Board of Trustees

Village of Peoria Heights Board of Trustees September 17, 2024 The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Everyone stood for a moment of silence and the Pledge to the Flag. Upon calling roll, the following Trustees were present: Sarah DeVore, Jeff Goett, Elizabeth Khazzam, Jennifer Reichert, Matthew Wigginton, and Brandon Wisenburg. Trustee Khazzam was attending remotely. Others present included Mayor Michael Phelan, Village Administrator and Chief of Police Dustin Sutton, Village Clerk Stephanie Turner, and Village Counsel Attorney Mark Walton, and Fire Chief Dan Decker. Mayor Phelan noted since Trustee Khazzam was remote the Board needed to vote to allow her to participate. Trustee Khazzam was absent due to work commitments. Trustee Reichert made a motion to allow Trustee Khazzam to participate remotely, and Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the motion. Trustee Goett made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 3, 2024 meeting. Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 6-0. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Hearing no comments, Mayor Phelan closed the meeting to public comment. Attorney Walton explained since the Village has a full-time fire employee the Board needs to appoint a local pension Board. He agreed the Board could handle both appointments with one motion. Trustee Goett made a motion to appoint Meri Phillips and Bart Cumming to the Peoria Heights Fire Pension Board. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. The appointments were approved 6-0. The Board of Trustees moved on to old business. Trustee DeVore made a motion to approve Resolution 2024-14: Resolution Rescinding Prior Resolution No. 2024-06 Regarding the Hiring of Full-Time Firefighters. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. Trustee DeVore explained she had shared cost estimates with the Board. Trustee DeVore noted that the Board wasn’t denying hiring and that the PHFD has a $600k increase in budget. She spoke about the need for the Village as a whole to help with recruiting efforts. Fire Chief Decker stated the Village needs to move forward with a new model of staffing and scheduling. He noted that restrictions would have an impact on scheduling. Fire Chief Decker acknowledged the concern of hiring staff who couldn’t be afforded. He stated there would be difficulties. Trustee Wisenburg asked for details about how many respond to calls as well as how many would be needed for part-time staffing. Fire Chief Decker provided answers noting the variables of the situation. Trustee Wisenburg noted difficulty hiring staff when administration had stated the Village couldn’t afford those positions. He noted the Board is responsible for providing public services. Trustee Wigginton noted the breakdown in funding in the current budget with more than 60% of funds being in provided services. Trustee Wigginton stated the fire budget ha increased from $250,000 to over $1 million in 4 years. Trustee Wigginton stressed the motion doesn’t decrease funding of the PHFD. Trustee Wigginton noted the Village could only afford 6 months of salaries. Chief Sutton noted the Village had made great strides in the last year by hiring a full-time fire chief and increasing response pay. Chief Sutton noted the Board had discussions during the budget about delaying hiring, raising sales taxes, levying property taxes, or cutting personnel. Chief Sutton noted that officers were an obvious cut as the largest budget. He stressed the Board had been working the last year to get more information and to figure out how to pay for the personnel. Chief Sutton noted if the Board hired then had to cut staff it would be very difficult to hire again. Trustee DeVore noted she didn’t intend to imply information hadn’t been provided to the Board but rather she had expected the revenues to be different. She stated at no fault of administration information had changed and decisions were made in rapid succession. She noted her decision was based on her being too optimistic. Chief Sutton clarified he speaks to the Board regularly and doesn’t believe they have misinformation. Trustee Wigginton acknowledged outside forces had also impact on the Village’s current position. Trustee Wisenburg noted that plans change and the Board should adjust. He noted his confidence in the PHFD’s future as their legacy speaks for itself. The Board voted 4-2 to approve the resolution. Trustee Goett and Trustee Reichert voted nay. . The Board moved on to new business. Trustee DeVore made a motion to approve use of Tower Park for the Peoria Heights Fine Art Fair on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, 2025. Trustee Wigginton seconded the motion. Ms. Johnson thanked the Village for their help last year. The Board approved the event 6-0. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-1736: an Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Peoria Heights Tax Increment Financing District and Peoria Heights Business Development District No. 2 Redevelopment Agreement by and between the Village of Peoria Heights and Beck Oil Company of Illinois. Trustee Reichert seconded the motion. Trustee Khazzam thanked Director Aldrich for his work on the agreement. Mr. Pat Barry, CFO of Beck’s Oil, and Director Aldrich summarized the deal highlighting unique features. Director Aldrich noted Beck’s has paid for the full cost of the improvements to the intersection and thanked Beck’s ownership and management for the good relationship and negotiations. Mr. Barry thanked the Board for the welcome and noted the company was very happy to work with the Village. Trustee Wisenburg questioned the details of the land vacation later on the agenda. Director Aldrich provided details including information why maintenance would be the Village’s responsibility. Trustee Wisenburg asked about Beck’s efforts to be designated a truck stop. Mr. Barry noted that nothing about operations would change. Attorney Walton commented on the safeguards for the Village and utility access in the agreement even in the case of a sale. The Board approved the development agreement 6-0. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-1737: an Ordinance Providing for the Vacation of Parts of Paris Avenue. Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. Trustee Khazzam noted the item went together with the previous agenda item. Trustee Wigginton asked if there was sufficient easement on the south side to expand the road if necessary. Attorney Walton stated he wasn’t certain of the exact details, but he believed it sufficient. Director Aldrich concurred. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance. Trustee Reichert made a motion to approve Resolution 2024-15: a Resolution Amending and Restating Resolution 2024-13 Providing a Financial Commitment for and Authorizing Application by the Village of Peoria Heights Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Funds for Lighting and Paved Shared Use Path Buffer for Illinois Route 29. Trustee Wigginton seconded the motion. Director Aldrich explained it had been previously presented, but details had changed, and the local match has increased from the previous presentation. The project would be about $2.5 million with a local match of $850,000. Director Aldrich explained, if awarded, expenses wouldn’t be for at least another year. He noted the cost of wooden light poles as compared to decorative lighting and stated there was a chance that IDOT will pay some portion of the local match based on a community score. He noted it was uncertain as the project would be compared to other applicants in the pool. The Board discussed current lighting, and Director Aldrich explained that the current lighting isn’t sufficient with the widening of the road. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the resolution. Mayor Phelan asked for miscellaneous business. Trustee DeVore noted there had been complaints about the transition to GFL. She thanked a police officer who helped a pair of elderly residents on her street. She noted that service quality had decreased. Mayor Phelan encouraged residents to contact the Village with concerns as the contract binds GFL to the same level of service. Chief Sutton noted he had anticipated difficulties, but he will sit down with GFL. Trustee DeVore again thanked the PHPD for assisting residents saying it was above and beyond their duties. Chief Sutton reminded residents that Taste of Heights is scheduled for Thursday, and the normal detour route will be used. He thanked Public Works in advance for their help. Director Aldrich noted there would be a presentation on the active transportation plan at the next meeting. Additionally, public meetings for the Village’s projects will be held later in the month. Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Chris Chandler, stated repairs on Glen Elm will be scheduled the following day. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Clerk Turner read correspondence from Mr. Ray Lockhart. Mr. Lockhart expressed disappointment the Board was rescinding hiring for the fire department. He stated that he looked forward to addressing the issue on a ballot. The meeting was closed to public comment. Trustee Goett made a motion to approve payment of the bills. Trustee Reichert seconded the motion. There were no questions on the bills. The Board voted 6-0 to approve payment of the bills. Clerk Turner read the Treasurer’s Report. At the end of July, there was $9,502,448.67 in the Village’s accounts and $2,267,895.44 in Water’s accounts. At the end of August, there was $9,734,894.85 in the Village’s accounts and $2,098,151.40 in Water’s accounts. Trustee Wigginton made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report, and Trustee DeVore seconded. The motion passed 6-0. Trustee Goett made a motion to adjourn, and Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. The Board of Trustees voted 6-0 to adjourn at 6:56 pm. _____________________________________ ______________________________________ Michael Phelan, Mayor Stephanie Turner, Village Clerk