NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, May 15, 2023
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village Board meeting was conducted live remotely
via telecommunications.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Gaffino called the meeting to order.
SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Mark Gaffino, Trustee Jason Christiansen, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Todd Niedzwiedz, Trustee Carolyn Salazar
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Jason Paprocki, Village Planner Dave Hansen, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director Brian Richter, Police Chief Joe DeLeo.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – Shannon Halikias, Director of the Messenger Public Library updated the Village Board on Library happenings. She also spoke about the funding the Library receives and what it will be used for.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 05/01/2023; Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 05/01/2023
2. Approval of the Executive Session Minutes dated 11/07/2022 Part 1, 11/07/2022 Part 2, 11/21/2022 Part 1, 11/21/2022 Part 2, 12/05/2022, 02/06/2023, 03/20/2023 Part 1, 03/20/2023 Part 2, 04/17/2023
3. Interim Bills List dated 05/04/2023 in the Amount of $2,500.00
4. Bills List dated 05/01/2023 in the Amount of $413,287.25
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Code Section 5.08.350 to Increase the Number of Class C Liquor Licenses Authorized in the Village of North Aurora (Juquilita Tacos)
Administrator Bosco stated that Juquilita Tacos has been in business for approximately 12 years and this would be their first request for a Liquor License.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
2. Approval of Appropriations and Budget Resolution for Messenger Public Library for Fiscal Year 2023-24
Finance Director Paprocki stated that the item would serve as a guideline or basis for the 2023 Tax Levy in the fall. Paprocki reminded the Board that the Library submits their statement of financial requirements to the corporate authority at the Village stating what their budget is and how much they will need for the upcoming tax year.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
3. Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with Kendall County Emergency Phone Service and Communications for Records Management Maintenance
Chief DeLeo stated that Staff was introducing an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office regarding licensing and maintenance fees for maintaining a records management system. The North Aurora Police Department has been using the records management system since 2008 when the NAPD partnered with Montgomery in developing the platform with Montgomery being the host.
DeLeo stated that in December 2018, Montgomery no longer wanted to host the system so both agencies signed on with the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office. Montgomery’s was more of a permanent fix and the North Aurora Police Department’s was a stop gap as the Department thought that they were going to sign on with Aurora and their Hexagon Program.
DeLeo said that it was determined at the April 17, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting that the Hexagon Program did not meet the needs of the North Aurora Police Department, the cost also far exceeded what was expected.
Staff had since been working with the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office on a more permanent fix. The Police Department needed to expand the amount of User Licenses assigned to North Aurora to resolve issues affecting the operational needs of the Police Department.
Currently, the Police Department pays $18,100 a year to Kendall County. The updated annual cost would be $22,095.88 in 2023, $22,518.82 in 2024, $22,954.44 in 2025, and $23,403.06 in 2026.
Kendall County had approved the IGA and Staff was requesting the Village Board approve the IGA as well.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
4. Approval of Ordinance Approving an Amendment to the Land Swap Agreement with the North Aurora Fire District Dated December 5, 2022 for the Transfer of Certain Real Estate from the North Aurora Fire Protection District Pursuant to the Local Government Property Transfer Act
Attorney Drendel reminded the Board that the Land Swap Agreement with the Fire District was approved in December, the Agreement containing the conditions of the exchange. Pursuant to the Local Government Transfer Act, if the Village wants property from another government body, the Village will pass an ordinance identifying the property that the Village wants, stating that the Village wants it, while the other governmental body passes a resolution agreeing to transfer to the Village under whatever conditions that are agreed to. The Village identified that Fire District parcel in December because that parcel is fixed, however the Fire District has yet to identify the Village’s parcel because surveys have yet to be done therefore a legal description has not been created.
Drendel explained that in the past approximately six months, the Fire District has done their design and engineering work, and honed their budget. The Fire District had determined that it was the best long term plan to move the Fire Station to the corner of Oak Street and Route 31, however the costs of doing so exceeded their budgeted amount.
Drendel reminded the Board that the Village had been discussing the redevelopment of Block One for decades, part of that redevelopment plan was to move the Fire Station off of the corner of State Street and Monroe Street, making the area more desirable for development.
Drendel said that the Village had anticipated providing the Fire District with something, discussions had been about burial of the power lines or contributions for site development.
Building costs have gone up significantly, increasing the financial gap for the Fire District.
Drendel stated that if the Village were to make contributions through TIF for individual projects, there would be a large amount of administrative burden in doing that. If the Village purchased the property utilizing TIF funds, that individual purchase would be cleaner than contributing to individual projects, minimizing administrative burden. The acquiring of a property for redevelopment is within the eligibility of TIF funds.
Drendel explained that the Amendment to the Agreement would extend the due diligence period by 150 days to accommodate the zoning process and resubdivision. The Agreement would also pledge $1,276,000 for the acquisition of the Fire Station parcels. The Fire District would then agree to be fully responsible for all the site development costs including burial of the power lines. Also in the Agreement were terms regarding the alley that runs north and south from Oak Street to State Street, it will remain an alley between Oak Street and the southern edge of the Fire District property for their utilization. The Village would have control of the portion of the alley that runs from the southern edge of the Fire District property to State Street. The Agreement also stated that the Fire District would be responsible for demolition of the Obregon building and Village would be responsible for the demolition of the vacated Fire Station.
Administrator Bosco stated that the Village had $1.5-$1.6 million in TIF currently.
Trustee Salazar asked if the $1.276 million was the final amount that the Village intended on obligating to the Fire District for the new Fire Station. She asked for confirmation that the Village did not intend on contributing anything more to the Fire District for the project. Attorney Drendel stated that that was the intention.
Attorney Drendel stated that the Amendment needed two thirds of the Corporate Authority to pass, therefore the vote would include the Mayor.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – no, Trustee Curtis –yes, Mayor Gaffino – yes. Motion approved (6-1).
5. Approval of Resolution Approving TIF Façade Grant Funding in the Amount of $20,000 for the Properties Located at 207-225 S. Lincolnway, North Aurora, Illinois
Village Planner Dave Hansen stated that the Village’s TIF program provides financial assistance to commercial property owners for certain amenities and site enhancements up to $20,000.
The owner of this property had submitted the requisite two bids, the lowest bid of $79,200 was provided by Midwest Sealcoating, the owner was requesting $20,000 to aid in the improvements.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
6. Approval of an Ordinance Approving a TIF Agreement for the Property Located at 307 S. Lincolnway, North Aurora, Illinois
Administrator Bosco reminded the Board that this item had come before the Committee of the Whole previously. The request was for $66,167 in funds from the Route 31 TIF district, it was the average of the difference of the property’s value with and without the curb cut. The owner stated that the previous owner of the property was compensated by the State to relinquish rights to curb cut access to IDOT.
The Committee of the Whole requested that the agreement include stipulations such as restricting the property owner from coming back for additional funding, if the Illinois General Assembly does not approve of the sale the owner would have to reimburse the Village, also if the Illinois General Assembly states that the cost is less than identified, the owner would reimburse the Village of the difference.
These stipulations would apply to the property owner and not the land.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Niedzwiedz and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – no, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes. Motion approved (5-1).
7. Approval of a five year Professional Services Agreement with Layne Christensen for Well Maintenance
Public Works Director Brian Richter stated that since the Village’s last agreement with Layne Christensen, the Village had drilled two more wells, totaling six wells. Layne Christensen is the only company in Illinois designated as a certified distributer for Byron pumps and all of the wells utilize Byron pumps. The agreement offered 5% off labor costs and 10% off specialized services when needed. The Village has had an agreement with Layne Christensen for ten years, the new agreement would be for an additional five years. Richter stated that the Village is not obligated to use Layne Christensen exclusively under this agreement.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – Proclamations
Support for National Police Week May 14-May 20, 2023
In support of Law Enforcement and recognition of the vital public service they dedicate themselves to.
Support for National Public Works Week May 21- May 27, 2023
In support of Public Works and the efforts they provide to maintain infrastructure in this community and beyond.
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – Administrator Bosco spoke about upcoming Village events. He stated that Cuisine at the Crossroads, a food truck event, would be held on Friday May 26, from 4 to 8pm. He added that on June 3 at Jewel Middle School, the Village would host a kite flying event called Soaring High North Aurora.
Bosco said that the Village wrapped up Gov 101, Bosco extended thanks to Village department heads that participated. He stated that there was good attendance.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – Chief DeLeo reminded the Board that on Friday, May 19 the department would participate in Cops on Top, where officers will be at both North Aurora Dunkin’ Donuts locations raising money for Special Olympics.
4. Public Works – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
