Will County Gazette

City of Lockport Committee of the Whole met Aug. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

REGULAR MEETING of the Committee of the Whole of the City of Lockport, Illinois was held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in the the Lockport Township Community Room, located at 1463 Farrell Road, Lockport, IL.. Mayor Steve Streit called the Meeting to order at 7:19 pm.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT: Mayor, Steve Streit

Alderwoman, Susan King

Alderman, Jonathan Pugh

Alderman, Patrick McDonald

Alderman, JR Gillogly

Alderwoman, Christine Bergbower

Alderman, Darren Deskin

Alderwoman, Joanne Bartelsen

Alderman, Steve Cardamone

ABSENT: NONE

ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk, Kathleen Gentile

City Attorney, Michael Carroll

Chief of Police, John Arizzi

Finance Director, Lisa Heglund

City Administrator, Ben Benson

Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies

Director of Public Works, Brian Lovering

PRESS: Cathy Wilker, LCTV

ITEMS RECOMMENDED TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSENT OR ACTION AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CA-1. Intergovernmental Agreement with Will County School District 92 for Reciprocal Reporting with Lockport Police Department.

City Administrator, Ben Benson, presented the Staff Report.

DIRECTION: Add to Consent Agenda of the 8/20/2025 City Council meeting.

CA-2. Municipal Grocery Retailers' Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax for the City of Lockport, Illinois

Mayor Streit, presented the Staff Report. City Administrator, Ben Benson, provided an overview about the tax that was put into place in 2019. Affects Grocery Retailers, Grocery Services.

Discussion among the Council ensued. The tax is paid for by both residents and non-residents. DIRECTION: Add as an Action Item to the Agenda on the 8/20/2025 City Council meeting. AT-1. Semi-Annual Executive Session Minutes Review

DIRECTION: Add to Consent Agenda of the 8/20/2025 City Council meeting

CD-1. Concept Plan for an Auto Body Repair Shop with Outdoor Storage of vehicles in Lockport Crossings (Lot 6). (Crash Champions Collision Repair); PZC Case # 2025-007

Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies, presented the Staff Report. Review of the Declaration of Use Restriction. The Annexation agreement will need to be modified and a Special Use Permit for a Mixed Use Planned Development will need to be amended to allow auto body repair and outdoor storage.

Andrew Hansen, Project Manager for Crash Champions provided a presentation to Council regarding the history of Crash Champions. They are a privately owned, non-franchise business model. Started in New Lenox in 1999. Today they have 650 locations in 37 states. They have a current location at 840 N. State Street, Lockport. The current location is very small, they are looking to expand, and remain in Lockport.

Discussion among the Council ensued. The current location has space for 4 cars outside. In the proposed new plan, they will have space for 35 cars inside. Review of the right-of-ways. Annual revenue projections for the location is based on the size of the location; projected to be a possible $6M. The location was selected due to it’s location to 159th, 355, and ease-of-access. Questions raised about the design of the building and if there are any single-use features that go into the design that would restrict any future uses to the same type of business; the open plan of the building makes it suitable for many other options, like an office space. There is sales tax on parts used by Crash Champions, but not on the service component.

DIRECTION: Add as an Action Item to the Agenda on the 8/20/2025 City Council meeting.

CD-2. Release of Bonds in the Amounts of $13,794.00 and $36,784.00 and Initial Acceptance of Parkway Trees for Clover Ridge Unit 3

Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies, presented the Staff Report.

DIRECTION: Add to Consent Agenda of the 8/20/2025 City Council meeting

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY BARTELSEN SECONDED BY MCDONALD TO ADJOURN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 7:59 PM. VOICE VOTE ON THE MOTION.

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