REVISED MINUTES OF TOWER LAKES

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

 

Date:                April 21, 2003

 

Location:          Village Office

 

Time:                7:38 pm

 

ROLL CALL: Present:  President Kuskowski, Trustees Aitken, Gidley, Cantieri, Parro, Adams and Rigali and Village Clerk Leitner.  Also in attendance:  Dorothy Pratt, Deputy Village Clerk and newsletter correspondent.  

 

1. PLEDGE: President Kuskowski called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Sign in sheet circulated.

 

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion was made by Trustee Rigali and seconded by Trustee Parro to approve the minutes of the March 17, 2003meeting and followed by a voice vote. Abstain: Tr Adams.

 

3. TLIA Presentation: ‘Clearwater Revival’ No Report.

 

4. PLAN COMMISSION: Plan Commission Chairman Greg Valicka reported on the Plan Commission’s public hearing concerning BACOG’s Impact Fee Ordinance and Glen Ellyn’s teardown ordinances. He summarized the past two Plan Commission minutes (attached). Janet Agnoletti addressed the question whether impact fees will impact-in a negative way- the assessed value of existing homes. She responded that impact fees are included in a home’s purchase price, but Tr Gidley asked whether it can be a line item on a closing statement so that it is not part of the assessor’s valuation. This may be determined by the statutory authority (i.e. home rule) that some of our communities have. The BACOG model ordinance asks the four effected districts to modify the formula periodically, at the municipalities’ request. Some villages want to see this as a periodic requirement, not only done at the municipalities’ requests.

 

5. ZBA: No report.

 

(Tree Commission: see Urban Forestry.)

 

6. BUILDING AND ZONING:

Building permits on file at the Village office.

Ordinance Violations- none pending.

State Code-Village Attorney Bateman still has not heard back re: amendments.  Since it has been thirty days, VA Bateman feels it is safe for the Village to approve the amendments at next month’s meeting. (i.e. ‘No news is good news’).

Nuisance Ordinance on hazardous home discussed. Tr Gidley has spoken to the contractor doing the work. Permit has expired. No course of action has been taken. Question of condemnation discussed. Separately, Tr Gidley would like to consider putting application for building permit on the website, along with an explanation of what needs a permit. Tr Cantieri reviewed Plan Commission recommendation on Outbuildings, and he would like the Board to consider the proposed ordinance at next month’s meeting.

 

7. and 8. TREASURER’S REPORT AND FINANCE REPORT: Acting Treas Gidley distributed the monthly expenditures summary, profit and loss statement, YTD budget expenditures. Traffic fines of about $15,000.00 came in earlier than expected.

Monthly Bills: Motion to approve the bills was made by Trustee Gidley and seconded by Trustee Adams, and followed by a Roll Call vote: VOTE: AYES: Trustees Parro, Gidley, Aitken, Cantieri, Rigali, Adams.

 

Budget: Acting Treas Gidley went through the proposed Managerial Accounting Budget—talked specifically about the difficulty in collecting simplified TeleCom Tax, which is collected by Village designation/zip code. Reduced income directly affects our budget. Grant monies not included in this budget. Is there room in the urban forestry budget for the tree commission program? (see urban forestry ‘other’ category in the budget).

Mo to pass budget made by Tr Rigali, seconded by Tr Aitken and followed by a Roll Call vote: ALL AYES.

 

9. POLICE REPORT:

Monthly Activities Report-Tr Aitken presented the 599 monthly activities report, on file at the Village office.

Equipment Replacement-Cuba Township has sent us a $2,000.00 check to replace equipment.

LC Major Crime Task Force-TL will become a member of, for $500.00per year.

 

10. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT: Tr Rigali has contacted John Johnson on map and work areas. At 309 Warwick the driveway is deteriorating.  Culverts are homeowners’ responsibility.

 

11. ROADS: Tr Parro reported Cuba Township bill received. Tom Gooch will do roadside maintenance. Gitchell’s will perform the May trimming and brush pickup. Tr Parro will discuss with Cuba Township handling Village tree trimming and brush pickup in the future.

 

12. HEALTH AND SANITATION: June 14, 2003—SWALCO once again sponsors a Collection of household appliances at the college of Lake County.  

 

13. UTILITIES:

  • Consumer’s Illinois Pres Kuskowski reported that the water usage is normal.
  • TL still has not been paid for the water sold to the construction company by Consumers last summer. Tr Gidley working on.
  • Consumers now has a policy that requires TL to pay them, whether or not a bill has been sent to the residents. This policy was changed without notifying TL, but supposedly the TL deal agrees to follow Consumer’s policy.
  • Nicor- extremely large bill for our gas lights.  Gas lights might need reconsideration.
  • SBC new contract signed, three year term

 

14. URBAN FORESTRY: Tree Commission: Randy Spiess, head of the Village Tree Commission, looking to implement a tree purchase program—splitting the cost per tree 50/50 between residents and the village. Participation is open to all village residents, but is subject to availability, primarily due to Village’s budget. Trustees discussed how to prioritize requests. This is intended for residents to plant on their property; not on village property. Limit to two trees per household. Board likes the concept, but will have to examine the budget.

 

15. BACOG REPORT: BACOG has prepared its position paper regarding its stance on support for the Route 53 extension; ground water protection; and legislation preventing municipalities from switching their annexation.

 

16. PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Wauconda Fire Department liaison-representative Captain Bob Rucker introduced himself as a regular attendee at our meetings as a liaison with the fire department. Resident Margaret Patronik would like additional education on emissions from burning as well as brush fires. She also volunteered to educate people on alternatives.

 

17. OLD BUSINESS: Bike Path Comments—get them to Pres Kuskowski ASAP. There will be No guardrail.

Baxter and Woodman report on Gray’s swale.

West Lake Shore entrance lights still not working.

 

18. NEW BUSINESS: May 18-24 Save a life week.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion to go into executive session at 10:00pm made by Tr Rigali, seconded Tr Parro. Trustees back from Executive Session at 10:16pm.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED:  Motion to adjourn the Village Board meeting made by Trustee Cantieri, seconded by Trustee Parro and followed by unanimous voice vote.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Kathleen Leitner

Village Clerk

05-13-03