VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 1, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Chris Faber, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mark Guethle, Village Clerk Lori Murray. Not in attendance: Trustee Mike Lowery
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Police Chief David Summer, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Captain/Fire Marshall Eric Bunkofske, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel,
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Truth in Taxation for 2014 Property Tax Levy
Mayor Berman opened the public hearing. There were no audience comments. Mayor Berman then closed the public hearing.
PRESENTATION
1. Fox River Study Presentation
The Chair of the Fox River Study Group and two representatives from the Illinois Dept of Natural Resources were in attendance for the Fox River Study Presentation.
The focus of the presentation was the dams along the Fox River. The IDNR, Army Corps and Fox River Study Group have looked at improving the quality of the river. The quality has improved since the Clean Water Act of 1972. Improvement continued until about a decade ago when there were water quality issues. The level of oxygen in the river was not at the standards to provide for people who drink from the river and to protect the aquatic life in the river. The Fox River Study Group has done a lot of water quality monitoring. The Fox River Implementation Plan is the clean up plan for the Fox River and will be finalized a year from now. Communities up and down the river are being asked to be a part of the planning.
The water quality problems are due to an overabundance of nutrients getting into the river from runoff from agricultural fields, urban lands and fertilizers from lawns. The Fox River Study Group has suggested two things need to happen in order to improve the quality of the river: Reduce nutrient input and removal of dams. Currently there are 13 dams along the Fox River.
Trustee Guethle said that the federal government mandates if the river gets too polluted. Under the Clean Water Act, if the water is not meeting standards, a clean-up plan is required. If that doesn’t happen, the IDNR will come up with a plan and it could be more costly.
Trustee Curtis said that if the primary cause of pollution is waste water and run-off, will removal of the dam resolve the situation? The Chair of the study group answered by saying that dams contribute to the problem because they make the river more like a lake. Curtis said if we don’t get rid of the pollutants, how will the dam removal improve the water quality. The answer was that free flowing water can tolerate more nutrients than a still lake.
Trustee Carroll asked what the removal of the dam will have on the aesthetics of the river, and if it will decrease its size. Answer was that with removal of the dam, the river will look much like the river looks below the dam. Trustee Curtis was concerned with the look of a possibly small river if the dam is removed.
The IDNR is working on the dam removal program and has removed 5 dams along the Des Plaines River in Illinois and focusing on removing the remaining. They asked if the Village was interested in removing the dam and if it would be willing to partner with the IDNR in moving forward. The IDNR would fund the design and the removal of the dam, and create a floodplain section as suggested by Trustee Faber.
Trustee Carroll asked if there have been any commitments from other municipalities along the Fox River. Answer was that that the DNR is working mostly with the Kane County Forest Preserve.
Beth Penesis of the DNR stated that there is a lot of interest in the Carpentersville Dam. There is grant money available for the project and North Aurora could possibly be the Village that can begin the process.
Trustee Carroll asked how long it takes to remove the dam, from start to finish. Answer was three years from start to finish. A full construction season would be needed for removal of the dam.
Trustee Guethle was in favor of removing the dam to improve the quality of the river. Trustee Gaffino agreed. Gaffino added that the improved quality of the river would attract more people. Trustee Carroll was in favor of improving water quality for residents and for the fish in the river. He was also concerned about the property owners along the river. Carroll said he would be in favor of partnering with the DNR.
Trustee Curtis said she sympathizes with environmental concerns but felt that the dam is a scenic amenity to the Village of North Aurora and did not believe the Village should be the first to commit to removing its dam.
Trustee Faber said that removal of the dams would not get rid of the entire cause, but removal of the dams will improve the phosphorus levels and the ecosystem. Faber added that this would be a good and cost effective way to get started. Faber said the Village is in a prime position to be the first community since the dam area is underdeveloped.
Mayor Berman said he spent many years fishing in the Fox River. He also spent time kayaking and the only barrier was the dams. Removal of the dam may narrow the river but it will also be safer. Berman said he also believes that not having the dam would have helped in the flooding situation of the Village Hall building in past years. The river will be cleaner since it would have a 7-1/2 mile area for water to flow. Berman said that the river is beautiful now and will still be beautiful without the dam.
Trustee Carroll said that it is inevitable that the dams will be removed. The Village is in the process of finalizing its Comprehensive Plan and it doesn’t make sense to finalize it to revolve around a dam that will not last. Carroll suggested removal of the dam.
Mayor Berman asked for a draft agreement to be reviewed by the Village Board in order to make a decision at a future date.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approval of Village Board Minutes dated November 17, 2014 and Committee of the Whole Minutes dated November 17, 2014
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of the Messenger Public Library Resolution of the Board of Library
Trustees for .02% Maintenance Tax
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call
Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
2. Approval of an Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes in and for the
Village of North Aurora, Kane County, Illinois for the Fiscal Year Beginning June 1, 2014 and Ending
May 31, 2015
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
3. Approval of an Ordinance Levying the Taxes for the Waterford Oaks Special Service Area #4 for the Fiscal Year beginning June 1, 2014 and ending May 31, 2015
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
4. Approval of an Ordinance Levying the Taxes for the Timber Oaks Special Service Area #8 for the Fiscal Year beginning June 1, 2014 and ending May 31, 2015
Motion for approval made by Trustee Faber and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
5. Approval of an Ordinance Levying the Taxes for the Pinecreek (Phase III) Special
Service Area #9 for the Fiscal Year beginning June 1, 2014 and ending May 31, 2015
Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Faber –yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
6. Approval of an Ordinance Levying the Taxes for the Willow Lakes Special Service Area #11 for the Fiscal Year beginning June 1, 2014 and ending May 31, 2015
Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
7. Approval of an Ordinance Abating the Tax Heretofore Levied for the Year 2014 to Pay Debt Service on $3,500,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2006 (Alternate Revenue
Source)
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
8. Approval of an Ordinance Abating the Tax Heretofore Levied for the Year 2014 to Pay Debt Service on $ 9,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2008 (Alternate Revenue
Source)
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
9. Approval of an Ordinance Abating the Tax Heretofore Levied For the Year 2014 to Pay Debt Service on $6,885,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2014 (Alternate Revenue Source)
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
10. Approval of the Employee Benefits Packages for 2015
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
11. Approval of a Proposal from Digital Installers Inc. in the Amount of $17,225.00 for the Audio / Video Improvements to the Village Board Room
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
12. Approval of the 2015 Meeting Schedules – Village Board; Committee of the Whole; Plan Commission; Trustee Committee Meetings
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
13. Approval of the 2015 Holiday Schedule
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
14. Approval of Bill List dated 12/01/2014 in the Amount of $268,777.76
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
OLD BUSINESS – None
VILLAGE PRESIDENT REPORT
Mayor Berman proclaimed December 2014 as Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month in the Village of North Aurora.
COMMITTEE REPORTS – None
TRUSTEES’ COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Village Administrator Steve Bosco asked for responses by Friday from Village trustees regarding the village logo project.
Bosco said that the Board would discuss an SSA for the Towne Center wetlands at an upcoming meeting. The maintenance is currently being funded by an LLC.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
FIRE DISTRICT REPORT
Captain/Fire Marshall Eric Bunkofske reported on the following:
-There have been 137 calls for emergencies since November and 1,870 calls year to date, which is up 98 calls from last year.
-Bunkofske thanked everyone who attended the turkey raffle this year.
-Today is Mark Bozik’s 25th year with the North Aurora Fire Department.
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT
1. Finance – None
2. Community – None
3. Police – None
4. Public Works – Bid openings for the activity center will be held next Tuesday at 9 a.m. Information will be provided to the Village Board on December 15th for approval. Trees that needed to be replaced on the east side of town have now been removed. Removal of trees on the west side will begin next week.
5. Water – None
Steve Bosco mentioned that the Water Department did a great job with Rempe-Sharpe finishing the backyard watermain project.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
