Will County Gazette

City of Wilmington City Council met June 17.

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, Marty Orr, Ryan Knight, Rachel Conforti, Jonathan Mietzner, Todd Holmes, Tom Smith, and Dennis Vice(arrived at 7:08 PM). The number present constitutes a quorum.

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

PUBLIC HEARING

to receive and consider testimony and public comment on the Annexation Agreement of the petitioner, Fleishman Solar, LLC to operate a 4.99-megawatt commercial solar energy facility on approximately 40 acres of a tract of land comprised of approximately 75.558 acres, north of W. Coal City Road, east of S. Rt 53, west of S. West River Road

Alderperson Holmes made a motion and Alderperson Mietzner made a motion to open the public hearing at 7:01 PM.

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 7 Holmes, Mietzner, Conforti, Knight, Smith, Kirwin, Orr

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 1 Vice

The motion carried.

Administrator Smith reviewed her staff report with Council, which was included in the agenda packet. Deputy Clerk Ziller administered the oath to Ryan Anderson, Nick Standiford and Tessa Goodman.

Ryan Anderson from Cypress Creek presented a detailed brief of the project, including environmental and community impact. Mr. Anderson also confirmed that there will be no battery storage on site. He also addressed the road use agreement being negotiated with the townships, and they intend to bring the road back to the same or better condition as it exists now. The project has a deadline to be in service by the third quarter of 2027. His presentation also included site renderings and outlines of the privacy measures and landscape plans that were requested at the June 5, 2025, Planning and Zoning hearing.

Jacque Plese provided his written testimony to the Council comparing solar power to fossil fuel power generation. Jay Plese expressed his concerns and opposition to the solar farm projects being presented this evening.

James Fleishman, who farms the land to grow corn that goes to make ethanol, commented on the products used to tend the farm fields, such as Roundup with atrazine, sludge to fertilize, and spoke of the reasons why a solar farm is the best solution for this land.

Attorney Wellner informed us that the public hearing will be tabled until the City Council meeting on July 1, 2025. This decision will allow for the necessary 10-day notice to be sent to the Custer Township officials.

At 7:51 PM, Alderperson Holmes made a motion and Alderperson Knight seconded to table the public hearing to the July 1, 2025, City Council meeting

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING

to receive and consider testimony and public comment on the Annexation Agreement of the petitioner, IL Wilmington Solar, LLC to operate a 19.90-megawatt commercial solar energy facility on approximately 107.45 acres, more less, of a tract of land north of W. Coal City Road, east of S. Rt 53, west of S. West River Road

Alderperson Conforti made a motion and Alderperson Mietzner made a motion to open the public hearing at 7:51 PM.

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Administrator Smith reviewed her staff report with Council, which was included in the agenda packet. Deputy Clerk Ziller administered the oath to Ryan Anderson, Nick Standiford and Tessa Goodman.

Tessa Goodman, representing IL Wilmington Solar, presented a detailed brief of the project, including environmental and community impact.

Attorney Wellner informed us that the public hearing will be tabled until the City Council meeting on July 1, 2025. This decision will allow for the necessary 10-day notice to be sent to the Custer Township officials.

At 8:18 PM Alderperson Conforti made a motion and Alderperson Holmes seconded to table the public hearing to the July 1, 2025 City Council meeting

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

CITIZENS COMMENT

None

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Dietz reminded us of the June 27th Let Freedom Rock event at North Island Park.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes from June 3, 2025

2. Approve the Accounts Payable Report

3. Approve Ordinance No. 25-06-17-01, An Ordinance Revising and Restating the Appropriations Ordinance for the City of Wilmington, Will County, Illinois for the Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2024 and Ending April 30, 2025 and Providing for Supplemental Appropriations and Transfers

4. Approve the Scope of Services to be Provided from Lauterbach & Amen, LLP

5. Approve the Donation of $1,000 to Will County Center for Community Concerns

6. Approve the quote submitted by Team REIL, Inc. for the South Island Park Playground Equipment Project

7. Approve the quote submitted by Homer Tree Care, Inc. for Tree Removal and Stump Grinding in the South & North Island Parks, for $13,500

8. Approve the South Island Park Multi-Use Path Rendering as Provided by Chamlin Engineering

9. Approve the renewal contract from Brightly Solutions for a 3-year period

10. Approve the material purchase from Underground Pipe and Valve for the Downtown Infrastructure project for a total cost of $15,466.80

11. Approve the quote from Utility Pipe Sales Inc. to supply and assist with the installation of equipment for the City’s water meter reading system, at a total cost not to exceed $32,200

12. Consideration to Approve the 2025 Let Freedom Rock Contracts & Agreements

a. Rodney Emling Portable Stage Agreement for $1,300

b. Prisci Pixy Face Painting & Art, Inc. for $1,250

13. Consideration to Approve the 2025 Catfish Days Contracts & Agreements

b. Roy Gregorich for $650

Alderperson Kirwin made a motion, and Alderperson Conforti seconded to approve the June 17, 2025 City Council Consent Agenda

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Alderperson Kirwin made a motion, and Alderperson Vice seconded to approve Ordinance No. 25-06-17-02, An Ordinance Annexing Certain Territory to the Corporate Limits of the City of Wilmington, Will County, Illinois and Approving a Map Amendment to be Zoned as B-3 General Commercial District, Conditional Uses, and Variances for 32295 Route 53, Wilmington, Will County, Illinois

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

Alderperson Knight made a motion, and Alderperson Orr seconded to approve Ordinance No. 25-06-17-03, An Ordinance Amending the Provisions of Chapter 112, Section 25 of the Municipal Code of Ordinances Imposing Restrictions on the Number of Class B Liquor Licenses Authorized (amending Mobil Wilmington's current Class B2 Liquor License to a Class B Liquor License)

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 2 Orr, Kirwin

NAYS: 6 Knight, Vice, Mietzner, Conforti, Smith, Holmes

The motion did not pass.

REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION FROM CITY OFFICIALS

City Attorney – Bryan Wellner – No Report

City Administrator – Jeannine Smith – No Report

Finance Director – Nancy Gross – No Report

Public Works Director – James Gretencord – No Report

Chief of Police – Adam Zink – requested endorsement for $1,000 donation to sponsor a team in the Great American Big Wheel Race.

ALDERPERSON COMMENTS

Alderperson Kirwin – No Comment

Alderperson Vice – No Comment

June 17, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3

Alderperson Conforti – No Comment

Alderperson Holmes – No Comment

Alderperson Orr – No Comment

Alderperson Knight – No Comment

Alderperson Mietzner – No Comment

Alderperson Smith – No Comment

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Alderperson Vice made a motion and Alderperson Holmes seconded to go into Executive Session at 8:22 PM to discuss Collective negotiating matters between the City of Wilmington (public body) and its employees [5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)]

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion did not pass.

Alderperson Vice made a motion and Alderperson Mietzner seconded to close Executive Session at 8:37 PM

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

The motion carried.

ACTION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

No action taken.

ADJOURNMENT

The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Alderperson Mietzner and seconded by Alderperson Knight. Upon the voice vote, the motion carried. The City of Wilmington City Council's regular meeting on June 17, 2025, adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

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