NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, April 15, 2024
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, Community Development Director Nathan Darga, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director Brian Richter, Police Chief Joe DeLeo.
PROCLAMATION–
Arbor Day- In an effort to urge all citizen to celebrate Arbor Day and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, Mayor Gaffino proclaimed April 26, 2024 as Arbor Day in the Village of North Aurora.
Volunteer Appreciation Month-In honor of volunteerism in the Village of North Aurora, Mayor Gaffino recognized the month of April to be Volunteer Appreciation Month. He recognized the Village’s EMA group, some of whom were present for the meeting.
Chief DeLeo spoke about the group and praised their dedication to the community.
PUBLIC HEARING-FY2024-2025 Draft Budget
There were no speakers. Mayor Gaffino closed the Public Hearing
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
CONSENT AGENDA
- Village Board Minutes dated 04/01/2024; Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 04/01/2024
- Bills List dated 04/15/2024 in the Amount of $425,497.98
- Approval of Resolution Accepting Grant of Easement (Fox Metro)
- Travel and Business Expenses in the Amount of $50.00
- Approval of the Executive Session Minutes dated 10/16/2023 Part 1, 10/16/2023 Part 2, 10/16/2023 Part 3, 12/18/2023
- Approval to Appoint Authorized Agents for Village of North Aurora Salt Purchases
- Approval of Resolution to Consider the Proposal of an Agreement for the Exchange of Real Property Between the Village of North Aurora and the Southern Kane County Training Association and to Set a Hearing for Consideration of the Proposal
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Curtis. 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).
NEW BUSINESS
- Approval of Resolution Adopting the Village of North Aurora Strategic Plan (2024-2025)
Administrator Bosco reminded the Village Board that the Strategic Plan had been discussed at a previous Committee of the Whole meeting on March 18, 2024. During that meeting, no specific changes to what had been presented were suggested, however there had been discussion regarding the Village’s Veterans Memorial and potential improvements. A new objective was added to explore opportunities to enhance the Veterans Memorial and increase awareness. The action plan included hiring a company to design a concept plan to add features, continue to hold the Village’s Veterans’ Day memorial, install way-finding signs, and to create more awareness through the Village’s website.
Administrator Bosco added that Natalie Stevens had done a nice job with the layout of the Strategic Plan making it more comprehensive and more engaging.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Niedzwiedz and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
- Approval of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 3.16-Municipal Retailers’ Occupation Tax and Chapter 3.20-Municipal Service Occupation Tax of the Village of North Aurora
Director Paprocki stated that this item was in regard to raising the Municipal Service Occupation Tax from .5% to 1%, the subject of the referendum that passed in March. He explained that this was the final step for the Village to increase the tax. The Ordinance along with the election results are sent to the Department of Revenue by May 1, 2024 and then the tax goes into effect July 1, 2024.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
- Approval of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 13.04 of the Village of North Aurora Municipal Code Re: Water Usage Rates
Director Paprocki stated that this agenda item was for an ordinance that increases the Village’s water fees effective June 1, 2024. He reminded that Board that in January of 2023 staff gave a presentation that showed the health of the Water Fund and the upcoming capital projects. From there, staff laid out a five year/fifty percent increase, phased over those five years. Currently, the Village was in year two of that five year plan, rates were scheduled to go up 12.5%, the rate for 10,000 gallons goes from $4.26 to $4.79. There would be no change to the first 3,000 gallon rate, a minimum charge of $16. The increase would be usage beyond 3,000 gallons.
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).
- Approval of Resolution Accepting a Deed from the Oak Hill of North Aurora Homeowners Association, Inc. to Lots 93 and 94 of the Oak Hill of North Aurora Subdivision, Phase II
At this time, due to his proximity to the agenda item, Trustee Niedzwiedz recused himself at 7:11pm.
Attorney Drendel reminded the Village Board that the Oak Hill subdivision had struggled to maintain their homeowner’s association. A number of years ago the Village had triggered the Special Service Area tax and had been taking care of the subdivision’s pond since that time. The subdivision was over 20 years old, the annexation agreement that the Village had in place that required the HOA to manage the storm water control facilities that the Village has in place, has expired. The members of the HOA board were able to approve a transfer of lots 93 and 94, which contain the storm water control areas, by deed to the Village. Attorney Drendel stated that the Village did not have to take the property, however per a previous Committee of the Whole discussion, the Village Board agreed at that time that it would make sense for the Village to accept the lots and responsibility for the areas. The storm water retention drains into the wetlands in the North Aurora Towne Center making it a critical drainage area.
Attorney Drendel stated that there needed to be an approval of ¾ of the Village Board to accept the deed, therefore the Mayor would be voting.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Mayor Gaffino-yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
Trustee Niedzwiedz returned to the meeting at 7:15pm.
- Approval to Award 2024 Road Program Bid to Builders Paving, LLC in the Amount of $2,086,000.00
Director Richter stated that on April 9, 2024 three sealed bids had been received for the 2024 Road Program. Builders Paving, LLC was low bidder in the amount of $2,086,000. The project included paving, replacement of 21 streets for a total of 3.25 miles. The low bid came in below the engineer’s estimate. Builders Paving had successfully completed road programs for the Village in the past with the last time being in 2018.
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).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – Administrator Bosco stated that the Village’s Engineer had been working with a company to do a preliminary overview of what needed to be done with the pond located in Oak Hill subdivision. The Village was hoping to get proposals by summer to gain perspective on what any projects for the pond may cost. He reminded the Board that the Village had been taking money out of the Oak Hill SSA already for the pond over the past few years and had added to that SSA to do the common areas as well. The funding was in place for annual maintenance, the Village anticipates the pond to be a major expense.
Administrator Bosco provided updates from the Beautification Committee including improvements to the welcome signs along the border of the Village. With the assistance of the Gardening Club, plantings will placed at nine of ten of the welcome signs. The sign at Butterfield Road and Pine Creek is in a floodway so a rock bed will be placed. Also, a community information sign to be installed at the intersection of Oak Street and Randall Road will be in the budget for approval on June 1, 2024.
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
- Finance – None
- Community Development – None
- Police – Chief DeLeo stated that the Village had received two lateral transfers that were well versed in truck enforcement. They performed a detail with the city of Aurora on Friday during which over 20 citations were written and $6,000 in fines were taken in. DeLeo said that the Village will be performing more of those campaigns.
- Public Works – None
- Village Attorney– None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
