Will County Gazette

Village of Crete President and Board of Trustees met Sept. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

President Mark Wiater called to order the regular board meeting of the President and the Board of Trustees of the Village of Crete on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. and led those assembled in the Village of Crete Municipal Building, 524 W. Exchange St, Crete, Illinois in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The following were present in the municipal building upon roll call: Trustees Steve Bruns, Jamie Healy, Stephen Johnson, Holly Milburn, Keith Miller, and Katrina Seifert. A quorum was present.

Also in attendance: Administrator Michael Smith, Fire & Police Commission member Rick Bustos, Planning Commissioner Brett Millsap, and Media Consultant Nick Borrell.

CITIZEN’S SPEAK

Visitors are always welcome to all public meetings of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Crete. Interested parties wishing to speak should identify their intent to speak, they then may give their name and where they reside if they so choose and then make their comment. Persons may also provide their address privately to the Village Clerk if they so choose; persons are advised that addresses are considered private information under the Freedom of Information Act and thus are exempt from disclosure pursuant to any Freedom of Information Act request. However, to give proper consideration to all items on the agenda, the President has the authority to limit participants in debates and will close repetitive or abusive remarks. In addition, public comment rules are posted in the board room.

· No one from the public asked to speak.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Special orders

UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGENDA

All items on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a board member so requests, in which event, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered separately.

· Approval of Minutes : Regular Board Meeting – September 8, 2025

· Approval of Bills – September 8 thru September 19, 2025

· Ratification of Payroll - Bi-weekly payroll ending September 17, 2025

A motion was made to move the following items to the Unanimous Consent Agenda: New Business Item #1 Resolution No. 2025-758: A resolution declaring as surplus: 2005 Chevy 3500 Dump Truck, VIN #1GBJK34UX5E291120, Mileage Unknown (malfunctioning dash panel), retired Dept. of Public Works vehicle; New Business Item #2 Resolution No. 2025-759: A resolution to allow Village of Crete to Participate in the State of Illinois Federal Surplus Property Program.

Motion: Trustee Milburn Second: Trustee Johnson

Ayes (6) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Miller, Milburn, Seifert

Nays (0) none Absent (0) none Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried.

In accordance with an opinion from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, President Wiater read aloud the items as listed for approval prior to action being taken on the Consent Agenda with brief explanations.

A motion was made to approve the Unanimous Consent Agenda with additions.

Motion: Trustee Johnson Second: Trustee Healy

ON ROLL CALL:

Ayes (6) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Milburn, Miller, and Seifert

Nays (0) none Absent (0) none Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried.

REPORTS: PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES:

Finance, License and Ordinance – Trustee Katrina Seifert

· Attended the Illinois Municipal League (IML) 112th annual conference in Chicago. “Very informative, lots of seminar topics”.

Water Department – Trustee Stephen Johnson – no report

Road and Bridge – Trustee Steve Bruns – no report

Public Health – Trustee Jamie Healy

· Also attended the IML conference, being a new trustee she “learned a lot” and met many people · from our area in attendance.

Building and Grounds – Trustee Keith Miller

· Also attended the IML conference, there were about 800 people in the ballroom, “informative” especially for new officials.

Public Safety – Trustee Holly Milburn – no report

President -- Mark Wiater

· Has been working with new accountant Nathan Pasbrig, thinks the village “is in good hands”. Pasbrig is already prepping for an audit. He is usually in the municipal building on Fridays.

Village Clerk – Karen Tellef

o Will be on vacation from September 24 – 30; will be in the office on October 1. Nicole Bruns will be sworn in as Deputy Village Clerk.

COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Village Administrator – Michael Smith

· Fire Service and Gas N Wash have both started construction.

· Attended pre-construction meeting on TIF paving on Cass St which should begin soon.

· Planning Commission meeting Thursday for an amended vegetation plan for Falconhead Solar.

Police Department – Chief Scott Pieritz – no report

Fire Department – Administrator Neal Haemker – no report

Superintendent of Public Works – Justin Pancrazio – no report

Building Department – Building Inspector Mike Smith – no report

Code Enforcement – Supervisor Ryan Allison – no report

Fire & Police Commission – Rick Bustos – no report

EMA – Ryan Allison – no report

Animal Control/Code Enforcement Officer – Katelyn Tieri – no report

Planning Commission – Brett Millsap – no report

Heritage & Architecture Commission – Phyllis Monks – no report

Media Consultant – Nick Borrell

· Is putting together videos from the Park District’s Acorn Fest.

COMMUNICATIONS:

WARRANTS:

· Village of Crete Trick or Treat Hours: Friday, October 31, 2025 are from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., requiring adult supervision during the last hour from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

· Notice from Will County Board of Review of property requesting a reduction of $100,000 or more in assessed valuation. PIN 23-15-05-417-005-0000, Dobrasinovic Radomir, Adventure Trails. A motion was made to direct staff to draft an appropriate response.

Motion: Trustee Johnson Second: Trustee Miller

Ayes (6) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Miller, Milburn, Seifert

Nays (0) none Absent (0) none Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried.

· Email from IL Attorney General Office on Violence Prevention & Crime Victim Services. Offering to partner on events and “building a strong partnership with your administration”. Clerk can forward email to anyone interested.

· Email from Will County Executive Community Engagement Officer advising of a free fresh food popup for Will Co residents, September 23, 2025 at New Hope Christian Community Church, 4700 Court St, Monee, from 3 – 4:30pm. Food is first-come first-served

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Discussion requesting authorization to enter into an agreement with Third Millennium Associates Inc. for services relating to preparation of utility billing invoices.

This was discussed at last meeting in President Wiater’s report. The contract covers the costs for the new accounting system to prepare a file of billings for a full-page water bill, rather than paying for accounting software programming changes, and have Third Millennium prepare and mail the invoices. Contract is for one year, should start in a couple months. Motion was made to approve the contract.

Motion: Trustee Johnson Second: Trustee Bruns

Ayes (6) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Miller, Milburn, Seifert

Nays (0) none Absent (0) none Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried.

2. TIF2 request seeking reimbursement for TIF eligible expenses related to exterior repairs and landscape at 1334 Main St.

Administrator Smith had met with owner of Salon 22 regarding their request for reimbursement of exterior building work. They had not followed the procedures of presenting estimates to the TIF Board for approval before any work was done. Trustee Seifert confirmed that she had told them about the process over a year ago.

It was agreed that “this would be the last time” and future requests must follow procedures. It was also agreed that the TIF application process should be reviewed and perhaps simplified.

A motion was made to direct the attorney to draft an ordinance to reimburse Salon 22 not to exceed 50% of their TIF eligible expenses of $6331.

Motion: Trustee Bruns Second: Trustee Milburn

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Miller, Milburn, Seifert

Nays (1) Trustee Johnson Absent (0) none Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried.

3. Ordinance No. 2025-17. An Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit for Certain Property within the Village of Crete, Will County, Illinois (1357 E. Richton Road; Ground-Mounted Solar Energy System Project).

Administrator Smith introduced the project, which is the Ag property behind World Bible League. Proposed is a 44 acre solar farm project on the southern edge of the 78 acre property, leaving the Richton Rd and Eagle Nest Rd frontage open for future commercial development. The project is 1000 ft from nearest residence. The old farm house and buildings will not be demolished.

The owners of Crete Park of Commerce (CPC), Mike Marous and Jeff Kroll, in attendance, purchased the land 18 years ago but haven’t had much interest. Turning Point Energy (TPE) is the 4th solar project to approach them, and CPC thinks this proposal is the best.

Also in attendance was Jordan Belknap of TPE who explained the project in detail including the decommissioning plan. TPE’s attorney explained the State controlled property taxation based on kilowatt hour produced. Crete’s Planning Commission had approved the project unanimously with a request for additional landscaping, which is included in the latest plans. This will be a “community solar project”, with energy going to CPC, and Crete ComEd customers being able to sign up to get solar credits towards their bill.

Trustee Johnson: “this is our front door on 394” and could “close the door on future development”. Trustee Seifert: it leaves land up front still to be developed. Trustee Bruns: it is a “slap in the face” to Silliker that Crete ordinance prevented them from installing ground-mounted solar for their own use.

A motion was made to approve the Special Use Permit with the increased landscaping plan.

ON ROLL CALL:

Motion: Trustee Bruns Second: Trustee Seifert

Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Miller, Milburn, Seifert

Nays (1) Trustee Johnson Absent (0) none Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Resolution No. 2025-758. A resolution declaring as surplus: 2005 Chevy 3500 Dump Truck, VIN #1GBJK34UX5E291120, Mileage Unknown (malfunctioning dash panel), retired Dept. of Public Works vehicle.

· This item was moved to Unanimous Consent Agenda

2. Resolution No. 2025-759. A resolution to allow Village of Crete to Participate in the State of Illinois Federal Surplus Property Program.

· This item was moved to Unanimous Consent Agenda

EXECUTIVE SESSION: No session was held.

ADJOURNMENT:

As there was no further business to come before the board, a motion was made to declare the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Motion: Trustee Milburn Second: Trustee Bruns

Ayes (6) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Milburn, Miller, Seifert

Nays (0) none Absent (0) none Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried.

https://villageofcrete.org/agendas-and-minutes-library/