Will County Gazette

Village of Crete President and Board of Trustees met Sept. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Clerk Bachert opened the meeting with the Roll Call at 7 p.m.

The following were present in the municipal building: Trustees Steve Bruns, Stephen Johnson, John Phelan, Katrina Seifert and Mark Wiater were present. President Michael Einhorn and Trustee Holly Milburn were absent. A quorum was present.

Also in attendance: Administrator Michael Smith arriving at 8:05 p.m., Attorney Jeff Taylor, Police Chief Scott Pieritz, Asst. Fire Chief Wilkens, Code Enforcement Supervisor Ryan Allison and Videographer Nick Borrell.

A motion was made to appoint Mark Wiater as President Pro Tem for the board meeting.

Motion: Trustee Stephen Johnson

Second: Trustee Katrina Seifert

Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn

Abstain (0) none

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Nays (0) none

Motion declared carried.

REGULAR BOARD MEETING:

President Pro Tem Mark Wiater called to order the regular board meeting of the President and the Board of Trustees of the Village of Crete on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 7:02 p.m. and led those assembled in the Village of Crete Municipal Building, 524 W. Exchange St, Crete, Illinois in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

CITIZEN'S SPEAK

Visitors are always welcome to all public meetings of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Crete. Interested parties wishing to speak should identify their intent to speak, they then may give their name and where they reside if they so choose and then make their comment. Persons may also provide their address privately to the Village Clerk if they so choose; persons are advised that addresses are considered private information under the Freedom of Information Act and thus are exempt from disclosure pursuant to any Freedom of Information Act request. However, to give proper consideration to all items on the agenda, the President has the authority to limit participants in debates and will close repetitive or abusive remarks. In addition, public comment rules are posted in the board room.

Phyllis Monks, Treasurer of the Crete Historical Society, presented plaques to the Village of Crete and the Crete Fire Department, thanking them for their support to the Historical Society. She noted historical society books on the group are available to read from the Crete Public Library.

Helene Schafer, treasurer of the Lincoln Woods I Condominium Association was present (along with many other residents of the condo association) asking for help to resolve a leaking fire hydrant on the property. Mark Wiater stated it will take a couple weeks to resolve what can be done and who will be responsible for the repairs. Administrator Smith and Superintendent Pancrazio will become involved.

Ernest Jones, a Williamsburg resident, thanked the Village for the road resurfacing and asked if the road striping at Exchange and Independence can be completed.

Assistant Chief Ken Wilkens presented Crete Fire Department personnel Mike Crivellone, Mike Swiat and Dan Wyocki along with Steger Fire Department personnel Mike Baine and Brenden Munoz with certificates of appreciation for the care given to Charles Letko. They were able to save his life. Mr. Letko was also in attendance at the board meeting.

A motion was made to amend the order of the 9-9-2024 agenda and to enter into the Executive Session at this time (7:20 p.m.) for Probable, Imminent and Pending Litigation (5 ILCS 120/2(C)(11).

Motion: Trustee Katrina Seifert

Second: Trustee John Phelan

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Nays (0) none Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn Abstain (0) none

Motion declared carried.

A motion was made to adjourn to Executive Session at 7:21 p.m.

ON ROLL CALL:

Motion: Trustee Katrina Seifert

Second: Trustee John Phelan

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Nays (0) none Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn Abstain (0) none

Motion declared carried.

The Board returned at 8:49 p.m. from the closed Executive Session.

A motion was made to return to the regular session of the 9-9-2024 board meeting at 8:50 p.m. Motion: Trustee Stephen Johnson

Second: Trustee Katrina Seifert

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Nays (0) none Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn Abstain (0) none

Motion declared carried.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Special orders

UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGENDA

All items on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a board member so requests, in which event, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered separately.

Approval of Minutes: Regular Board Meeting - August 26, 2024

Approval of Bills August 26, 2024 thru September 6, 2024

Ratification of Payroll - Bi-weekly payroll ending September 4, 2024

A motion was made to move three New Business Items #7, #8, & #9 to the unanimous consent agenda. These items included Ordinance No. 2024-15: An Ordinance authorizing the Sale of Surplus Personal Property, to wit: 1997 Ford Econoline Ambulance, VIN #1FDLE40F1VHB88512, Mileage 109,162, Ordinance No. 2024-16: An Ordinance authorizing the Sale of Surplus Personal Property, to wit: 2008 Chevrolet 2500HD, VIN #1GCHK24K78E180855, Mileage 130,006 and Ordinance No. 2024-17: An Ordinance authorizing the Sale of Surplus Personal Property, to wit: 2004 480V Katolite Generator, Serial #137247-0207.

Motion: Trustee Stephen Johnson

Second: Trustee Katrina Seifert

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Nays (0) none Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn Abstain (0) none

Motion declared carried.

Trustee Wiater noted he approved the bills for Public Safety (Trustee Milburn).

In accordance with an opinion from the Illinois Attorney General's Office, President Pro Tem Mark Wiater read aloud the items as listed for approval prior to action being taken on the Consent Agenda with brief explanations.

A motion was made to approve the Unanimous Consent Agenda with additions as listed above.

Motion: Trustee Stephen Johnson Second: Trustee Katrina Seifert

ON ROLL CALL:

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater Nays (0) none

Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn Abstain (0) none

Motion declared carried.

REPORTS: PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES:

Public Health - Trustee Katrina Seifert - no report

Water Department - Trustee Stephen Johnson - no report Road and Bridge - Trustee Steve Bruns - no report

Building and Grounds - Trustee John Phelan

Requested DPW not cut down flowers at Main and Exchange and Cass Street. His wife will tend to the flowers.

Finance, License and Ordinance - Trustee Mark Wiater - no report

Public Safety - Trustee Holly Milburn - absent; no report

President Michael Einhorn - absent; no report

COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Village Administrator - Michael Smith

Water Tower repairs at State Street are almost complete. Hydrant flushing will be delayed until this tower is back online.

Attended a Meet and Greet event prior to the Village Board meeting tonight where Villages could bring up their concerns. Items Mike Smith brought up for consideration and discussion were the lack of cooperation with the State concerning the gas station at Main and Exchange Streets, the Will County Animal Control response and a reminder of the East West Corridor. No mention of the proposed airport by the officials.

Police Department - Chief Scott Pieritz - Report Submitted - see below

Department Stats: Traffic stops were down, possibly due to focus on village sticker enforcement. Officers wrote 154 village sticker violations in August.

New Officer: Officer Stokes has completed his first week of the 12-14 week field training program and is doing well.

New hire, Officer Niemeyer has completed his first week of 16 weeks at the Macon County Academy (Decatur).

Congrats to Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow:

SA Glasgow is the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police "Public Official of the Year" (2024). Will County State's Attorney James W. Glasgow has a long and distinguished career during which he has implemented groundbreaking initiatives to successfully investigate, prosecute, and prevent crime as well as being a long-time supporter of law enforcement. State's Attorney Glasgow is an advocate for public safety and an innovator who has a long history of supporting law enforcement and the communities he serves, and for such reasons we recognize him as our 2024 Public Official of the Year.

Fire Department - Administrator Neal Haemker - absent; no report

Superintendent of Public Works - Justin Pancrazio – absent; Report submitted

Building Department - Building Inspector Mike Smith - Report submitted

Code Enforcement - Code Enforcement Supervisor Ryan Allison - report submitted

Fire & Police Commission - Jim McPhee - absent; no report

EMA - Ryan Allison - report submitted

Reported both EMA and the CFD are receiving a$15,000.00 grants from Earthrise Energy. The departments may purchase a LED light tower for the Village and three sets of gear for CFD. Animal Control/Code Enforcement Officer - Kaitlyn Tieri - absent; report submitted

Planning Commission - Karen Tellef - absent; no report

Heritage & Architecture Commission - Phyllis Monks - no report

Media Consultant - Nick Borrell - no report

COMMUNICATIONS:

A Letter directed to President Einhorn was received from Lori Williams containing the obituary for Edward Robert Wantuch, Jr., the deceased husband of Kathleen Wantuch. Kathy was the former Village Clerk of Crete.

Received notification to the Village of new pricing updates that will be applied to subscribers' U-verseR TV packages, programming, and services on the next bill cycle, effective on or after October 6, 2024.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Results of the September 3, 2024 bid opening for the Benton Street Water Main Extension (Division St to Herman St). Bid tabulation is included from HR Green. Board action may be taken.

Administrator Smith explained the uniqueness experienced with this bid opening. When looking at the bid tab, HR Green verified that out of the four (4) bidders, Iroquois Paving Corp to be the apparent qualified low bidder at $134,118.50.

A motion was made to accept the low bid for the Benton Street Water Main Extension (Division Street to Herman Street) to Iroquois Paving Corp. in the amount of $134,118.50.

Motion: Trustee Stephen Johnson

Second: Trustee Katrina Seifert

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Nays (0) none

Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn

Abstain (0) none

Motion declared carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. PROCLAMATION: Proclamation in recognition of DAR Constitution Week September 17th to 23rd, 2024. Board action may be taken.

A motion was made to authorize the President and Clerk to sign the Proclamation.

Motion: Trustee Steve Bruns

Second: Trustee Stephen Johnson

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Nays (0) none

Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn

Abstain (0) none

Motion declared carried.

2. Permission has been requested from Crete-Monee High School to display fireworks on September 20th, 2024 for the Crete-Monee Homecoming event. Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions has filed the request. Board action is anticipated.

A motion was made to issue a permit for fireworks at Crete-Monee High School Homecoming Event on September 20th, 2024 and to include Mad Bomber Fireworks, LaPorte, Indiana to be in charge of the display.

Motion: Trustee Steve Bruns

Second: Trustee Stephen Johnson

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Nays (0) none

Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn

Abstain (0) none

Motion declared carried.

3. Discussion on possible modification to Accessory Buildings (Sheds) Ordinance. Board action may be taken.

Item # 3 will be discussed at a future meeting.

4. Discussion on possible modifications to Pet Ordinance. Board action may be taken.

After more investigation, Item # 4 will be moved to the November 11th Village Board Meeting for discussion/consideration.

5. Discussion on possible creation of an Honorary Street Naming Program. Board action may be taken.

Item # 5 will be discussed at the next Village Board meeting. Trustee Phelan will provide information to be considered.

6. Discussion regarding entering into a potential Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for purposes of communication and marketing. Board action may be taken.

Trustee Seifert will work with the Village Attorney to draft an IGA for the project. The proposed production of a newsletter will included other taxiing bodies which meet monthly to work on communication with all residents in Crete. It is estimated to cost $500-$700 per participating member on a quarterly basis.

7. Ordinance No. 2024-15: An Ordinance authorizing the Sale of Surplus Personal Property, to wit: 1997 Ford Econoline Ambulance, VIN #1FDLE40F1VHB88512, Mileage 109,162. Board action may be taken.

Moved to the Consent Agenda

8. Ordinance No. 2024-16: An Ordinance authorizing the Sale of Surplus Personal Property, to wit: 2008 Chevrolet 2500HD, VIN #1GCHK24K78E180855, Mileage 130,006. Board action may be taken.

Moved to the Consent Agenda

9. Ordinance No. 2024-17: An Ordinance authorizing the Sale of Surplus Personal Property, to wit:

2004 480V Katolite Generator, Serial #137247-0207. Board action may be taken.

Moved to the Consent Agenda

The closed Executive Session was held after Citizens Speak tonight.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

1. Probable, Imminent and Pending Litigation (5 ILCS 120/2(C)(11).

ADJOURNMENT:

As there was no further business to come before the board, a motion was made to declare the meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

Motion: Trustee Steve Bruns

Second: Trustee Katrina Seifert

Abstain (0) none

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Johnson, Phelan, Seifert, Wiater

Absent (2) President Einhorn and Trustee Milburn

Nays (0) none

Motion declared carried.

https://villageofcrete.org/agendas-and-minutes-library/