Will County Gazette

City of Braidwood City Council met July 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order: The Regular Meeting of the Braidwood City Council on July 22, 2025 was called to order at 7:00 p.m., by Mayor Lyons in the Council Chambers of the Braidwood City Hall.

Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Lyons requested all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Upon Roll Call by the Clerk, the following members of the corporate authorities answered "Here" or "Present";

Elected Officials:

Present: Commissioner Dixon, Commissioner Wietting, Commissioner Walsh, Commissioner Mikel, and Mayor Lyons

Absent: None.

Appointed Officials:

Present: City Clerk Weaver, City Engineer Sean Kelly, and City Attorney Wellner

Absent: None.

Quorum: There being sufficient members of the corporate authorities in attendance to constitute a quorum, the meeting was declared in order.

Public Comment: Robin Gacke; W. First St.: Is asking for help with ComEd to upgrade the grid for 635 customers who consistently experience power outages.

Chris Earling; 180 N. Mitchell St.: Questioning about the ordinances that keep popping up on Facebook and the enforcement of business licenses and permits.

Tony Altiery; Spoke on information about purchases that the prior administration made of the body cameras and tasers. On how this administration is changing ordinances to wrongfully terminate employees. Also, on how permits and fees will be increasing and wants to know why. Explained that this is all because of the money the new council wants to spend on a town center. Susan is here as a processer to serve another law suit the city on behalf of Todd Lyons.

Susanne Dohe; To officially serve Sarah Weaver a summons.

Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Wietting made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve the meeting minutes from the July 8, 2025 Regular Council Meeting. Motion carried with 5 ayes: 0 nays; 0 Abstain (Wietting, Mikel, Dixon, Walsh, and Lyons)

Mayor's Report: Lyons: Thank you to the Lions Club, Braidwood Park District, ESDA, and volunteers who made Braidwood Summerfest a success.

Took some tours of a couple of Data Centers because of the potential interest in our area.

Explained thoughts and ideas and information from residents on the potential town center for people to come together and gather.

Requested a motion for Ordinance 25-33. Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve Ordinance 25-33 Approving and Authorizing the City of Braidwood to enter into and for the Mayor to execute a Professional Services Proposal with Hitchcock Design Group regarding a Town Center Master Plan and OSLAD Grant Application. Discussion among the council on why we need this group to help with the application and request for the grant. Motion carried with 3 ayes; 2 nays; (Dixon, Mikel, and Lyons)

Administrator Report: Gulden: The benefits of having a Board Action Cover page to the council to summarize items on the agenda.

Our insurance broker will be at the next meeting to provide answers to any questions on our renewal. They did obtain proposals and presented us with the most cost-effective option even though there will be an 11.83% premium increase. Recommend using BCBS with no changes and life insurance.

Council report:

The First Committee of the Whole meeting will be on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.

Required a planner from Robinson Engineering to help with planning and zoning on the big projects. We had our Development Review Meeting and this is where this process starts and meeting with the developers and start a plan of action that is needed.

Going through the list of drainage issue complaints and have checked one off the list.

Had Robinson Engineering inspect the curbs in Guinta's subdivisions and make sure he meets our standards in our ordinances. The fees that occur from the engineer and attorney are tracked and will be reimbursed by their company.

Property Maintenance Code: There was a summons served to the owner of the dilapidated garage, where he will appear in court on August 12.

Economic Development: Meeting with hotel developers soon, one is from LaQuinta in Joliet.

Ultimate Rides: He is working at his own risk; he has received his engineering comment letter. We are working through some issues that have surfaced.

Code Enforcement: Due to the many vacant houses and the time, it takes to process the paperwork, we have increased the hours of the code enforcement staff.

Stacy Court: Getting bids for different options.

Enterprise Drive: Secure Truck Lines was granted approval, but did not submit final engineering and has not completed the requirements.

City Clerk Report: No report.

Engineer Report: No report.

City Attorney Report: No report.

Accounts & Finance Report: Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Walsh, to approve the Payment of Bills, in the amount of $86,421.26, as identified in the Accounts Payable General Ledger dated July 22, 2025. Breakdown of bill amounts. Motion carried with 5 ayes: 0 nays. (Dixon, Wietting, Walsh, Mikel, and Lyons)

Commissioner Dixon then made a Motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to Approve Payroll Expenses in the amount of $84,372.34 as identified in the Payroll General Ledger dated July 18, 2025. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Dixon, Mikel, Wietting, Walsh, and Lyons).

Council Report:

Sergeant Altiery detected a billing issue in the last month's bill list, and a refund will be processed.

Working with the engineering team to finalize outstanding MFT report closures. There are resolutions of maintenance for the appropriation of MFT funds for fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. The engineers are currently compiling the resolutions for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

The new copier at City Hall has been delivered and installed, and we are scheduling some training sessions.

Applications for the zoning clerk is closed. Interviews are planned for next week.

Working to identify a software provider to implement MUNI code to make it easier and searchable of our ordinances.

Permits will not be issued until all proper paperwork has been submitted.

Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve Resolution 25-7 to appropriate the sum of $150,000 of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for 5/1/2022 to 4/30/2023. Motion carried with 4 ayes; 0 nays; 1 Abstain. (Dixon, Mikel, Walsh, and Lyons)

Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve Resolution 25-8 to appropriate the sum of $160,000 of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for 5/1/2023 to 4/30/2024. Motion carried with 4 ayes; 0 nays; 1 Abstain. (Dixon, Mikel, Walsh, and Lyons)

Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve Resolution 25-9 to appropriate the sum of $210,000 of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for 5/1/2024 to 4/30/2025. Motion carried with 4 ayes; 0 nays; 1 Abstain. (Dixon, Mikel, Walsh, and Lyons)

Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve Resolution 25-10 to appropriate the sum of $230,000 of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for 5/1/2025 to 4/30/2026. Motion carried with 4 ayes; 0 nays; 1 Abstain. (Dixon, Mikel, Walsh, and Lyons)

Streets & Public Improvement Report: Walsh: The guys did a great job prepping the city for the Summerfest.

Public Property Report: Wietting: Requesting for the next meeting, what the account balances were prior to this administration and what they are currently.

Commissioner Wietting made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve Ordinances 25-34 Approving and Authorizing the City of Braidwood to enter into and for the Mayor of Braidwood to execute a proposal for Professional Engineering Services with Robinson Engineering regarding the Braidwood Sewage Treatment Plant NPDES Permit Renewal. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays (Wietting, Mikel, Dixon, Walsh, and Lyons)

Public Health & Safety Report: Mikel: Thank the Park District, Police Department, Fire Department, ESDA, Josh Bolatto for all you do, the city crew for Summerfest, and Cindy Howard to all she does for our flowers around town.

Braidwood Police Department Press Release for July 8 to July 21, 2025: total number of call for services 285, case reports 25, total subjects arrested 8, total arrest charges 15, total number of traffic stops 82, citations 23, written warnings 47, semi-truck violations 1, and total number of P-tickets 5.

Josh Bolatto: Public Hearing Notice by IDOT for the Elwood to Braidwood track construction project held at the Fossil Ridge Public Library on Thursday, August 7, from 4 pm-7 pm.

Planning & Zoning Report: No report.

Old Business: None.

New Business: Gulden: City Hall is a cooling center for the heat advisory that is in place for anyone who needs it. After hours, buzz the police department and they will let you in.

Condolences to Shelly for the loss of her father recently.

Karen Hart asked to keep Commissioner Walsh's wife in prayers also.

Adjournment: Commissioner Mikel made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Walsh, to adjourn the July 22, 2025 regular meeting of the Braidwood City Council. Motion carried with 5 ayes: 0 nays. (Mikel, Walsh, Dixon, Wietting, and Lyons)

The next regular meeting of the Council will be held Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm

https://www.braidwood.us/file-share/de159199-d626-48f5-8c1b-f5e9ea2b7b23