VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 15, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Chris Faber, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mark Guethle, Village Clerk Lori Murray.
Staff in attendance: Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Village Engineer Jim Bibby.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMMENTS – None
DISCUSSION
1. Discussion of Expansion of Payment Options
Finance Director Bill Hannah noted that there has been a lot of concern from residents regarding the lack of automated payment options for water bills. The Finance Committee discussed this last month and decided to bring the issue to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion. The Village can allow credit and debit card payments online. This would encourage people to sign up and opt out of the paper water bill process. Some of the fees would be about 3% per transaction, roughly $7,000 a year. The Finance Committee had a favorable response at their last meeting.
Trustee Faber said that when this was discussed in the past, there was talk about a few thousand dollars to activate the module. Hannah said that has already been paid for and therefore there would be no start-up costs. Trustee Curtis asked if the Village could add a surcharge if people pay online. Atty. Drendel said that technically it is not legal. Trustee Gaffino said that residents may be more likely to pay on time if they can pay with a credit card instead of having to pay by cash. Mayor Berman said this would make it easier for residents to pay their bill and thought this was a good idea.
Steve Bosco said that Staff would start working on implementation. The Board was in favor of moving forward.
2. Discussion of Fox River Dam Removal
Bosco said he spoke with the FVPD. They would need to be party to this since they own all of the land next to the river banks and the dam. The FVPD and IDNR have come to a good understanding and Atty. Drendel has started drafting an IGA to fund the future dam removal.
The IGA will give the Village and the FVPD approval options. We can look at the impact of the damn removal first and then move to the funding in the IGA. Atty. Drendel said it will be a due diligence period. There are some issues that need to be looked at as far as preserving the mill race. The agreement will be built in phases. The first phase would be the Village’s own study of the impact which would lead into the design. Village Engineer Jim Bibby said that the Village Board would want a very comprehensive package of preliminary engineering done up front.
Atty. Drendel added that the Park District owns the property. The Village would be the lead agency since actual design and construction work would go through the Village. The State would be reimbursing all of the cost of the design and construction. Atty. Drendel added that there are a couple of hiccups: Silt and whether there is any contamination. There would be some outs, including an out for the State, if the cost to do this would be too costly.
Trustee Lowery asked if ancillary costs would be factored into the agreement. Bosco said those costs are worked into the construction costs. The only issue with costs is long term maintenance. The question is who would maintain the remaining structure from the dam removal and who would maintain the mill race.
Trustee Carroll asked who pays for the study. Atty. Drendel said the Village and the Park District.
The Board was in favor of moving forward.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion for adjournment made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
