VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
NOVEMBER 3, 2008
CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 p.m.
Village President John Hansen called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Village President John Hansen, Trustee Dale Berman, Trustee Mike Herlihy, Trustee Bob Strusz, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Max Herwig. Not in attendance: Trustee Linda Mitchell.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin, Assistant to the Village Administrator Wes Kornowske, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community Development Director Scott Buening, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Village Engineer Jim Bibby, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Police Chief Tom Fetzer, Bureau Fire Chief Mark Bozik, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS
Trustees Gaffino and Strusz thanked everyone for turning out to the paint the snowmen event on Saturday. Trustee Berman said the event is a great community project and gets better every year.
1. DISCUSSION OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA MEETING SCHEDULE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2009
Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin suggested the possibility of a 3-month trial period in which there would only be two meetings a month and each meeting would have a COW meeting and a Board meeting. The Board meeting would take place first to take action and then the COW meeting would follow. Village President Hansen said that it would be worth a try and that this idea was mentioned in the past by Trustee Mitchell. Trustee Berman said he would be against it and felt that the Board needs to have the meetings to discuss issues on a frequent basis. Herlihy said it would provide more flexibility in the schedule and was willing to try the new schedule. Trustee Gaffino said he would be willing to try it but liked the idea of having committees. Gaffino suggested limiting the number of items on the agenda so that the Board is not at a meeting until midnight. McLaughlin said the number of items on the agenda would be regulated. Herlihy said that his only concern would be if an item is on a COW agenda and is not fully ready, would it get prematurely moved to a New Business item and continue to stay as New Business. Herlihy said he would rather see items stay on a COW agenda until there are only minor issues in New Business. McLaughlin asked if the Board would want the meetings to be on the first and third Monday or second and fourth Monday of each month. Community Development Director Scott Buening said that a similar scheduling was done in Sugar Grove and when it was converted to two meetings a month, the Board preferred it because it allowed more time to prepare items from committee level to the Board level. Buening noted that this new schedule would not preclude the Board from scheduling a special meeting for any nights in between the regular meetings. Gaffino said that items should be provided on time so that the trustees are not viewing items on the day of a meeting. McLaughlin agreed. Trustee Berman said he liked the current meeting schedule. Trustee Herwig was in favor of trying the new schedule and mentioned that the Joint Plan Commission meetings should be planned as a separate meeting. The Board agreed to begin with the new schedule as of January 1st. McLaughlin mentioned that, historically, the Board does not meet during the last two weeks of December. If the Board decides to go back to meeting every Monday, the last two Monday’s in December would be removed before the Board approves the schedule next week. Consent Agenda.
2. DISCUSSION OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR CALENDAR YEAR OF 2009
Consent Agenda.
3. DISCUSSION OF ORDINANCE CORRECTING THE NUMBER OF CLASS D AND CLASS E LIQUOR LICENSES
Village President Hansen noted that the ordinance will list each class of license and how many licenses per class. The information will be noted in the Meeting Minutes at the next Board meeting. New Business.
4. DISCUSSION OF ANNEXATION OF PROPERTY (Evergreen Drive and part of BNSF Railroad south of I-88)
Community Development Director Scott Buening stated that the Village owns the Evergreen Drive right-of-way and a part of the Burlington Northern Railroad that is unincorporated but surrounded by the Village limits. The Village is proposing to annexing this property into the Village. A public hearing on the annexation is scheduled for next week. New Business.
5. DISCUSSION OF 2008 NON-MFT STREET IMPROVEMENTS PAY ESTIMATE NO. 3 TO GENEVA CONSRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $534,187.58
Consent Agenda.
6. DISCUSSION OF PAY REQUEST NO. 1 TO GENEVA CONSTRUCTION FOR THE VILLAGE PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $84,301.10
Consent Agenda.
7. DISCUSSION OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE FINAL PAYOUT LESS RETAINAGE FOR THE 2008 WATERMAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (DEMPSEY ING)
Water Superintendent Paul Young said that the resolution does not suggest holding the retainage for the project. Trustee Herlihy asked if the Village had the lien waivers in its possession and if the lawsuit was dropped. Atty. Drendel said that the Village has copies of all the lien waivers and it is spelled out in the letter of direction that the payouts will be made jointly to Dempsey and the sub contractors. Keefe Brothers and MidAmerican have to bring in their releases of liens to get paid. MidAmerican has to dismiss their lawsuit in order to get paid. Atty. Drendel said that the Village is paying directly to the subs and Dempsey. The remaining amount goes to the bond company. That letter of direction is signed off by both Dempsey and the bond company. Consent Agenda.
8. COUNTRY INN HOTEL AND MOOSEHEART
Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin informed the Board that Moose International will be the majority equity partner in this project. The reason for their request for assistance is mostly on an equity basis. They have gone to 17 different lenders and no one wants to loan money. McLaughlin said that the Village’s figures with this development and the rebate in place, the Village has been getting about $300 on this property and will get $2300 the first year, followed by $4800, $7500, and so on. The developer is asking for a tiered abatement property tax over five years, 3% amusement tax which would be tiered over 3 years, and a waiver of the majority of permits and fees. McLaughlin said that there is a $200,000 shortfall between their request and the numbers the Village is coming up with. At this time sales tax has not been addressed. McLaughlin said she has warned the developer that she has not gone to the school district yet. The school district has said that they are open for discussion.
McLaughlin said that the Aurora CVB did a study and that study said that their number one option for a hotel/convention center, beyond the downtown area next to the casino, is North Aurora, north of I-88.
Trustee Herwig said that he looked at the numbers and with the economy the way it is, it would be helpful for the Village to find something to go on this corner. Herwig said that whatever the Village could do to help would be win-win situation for both sides and would help stimulate a slow economy. Herwig said that until he sees all of the numbers, he wouldn’t be able to give his definite position, but would be in favor of it at this point.
Trustee Gaffino said he was not prepared to discuss the issue at the meeting.
Village President Hansen said he hoped that this would work out for the Village.
Trustee Strusz said the hotel would help develop the corner. Strusz said he would like to review the numbers in detail and look into this further.
Trustee Herlihy said he did not come prepared to discuss the topic but felt it was a creative idea. Herlihy asked what the developer would do if the school district or another taxing body said no to the plan. The Village would not be able to make up those dollars. Herlihy said he was curious as to why the developer was before the Village first and not the school district.
Mr. Swift, President and CEO of Swift Hospitality, addressed the Board. Swift is the developer and the operating company for the hotel. Swift said that the Village is a partner in the project and discussions with the municipality would be the normal protocol. Swift said that the other taxing bodies will look to the Village Board for leadership. Herlihy asked what the developer would do if the other taxing bodies said no. Swift said he would be surprised if the other taxing bodies were to say no to the projects since these projects are a positive impact on communities.
Trustee Berman said he was happy about the Inn coming to North Aurora, but had a problem with asking the village to be an investor and coming up with the incentive. Berman asked if the developer would give back the incentive if the hotel were profitable. Swift said they would discontinue the incentive if it were no longer needed.
McLaughlin said she has talked to the fire district and the library and they are both willing to work with the Village. McLaughlin said she would provide more information at a future meeting.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS
Trustee Strusz thanked Village Attorney Kevin Drendel and Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin for holding the Tanner Trails meeting at the North Aurora Activity Center.
Trustee Strusz thanked the fire department for giving out glow sticks to the kids on Halloween.
Trustee Herwig provided an update on North Aurora Days 2009. Herwig mentioned the possibility of moving North Aurora Days to the North Aurora Towne Center and bringing in a carnival to the site. Herwig suggested reviewing the carnival ordinance sometime in the next couple of months to determine if changes need to be made. Herwig said he has met with Penneys and Target and the property management and so far the reception has been very positive.
Trustee Herwig thanked Mike Glock for the work that was done on Oak Street. Herwig asked if the temporary stop signs at Sycamore and frontage road Oak Street would be removed. Glock said yes. Herwig asked if there would be stop lines painted on Sycamore and the other streets coming on to Oak Street. Glock said that they are already in place on Sycamore with one to be added on Oak Street.
Trustee Herwig said that the Village needs to look at the North Aurora Days Committee format and get the Village President to appoint people to the committee. The first official North Aurora Days Committee meeting will be held the last Wednesday in January.
ADJOURNMENT – 7:55 p.m.
Motion made by Trustee Herwig and seconded by Trustee Strusz to adjourn the meeting. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
