Will County Gazette

City of Wilmington City Council met April 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

MAYOR BEN DIETZ CALLED TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE WILMINGTON CITY COUNCIL AT 7:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL

After the pledge of allegiance, the following answered to Roll Call: Alderpersons Kevin Kirwin, Ryan Jeffries, Dennis Vice, Ryan Knight, Leslie Allred, Jonathan Mietzner, Todd Holmes, and Thomas Smith. The number present constitutes a quorum.

Also present: City Administrator Jeannine Smith, Finance Director Nancy Gross, Public Works Director James Gretencord, Chief of Police Adam Zink, City Attorney Bryan Wellner, and Deputy City Clerk Joie Ziller.

CITIZENS COMMENT

No comments were made

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes from March 20, 2024

2. Approval of the Accounts Payable Report

Alderperson Kirwin made a motion and Alderperson Vice seconded to approve the Consent Agenda for April 2, 2024

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Kirwin, Vice, Knight, Allred, Mietzner, Jeffries, Smith, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Dietz stated that plans related to the South Island will be discussed at the April 9th Committee of the Whole meeting.

PLANNING & ZONING

Alderperson Jeffries made a motion and Alderperson Holmes seconded to approve the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to authorize and approve the construction of a new 199-foot monopole wireless communication tower with support equipment at 29745 Elion Boulevard in Wilmington, IL as requested by petitioner LLC Telecom Services, acting on behalf of VB BTS II, LLC conditioned on verification of common electrical path to the tower and municipal colocation space, space and height to be determined and approve Ordinance No. 24-04-02-01

Discussion – Mike Bieniek of LCC Telecom Services, representing Vertical Bridge introduced himself to the Council and stated that Vertical Bridge will work with the City to get space on the tower after the known size of the equipment to find where it will best be supported.

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Jeffries, Holmes, Kirwin, Vice, Knight, Allred, Mietzner, Smith

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Item F.1. Consideration to Approve the Hire of the Building Permit Technician was being removed from the agenda.

Alderperson Holmes made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to approve and award the bid to Hoerr Construction, Inc for $652,215.00 for the Kankakee Street Sewer Lining Project

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Holmes, Knight, Jeffries, Kirwin, Vice, Allred, Mietzner, Smith

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Vice made a motion and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to approve the Purchase of Residential Water Meters from Utility Pipe Sales for a total cost of $33,921

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Vice, Kirwin, Holmes, Knight, Jeffries, Allred, Mietzner, Smith

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION FROM CITY OFFICIALS

City Attorney – Bryan Wellner – No Report

City Administrator – Jeannine Smith – The City’s Building Inspector will be performing an inspection at the neglected structure at 313 N Main Street

Finance Director – Nancy Gross – No Report

Public Works Director – James Gretencord – The street sweeper contractor is anticipated to start on April 8th. The initial date was delayed to inclement weather.

Chief of Police – Adam Zink – No Report

ALDERPERSON COMMENTS

Alderperson Kirwin – No Comment

Alderperson Vice – No Comment

Alderperson Allred – No Comment

Alderperson Holmes – Questioned when pothole patching will start (response… June 1st)

Alderperson Jeffries – No Comment

Alderperson Knight – Questioned when yard waste pickup starts (response… April 5th)

Alderperson Mietzner – No Comment

Alderperson Smith – No Comment

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to go into Executive Session at 7:11 PM to discuss Appointment, Employment, Dismissal, Compensation, Discipline, and Performance of an Employee of the City of Wilmington [ILCS 120/2(c)(1)] and Collective negotiating matters between the City of Wilmington (public body) and its employees [ILCS 120/2(c)(2)]

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Smith, Jeffries, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Smith seconded to close Executive Session at 8:27 PM

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Smith, Jeffries, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

ACTION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Mietzner seconded to approve the additional compensation for Chief Zink in the amount of $125,000 effective April 1, 2024

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Smith, Jeffries, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to approve the additional compensation for Deputy Chief Justin Dole in the amount of $114,000 effective April 1, 2024

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Smith, Jeffries, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Jeffries seconded to approve the additional compensation for Heather Whyte in the amount of $32.50 per hour effective April 1, 2024

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Smith, Jeffries, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Mietzner seconded to approve the additional compensation for Joie Ziller in the amount of $33.00 per hour effective April 1, 2024

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Smith, Jeffries, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to approve the additional compensation for Finance Director Nancy Gross in the amount of $108,000 effective April 1, 2024

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Smith, Jeffries, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Jeffries seconded to approve the additional compensation for James Gretencord in the amount of $124,000 effective April 1, 2024

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 8 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Smith, Jeffries, Holmes

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Allred made a motion and Alderperson Mietzner seconded to approve the additional compensation for City Manager Jeannine Smith in the amount of $145,000 effective April 1, 2024

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 7 Allred, Knight, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Jeffries, Holmes

ABSTAIN: 1 Smith

The motion carried.

City Administrator Smith brought it to our attention that during the course of the financial audit, there was a discrepancy discovered with our previous Finance Director. Approximately two weeks before Mr. Hoffman left he went to Grundy Bank and made a $2,000 cash withdrawal. The Police Department has this under an open investigation to resolve the matter. We made contact with Mr. Hoffman and immediately lawyered up. Any future correspondence with Mr. Hoffman should be directed through his attorney.

ADJOURNMENT

The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Alderperson Mietzner and seconded by Alderperson Kirwin. Upon the voice vote, the motion carried. The City of Wilmington City Council's regular meeting on April 2, 2024, adjourned at 8:32 p.m.

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