Will County Gazette

City of Wilmington City Council met June 18.

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, Jonathan Mietzner, Todd Holmes, and Thomas Smith. Alderperson Leslie Allred was  absent. 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.  

MAYOR’S REPORT 

Mayor Dietz presented the Wilmington Ace Hardware and the Cripe Family a key to the City and Proclaimed  June 29, 2024, Whitmore Ace Hardware Day.  

Mayor Dietz honored the 2024 Wilmington Middle School 8th Grade Girls Track Team for Placing Second in the  IESA State Tournament.  

Mayor Dietz honored the 2024 Wilmington Wildcat High School Baseball Team for Placing Third in the IHSA  Class 2A State Championship Games.  

CONSENT AGENDA 

1. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes from June 4, 2024  

2. Approve the Accounts Payable Report  

3. Approve to Waive the Required Raffle Manager Fidelity Bond from the Wilmington Area Community Band  Application 

4. Approve Ordinance No. 24-06-18-01, An Ordinance Authorizing the Will County Historic Preservation  Commission and Will County to Designate 301 N. Kankakee Street, AKA First Presbyterian Church a County  Landmark  

5. Approve the proposal from Acosta Fence Corporation to replace the damaged sections of the guard rail at  South Island Park for a total cost of $5,230 

6. Approve the Cummins service agreement for $6,961.93 to inspect and service seven emergency generators 

7. Approve the proposal from Marchio Fence Company Inc. to replace the North Island Baseball Field fence for  $98,998.00 

8. Approve the quote from USA Bluebook to purchase two turbidity monitors for the Water Treatment Plant for  a total cost of $6,602.39 

Alderperson Kirwin made a motion and Alderperson Jeffries seconded to approve the Consent Agenda for June  18, 2024, as presented 

Upon roll call, the vote was: 

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

NAYS: 0 

ABSENT: 1 Allred 

The motion carried.

PLANNING & ZONING 

Alderperson Kirwin made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to approve Ordinance No. 24-06-18-02,  An Ordinance Approving a Map Amendment from I1 to B3 and a Conditional Use and Variance for Vacant  Property Located East of 101 E. Chicago Street as amended  

Discussion: City Administrator Smith stated that the P&Z Commission also recommended at their June 6th meeting, that a condition also be set that the property be paved with asphalt within the next twelve months. The  Council agreed with this condition as recommended.  

Upon roll call, the vote was: 

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

NAYS: 0 

ABSENT: 1 Allred 

The motion carried. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS 

Alderperson Mietzner made a motion and Alderperson Jeffries seconded to approve the Fiscal Year 2023  Financial Audit as Presented  

Upon roll call, the vote was: 

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

NAYS: 0 

ABSENT: 1 Allred 

The motion carried. 

Alderperson Knight made a motion and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to approve Resolution No. 2024-07, A  Resolution of the City of Wilmington Objecting to the Issuance of a Special Use Permit to Allow a Truck Terminal  Facility on Property Situated in Close Proximity to the Corporate Limits of the City  

Upon roll call, the vote was: 

AYES: 6 Knight, Kirwin, Mietzner, Holmes, Vice, Smith 

NAYS: 1 Jeffries 

ABSENT: 1 Allred 

The motion carried. 

Alderperson Vice made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to approve and authorize Mayor Dietz to  execute a Façade Improvement Grant Agreement with Nicholas Martinez for both properties located at 116 &  118 S Water Street.  

Upon roll call, the vote was: 

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

NAYS: 0 

ABSENT: 1 Allred 

The motion carried. 

Alderperson Mietzner made a motion and Alderperson Jeffries seconded to approve the Contracts Related to  the 2024 Catfish Days Festival  

a. DJL Sound & Lighting for $625.00

Upon roll call, the vote was: 

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

NAYS: 0 

ABSENT: 1 Allred 

The motion carried. 

REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION FROM CITY OFFICIALS 

City Attorney – Bryan Wellner – No Report  

City Administrator – Jeannine Smith – provided an update on the 80/20 cost sharing grant from IDOT as part  of the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program back in 2010. The original construction  date of the bridge is unknown, but it is believed to have been built in the late 1800s. Although the structure  is not currently listed as a Historic Bridge on the IDOT Historic Bridge Survey, it is eligible for the National  Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Once the draft evaluation is available discussion will be had at future  meetings to discuss the options  

Finance Director – Nancy Gross – Fiscal Year 2025 worksheets will be distributed at the next C.O.W. meeting  

Public Works Director – No Report 

Chief of Police – Adam Zink – No Report 

ALDERPERSON COMMENTS   

Alderperson Kirwin – Congratulated the Presbyterian Church on their county landmark recognition 

Alderperson Vice – No Comment 

Alderperson Allred – No Comment 

Alderperson Holmes – No Comment 

Alderperson Jeffries – No Comment  

Alderperson Knight – No Comment 

Alderperson Mietzner – Thanked Director Gross for her efforts working through the audit process. 

Alderperson Smith – No Comment 

EXECUTIVE SESSION 

Alderperson Holmes made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to go into Executive Session at 7:25 PM to discuss Probable or Imminent Litigation and Pending Litigation [ILCS 2(c)(11)]   

Upon roll call, the vote was: 

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

NAYS: 0 

ABSENT: 1 Allred 

The motion carried. 

Alderperson Holmes made a motion and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to close Executive Session at 7:52 PM 

Upon roll call, the vote was: 

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

NAYS: 0 

ABSENT: 1 Allred

The motion carried. 

ACTION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS 

No action taken  

continued… MAYOR’S REPORT 

Mayor Dietz emphasized to the Council members their roles and responsibilities and that they cannot direct staff  or ask them to do work without going through the proper protocols.  

ADJOURNMENT 

The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Alderperson Kirwin and seconded by Alderperson Mietzner.  Upon the voice vote, the motion carried. The City of Wilmington City Council's regular meeting on June 18, 2024,  adjourned at 8:11 p.m.  

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