part of the official meeting.

Attorney Silverman confirmed that the Mayor is correct.

Mr. Skorup stated that he would like to ask his daughter to read the body of the petition.

Valerie Skorup, stated that the petition says, "Whereas, starting on or about July 4th, 2023 and continuing on an ongoing basis and becoming a weekly occurrence on or around December 31, 2023 to present, detonations of explosive devices continue to emanate from the property commonly referred to as 24416 S. Rock Ridge Ct., Channahon with Steven Zeffield being the registered property owner in the County of Will. Whereas, Illinois 425 ILCS 20 the Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois specifically prohibits fireworks, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles and bombs or other fireworks of like construction and any fireworks containing an explosive compound from possession or use by any person without first obtaining a certification to do so and that only under the guides of Illinois 425 ILCS 35 the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Whereas, Channahon's Municipal Code Fireworks 13.5/35-2 Possession, Sale and Use of Fireworks does the same and references Illinois 425 ILCS 35. The penalty for being found in violation is covered under 13.5/999-1. Numerous attempts having been made by the undersigned petitioners to the Channahon Police Department to have the above cited to cease and desist there doing so has come to no avail and has caused the petitioners to join this petition. Petitioners one and two on this page of this page, further attest that from their property at a distance of some 200 feet, a viewable emission flash has been seen repeatedly coming from the aforementioned property followed by perceivable shock wave and sound levels above the commonly accepted 60 decibel level at the property line. Petitioner one has used a cellphone decibel meter application to validate decibel levels sufficient to warrant a typical noise complaint in violation of Channahon Municipal Code 13.5/800-5 Loud or Unnecessary Noises, making the referred to detonation of said devices beyond those simple fireworks or firecrackers into the bomb class. Whereas, the storage of use of said devices is of the aforementioned property in unknown quantities, given the period in which detonations have occurred along with the potential of other flammable household substances, such as gasoline and natural gas supply being present, may cause substantial property and/or personal harm should those detonate in their place of storage. The petitioners hereby petition the Village of Channahon, the Channahon Village Board using the Village Attorney to present this petition along with video evidence from multiple dates as an affidavit to magistrate the matter of obtaining a search warrant to be served at the aforementioned location in the name of the recorded owner to remove any found devices to ensure the safety, property and peace of the undersigned petitioners and their families."

She stated that this has been ongoing since December 31, 2023 on a weekly basis and sometimes twice a week with the most recent being Sunday night. We all called on Super Bowl Sunday when they set them off three times at 9:54 p.m. She has the video evidence that is almost two minutes in length and all you can hear. It is so percussive. We have had to live with this and for someone who wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to go to work and has to deal with that at 10:30 p.m. on a Sunday night, it's terrible to try and get to sleep when your dog is nearly ready to have a heart attack and we have to sedate her.

VP Moorman Schumacher thank you the residents for bringing this forward. She going to ask Chief Bogart address some of that and discuss what the steps will be moving forward.

Bogart stated that he is unfamiliar with the calls for service at your address.

Mr. Skorup stated that the Village can get that information from WESCOM. The calls have been numerous and ongoing. He understands that by the time the police get there the display is over. He also stated that the explosions that occur on a weekly basis is a couple bomb blasts and then it's over. Without the police showing up and actually see it take place, we cannot approach the people that are doing it and cite them.

Chief Bogart suggested Mr. Skorup meet with Sgt. Potts and discuss this matter further.

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Consider Approval – Minutes - Committee – February 19, 2024

B. Consider Approval – Minutes - Board - February 19, 2024

C. Consider Approval – Minutes - Executive Session – February 19, 2024

D. Approve Payment of the Bills List of March 4, 2024 for $451,608.87

E. Approve Payment of Manual Checks of March 4, 2024 for $14,390.83

F. Approve Payment of Net Payroll Expenses for the period ending February 18, 2024 for $157,824.29

Trustee Slocum made a motion to approve the consent agenda as read. Seconded by Trustee Perinar.

ROLL CALL AYES: Greco, Host, McMillin, Perinar, Scaggs and Slocum.

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS: Morales, DeBartolo, Elise Petrick, Contreras, Evan Petrick, Johnson, Crombie and Sirek

STUDENT COUNCIL ABSENT: Garrett and Krajack

NAYS: NONE

MOTION CARRIED

REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS FROM VILLAGE OFFICIALS

A. VILLAGE PRESIDENT

Consider Approval – A Resolution to Recognize and Support Job Shadowing Day at the Village of Channahon

Student Council President Crombie read the Resolution into the record.

Trustee Perinar and Student Council Member Elise Petrick made a motion to approve A Resolution to Recognize and Support Job Shadowing Day at the Village of Channahon. Seconded by Trustee Host and Student Council Member Contreras.

ROLL CALL AYES: Greco, Host, McMillin, Perinar, Scaggs and Slocum.

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS: Morales, DeBartolo, Elise Petrick, Contreras, Evan Petrick, Johnson, Crombie and Sirek

STUDENT COUNCIL ABSENT: Garrett and Krajack

NAYS: NONE

MOTION CARRIED

Reminder - State of the Village Address on Thursday, March 28 at 8 a.m., Four Rivers Environmental Education Center

Student Council President Crombie reminded everyone of the State of the Village,

B. VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR

Consider Approval – An Ordinance Amending the Channahon Code of Ordinances to Create a Channahon Arts and Culture – 2nd Read

Trustee Host made a motion to approve An Ordinance Amending the Channahon Code of Ordinances to Create a Channahon Arts and Culture. Seconded by Trustee Greco.

ROLL CALL AYES: Greco, Host, McMillin, Perinar, Scaggs and Slocum.

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS: Morales, DeBartolo, Elise Petrick, Contreras, Evan Petrick, Johnson, Crombie and Sirek

STUDENT COUNCIL ABSENT: Garrett and Krajack

NAYS: NONE

MOTION CARRIED

C. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & INFORMATION Reminder - Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting, Monday, March 11, 2024 at the Channahon Municipal Building at 6:00 p.m.

Student Council Member Ethan DeBartolo stated that at the meeting will be holding a Public Hearing for the Channahon Horizon, a proposed apartment complex for seniors aged 62The proposed development is located behind the Morris Hospital Ridge Road Campus. The first phase is proposed to be a 46 senior apartment units with potential for a second phase of 60 more senior apartments.

D. FINANCE DEPARTMENT

Reminder – Budget Workshop for Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 Proposed Budget on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Channahon Municipal Building at 8:30 a.m.

E. POLICE DEPARTMENT

Consider Approval - Donation of a Polaris UTV from Aux Sable Liquid Products

Trustee Scaggs made a motion to accept the Donation of a Polaris UTV from Aux Sable Liquid Products. Seconded by Trustee Perinar.

ROLL CALL AYES: Greco, Host, McMillin, Perinar, Scaggs and Slocum.

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS: Morales, DeBartolo, Elise Petrick, Contreras, Evan Petrick, Johnson, Crombie and Sirek

STUDENT COUNCIL ABSENT: Garrett and Krajack

NAYS: NONE

F. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

MOTION CARRIED

Consider Approval – SEECO Proposal and Contract for Geotechnical Services on Channahon's Lake Michigan Secondary Delivery Site

Trustee Scaggs made a motion to approve the SEECO Proposal and Contract for Geotechnical Services on Channahon's Lake Michigan Secondary Delivery Site not to exceed $25,000. Seconded by Trustee Host.

ROLL CALL AYES: Greco, Host, McMillin, Perinar, Scaggs and Slocum.

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS: Morales, DeBartolo, Elise Petrick, Contreras, Evan Petrick, Johnson, Crombie and Sirek

STUDENT COUNCIL ABSENT: Garrett and Krajack

NAYS: NONE

G. VILLAGE ATTORNEY

MOTION CARRIED

Village Attorney David Silverman stated he had no report.

LIASON REPORTS

Trustee Sam Greco and Trustee Patricia Perinar - Finance/Human Resources Trustee Greco stated one thing on the legislative side. In Governor Pritzker's proposed State Fiscal Year 2025, there is a proposal in there to eliminate the 1% sales tax on groceries. If that goes through and gets approved, it will cut $325 million dollars from municipalities. He urged everyone to contact your State Legislators to oppose it.

VP Moorman Schumacher stated that this is one of those things that sounds really wonderful on the surface, but it has no bearing on the State budget whatsoever. It is a feel good thing and what it does is it takes that money out of the hand of municipal, local governments who will have to make up that shortfall somewhere else. Very frequently that is property taxes or other fees.

Trustee Slocum asked how much would it affect our budget.

Wagonblott stated it would be less than $100,000.

Trustee Scott Slocum and Trustee Scott McMillin -- Community Development

Trustee Mark Scaggs and Trustee Chantal Host - Public Works and Facility

Trustee Scaggs stated that IDOT announced that they will be out cleaning the interstates. He doesn't know why the State Police doesn't ticket the trucks with garbage blowing out the back. He also stated that he hopes they start fining the truck. If the trucks would get their covers fixed there wouldn't be all this garbage, but that is a conversation for another day.

Trustee Sam Greco and Trustee Mark Scaggs - Community & Legislative Affairs

Trustee Chantal Host and Trustee Patricia Perinar - Public Safety/Emergency Support Student Council Member Elise Petrick stated that HR is working on updating the job descriptions for all non-union employees. She is happy to report that our healthcare rates will be decreasing on July 1, 2024; PPO down 1.0%, HMO down .9% and Dental down 3.2%.

Student Council Member Zoe Johnson stated yesterday 11 officers and their families participated in the 2024 Polar Plunge. Despite the 70 degree temperature, the officers braved the cold water and the charity raised over $2,000. Several officers along with Village staff attended Hank Dziekan's 98th birthday.

Trustee Scott McMillin and Trustee Scott Slocum - Natural Resources and Open Spaces Student Council Member Ethan DeBartolo stated that the People for Channahon Parks had a very successful fundraiser last weekend. They raised almost $40,000 thanks to all the businesses that participated in the event. The Park District also announced that they will not be going forward with a referendum in November.

OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS

EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Greco made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:58 p.m. Seconded by Trustee Slocum.

VERBAL ROLL CALL: ALL AYES

MOTION CARRIED

https://www.channahon.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03042024-564