Will County Gazette

Village of Homer Glen Administration & Finance Committee met Aug. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call to Order.

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chairperson Reynders.

2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

3. Roll Call.

Members present at 2:00 p.m. were Chairperson Trustee Reynders, Trustee Mason, Trustee Muller and Trustee Lepore.

Also Present: Assistant Finance Director Kopas, Public Works Director Woods, Planner Udarbe, Staff Liaison Gia Cassin, Assistant to the Village Manager.

Members absent: None

4. Amendments to the Agenda

None.

5. Approval of the Agenda

A motion was made by Trustee Lepore, seconded by Trustee Mason. A roll call vote was taken with Trustees Reynders, Mason, Lepore and Muller with all four (4) voting in favor, and zero (0) opposed. The motion carried and the agenda was approved.

6. Minutes

a) July 10, 2025, Admin. and Finance Meeting minutes.

Trustee Mason motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by Trustee Muller. A roll call vote was taken with Trustees Reynders, Mason, Muller and Lepore with all four (4) in favor and zero (0) were opposed. The motion passed unanimously.

7. Public Comment.

None.

8. Reports and Communications from Staff.

a) Village Manager Baber: - Staff Liaison Cassin presented Village Manager Baber's report on his behalf. He wanted the committee to know (1) he's doing research on Flock camera's as this item will be coming back and, (2) he is working with legal on a franchise agreement with a fiber optic company and renewing the Comcast franchise agreement as it is coming due.

b) Assistant Finance Director Kopas:

Assistant Director Kopas stated that July

revenues look good except for use and motor fuel tax, those continue to go down. Trustee Mason asked about the usage tax going down, Director Kopas explained how the state is seeking to collect back overpaid taxes, so we will see this trend for a bit. Trustee Reynders asked about the MFT (Motor Fuel Tax), and Assistant Finance Director Kopas explained that our sales are going down due to electronic vehicles. Trustee Reynders asked if there are seasonal trends with the gas tax, and Lisa said she would have to look at that and will report back to us at the next meeting.

Separately, Assistant Director Kopas discussed the payroll reports. She said that OT is way down compared to 2024, for a variety of reasons, adding that weather is a big component to this.

Trustee Lepore asked about the bump in sales tax. She explained that the tax is reported in 2 months in arrears. The numbers are going in the right direction, per Trustee Lepore.

Director Kopas also pointed out that for the revenue charts - look at the year to date stating the monthly is not anything to watch, but the YTD is very important.

9. Items for Consideration and Recommendation

a. Consider a Motion to Recommend Approval of a Payment for the Village of Homer Glen's June Legal Bills from Peterson, Johnson and Murray in the Amount of $13,673.50.

Trustee Lepore made the motion, seconded by Trustee Mason.

The Committee stated they completed their review and didn't have any concerns. Trustee Reynders stated she knows that Village Manager Baber went over this with a fine- toothed comb and all commented on the numbers continuing to drop.

A roll call vote was taken with Trustees Lepore, Mason, Muller and Reynders all voting in favor, with zero (0) opposed. This motion passed unanimously and will go before the Village Board under Consent Agenda on August 13, 2025.

b. Consider Recommending for approval of an Ordinance implementing a municipal grocery retailers' occupation tax and a municipal grocery service occupation tax of 1% for the Village of Homer Glen.

Trustee Mason made a motion, seconded by Trustee Reynders.

Trustee Mason explained this program to the committee and basically if we don't do this, the state will not get us our revenue. The state will not allow us to manage this on our own, because they want to see what we are earning.

Trustee Lepore suggest we put this on Action and Legislation to explain to all the Trustees. The committee was all in agreement. The public needs to see this is not a new tax.

Assistant Director Kopas stated that Village Manager Baber told her to share that Oak Park passed this in their consent agenda just last night and wanted the committee to mull that over. The Committee felt more comfortable to pull it from Consent and all of the Trustees can talk it through in front of the public. This is not a new tax, it is just a redistribution.

A roll call vote was taken with Trustees Mason, Reynders Lepore and Muller all voting in favor, with zero (0) opposed. The motion carried with a four (4) to zero (0) vote and will be going before the Village Board on August 13, 2025, under Legislation and Action.

c. Consider a Motion to Recommend Approval of the Bengtson's and Spring Grove Nursery quote(s) in the amount of $33,450.00 for the 2025 Fall parkway tree planting program.

Trustee Muller made a motion, seconded by Trustee Lepore.

Secretary Cassin spoke on Director Vittori's request as she was unable to attend, and explained the reason for the recommendation. We go out for bid, this falls below the RFP threshold. This arrangement with Bengtson's and Spring Grove Nursery has been who we have been working with, there hasn't been any issues, the park staff likes the way the tree roots are wrapped. There are a lot of positives to working with them. Director Woods added that this is a bi-annual program, run twice a year. Trustee Reynders stated we have had great success with these trees. The Village has had a positive relationship with these nurseries. Trustee Lepore asked if the residents request the trees, and Trustee Reynders stated that we do have residents that request trees to be planted on their parkways. Director Woods stated that most of the time, it is residents making the request or there are instances where Public Works may need to take a tree down, we will ask the resident if they would like a new tree to replace the one that was removed from the parkway. If they say yes to a new tree, then that resident is added to the list for the Spring or Fall planting.

A roll call vote was taken with Trustees Muller, Lepore, Reynders and Mason all voting in favor and zero (0) opposed. The motion carried with a four (4) to zero (0) vote and will go on the Consent Agenda at the August 13, 2025 Village Board Meeting.

d. Consider a Motion to Recommend Approval of the Purchase of a John Deere 5090E Mowing Tractor for Public Works in the amount of $41,864.61.

Trustee Mason made a motion, seconded by Trustee Reynders.

Director Woods explained that there is a correction to note in the background information on the supplement sheet. He stated it is not the 2007 that would be the trade in but rather the 2008. However, they will not do a trade in now due to the need for the one they would be trading in. They cannot put themselves into a position where they would be down a mower. The committee discussed the math between the trade in and no trade in. The $49,864.61 difference is for the unit without the trade in. Trustee Mason agreed he would prefer to hold on to the working mower. The committee stated they would need to amend the motion in light of this change. They discussed how the motion should read.

Trustee Mason made a motion to amend the motion to consider recommending approval of the purchase of a John Deere 5090E Mowing Tractor for Public Works in the Amount of $49,867.61, instead of $41,864.61. Trustee Lepore seconded this amended motion. A roll call vote was taken with Trustees Mason, Lepore, Muller and Reynders all voting in favor, and zero (0) opposed. The motion carried with a four (4) to zero (0) vote.

Next, Trustee Mason made a motion to recommend approval of the motion (stated above) as amended. This motion was seconded by Trustee Reynders. A roll call vote was taken with Trustees Mason, Reynders, Lepore and Muller all voting in favor with zero (0) opposed. The motion carried with a four (4) to zero (0) vote, and will go before the Village Board under Consent Agenda on August 13, 2025.

e. Consider a Motion to Recommend Approval of the Payment of an invoice for phase one of the Curb and Sidewalk Replacement program in the amount of $173,476.25.

Trustee Mason made a motion, seconded by Trustee Lepore.

Director Woods stated this is an annual expense, and that this year they needed to replace more ADA panels than in the past. This is about 70% of this years' project. Each year is a new project/program.

Trustee Mason asked about a different vendor that we had discussed at a previous meeting, and the committee discussed the prices and would like to consider this other vendor for next year, for a small portion of the project, to see what quality they provide and maybe consider them a new vendor. We should form our own opinion on these vendors, not based on others opinions entirely, and see if we can save some money.

Trustee Reynders asked who is paving the basketball court at Sendra Park. Public Works has bid it out through the Road Resurfacing program to get a better rate.

Trustee Reynders asked about parking for the new park in Old Oak. The Mayor would like to see about putting several parking stalls. Trustee Mason suggested doing the parking in concrete so it's done one time without adding maintenance. Trustee Reynders suggested that Director Woods talk with Engineer Westcott. There is a lot of parking in front of people's homes currently.

There was a consensus to recommend approval of this motion and it will go before the Village Board under Consent Agenda on August 13, 2025.

10. Old Business.

Trustee Lepore discussed the Town Center, and stated he had a conversation with the Mayor and Economic Director Patch, and the multi-use is the big hurdle. He suggested looking outside of the box - and consider a co-op. You pay rent, but pay a percentage of rent. The Co- Op would operate as an HOA and govern how people can occupy and the rent process for tenants. He believes it will be more palatable if would be tenants were financially invested into the building, whatever the amount is, $10,000, $20,000, people may want to pay in to it.

Trustee Muller asked if the co-op doesn't sell, does that building become subsidized housing? Trustee Lepore said the certificates are still being purchased even if the buildings don't sell. If you are looking to get into this community, the buy down would be significantly less than a down payment on a home, it's an option to get in and you have a small stake in the building. It could appreciate in value, like a home does, as is common for real estate.

The committee discussed the condos currently in the Village. The young people in our town are leaving and going to other towns as we don't' have anything to offer that demographic. Trustee Reynders believes the key to this lies with Gallagher and Henry. Gallagher and Henry doesn't finish their developments. She pointed out all of the communities building that surround us. She would like for Gallagher and Henry to sell some of this land to other developers that will finish. We have people that want to stay in this community and they are not doing anything to help. Trustee Lepore agrees. Trustee Reynders stated we need more roof tops, if we need to attract more business to our business districts. We have our residents telling us their children are moving to Lockport, because it has housing they can afford. She would like to have a meeting with John Gallagher and have this conversation. Trustee Lepore suggested if we don't get anywhere with Gallagher, we eminent domain the property, temporarily. Trustee Muller, said on paper it looks great, but asked if it is really affordable? We don't have the attractions for the young demographics, and we don't have that because we don't have the rooftops. If we market for young people, and they don't come, then who will fill these places. He asked what are we inviting? Trustee Reynders said this goes back to our Comp Plan which is dated 2005. We tried in 2019, but there was push back from certain people with misinformation. Trustee Reynders stated we need to start to relax our Ordinances a little bit in order to promote growth, we want to attract younger people, we want to keep younger people and we have long time residents that want to downsize.

Trustee Mason stated we need to update the comp plan. He said if we look at downtown Burr Ridge, they didn't put in apartments, they put in luxury condos above their shops. People were willing to pay.

Director Sawyers came in to the meeting at 3:12pm. Trustee Reynders stated that there is approximately $800,000 that Lockport was anticipating from the Village. Director Sawyers came in to the meeting and explained that the acquired property was appraised. Lockport is using those numbers times 32% to come up to that $800,000 figure. At that time, there was discussion about making Lockport whole and there is documentation to support that. The real estate is more valuable than the equipment. Director Sawyers had a call with the attorney, two (2) of the vehicles we acquired had loan payments on them. Funding that acquisition needs to be adjusted, that will come off of the $800,000 and we also gave some of the real estate and equipment back to the road district that is not being factored in. The new number is up for discussion, and it will likely be less than $800,000. The Village needs to establish a value to complete this transaction, make Lockport whole and then we will settle this and move forward.

11. New Business.

a) Discussion - Memorial Tree and Marker Program Amendment discussion for consensus (Taylor Udarbe, Planner and EC Chair)

Taylor presented a resolution for a memorial tree and marker program back in 2023. The latest applicant went through environment and parks committee. This request brought forward some amendments to the program, from 4 options to 2 options. She outlined the changes. She wanted to follow through with the A&F committee and is looking for a recommendation. They are looking to simplify the program. Trustee Reynders said they are removing Heritage from the program due to the pending development in Heritage, for the time being.

At 3:08 pm, Trustee Lepore stepped out of the meeting, and returned at 3:10 pm.

They are removing red maples as we have too many maples. The committee agreed and there was a consensus. This will go to the Village Board on the 27th to amend the ordinance. The Environment Committee was in agreement, and the Parks Committee will review this too.

12. Adjournment.

Trustee Mason made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Lepore. A voice vote was taken with Trustees Reynders, Mason, Muller and Lepore all voting in favor to adjourn, zero (0) opposed. The meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

http://www.homerglenil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08062025-2979