Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY—JULY 28, 2020 VILLAGE HALL BOARD ROOM and audio conferencing CALL TO ORDER: Village President Hofeld called the regular meeting of the Village Board to order at 7:04 p.m. The meeting was conducted by President Hofeld from the Boardroom. There were four members of the public present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: President Hofeld dispensed with the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Clerk Marilyn Thomas called the roll. Those present were Village President Richard Hofeld at Village Hall, with Trustee Barbara Dawkins, Trustee Lisa Purcell, Trustee Karen Washington, Trustee Lauren Roman, Trustee Jay Heiferman, Trustee Larry Burnson, and Clerk Thomas via audio conference. NOTE: Due to the Governor’s emergency order because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing recommendations, and the Village President finding that, pursuant to Public Act 101-0640, an in-person meeting is not prudent, elected officials may participate via video/audio. The public was invited to listen into the meeting live via audio. The public was invited to submit comments by email before the meeting. All elected officials were able to hear one another as well as all discussion. INTRODUCTION OF STAFF: Village President Hofeld introduced staff members in attendance at Village Hall: Village Manager Jim Marino, Village Attorney Christopher Cummings, Finance Director Dennis Bubenik and Police Chief Bill Alcott joined him at the Boardroom. Director of Public Works John Schaefer and Assistant Village Manager Napoleon Haney linked remotely. MINUTES: The minutes of the General Board Meeting of July 14, 2020, were reviewed. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Burnson and seconded by Trustee Purcell to accept the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $317,371.27 was reviewed. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Washington to approve the Claims List as presented. President Hofeld said two items made up 65 percent of the Claims List: $130,295.55 to Burns & McDonnell Engineering for work on the water conversion project: $74,845.32 to Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: Daniel Berk asked the board to improve the intersection at 183rd and Center where a fatal accident happened a week earlier. He thanked the village for the steps it has taken, but he wanted the village to know about the petition he started asking for a solution, possibly a stoplight, and some way to reduce the speeding on 183rd Street. Because this meeting was conducted remotely, correspondence to the board was submitted in writing. Berk submitted a letter and online petition. Clerk Thomas read into the record a letter from Betty Baker asking for police patrols on Ashland Avenue to reduce speeding. A letter from Linda and Kevin Crabtree asked for police patrols to slow speeders, especially around Willow School. Chief Alcott said patrols were increased on 183rd Street starting July 14. Over the two- week period, over 100 cars were stopped. Police issued warnings and traffic citations and made arrests. Police will continue their efforts. He said the village recently installed a new Stop sign on 187th Street, and in the past years has installed on 183rd Street visible signs that read speeds and added Yield signs around schools. Police are also around schools between drop off and pick up times. Director Schaefer said Public Works will gather accident information at the 183rd and Center intersection for the past five years and conduct car counts and speed counts. He also will be in touch with the Illinois Department of Transportation on the planned work and ask whether the state agency needs to be involved in any village decisions. Because Center Avenue does not align from north to south, Schaefer said the department will study whether there is anything that can be done to improve it, especially if a traffic light is installed. The department will study the intersection to see if there is a way to improve drivers’ sight lines. President Hofeld said the village would keep in touch with Mr. Berk on this issue. Three people who attended with concerns about the 183rd Street traffic left the Boardroom after this discussion. OMNIBUS AGENDA: Clerk Thomas presented the Omnibus Agenda: A. ORDINANCE M-2139/APPROVING A WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT: Consider a motion to approve an ordinance approving a water supply agreement between the City of Chicago Heights, IL and the Village of Homewood, IL. The village is choosing not to renew its contract to purchase Lake Michigan water from the City of Harvey. That agreement ends in 2022. This ordinance authorizes the Village President to enter into a 25-year agreement to purchase Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago Heights. B. BUDGET AMENDMENT/POLICE & FIRE COMMISSION: Consider a motion to approve a budget amendment for $26,000.00 to the Police & Fire Commission recruitment line item to cover costs for Firefighter/Paramedic Testing, Police Sergeant Promotional Testing and Entry-Level Police Officer Testing. C. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT/WATER SUPPLY CORROSION CONTROL STUDY: Consider a motion to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Village of Homewood, IL and the Village of Flossmoor, IL to perform a joint Corrosion Control Study for changing potable water suppliers in the total amount of $366,285.00. Flossmoor purchases its water from Homewood via Harvey. Flossmoor trustees are considering moving its water supply to Chicago Heights through Homewood. Homewood will pay 52.9% (up to $193,802.00) and Flossmoor will pay 47.1% (up to $172,483.00) of study cost. This expense will be paid from the Water & Sewer Fund. D. BUDGET AMENDMENT AND CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER FOR WATER CORROSION CONTROL STUDY: i. BUDGET AMENDMENT: Consider a motion to approve a budget amendment of $205,819.00 to increase the Water Delivery Project FY2020/2021 budget line item from $1,085,415.00 to $1,291,234.00. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is requiring the village to conduct a corrosion control study for the switch to a water supply from Chicago Heights. This cost was not anticipated in the initial contract with Burns & McDonnell Engineering of Kansas City, which is working on the conversion project. ii. CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER: Consider a motion to approve a change order for $205,819.00 to the contract with Burns & McDonnell of Kansas City, MO to complete a Water Supply Corrosion Control Study. E. BID AWARD/LEAK DETECTION SURVEY: Consider a motion to award a bid for a Water Distribution System Leak Detection Survey Project to M.E. Simpson Company, Inc. of Valparaiso, IN for $21,400.00. The survey will assess the village’s 110 miles of water main for possible leaks. F. BID AWARD/FIRE HYDRANT SANDBLASTING AND PAINTING: Consider a motion to award a bid to Go Painters of Maywood, IL to sandblast and paint fire hydrants for $50,000.00. G. RESOLUTION R-3059/SALE OF SURPLUS REAL ESTATE: Consider a motion authorizing the village staff to solicit offers to purchase surplus real estate owned by the Village of Homewood at 18462 Dixie Highway in Homewood. The village recently acquired this abandoned property, demolished the vacant house, and will consider purchase offers at a future meeting. H. LIQUOR LICENSE REQUEST: Direct staff to initiate the liquor license application process for Vida Tacos for a -Class 5-X beer and wine only - Liquor License. Trustee Dawkins thanked village staff for all the work that has been done thus far on the new water agreement. The other trustees agreed with her comments. President Hofeld called the deal with Chicago Heights a good arrangement with a good contract. He added the engineering firm has been outstanding. He said the concerns of Trustee Washington about lead in the pipes that she raised several months ago will be addressed with the corrosion study. A motion was made by Trustee Burnson and seconded by Trustee Washington to approve the Claims Agenda as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION: Trustee Dawkins asked residents to stay safe and stay alert to the precautions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. She reminded all that it is important to stay healthy so the community can get our kids back to school as the United States works its way through the pandemic. She said thank you to Chief Alcott and Director Schaefer for their work on the 183rd and Center intersection issue acknowledging it is a dangerous intersection when you try and cross 183rd Street. Trustee Purcell concurred that 183rd and Center is a dangerous intersection and her thoughts are with the families of the drivers of the recent accident. Trustees Washington and Roman concurred with their remarks. Trustee Roman also invited residents to join her for the First Annual Porch Fest Saturday, Aug. 8. The event will give bands a chance to perform from residents’ porches. She referred participants to Facebook for a map. Trustee Heiferman asked for a look at all intersections that are dangerous. He said before work on the 183rd and Center intersection is decided, he asked that patrols double. He hopes the village can become known as a town that takes traffic enforcement seriously. Trustee Burnson thanked the police for their work on traffic enforcement and gave thanks to Director Schaefer for undertaking the traffic study. President Hofeld said he too appreciates the work of both the Police and Public Works Departments. President Hofeld announced that Village Board meetings will continue through Zoom for the foreseeable future and Fall Fest in September is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. The meeting adjourned on voice vote at 7:37 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk