AMENDED MINUTES OF TOWER LAKES
PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
Date: August 20, 2001
Location: Village Office
Time: 7:05 p.m.
PLEDGE: President Kuskowski called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Sign in sheet circulated.
ROLL CALL:
Present: President Kuskowski, Trustees Aitken, Cantieri, Filippell, Parro.
Absent: Trustees Adams and Village Clerk Leitner. Trustee Rigali arrived late.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Trustee Parro made a motion to approve the July Village Board Meeting, which motion was seconded by Trustee Filippell and followed by a Roll Call vote:AYES: Aitken, Cantieri, Filippell, Parro, Absent: Adams, Rigali.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Patricia Copp, 263 West Lake Shore Drive, a Village resident of 26 years, had an experience on August 6, 2001 at approximately 5pm with the Tower Lakes police. She has three questions: 1) what is the primary purpose of the Tower Lakes police? What are the qualifications for each police officer hired? If the priority is to bring in revenue via ticketing, how does a community emergency get prioritized? President Kuskowski responded that safety of residents is the number one priority for the police, so if they stop people it is to address unsafe situations not to generate income. The police department does have a mission statement. Trustee Aitken responded that the police are not directed by any one of the trustees, that they are governed by the laws, rules and regulations of the State of Illinois. Mrs. Copp asked if they are an independent agency, and if so, who sets the standards for their hiring. Former resident and former Village president Bill Fitzpatrick interjected (not signed in) and said that this area’s traffic is not the same as it used to be, the traffic issues are much different and the police department’s actions are motivated by safety. Chief Sinacore would be happy to discuss standards or personnel issues with Mrs. Copp.
Other issue: road now higher than her property, and she gets a lot of runoff, and would like this drainage issue handled.
PLAN COMMISSION:
Plan Commission Chair Dorothy Hawkes reported that Member Greg Valicka is compiling all the sections of the Comprehensive Plan from the other Commission members. He hopes to have a draft of the new Comprehensive Plan to the Board for the next regularly scheduled Board meeting (September 17th). Former resident Bill Fitzpatrick, a consultant to the Plan Commission, interjected that he thought Member Valicka planned to get a draft to the Village Board to get input from the Village Board members prior to the Plan Commission’s required public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan. Chair Hawkes noted several documents distributed to the Village Board members along with the draft Plan. Trustee Parro wondered whether the Barrington Oaks III issues are included: specifically how aggressive is the Plan on watershed protection; ie, recommending annexing surrounding land, or are the existing control mechanisms we can exercise enough? Mr. Fitzpatrick noted that the Comprehensive Plan becomes the basis for justifying the zoning and land use decisions, and if it is too specific, it will require constant modification. However, whether to pursue an aggressive stance is up to the Board. Trustee Parro noted that the concern has always been both to control density around our perimeter as well as to keep an environmental balance.
Barrington Oaks III ("BOIII")- Chair Hawkes noted that the July 30, 2001 meeting resulted in a recommendation by the Plan Commission to the Village Board to sign off on the BOIII plat with the following four stipulations: (i)Execution of the endangered species consultation sign off letter; (ii)Modify BOIII Covenants by deleting reference at page 5 toTower Lakes ordinances; (iii) Modify BOIII Covenants by requiring that the buffer area have only indigenous vegetation and no chemical fertilization; and (iv) answer all outstanding Lake County questions and issues. Chair Hawkes urges the Board to take a vigilant stance on overseeing of these issues, since the County probably will not. Mr. Fitzpatrick offered that the County is better at enforcing items that Tower Lakes brings to its attention. Public Hearing scheduled on this matter at 7:00pm, September 17th, with Village Board meeting to follow.
President Kuskowski adjourned the Board meeting at approximately 7:30pm. He noted for the record the Plan Commission Chair Dorothy Hawkes tendered her resignation, and Greg Valicka will replace her as Chair. Meeting Reconvened.
WATER SYSTEM REPORT:
Monthly Production Report: President Kuskowski has the reports from Consumers Illinois Water Co. for June and July, showing that Tower Lakes used 124,000 gal/per/day in June and 160,000 gal/per/day in July. Pres Kuskowski asked John Castillo of Consumers whether Tower Lakes needs to worry about running out of water. Castillo reported that plenty of water is in our reservoir, and the aquifer is okay.
Re: the $250,000 DCCA Grant: in August, the Well No 2 sealing cost $12,000 (had been estimated at $21,000). CSS=$4,800. Other bills to be paid by DCCA Grant will be deferred until after Pres Kuskowski hears from DCCA. When all bills are paid, The Village will have less than $20,000. left of the grant balance. Tr Parro questioned whether the projects for which these bills are generated should have been bid out, per the DCCA $10,000 limit. Pres Kuskowski stated that these were among the bills ‘grandgfathered’ last month. Tr Cantieri wants Roslyn Road swale work broken out of the $4,800 ($300 is the actual expense on swale on Roslyn). Motion to approve two expenditures mentioned above made by Tr. Aitken , seconded by Tr. Cantieri and followed by a Roll Call vote: AYES: Aitken, Cantieri, Filippell, Parro, Rigali, Absent: Adams. The repair work scheduled for Esther and Tomahawk is complete. Cuba Township will be doing patching, and landscaping work wil proceedl.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: No report.
BUILDING AND ZONING:
Monthly Report: Trustee Cantieri reported that 12 building permits issued. No parking violations existed that month.
TREASURER'S REPORT AND FINANCE REPORT:
Treasurer Gidley reported that the new computer and software are installed, with Quickbooks on both old and new computers. Treasurer’s Reportshould now include the Village’s tax exempt number. We had one, but it has expired. Tax Exempt Numbers need to be renewed every five years. The trustees should use this number when purchasing on behalf of the Village.
Monthly Bills: Trustee Filippell addressed the distributed list of monthly bills to be paid. It was noted that the $600.00 telephone bill covered two months Tr Parro thought Ameritech may have a call-pack that would significantly reduce our bill. It was thought that most of the monthly fee was internet connection, and over eight miles. Tr Fillippell will follow up with OM Baggett to find a lower call-pack or DSL. Discussion ensued. Tr Adams asked to add addl $150.00 to Urban Forestry for Gitchell’s tree removal bill. Motion to approve the Treasurer's Report and monthly bills made by Trustee Aitken, seconded by Trustee Rigali, and followed by a roll call vote.
VOTE: AYES: Aitken, Cantieri, Parro, Filippel, Rigali. NAYES: None.
IMRF RESOLUTION: Resolution to change the authorized agent from the Village Clerk to the Village Treasurer. Motion made by Tr. Filippell, seconded by Tr Cantieri and followed by a Roll Call Vote: VOTE: AYES: Aitken, Cantieri, Parro, Filippel, Rigali. NAYES: None.
POLICE:
Monthly Police Report: Trustee Aitken reviewed the monthly Police Activity Report, which is on file at the Village . Also, "School’s Open" Proclomation from AAA to be signed. TL Police received and posted "School’s Open" posters. Lake County Sheriff notified Tower Lakes Police that they are no longer needed at North Barrington School during morning and afternoon rush hours.
STORM WATER MANAGEMENT:
Tr Rigali.mentionned a Storm Water Violation notice he received for Mancinna’s berm. Tr Rigali to follow up. Discussion of house next door. Gene Benovich called Pres K—to discuss with Tr Rigali. Also, Ms. Copp’s issue (see above) discussed with Tr Rigali.
ROADS:
Vehicle Stickers: 389 Households have paid for Vehicle Stickers. Next week the letter doubling fees will go out. Tr Cantieri asked whether any work has commenced on shoulders: on Tr Parro’s "To Do" list. He’ll get with two or three trustees to determine priorities. Also Tr Parro plans to compile a list of Traffic and Street signs and work with Cuba Township on those.
HEALTH AND SANITATION:
SWALCO: No report. Tr Rigali reported that Alliance Waste Brian Gidley has had three problems with garbage being thrown in his yard. Bills from Alliance and Clarke’s Mosquito Abatement presented. They will be approved at next month’s meeting.
UTILITIES:
Tr Rigali asked that utilities clean up area by his house. It cannot be maintained because it is so bumpy. Nicor and/or ComEd and/or Ameritech to be called. Tr Adams has had a new Cable Agreement drawn up by the Village Attorney, and to compare with other towns’. Cable Co. to come to our Sept. Meeting.
URBAN FORESTRY:
President Kuskowski reported that Tr Adams has gathered estimates from tree removal companies to remove the dead elms on Village property. Estimates ranging from $4,000-$8,000 total. Diseased Tree Ordinance presented. Drafted by Village Attorney, it gives Village authority to demand that homeowners remove specific diseased trees on their property. Motion to approve Diseased Tree Ordinance made by Tr Rigali, seconded by Tr Aitken Roll Call Vote: VOTE: AYES: Aitken, Cantieri, Parro, Filippel, Rigali. NAYES: None.
OLD BUSINESS:
Vondrak Easement Status: No change.
Codification: Village Clerk Leitner expects hard copy within thirty days, with disk copy after that.
Barclay’s Woods: No change.
West Lake Shore Drive Pillar: Dick Lathan gathering quotes.
Census Count: have until Sept 30 to make claim. Tr Parro wonders about method of counting college age students. Also, looking at number of houses.
NEW BUSINESS:
Revised Ice Cream Vendor Ordinance: to allow the police to do background checks on drivers and the companies, and issue permits to same. Tr Parro wonders whether the Village collects sales tax from Ice Cream Vendors.
Training Session for Plan Commission Members: Pres K encourages attendance.
Other area program information will be available at the office.
GIS Committee meeting coming up August 22, 2001.
BAHS meeting August 22, 2001.
MEETING ADJOURNED:
At 9:05 pm., Trustee Rigali made a motion to adjourn the Board meeting, seconded by Trustee Parro and followed by unanimous voice vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Leitner
Village Clerk
09-13-01