Will County Gazette

City of Wilmington City Council met April 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

MAYOR BEN DIETZ CALLED TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE WILMINGTON CITY COUNCIL AT 7:03 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, Thomas Smith, and Todd Holmes. The number present constitutes a quorum.

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

CITIZENS COMMENT

No comments were made

MAYOR’S REPORT

Alderperson Kirwin made a motion and Alderperson Jeffries seconded to approve the Mayoral Appointment of Rachel Conforti to fill the Vacated Third Ward Alderperson Seat with Term Expiring May 2027

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Mayor Dietz administered the oath to Rachel Conforti, and she then took her seat at the dais.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approve the Accounts Payable Report

2. Approve the Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended April 30, 2024 as Presented by Lauterbach & Amen, LLP

3. Approve the Request to make the Funds whole through the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024

4. Approve the First Amendment to Intergovernmental Agreement Cooperation Agreement For Improvements to N. Water Street and N. Kankakee Street Between the Illinois Department of Transportation and the City of Wilmington

5. Approve the Request for the Hire of an Additional Water Department Employee

6. Approve the Mayoral Proclamation on National Safe Boating Week

7. Approve the Execution of the Centennial Route 66 Directional Wayside Exhibit Project/Installation and Maintenance Agreement with Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau

8. Approve the Hire of One New Police Officer (Replacing the Recently Retired Officer)

9. Approve Ordinance No. 25-04-15-01, An Ordinance Amending the Façade Improvement Grant

10. Approve the Gemini Giant Turnout Cost Estimate

11. Approve the payment of the invoice from Airy’s Inc. for a total of $16,780.95 for services needed to repair the water main break on Buchanan Street on March 6, 2025

12. Approve the Water System Improvements as Provided by Chamlin & Associates

13. Approve the request to purchase a new 2024 Caterpillar 420-07A XE Backhoe from Altorfer Cat using Sourcewell pricing for a total cost of $153,750.00

14. Approve the purchase of a Kenworth T480 Single Axle Dump Truck from CIT Trucks with upfitting from Kankakee Truck and Equipment for a total price of $236,535.46

15. Approve the purchase of a new Ford F650 Dump Truck with upfitting from Holt and Sons Inc. for a total price of $136,619.02

16. Approve the purchase of a new Ford F600 Dump Truck from Dorazio Ford for a price of $62,905 and the upfitting of the truck to be done by Holt & Sons Inc. for the price of $54,719.45. For a total cost of $117,624.45

17. Approve the purchase of a new Ford F600 Dump Truck from Dorazio Ford for a price of $62,905 and the upfitting of the truck to be done by Holt & Sons Inc. for the price of $54,719.45. For a total cost of $117,624.45

Alderperson Kirwin made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to approve the Consent Agenda for the April 15, 2025, City Council meeting

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

PLANNING AND ZONING

Alderperson Jeffries made a motion and Alderperson Mietzner seconded to approve Ordinance No. 25-04-15- 02, An Ordinance Approving a Variance for 250 W. Baltimore Street (AJ’s Hotdogs and Gyros; PIN No. 03-17- 26-405-019-0000)

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Alderperson Knight made a motion and Alderperson Jeffries seconded to approve Ordinance No. 25-04-15-03, An Ordinance Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax for the City of Wilmington

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 5 Jeffries, Mietzner, Kirwin, Vice, Conforti

NAYS: 3 Knight, Holmes, Smith

The motion carried.

Alderperson Mietzner made a motion and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to approve the Invoice and Make Payment in the Amount of $11,756.40 for the Water Treatment Plant Lagoon Project

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Smith made a motion and Alderperson Conforti seconded to approve the purchase of an F450 Crane Truck from Sutton Ford with upfitting to be done by Monroe Truck and Equipment for a total purchase price of $118,382

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 1 Holmes

The motion carried.

Alderperson Holmes made a motion and Alderperson Jeffries seconded to approve the Daily Permit Liquor License Application for the Longest Day event on June 21, 2025

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION FROM CITY OFFICIALS

City Attorney – Bryan Wellner – No Report

City Administrator – Jeannine Smith – Reported on the RT 66 Centennial kick-off event, where Wilmington received positive recognition. Congratulations were extended to Director Gretencord for passing his wastewater operators license exam.

Finance Director – Nancy Gross – No Report

Public Works Director – James Gretencord – No Report

Chief of Police – Adam Zink – No Report

ALDERPERSON COMMENTS

Alderperson Kirwin – No Comment

Alderperson Vice – No Comment

Alderperson Conforti – Expressed her gratitude for the appointment and looks forward to contributing to the town in her new role.

Alderperson Holmes – No Comment

Alderperson Jeffries – No Comment

Alderperson Knight – No Comment

Alderperson Mietzner – No Comment

Alderperson Smith – Thanked Alderperson Jeffries for his contributions over the past four years and suggested monthly updates on downtown business activities.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Alderperson Vice made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to go into Executive Session at 7:21 PM to discuss Probable or Imminent Litigation and Pending Litigation [5 ILCS 2(c)(11)]

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Vice made a motion and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to close Executive Session at 7:59 PM

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried

ACTION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

No action taken.

ADJOURNMENT

The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Alderperson Vice and seconded by Alderperson Holmes. Upon the voice vote, the motion carried. The City of Wilmington City Council's regular meeting on April 15, 2025, adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57ced2d71b631bb8d8f3a628/t/681e43ded9c03804bad7d614/1746813918874/04-15-2025+City+Council+Minutes.pdf