Village Board Minutes

NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING

VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Monday, April 21, 2025

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.

AWARD– Officer Mason Brant Lifesaving Award

This agenda item has been placed on the May 5, 2025 Village Board Meeting agenda

RECOGNITION– Jessi Watkins-Village Clerk

Mayor Gaffino recognized Clerk Jessi Watkins for her years of service.

PROCLAMATION– Arbor Day

In recognition of Arbor Day and in the appreciation of trees, Mayor Gaffino proclaimed April 25, 2025 to be Arbor Day.

PUBLIC HEARING– FY2025-26 Budget

Mayor Gaffino opened the Public Hearing, there was no one present interested in speaking, the Public Hearing was closed.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Village Board Minutes Dated 04/07/2025; Committee of the Whole Minutes Dated 04/07/2025
2. Bills List Dated 04/21/2025 in the Amount of $519,818.41
3. Approval of License Agreement for Cruise Night Special Event at Towne Center
4. Approval of Ordinance Amending Title 15 of the North Aurora Code of Ordinances Regarding the North Aurora Auto Mall Special Sign District
5. Approval of Resolution Accepting the Public Improvements for the Casey’s Development
6. Approval of Illinois Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (ILWARN) Agreement
7. Approval to Purchase One-Year Service of Falcon SIEM and Identity Threat Protection from Heartland Business Systems in the Amount of $16,382.60

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 Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax for the Village of North Aurora

Finance Director Paprocki reminded the Village Board that the State has eliminated the 1% sales tax on groceries effective January 1, 2026.  Local municipalities have the option to continue a local tax that would be effective for January 1, 2026 and going forward.  This would not be a new tax but a continuation of what was already on the books.  The state would collect and remit revenues back to the Village.  Staff estimated that the Village receives between $600,000 and $750,000 annually from the sales tax on groceries.  Paprocki stated that the 2025-2026 budget was put together assuming the continuation of the tax.  If this item were not to pass, the budget would need to be modified.

Trustee Curtis asked if a recent sales tax approved by referendum related to grocery sales.  Administrator Bosco explained that the grocery tax would apply to grocery food sales and the sales tax was applied to general merchandise.  Curtis also asked for clarification on the grocery tax revenues that would potentially be lost should the grocery tax go away.

Curtis asked if surrounding communities were enacting the grocery tax, Paprocki stated that local municipalities have begun reviewing it and some have already approved it.

Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. 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).

2. Approval of Ordinance Amending Chapters 13.04 of the Village of North Aurora Municipal Code Re: Water Usage Fees

Director Paprocki reminded the Board that in early 2023 staff presented a five year plan which introduced increasing water rates annually from $3.70 going up to $5.95 by the fiscal year 27-28.  As the Village was now entering year three of the plan, while budgeting for upcoming projects, primarily the water tower treatment plant upgrades as well as the costs associated with water treatment, staff felt that the water rate increases needed to be accelerated to $5.95.  Paprocki explained that the Village has tried to maintain the low water rates by subsidizing with various methods, however it was not enough to keep up with capital projects.    Staff was proposing the adoption of a $5.95 rate as of June 1, 2025.  The minimum charge of $16 for the first 3,000 gallons would not change.  Paprocki stated that if the rates were to remain on the original schedule for increase, the Village would likely run out of water fund reserve balance in the next two and a half years.

Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote:  Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – no, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (5-1).

3. Approval to Purchase Server Hardware from Data Center Warehouse in the Amount of $29,565.00

Administrator Bosco stated that IT Manager Dave Arndt was doing a terrific job of modernizing and securing the Village’s data and systems.  The Village had been looking into transitioning from virtual servers to one physical server that hosts multiple virtual servers as well as investigating the purchase of a second, less powerful server to do some test environments.  This would enable the Village to test different things and ensure that the security system is sound.  This would also aid in disaster recovery.  The project was for $29,565.00, however there was also a software component which Administrator Bosco had already authorized upon the approval of the agenda item.  This would bring the total of the project to $47,830.00, $60,000 had been budgeted.

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 a Settlement Agreement Between the Village of North Aurora and CMN-RUS, Inc. (Metronet)

Administrator Bosco reminded the Village Board that in the fall of 2024, Metronet decided to no longer offer cable services, terminating their ten year Cable Franchise Agreement with the Village that began in 2017.  Metronet offered settlements to the communities effected by their termination of cable services.  These settlements were a lump sum based on what they had previously been paying in fees.  The Village negotiated with Metronet, resulting in Metronet offering upgrades to the internet services they provide the Village valued at $620 a month over the next five years.

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).

5. Approval of Ordinance Amending North Aurora Code Section 5.08.350 by Increasing the Number of Class G Liquor Licenses Authorized in the Village of North Aurora (BP Gas Station-101 South Lincolnway)

Administrator Bosco stated that the Village Board had previously discussed this agenda item at a recent Committee of the Whole.  The previous owner of the BP gas station located at 101 S. Lincoln had their liquor license revoked due to code violations.  The new owner was seeking to rectify the code violations and tear down the car wash that was in violation and reopen with a new liquor license.  The new business owners had been approved for a TIF request to assist in tearing down the car wash, therefore the Village was moving forward with their request for a liquor license.  Bosco stated that if the Board issued the Class G Liquor License, the Mayor did not have to issue the license right away but offer a conditional license upon receiving the businesses demo permit.

Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Christiansen. 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).

6. Approval to Award Water Treatment Plant Backwash Tank Cleaning Contract to Republic Services in the Amount of $93,983.55

Public Works Director Brian Richter stated that the Village had backwash tanks at each of the two water treatment plants.  The tanks collect sludge which is a byproduct of the water filtering process.  This was last done in 2018.  The Village signed a PSA with EEI to seek proposals from contractors who are qualified to remove the hazardous waste.  Two proposals were received and reviewed by EEI.  The Village currently had $100,000 budgeted for the project.  EEI was recommending to award the contract to Republic Services.

Motion for approval made by Trustee Niedzwiedz and seconded by Trustee Curtis. 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).

7. Approval to Waive Bid Process of Water Valve Replacement Project and Award Contract to Superior Excavating Co. in the Amount of $244,266.00

Director Richter stated that the Water Division had recently inspected and operated valves along the route 31 corridor and found that several valves were broken, partially closed, and others were inoperable.  With valves in these conditions, it adversely affects water flow and could hinder firefighting operations in the area.  Staff would like to expedite the replacement process for these reasons, along with the IDOT resurfacing program that was scheduled for the summer of 2025.  The Village was requiring the use of insertion valves for the project and there are limited self-performing contractors in the area that perform this work.  Staff reached out to two companies requesting proposals.  Superior Excavating provided the Village with the lowest proposal and has successfully completed other projects for the Village.  The project was budgeted for the current fiscal year and would be done by June 1, 2025.  Village Staff recommends waiving the bidding process due to the expeditious work and unique work, and awarding the contract to Superior Excavating.

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 – None

TRUSTEES COMMENTS – None

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – None

VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS

1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – Police Chief DeLeo spoke about the communication efforts in the Village between the Police Department and Village Staff. He spoke highly of and commended the collective efforts amongst the Village departments.  He offered an example of a situation that happened recently and explained that he was able to focus on the situation because of the communication between departments and distribution of tasks associated with the occurrence.  Chief DeLeo offered gratitude to Administrator Bosco, Director Richter and the Public Works crew for their cooperation and communication.

Mayor Gaffino returned the compliment to the Police Department.

4. Public Works – None
5. Village Attorney– 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