Will County Gazette

Village of Channahon Committee of the Whole met Nov. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

VP Moorman Schumacher called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with Trustees Greco, Host, Perinar, Scaggs and Slocum present.

Also present were Village Administrator Thomas Durkin, Assistant Village Administrator Mike Petrick, Director of Community Development and Information Systems Scott McMaster, Director of Public Works Ed Dolezal, Chief of Police Adam Bogart, Village Attorney Jim Murphy and Village Clerk Kristin Hall.

VP Moorman Schumacher 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.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR

Presentation - Town Center Master Plan Update

Ginkgo Planning & Design presented a status update to the Board regarding the update to the Town Center Master Plan.

VP Moorman Schumacher stated that she just wanted to provide the Board with an update and to let them know what we are thinking and where we are headed. She thanked Ginkgo for their presentation and looks forward to the next committee workshop in December. When we came up with the preferred draft plan one of the first things she said what that it feels like us. Some of the other plan options were just too geometrically square and we have so many natural waterways; they didn't seem like they fit. The preferred draft plan is the one that felt like us.

Durkin stated the plan also provides for added interest in the natural features that can be made part of the required detention and that really defines us.

VP Moorman Schumacher stated that we have also talked to Ginkgo about aS branding. It's nice timing that we are working on a new logo and will be able to bring that into the Town Center, so that it all looks purposeful.

Discussion - Authorize Execution of a Funding Agreement between the Village of Channahon and the Illinois Department of Transportation for State Planning and Research Funds for the Development of a Regional Infrastructure Collaboration Plan for Northeast Grundy County and Surrounding Areas

Durkin stated the attached agreement consists of the IDOT Federal Uniform Grant Agreement between the State of Illinois, Department of Transportation and the Village of Channahon regarding the receipt by the Village of a $320,000 grant through the Statewide Planning and Research Funds grant program. This is a reimbursable grant whereas the funds will be expended and invoicing will be provided to the state. In turn, the Village will be reimbursed for the allowable expenditures. The grant also requires a 20% funding match, in this case $80,000, which is being provided by contributions from the Village and local regional partners. Total dollars allocated to the project between the grant and local match, equals $400,000. This agreement will be effective on 12/1/24 and shall expire on 6/30/26. The RFP is out to five firms to solicit their responses by December 22nd.

VP Moorman Schumacher asked Durkin for an IGA update.

Durkin stated that the City of Morris is looking to pass the IGA tonight, the Village of Shorewood and the Village of Diamond have already passed the IGA. Grundy County will be doing it very soon. The Village of Minooka has done it with some modifications and will be reaffirming the approval later in the month.

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

Petrick stated he had no formal items for discussion.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

McMaster stated he had no formal items for discussion.

FINANCE DEPARTMENT

Discussion - Fifth Third Bank - Banking Services Contract Renewal

Wagonblott stated since May 2018, the Village of Channahon has utilized Fifth Third Bank for the day-to-day banking services. The banking services include, but are not limited to, facilitating and maintaining the interest-earning checking accounts used to deposit revenues, pay checks, wires and ACH payments, provide online banking services, and remote deposit equipment. Village staff has maintained an excellent business relationship with the municipal banking team at Fifth Third Bank. Questions from Village staff or issues that arise related to the banking services or equipment are address timely by the direct contacts at the bank or the customer service representatives. As a reminder, the Village maintains low cash balances in the checking accounts maintained with the bank. The minimal amount of liquid cash is maintained at Fifth Third Bank while the Village's remaining cash is invested in a diversified portfolio of other higher interest-bearing accounts or investment vehicles. Fifth Third Bank prepared a banking services contract for the Village which is included in the board packet for your review. In addition, staff included a copy of the current banking contract as well as a comparison of the banking fees currently charged and proposed in the contract extension. The proposed banking fees are quite similar to those currently being charged; some of the fees have even decreased. The Village does not anticipate much of a difference in the fees charged. In the past 12 months, the Village has paid $18,188.28 in banking fees for the accounts maintained with Fifth Third Bank. Over the same time period, the Village has earned $44,117.91 in interest income from Fifth Third Bank. Other important information:

• The interest rate currently being earned is 3 .50% which is similar or better than other banks.

• There is no minimum balance required to be held in the Village checking accounts. The cash balances that the Village maintains does offset some of the fees.

• An RFP was not sent out as a result of several factors: consistency in services and no disruption of changing banks during the roll out of the updated financial software, continues excellent services from Fifth Third Bank and the municipal banking team, and fair and reasonable interest rates and service fees.

Staff recommends renewing the banking services contract with Fifth Third Bank beginning January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028.

Trustee Scaggs asked if the last renewal was for three years.

Wagonblott stated it was.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Discussion - An Ordinance Amending the Village of Channahon Code of Ordinances with Respect to Board of Fire and Police Commissioners - 1st Read

Bogart stated that going back to the February 5th Board Meeting, the Police Commission presented their 2023 Annual Report. Part of that report was their goals for this year and one of those goals was to expand the commissioners from three to five, for a couple of different reasons. One was that we ran into some problems having a quorum. Adding commissioners would increase the likeliness of a quorum. It would allow for individuals with police or law enforcement experience to join the commission. We have already built the Sergeants eligibility list, which was one of their goals that was completed in May of this year. Adding two additional commissioners was another one of their goals. If there are any questions, Commissioner Myers is here this evening.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Discussion -Amendment 1 to Engineering Proposal for Well 7 Borehole Construction Related Services

Dolezal stated the Board previously approved Task Order 22-01 from Strand Associates generally providing for review of contractor pay requests, onsite observation, and drafting of Record Drawings on the Village's behalf for construction of the Well 7 borehole. The project has extended past the end date of the contract due to difficulties encountered by the contractor. In order to continue with the services provided by Task Order 22-01, an amendment increasing the fee to $71,250 and the completion date to December 21, 2024. The liquidated damages being charged to the contractor will offset this increased cost to the Village.

Discussion - American Backhoe Service's Proposal for Ditch Shaping and Storm Structure Adjustment

Dolezal stated the Board previously approved Task Order 22-01 from Strand Associates generally providing for review of contractor pay requests, onsite observation, and drafting of Record Drawings on the Village's behalf for construction of the Well 7 borehole. The project has extended past the end date of the contract due to difficulties encountered by the contractor. In order to continue with the services provided by Task Order 22-01, an amendment increasing the fee to $71,250 and the completion date to December 21, 2024. The liquidated damages being charged to the contractor will offset this increased cost to the Village.

VP Moorman Schumacher asked if this was the pond that goes out to M&I Steel.

Petrick stated yes, that is the source of it. The ditch work is down stream of that. He stated that M&I Steel is doing a pond expansion on their property. They have done a lot of the tree clearing around the existing pond.

Trustee Perinar asked if this was all happening this fall. It was confirmed that this is the case. COMMUNICATIONS

PUBLIC COMMENT

EXECUTIVE SESSION

• Appointment, Employment, Dismissal, Compensation, Discipline and Performance of an Employee of the Village of Channahon

• Property Acquisition

VP Moorman Schumacher stated that we do have Executive Session but there is no action coming out of it, so we will move that to the end of the Board Meeting.

The Committee of the Whole was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

https://www.channahon.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11042024-621