Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 VILLAGE HALL BOARD ROOM CALL TO ORDER: President Hofeld called the meeting of the Board of Trustees to order at 7 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: President Hofeld led trustees in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Clerk Marilyn Thomas called the roll. Those present were Village President Richard Hofeld, Trustee Julie Willis, Trustee Vivian Harris-Jones, Trustee Jay Heiferman, Trustee Phillip Mason, Trustee Lauren Roman and Trustee Allisa Opyd. President Hofeld introduced staff present: Village Manager Napoleon Haney, Village Attorney Chris Cummings, Director of Economic and Community Development Angela Mesaros, Police Chief Denise McGrath, Fire Chief Bob Grabowski and Director of Public Works Josh Burman. MINUTES: The minutes of September 10, 2024, were presented. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Mason and seconded by Trustee Opyd to approve the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES --Trustees Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman, Mason, Roman and Opyd. NAYS – None. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $817,720.49 was presented. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Willis and seconded by Trustee Harris-Jones to approve the Claims List as presented. Roll Call: AYES --Trustees Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman, Mason, Roman and Opyd. NAYS – None. Motion carried. President Hofeld said three bills totaled 61 percent of the Claims List: $326,314.50 to the City of Chicago Heights for Lake Michigan water; $92,982.03 to Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District; $82,759.00 to Buckeye Power Sales for equipment for Public Works. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: President Hofeld invited any audience member to address the board on any subject not on the agenda. Resident Kevin Crabtree said he had been reading about pollution in the lakes at Izaak Walton and he wanted to know what steps were being taken to remedy the situation. He said he’s concerned for people who fish from the ponds and lakes and animals that swim in the ponds. Manager Haney said the Village is aware of the allegations and has asked the Illinois Environmental Protection Action to come out and do an analysis of the ponds to determine if there is a problem, and if so, how the Village will handle the problem. Doyle Landry raised the issue of African American mental health, especially among men. He said there was an incident at the Jewel store on 183rd Street and police were called and he wanted Chief McGrath to know he felt officers handled the situation properly. Rev. Landry also raised issues of Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s ranking and preventing teenagers from being under the influence of drugs. MEET THE MERCHANTS: Director Mesaros introduced Thomas Photographic Services. Owners Angela and Colin Thomas said they have been in business since 2011. They moved last year to a space at 18676 Dixie Highway. They now have double the space and are able to accommodate groups for portraits, individuals and families. They scout out outdoor locations for interesting backgrounds but can also do in-studio work with plain or holiday backgrounds. Colin also said the studio can restore any damaged paper photos. They are gearing up for Christmas season and will have Santa in the studio. The business is open Wednesday through Sunday. APPOINTMENT: President Hofeld asked the board to approve the appointment of Connie Callahan to the Economic Development Committee. Trustee Mason made a motion seconded by Trustee Roman to approve the appointment of Connie Callahan to a two-year term on the Economic Development Committee serving through Sept. 24, 2026. Roll Call: AYES --Trustees Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman, Mason, Roman and Opyd. NAYS – None. Motion carried. OMNIBUS VOTE: The board is asked to pass, approve, authorize, accept, or award the following items: A. M-2312/Groundwater Ordinance/2124 W. 183rd Street: Pass an ordinance prohibiting the use of groundwater as a potable water supply by the installation or use of potable water supply wells or by any other method for the property located at 2124 W. 183rd Street. B. Agreement/Highway Authority/2124 W. 183rd Street: Authorize the Village President to enter into a Highway Authority Agreement for the property located at 2124 W. 183rd Street. C. M-2313/Revision of Traffic Regulation Schedule: Pass an ordinance revising Schedule B of the Traffic Regulation Schedule for the addition of signs designating "no parking at any time" on South Lathrop Avenue extended south of 175th Street, to a distance of 50 feet; and "no parking of trucks" on South Lathrop Avenue extended south from 175th Street – approximately 907 feet south along the service road. D. Budget Amendment/Bid Award/Parking Lot Resurfacing/M&J Asphalt Paving Co.: Approve a budget amendment amount of $7,245 from remaining 2020 Bond Funds; and, award the 2024 Science Center Parking Lot Resurfacing Project to M&J Asphalt Paving Co. of Cicero, IL, the lowest responsible bidder, in the amount of $36,745. E. Intergovernmental Agreement/E-COM/Radio Lease: Authorize the Village President to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement between E-COM and the Village of Homewood for the purchase and lease of Motorola Radios and repayment to E-COM over a seven-year lease period. F. M-2314/Disposal of Surplus Property: Pass an ordinance authorizing the Village Manager to sell, repurpose, trade-in, sell for parts, or dispose of seven (7) vehicles listed as surplus property. G. Purchase approval/Vehicles/Currie Motors Fleet: Waive competitive bidding due to utilizing a vendor through a cooperative purchasing program, and, approve the purchase of  four (4) Ford Utility Interceptors from Currie Motors Fleet of Frankfort, IL for a total purchase of $182,372. H. Purchase Approval/Vehicles/Sutton Ford: Waive competitive bidding due to utilizing a vendor through a cooperative purchasing program; and, approve the purchase two Ford F250 Regular Cab 4x2 from Sutton Ford of Matteson, IL for a total purchase of $102,787. I. Budget Amendment/Emergency Pump Replacement/Metropolitan Industries Inc.: Approve a budget amendment of $23,260 to the Water and Sewer Fund; and, waive competitive bidding due to emergency pump replacements completed in May 2024 by Metropolitan Industries Inc. of Romeoville, IL in the amount of $23,260. J. M-2315/Special Use Permit/Starbucks/3047 W. 183rd Street: Pass an ordinance granting a Special Use Permit for a drive-through facility in the B-3 General Business zoning district for “Starbucks” at 3047 W. 183rd Street. K. M-2316/Plat of Abrogation/174th Street: Pass an ordinance approving a plat of abrogation consenting to the vacation of the 174th Street right-of-way and any easement rights therein. L. R-3200/Class 8 Cook County Tax Classification/18031 Dixie Highway: Pass a resolution supporting a Class 8 Cook County tax classification for the property at 18031 Dixie Highway owned by Wealth Center, LLC, d/b/a Mitchell and Michaels Plat Du Jour. President Hofeld asked if there were any questions from the audience. One resident asked why the Village doesn’t buy its vehicles from Homewood dealerships. Manager Haney said the Village has been part of the cooperatives to get the best price for vehicles, but the Village has been in discussion with the owner of Chevy of Homewood and Ford of Homewood to see how the dealerships can be part of the purchase process. Trustee Mason asked how the Village is designating what trucks are not allowed to park on Lathrop (Item C). Manager Haney said the signs have a picture of a semi-truck. Trustee Opyd asked for clarification on a Class 8 designation (Item L). The building had a Class 8 designation previously, and she wondered how long the property had to be vacant to qualify for the designation. Attorney Cummings said the building must have been vacant for at least 12 months to qualify. The previous restaurant at the location closed more than 12 months ago. A motion was made by Trustee Mason and seconded by Trustee Opyd to approve the Claims List as presented. Roll Call: AYES --Trustees Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman, Mason, Roman and Opyd. NAYS – None. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: The board was informed by Manager Haney that the Village will be hiring a part- time employee to run the Farmer’s Market and assist Events Manager Marla Youngblood in the off season. Haney said the intent is to revitalize the Farmer’s Market back to a place for foods and specialties. The current makeup is heavy on crafts. Trustee Roman said she was excited by the proposed change. She said the makeup of the Farmer’s Market has been discussed in the Events Committee meetings. Trustee Opyd said it seemed that the pandemic zapped some of the life out of the Farmer’s Market and it lost some of its long-time participants. She, too, hopes this will revive the Farmer’s Market. GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION: Trustee Willis thanked Chief Grabowski for bringing the new ambulance out for review by the Trustees before the board meeting. She was very impressed and believes in will be a great addition to the fleet. Trustee Harris-Jones believes the ambulance is money well spent ($383,000). Trustee Heiferman is conducting his monthly meeting with residents at Bergstein Deli on Monday, Sept. 30. Trustee Mason said the Village will be receiving Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to recover expenses from the July tornado. Governor Pritzker and President Biden have declared the area a disaster, which makes it eligible for reimbursement for expenses. Trustee Roman said Fall Fest was an outstanding event, and she thanked the 15 chefs who entered the Chili contest. Donations for the chili tasting raised $2,310 for the Homewood District 153 PTA. Trustee Opyd congratulated staff on getting a Fall Fest preview on WGN-TV’s morning program. She said the crowds looked like what attended pre-pandemic. She also thanked the staff for the opportunity to attend the Illinois Municipal League conference in Chicago calling it a learning experience. Public Works Director Burman announced the annual branch and chipping event from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the public works garage. President Hofeld congratulated resident Mary Cantway on her 110th birthday. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Trustee Opyd and seconded by Trustee Mason to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Roll Call: AYES --Trustees Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman, Mason, Roman and Opyd. NAYS – None. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk