MINUTES OF TOWER LAKES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
Date: December 17, 2001
Location: Village Office
Time: 7:14 pm
PLEDGE: President Kuskowski called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Sign in sheet circulated.
1. ROLL CALL: Present: Village President Kuskowski, Trustees Adams, Aitken, Cantieri, Filippell, Parro, Rigali, Village Clerk Leitner and Village Treasurer Gidley. Also in attendance: Dorothy Pratt, Deputy Village Clerk and newsletter correspondent.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Trustee Aitken to approve the minutes of the November Village Board Meeting as amended, seconded by Trustee Rigali and followed by a Roll Call vote: AYES: Trustees Adams, Aitken, Cantieri, Filippell, Parro, Rigali. NAYES: None.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: N/A.
4. WATER SYSTEM REPORT: Pres Kuskowski reported that the Village monthly report has not yet been received. Last month, consumption was normal. He will again request that report be issued prior to our meeting.
DCCA Grant: President Kuskowski reported no change. We still have approximately $3,400.00 to spend. A URS quote was requested for engineering reports “As Built”. This should expend the remainder of the funds.
Delinquent Water Bills: mostly from residents who have moved away and didn’t pay final bill. An attempt will be made to reach them; then a collection agency will be contacted. While TLIA notifies the Village of house closings, the Village cannot force payment of the water bill since we don’t have a Home Rule form of government. Tr Parro noted that Consumers Water could act as our collection agent.
5. PLAN COMMISSION: Re: Comprehensive Plan—Plan Commission Chair Greg Valicka thanked the Board for its comments, and hopes to have a revised draft for the January meeting.
Barclay’s Woods: In attendance at the Public Hearing were Jack Lagenschulte, the Developer, and two residents of CCE The Plan Commission recommends the Board approve the Barclay’s Woods development, subject to the following caveats:
1. Check with IDOT to see whether ingress from Rte 59 heading north is possible for construction traffic temporarily. Resident Larry Gold will work with Mr. Lagenshulte and IDOT on this. Also, consider alternating the construction traffic between Pebble Creek and Rolling Green;
2. Consider /work with resident Bill Powers to move, berm and/or landscape the Pebble Creek extension;
3. Consider moving the driveway to Lot 8 from the east to the west side of the lot. (Mr. Lagenschulte noted that it is unlikely he will change this due to the slope of the lot on the west side.); and
4. Have the Village Arborist walk the proposed roadbed to reduce number of mature trees eliminated. Tr Adams suggests having him look at the Elms also. Chair Valicka enquired whether the Village has a reforestation requirement of developers (no).
6.ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: No Report.
7. BUILDING AND ZONING: Tr Cantieri presented the report. List of permits issued is attached. Ordinance violations include (1) 407 Roslyn Road has several “For Sale by Owner” signs in the Village, when only one is allowed by ordinance; (2) Groh property on Rte 59 has another trailer parked on the property in violation of ordinance; and (3) a fence has been erected on Barsumian running parallel to the road (Q: on Village property?) in violation of ordinance. Tr Cantieri will contact these homeowners. If he gets no results, he will turn them over to the Village Attorney. Another ordinance violation, at 216 West Tower, was reported to Tr Cantieri. Present at the meeting is the resident of 216 West Tower, Drew Mack. Mr. Mack is building a playhouse for his children in the woods behind his house. He circulated photos and plans.
Tr Cantieri asks the Board to consider another way to handle ordinance violations so that one trustee isn’t the town ‘bad guy’. A B&Z Committee meeting will be held and the ordinances will be reviewed. Also, the Village President will add information to his upcoming village newsletter to improve communication of ordinance requirements. Similar additions to the website were discussed.
8. TREASURER’S REPORT: Treas. Gidley reported on a revised form detailing information, as the Trustees would like it presented.
Monthly Bills: Notably, the police phone bill is at $900.00, with over $400.00 of that from pagers. The Village portion of the phone bill is $200.00 (reduction thought to be largely credited to turning off the computers each day). There is some rollover from last month’s bill also. None of the improvements from newly selected phone programs have kicked in yet. Motion to approve the bills was made by Trustee Parro and seconded by Trustee Adams. VOTE: AYES: Trustees Adams, Aitken, Cantieri, Filippell, Parro, Rigali. NAYES: None.
9. FINANCE REPORT: Tr. Filippell has four items for discussion:
1)
The ISDN line installation will be completed this
week. Had to change our ISP provider to CORECOM. The Tower Lakes Internet address is now
towerlakes@core.com it costs
29/month for three months.
2)
The Village has received a $101,000.00 payment from
the State Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax. It was deposited into the SSA Account for next
month’s payment of $112,000.00.
There currently exists a balance of @$50,000.00 in the SSA
Account.
3)
The Village is consolidating insurance bonds with
Wine and Serge. A line of credit has been set up at Barrington Bank & Trust
for future use. The December meeting of the Finance Committee will discuss the
Dam Snell & Taveirne audit and the ‘big picture’ financially for the
Village.
4) The Village needs to pass a revised property tax levy ordinance, per Dam Snell & Travern comments requiring corrected allocations. The bottom line is not changed. The amendment allows the Village to correct-- within limits-- the levy appropriations, either by: (1) adjusting over a period of years by formula; or (2) calling a public hearing to adjust limits now. Motion made by Tr Filippell to adopt the amended Tax Levy Ordinance, seconded by Tr Cantieri, and followed by a roll call vote. VOTE: AYES: Trustees Adams, Aitken,Cantieri, Filippell, Parro, Rigali. NAYES: None.
10. POLICE REPORT: Trustee Aitken presented the monthly activities report, on file at the Village office. Regarding Unattended open burns—police will put out the fire and leave a notice with the homeowner. If there is a repeat offense, the homeowner will be cited. Discussion of solicitations and fraud. Pres. Kuskowski noted that Police Chief Sinacore has prepared an Emergency Plan. Tr Aitken will call a meeting of the police commission to review and discuss. Also, BACOG is preparing a plan. Tr Adams reported on the telephone to be installed outside the police office. Chief Sinacore found a $350.00 enclosed phone, which automatically dials 911. Purchase and installation has been approved by the Board.
11. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT: Trustee Rigali reported no new issues. He will look at the white rock installed near the entrance to the main beach for consideration in other areas of the community this spring. Pres. Kuskowski has asked resident John Johnson to refine Village’s storm water management map.
12. ROADS: Regarding the Vehicle Sticker scofflaws: what is the next step? The police are not authorized to pull residents over for village ordinance violations which are not also state violations. Tr Parro will discuss with the Village Attorney. Collection Agency considered.
Tr. Parro noted that signage from Cuba Township is in process. Resident Gordon Iverson spoke in favor of moving the YIELD sign located at West Tower and West Lake Shore Drive from Tower to West Lake Shore. Tr Parro discussed signage suggestions.
13. HEALTH AND SANITATION: SWALCO- Tr Rigali reported that SWALCO is building a new building. SWALCO is investigating Waukegan Harbor dredging; chips were well received.
14. UTILITIES: ATT Broadband- Regarding the ATT Broadband Cable Agreement- North Barrington has the same issues as Tower Lakes. Pres Kuskowski and Tr Adams will discuss. The 5% franchise fees that the Village “earns back” are apparently passed through to consumers. ATT has not responded to last month’s inquiries. ATT provided the following toll free number for billing inquiries: 866-594-1234. ATT has not provided a toll free number for complaints as yet.
15. URBAN FORESTRY: Tr Adams reported that Hendrickson Trees removed the dead tree behind the Village office at a cost of $1400.00 BACOG’s GIS system capabilities were discussed as to specific topics for inclusion
16. OLD BUSINESS:
Codification: Hard copies available. Please review by January meeting.
Gas Lights: need fixing. Tr Aitken to notify Dick Lathan.
17. NEW BUSINESS:
Rte 53 Expansion Resolution: BACOG requests Village pass a resolution for 2002. Motion made by Tr Adams to adopt the Route 53 Expansion Resolution, seconded by Tr Cantieri, and followed by a roll call vote. VOTE: AYES: Trustees Adams, Aitken,Cantieri, Filippell, Parro, Rigali. NAYES: None.
BACOG Impact Fee Report is out. Pres Kuskowski encourages review by all.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day—Tr Rigali and Village Clerk Leitner will coordinate a recognition ceremony.
TAC Report is in the office.
MEETING ADJOURNED: Motion to adjourn the Board meeting made at 9:40 pm by Tr Aitken and seconded by Tr Cantieri and followed by unanimous voice vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Leitner
Village Clerk
01-09-02