Will County Gazette

City of Braidwood City Council met Oct. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order: The Regular Meeting of the Braidwood City Council on October 14, 2025 was called to order at 8:06 p.m. by Mayor Lyons in the Council Chambers of the Braidwood City Hall.

Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Lyons requested that 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 Consultant Manager Gulden, Police Chief Allen, City Clerk Weaver, City Engineer John Zabrocki, 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: None.

Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Wietting made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve the meeting minutes from the September 23, 2025 Regular Council Meeting. Motion carried with 5 ayes: 0 nays; 0 abstain (Wietting, Mikel, Dixon, Walsh, and Lyons)

Mayor's Report: Requested a motion for Resolution 25-20. Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel to approve Resolution 25-20 Approving a Letter of Credit with Old National Bank regarding Dora, LLC. Motion carried with 4 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstain (Dixon, Mikel, Walsh, and Lyons)

• Drug Take-Back Event: Scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Braidwood Police Department parking lot. The event includes the Will County Hidden in Plain Sight educational trailer, coordinated by Danita with the Coalition.

• ComEd Update: A new External Affairs Manager has been appointed for ComEd. He will serve as a contact for escalated outage or service issues after normal procedures have been followed.

• Intergovernmental Agreement – Park District: Ongoing discussions regarding the disbursement of grocery tax revenues for park development and equipment. Further details to be finalized before ordinance approval.

• Trunk or Treat: City and Police Department participated; event was a success.

• Grant Updates:

• OSLAD Grant: Submitted on time.

• Safe Routes to School Grant: Submitted; awaiting state response.

• Introduction: Welcomed John Zabrocki, President of Robinson Engineering, assisting the city with the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) development.

Administrator Report:

• Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): John Zabrocki (Robinson Engineering) gave an overview of the program to prioritize infrastructure projects across water, sewer, and streets, aligning them with available funding. The CIP will be used as a key budgeting tool moving forward.

• Building Department:

o76 inspections and 57 permits processed in September.

oInspections ranged from fencing to commercial and residential development.

• Building Code Update: Scheduled for Council consideration in November 2025.

• D'Orazio Letter of Credit: Was on the agenda tonight.

• Planning & Zoning:

o Ongoing discussions with developer Mr. Waldick regarding a 2006 subdivision plat.

o Developer interest in a self-storage facility off Hickory Street.

• Salt Dome Repairs: Two quotes received; additional pricing is being obtained from the original manufacturer to include roof and doorway repairs.

• Camping World: Engineering submittal under review; comment letter issued.

• Economic Development: Continued coordination on pending developments.

• Springbrook Software: Implementation progressing; Sarah Weaver assigned as project manager.

• Oasis Truck Stop: Developer submitted a professional fee agreement ($20,000).

Ongoing review of building facades and traffic improvements on Kankakee and Kennedy per annexation agreement.

City Clerk Report: No report.

Engineer Report:

Presented by John Zabrocki (Robinson Engineering):

• Safe Routes to School Grant: Submitted last week.

• Generator Replacement Program: Bids scheduled to open October 22, 2025, with Council review on October 28, 2025.

• Road Program: Layout completed; contractor mobilization expected soon.

City Attorney Report: No report.

Accounts & Finance Report: Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve the Payment of Bills, in the amount of $194,672.62 as identified in the Accounts Payable General Ledger dated October 14, 2025. Included expenditures: Fuel - $5,000; ComEd - $20,000; Loan payment - $13,179; Accounting - $12,000; Lockwood Furnace (Sewer Dept. A/C) - $18,000; Legal $10,285 (includes $596 reimbursable through professional fees); Midwest Salt - $70,000; Local 150 Insurance - $20,000; Postmaster - $6,000 (two months of water bill mailings); Springbrook Software (PO module) - $2,500. Motion carried with 5 ayes: 0 nays. (Dixon, Mikel, Wietting, Walsh and Lyons)

Commissioner Dixon requested a motion to approve payroll from September 26, 2026. Commissioner Wietting made a Motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to Approve Payroll Expenses in the amount of $96,494.24 as identified in the Payroll General Ledger dated September 26, 2025. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Wietting, Mikel, Dixon, Walsh and Lyons).

Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Wietting, to approve Payroll Expenses in the amount of $91,540.87 as identified in the Payroll General Ledger dated October 10, 2025. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Dixon, Wietting, Walsh, Mikel, and Lyons)

Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Walsh to approve Resolution 25-21 to appropriate the sum of $550,000 of Motor Fuel Fund for 5/1/2017 to 12/31/2018. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Dixon, Walsh, Wietting, Mikel, and Lyons)

Commissioner Dixon requested a motion for Resolution 25-22. Commissioner Walsh made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Wietting to approve Resolution 25-22 to appropriate the sum of $280,000 of Motor Fuel Funds for 5/1/2017 to 12/31/2018. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Walsh, Wietting, Dixon, Mikel, and Lyons)

Financial Report Summary

• General Fund surplus: $1.2 million (prior year: $861,000)

• Total government fund revenues: $4.3 million

• Total expenditures: $2.08 million

• Net fund balance change: +$2.25 million

• General Fund expenses decreased by $243,000.

• Illinois Funds balance: $9.9 million.

Audit Update:

• 2024 audit remains incomplete.

• State Comptroller fines begin December 26, 2025, if the 2025 audit is not filed.

• City will request a waiver due to delays.

Personnel Update:

• Water Clerk Donna is retiring.

• Internal candidate identified per Local 179 contract; external posting not required.

Food Pantry:

• City will assist with repair requests; volunteer recruitment ongoing.

Streets & Public Improvement Report:

Commissioner Walsh:

• Five new stop signs installed in the Townes of Braidwood at the school district's request.

• Touch-a-Truck Event (Sept. 20) at Godley Park District: successful community event.

• Staff preparing a comprehensive stop sign inventory for future enforcement verification.

Public Property Report:

Commissioner Wietting:

• Recent work included: 3 emergency shutoffs; 6 B-box repairs; 12 meter repairs; 6 valve exercises; 4 hydrant repairs; 60 locates; 1 new meter installation; 1 leak repair (Surf Internet); 20 water shutoffs for non-payment

• Commended Reed-Custer High School vocational program, led by Katelin Arseneau, for partnering with local employers to provide students with real-world work experience.

Public Health & Safety Report:

Commissioner Mikel:

Police Department Report (Sept. 24-Oct. 13): Total calls for service: 422; Case reports: 45; Arrests: 9 (13 charges); Traffic stops: 162; Citations: 42; Written warnings: 93; Semi-truck violations: 4; P-tickets: 16

Upcoming Event: Drug Take-Back Day - October 25, 2025, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Braidwood Police Department.

Coffee with a Cop: Successful event held recently.

Planning & Zoning Report:

George Kocek: Has assisted with the staff at City Hall who are currently reviewing all meeting records from 2019-present to ensure zoning and ordinance changes are accurately reflected in official records.

The next planning and zoning meeting to be announced.

Old Business: None.

New Business: None.

Executive Session: Commissioner Mikel made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Dixon to go into executive session at 8:44 p.m. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Mikel, Dixon, Wietting, Walsh, and Lyons)

Commissioner Wietting made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to end the executive session at 9:01 p.m. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Wietting, Mikel, Dixon, Walsh, and Lyons)

Adjournment: Commissioner Wietting made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to adjourn the October 14, 2025 regular meeting of the Braidwood City Council. Motion carried with 5 ayes: 0 nays. (Wietting, Mikel, Dixon, Walsh, and Lyons)

The next regular meeting of the Council will be held Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 7:00 pm

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