Will County Gazette

City of Wilmington City Council met Sept. 2.

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, Dennis Vice, Ryan Knight, Rachel Conforti, Jonathan Mietzner, and Tom Smith. Alderperson Holmes was absent. 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

Steve Evans, Chamber of Commerece provided that they are a registered not-for-profit organization and therefore is requesting that the mobile food vendors be exempt from paying the fee for their events. Mr. Evans is also asking that the Council amend the façade improvement program to include industrial zoned properties.

George Zouganelis from Arnie Bauer Chevrlolet GMC clarified the dealerships’s relocating and assures it is a business decision and emphazied the new locations;s strategic advantage for better sales coverage and reiterates the dealership’s continued support for location events and donations.

Robert Thomas is requesting permission to dismantle his house on Stewart Street to the floor. He stressed his challenges with getting the gas company to relocate the meter.

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Dietz stated that the update on the logistic park will be had at the September 16, 2025 Council meeting.

In addition to Alderperson Conforti, Mayor Dietz requested an additional partcipant from the Council to be a part of the selection committee the Marketing Campaign. Alderperson Smith has agreed participate.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes from August 19, 2025

2. Approve the Accounts Payable Report

Alderperson Kirwin made a motion, and Alderperson Orr seconded to approve the August 19, 2025 City Council Consent Agenda

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 1 Holmes

The motion carried.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Alderperson Conforti made a motion, and Alderperson Mietzner seconded to authorize the Finance Director to execute the Broker of Record Letters with The Horton Group, A MarshMcLennan Agency

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 1 Holmes

The motion carried.

Alderperson Mietzner made a motion, and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to approve and award the Bid to Austin Tyler Construction, Inc. for $474,215.29 for the 2025-2026 MFT Maintenance Program

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 1 Holmes

The motion carried.

Alderperson Mietzner made a motion, and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to approve and award the Bid to D Construction, Inc. for $54,570.00 for the Kahler Road Bridge Repair

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 1 Holmes

The motion carried.

Alderperson Smith made a motion, and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to approve the Purchase of an 8” Insertion Valve from Hydro-Stop for $5,485

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 1 Holmes

The motion carried.

Alderperson Orr made a motion, and Alderperson Smith seconded to approve the Purchase from Arnie Bauer Chevrolet GMC for an Administrative Vehicle in an amount not exceeding $35,000 and waive competitive bidding

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 4 Orr, Smith, Vice, Mietzner

NAYS: 2 Kirwin, Knight

ABSENT: 1 Holmes

The motion failed.

REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION FROM CITY OFFICIALS

City Attorney – Bryan Wellner – provided an update on the new state law regarding school resource officers and the need to modify the agreement

City Administrator – Jeannine Smith – No Report

Finance Director – Nancy Gross – No Report

Public Works Director – James Gretencord – discussed that the rendering for the north watertower rehab will be provided at the September 9, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting

Chief of Police – Adam Zink – No Report

ALDERPERSON COMMENTS

Alderperson Kirwin – request that back up generators for City Hall and the Police Deparetment be placed on the September 9, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting agenda for discussion

Alderperson Vice – No Comment

Alderperson Conforti – No Comment

Alderperson Holmes – No Comment

Alderperson Orr – No Comment

Alderperson Knight – No Comment

Alderperson Mietzner – requested that the amendments to the mobile food vendors and façade improvement grant be added and discussed at the September 9, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Alderperson Smith – No Comment

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Alderperson Vice made a motion and Alderperson Kirwin seconded to go into Executive Session at 7:54 PM to discuss Probable or Imminent Litigation and Pending Litigation [5 ILCS 2(c)(11)]

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 1 Holmes

The motion carried.

Alderperson Vice made a motion and Alderperson Mietzner seconded to close Executive Session at 8:04 PM

Upon roll call, the vote was:

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

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 1 Holmes

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 Orr. Upon the voice vote, the motion carried. The City of Wilmington City Council's regular meeting on September 2, 2025, adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

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