VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
In the absence of Mayor Berman, Trustee Gaffino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Chris Faber, Village Clerk Lori Murray. Not in attendance: Trustees Mark Guethle and Mark Carroll.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Police Chief Dave Summer, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Dan Watson of Rempe-Sharpe.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
DISCUSSION
1. Water Capital Projects Discussion
Dan Watson of Rempe-Sharpe addressed the Committee. The Village is looking at expanding the west side treatment plant at this time and another tower by 2020. The Village is looking at a property located off Princeton Avenue by the west water treatment plant that has an existing tower. That tower is not being utilized and is 33 feet lower than the other two towers.
The thought is to build a million gallon tower 33 feet higher than the existing water tower. Trustee Gaffino asked if the Village could rework the water tower for Well 3. Watson said they could look at raising it but it is still undersized.
Trustee Curtis said that due to the small footprint of the Village, she does not want to see another water tower in the Village since there are already several towers.
Trustee Lowery asked if the tower would be in the same place or another. Dan said it would be in the same general location, a couple hundred feet to the west of the tower.
Curtis asked if there will be any safety issues with Well #3 since there are elevated iron levels. Watson said the iron is not a health issue. Curtis asked, if the Village needed to take Well #3 offline, with the addition of the new level, would we have a larger capacity of water. Water Superintendent Paul Young said that would be the case.
Village Administrator Steve Bosco said this was discussed years ago and has come back to the forefront since it will be a massive project of four to five million dollars. The Village is deficient with how much water is stored and produced. In the short term, the Village is looking to do a deep well, but does not mean that another deep well would be needed in the future. Young put together a five-year well plan which was shared with the Board. Shallow wells were discussed by the Village years ago. Bosco said that if the board wants to move forward, the Village already has a site picked out. This would result in the Village having three working towers.
2. 2016-17 Budget Development Update
Finance Director Bill Hannah updated the Board on some of the items on the draft budget for next year. Discussion of the draft budget will be at the April 4th COW meeting.
-Sales tax revenue projection about 2% increase for next year or $4,460,000
-Income tax revenue projection about a 4% increase, just under $1.9 million.
-Property Taxes just over $2 million. After paying pension obligations looking at a net decrease in the general fund.
-Strong increase in Use Tax Revenue.
-Drop-off of OTB tax revenue of $42,000
-Addition of police impound admin fees of $40,000
-Strong permit revenues again in current year (springs, Opus projected $550,000) and continuation of base permit level of $200,000 next year.
Human Resources and Staffing
-1.5% increase
-Combining part-time code enforcement officer and season CD cod/intern position into a fulltime code enforcement officer position.
-Continuing to budget $25,000 facilities needs space studies.
-Looking at a balanced budget for the General Fund next year in the black.
-Income Tax Revenue was higher than expected.
-Potential for one-time revenue allocations up to $550,000
*Recommended transfer of up to $400,000 to the Capital Projects Fund
*Additional Police Pension contribution of $150,000
MFT Fund
-No longer have the Illinois Jobs Now Grant.
-Base MFT Revenues will be $435,000/year.
-Will use $700,000 of our reserves for our share of the Airport/Ice Cream Drive project.
TIF Fund
-Slight increase in TIF increment. Currently it is at $450,000.
-Reserve in the TIF fund is at $1 million for the current fiscal year.
-Budgeting for the final phase of Smoketree Plaza for $343,000 next year. At that point, looking at $850,000 in TIF reserves going forward.
Capital Projects
-Sales and Utility Tax funding – $1.66 million.
-Road program – Large resurfacing projects are scheduled for 2018 or 2019 for the Pinecreek, Chesterfield and Hartfield subdivisions.
-Possible $150,000 for Street light pole replacement and conversion to LEDs in the Highlands.
-Reserve Level of $1.1 million at the end of next year which is before the $400,000 transfer.
Water Fund
-Slight decrease in water revenue over the last 2 years.
-One million dollars in connection fees over the last 4 years.
-Water tower painting on the auto mall tower in 2017 will cost around $300,000.
-The Village is looking at the final debt payment for the 2006 alternate revenue bond issuance in the water fund which was about $430,000.
Security Camera Replacement for the Police Department will be at a cost of approximately $20,000. Chief Summer noted that some of the cameras that went in at the new location were outdated. The improved HD resolution will be worth the investment. Hannah stated that the cost on an annual maintenance basis will also be much less.
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
