Village of Crete President and Board of Trustees met Feb. 23.
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, February 23, 2026, 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, and Katrina Seifert. Trustee Keith Miller was absent. A quorum was present.
Also in attendance: Administrator Michael Smith, Fire Chief Neal Haemker, and Planning Commission Chairman Brett Millsap.
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.
· The Proclamation Honoring the Crete Bulldogs was moved to the beginning of Citizen’s Speak.
See New Business Item #1 for discussion.
· 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 – February 9, 2026
· Approval of Bills: February 9, 2026 thru February 20, 2026
· Ratification of Payroll – Bi-weekly payroll ending February 18, 2026
Trustee Milburn approved the bills for Trustee Miller in his absence.
A motion was made to move the following items to the Unanimous Consent Agenda: Old Business Item #1 Resolution 2026-766: A Resolution Authorizing Participation as a Member in the Illinois Emergency Management Mutual Aid System Response Pursuant to an Intergovernmental Agreement for the Establishment of a Mutual Aid Intergovernmental Service Agreement; New Business Item #2 Consideration and board approval is requested to hire Groskreutz, Abraham, Eshleman & Gerretse LLC, an auditing firm located in Kankakee, IL. The request includes the approval to allow the President to sign a three (3) year agreement; and New Business Item #3 Ordinance 2026-02: An Ordinance amending Chapter 4 (Alcoholic Liquor), Article II (License) of the Crete Village Code of Ordinances.
Motion: Trustee Milburn Second: Trustee Healy
Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Miller, and Seifert
Nays (0) none Absent (1) Trustee Miller 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 Bruns
ON ROLL CALL:
Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Miller, and Seifert
Nays (0) none Absent (1) Trustee Miller
Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried REPORTS: PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES:
Finance, License and Ordinance – Trustee Katrina Seifert
· She, Mayor Wiater and Trustees Healy and Miller attended the meeting held by the new owners of Lincolnshire Counry Club.
· She and Healy are working with Ryan Allison to set up an Inoculation Day on May 2, 2026
· She is working with Ryan Allison in grant writing for a drone to be used by EMA. Water Department – Trustee Stephen Johnson
· The second phase of lead service line replacement has begun with work on Lumber St. Road and Bridge – Trustee Steve Bruns – no report
Public Health – Trustee Jamie Healy
· She had been appointed to the IML Public Health & Safety Committee, and she attended the first meeting of the year.
Building and Grounds – Trustee Keith Miller — absent
Public Safety – Trustee Holly Milburn
· On Tuesday, a PD recognition dinner will be held for 20-year anniversary of Officers Taylor & Rodd
President – Mark Wiater
· Commented that in his budget speech, Governor Pritzker mentioned possibly reducing the LGDF percentage remitted to villages. The tax rate was 10% 15 years ago, reduced to 6.5% now, will possibly decrease again to 6.2%.
· A Liquor License hearing was held February 23, 2026 for Gas N Wash for a Class C package sale liquor license. A class KG license is not required because Gas N Wash qualifies as a “small truck stop” and is automatically given a gaming license without the requirement to serve alcohol.
· Patrolman negotiations will begin March 3, 2026. “We were on time last year, hope to also be this year”.
COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Village Administrator – Michael Smith
· There will be a Planning & Zoning meeting February 26, 2026 regarding special uses requested by Earthrise Solar. There will be an audio/visual presentation. The meeting will be held in the fire station.
· Village has received an inquiry about a lot in Crete Marketplace. An appraisal has been ordered.
· Attended an open house held for a potential solar project in Township on the west edge of the village. Developer is considering annexing into the village
Police Department – Chief Scott Pieritz – no report
Fire Department – Administrator Neal Haemker
· Reported stats for February MTD, with 74 incidents, 52 ambulance calls, activity exceeds 2025 levels. Reported on several assistance calls to other communities.
· Received parts that will enable them to start installing CAD in vehicles
· EMS update: Josh Gibson is new Contact Coordinator, two assistants were assigned. Currently down 1 staff, with a recent hire taking a job elsewhere.
· Is considering making a billing change, delaying ambulance charges to give ER a chance to submit their bills first before insurance would receive the ambulance bill. Should reduce the amount patients have to pay upfront.
Superintendent of Public Works – Justin Pancrazio – report submitted
Building Department – Building Inspector Mike Smith – no report
Code Enforcement – Supervisor Ryan Allison – no report
EMA – Ryan Allison
· Mayor Wiater reported that EMA received a $5000 Good Neighbor grant from Wolverine Pipeline.
Animal Control/Code Enforcement Officer – Katelyn Tieri – no report
Fire & Police Commission – Jim McPhee – no report
Planning Commission – Brett Millsap – no report
Heritage & Architecture Commission – Phyllis Monks – no report
Media Consultant – Nick Borrell – no report
COMMUNICATIONS:
WARRANTS:
· Two Special Olympics fundraisers are coming up. Saturday March 7, 2026 is the annual Polar Plunge at Manteno Sportsman Club, starting at 9am with the plunge at 2pm. Tuesday March 10, 2026 is the Unified Basketball Game against Fire Dept, at Crete Monee HS, 6pm
· A thank you card was received from Mandy and the Swanson family for sympathy and flowers received in honor of the passing of John Swanson.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Resolution 2026-766: A Resolution Authorizing Participation as a Member in the Illinois Emergency Management Mutual Aid System Response Pursuant to an Intergovernmental Agreement for the Establishment of a Mutual Aid Intergovernmental Service Agreement
Mayor Wiater explained that the board authorized the signing of the agreement at the February 9, 2026 meeting, but a resolution was also needed.
This item moved to the Unanimous Consent Agenda.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Proclamation: Honoring the Crete Bulldogs Youth Football and Cheer program and Bullstangs Football Team.
A Standing Room Only crowd was on hand of athletes, coaches, friends and family. Coach Len Rhein recapped the successful seasons of the Widgets and Varsity players, and Coach Randy Dunlap (son of the founding member Sam) also spoke. Len has coached for 32 years, 22 of them in Crete. He stressed that winning “is a result of doing things the right way”.
Motion made to pass the Proclamation
Motion: Trustee Seifert Second: Trustee Johnson
Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Milburn, and Seifert
Nays (0) none Absent (1) Trustee Miller Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried
2. Consideration and board approval is requested to hire Groskreutz, Abraham, Eshleman & Gerretse LLC, an auditing firm located in Kankakee, IL. The request includes the approval to allow the President to sign a three (3) year agreement.
This item moved to the Unanimous Consent Agenda
3. Ordinance 2026-02: An Ordinance amending Chapter 4 (Alcoholic Liquor), Article II (License) of the Crete Village Code of Ordinances.
This item moved to the Unanimous Consent Agenda
Trustee Seifert asked the board if anyone had looked at the GoGov app that was discussed at the last meeting. Healy has a link to a zoom meeting where a company rep discusses the program and will send the link to the board.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
As there was no further business to come before the board, a motion was made to declare the meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
Motion: Trustee Milburn Second: Trustee Bruns
Ayes (5) Trustees Bruns, Healy, Johnson, Milburn, and Seifert
Nays (0) none Absent (1) Trustee Miller
Abstain (0) none Motion declared carried
Agendas & Minutes
