VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
MAY 18, 2020
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Village Board meeting was conducted live remotely
via telecommunications.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Tao Martinez and Trustee Mark Guethle.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Dave Fisher and Village Attorney Kevin Drendel.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 05/04/2020; Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 05/04/2020
2. Bills List Dated 05/18/2020 in the Amount of $457,190.39
3. Approval of Pay Request #6, Partial, for Well # 8 & 9 Pumps and Motors to Layne Christensen Company in the Amount of $187,065.00
Motion for approval made by Trustee Curtis and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Lowery– yes, Trustee Carroll – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Resolution 02-2020 for Appropriations and Budget Resolution for Messenger
Public Library of North Aurora
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Lowery, Trustee Martinez. Motion approved (6-0).
2. Approval of Independence Day Fireworks Addendum
Staff has asked for an addendum that would cancel this year’s show and move the show to next year, July 3, 2021. It would also give the ability, if the board would like to do a show later, to reinstate the show with 60-days notice between now and July 3rd of next year. The village would save $25,000 if by not doing a show this year. Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Lowery, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
3. Approval of a Contract with R.C. Wegman for Construction Management and Bids for the
Items of Demolition, Painting, Electrical, Structural Steel, and Roofing / Sheet Metal for the Silo Restoration and Illumination Project in the Total Amount of $463,425.00
Public Works Director John Laskowski said that the actual contract would be with R.C. Wegman and they would be responsible for managing the subcontractors. Bids were received in 5 categories: Demolition, Structural Steel, Painting, Electrical, and Roofing/Sheet Metal.
Demolition (received 1 bid) – Alpine Demolition in the amount of $37,000. Laskowski said he has worked with Alpine in his previous employment and R.C. Wegman has also worked with Alpine. Their bid was $11,000 higher, but believed it was a result of the clarification of scope and explaining how access will be to the silo in order to demolish the interior of the silo. Both R.C. Wegman and staff are recommending to utilize that low and only bid.
Structural Steel (received 3 bids) – Recommendation to move forward with McKinney. They were the low bid at $24,000 less than the original plan budget.
Roofing and sheet metal (received 1 bid) – Anthony Roofing came within $1,000 of the original estimate. The contractor suggested changing the material that he was going to use in one component of the roofing which resulted in a cost savings of $1,000. The bid was $28,850.
Painting – Oosterbaan & Sons came in $57,000 less than originally budgeted. The original budget was $104,000. Oosterbaan & Sons came in at $47,300.
Electrical – Bid by Volt Electric in the amount of $156,877. This includes the alternate uplighting at a cost of $9,587. If the board decides against the uplighting, the cost will be $147,000. The project would be funded through the TIF fund. The board was in favor of the uplighting.
The contract with RC Wegman would be $463,425.00. This is a cost savings of $124,375 from the original bid.
Motion made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery to move forward with RC Wegman. Trustee Curtis was not in favor of moving forward with spending almost $500,000 on enhancement for the riverfront at this time. Curtis said that the village needs to be cautious and see what the economic impact of the covid situation will be on the village. Mayor Berman said we are talking about putting money into the world of business and providing some work for a great number of people. Trustee Gaffino noted that the village cannot use that funding for anything but improvements. Village Administrator Steve Bosco explained that TIF funds can only be used in the geographical area of the TIF District and can be used for infrastructure projects and beautification projects and other enhancements to that geographic area. Curtis said she would rather have those funds available for small businesses that may need the funds in the coming months. Curtis said that the village should be publicizing the availability of the funds to them. Carroll said those funds cannot be used to prop the business. The funds have to be used for infrastructure. Gaffino asked what would be left in the TIF fund once payment is made to RC Wegman for construction management. Finance Director Bill Hannah said that roughly $1.2 million would be left in the TIF Fund. Berman said that there is plenty of money in the TIF Fund for other projects and that the village should move ahead. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Curtis – no, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes. Motion approved (5-1).
OLD BUSINESS – None
VILLAGE PRESIDENT
Mayor Berman stated that all of the mayors in Metro West have sent letters to the governor saying they would like to change the current situation. Will see what happens with the legislature meeting this week.
COMMITTEE REPORTS – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS
Trustee Carroll asked Mayor Berman if he joined in with the mayors in requesting the village be pulled out of the northeast quadrant. Berman said yes and that the village needs to have something different than what is set up for the state.
Trustee Guethle noted that Bosco had staff working on the $257,000 grant program that was proposed by the state. Bosco said that the village is working with its infrastructure engineers at EEI and they are putting together a grant application for the realignment and readjustment of the Airport Road and Route 31 intersection. The village is also working on a second grant to replace all of the street lights, bases and poles on Orchard Gateway with LEDs. It was slated for this year. That will be a $500,000 – $600,000 project and the village is applying for the governor’s Fast Track program. The village is also taking one more look at preliminary engineering on some stormwater improvements. Trustee Martinez asked if the village has looked into grant programs for ideas that Trustee Curtis had mentioned to help small business. Bosco said that Metro West is monitoring all of the legislation for funding that is coming to municipalities and how it will be administered and how to apply for funds for local businesses. In the first round of loans that were put out, there is information on the village website for local businesses to apply for now.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Metro West sent a letter to the governor’s office to look at the Restore Illinois Plan. The concern mostly is about the timing of the phases and the region. Metro West is asking the governor to look at whether or not we can move into a different region. Another concern is the restaurants. In Phase III of the plan, hair salons, barber shops and small retail stores can start opening up again. Restaurants will not be able to have indoor eating until phase 4. The desire is to have restaurants be able to move to phase III with some safe methods put in place.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – None
4. Public Works – the village is in place to break the record for rainfall in the month of May this year.
Trustee Curtis asked Chief Fisher if the department has received many calls regarding social distancing violations. Chief Fisher said there have been a few, but most have been unfounded. Some call for residences but there were only 4 or 5 people and they were apart. There have also been calls for kids in groups and that was easily solve by separating.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Curtis and seconded by Trustee Lowery. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
