Board of Trustees

Village of Peoria Heights Board of Trustees February 4, 2025 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, Elizabeth Khazzam, Jennifer Reichert, Matthew Wigginton, and Brandon Wisenburg. Trustee Jeff Goett was absent. Others present included Mayor Michael Phelan, Village Administrator and Chief of Police Dustin Sutton, Village Clerk Stephanie Turner, and Village Counsel Attorney Mark Walton. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 21, 2025 meeting. Trustee Reichert seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 5-0. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Ms. Tammy Roush came forward to speak on behalf of her family requesting a handicap spot. She stated they’d brought a handicap placard, proof of residency, and a note from the doctor. Mayor Phelan thanked her noting she may be called back up later in the meeting. Hearing no additional comments, Mayor Phelan closed the meeting to public comment. The Board of Trustees moved on to old business. Hearing no old business, the Board moved on to new business. Trustee DeVore made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Trustee Khazzam seconded the motion. The consent agenda included approval of use of Tower Park for Cystic Fibrosis Annual Great Strides Walk on October 4, 2025, approval of use of Tower Park for Friday Night Heights on May 2, May 23, June 6, August 1, September 5, October, 3, 2025, and approval of use of Tower Park. There were no questions on the annual events. The Board approved the consent agenda by 5-0. Trustee Wigginton made a motion to approve a handicapped sign at 1107 E Moneta Ave by Mr. Gary Roush. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. Trustee Wigginton explained the Roushes don’t have parking on their property, and Mr. Roush is handicapped but on street parking in front of their house is not always available. Trustee Khazzam asked if the Board had ever had a similar situation. Trustee Wigginton explained there had been requests. Ms. Roush provided additional information regarding the house and the neighborhood. Trustee DeVore asked about gaining neighborhood compliance. Trustee Wigginton noted there might be additional avenues for addressing compliance. Trustee Wisenburg noted he had concerns about the situation, but he would be more willing if the handicap placard was a permanent placard. Trustee Reichert asked if they had explored installing a half driveway. Ms. Roush stated they had not. Trustee DeVore asked if it was common practice in other municipalities, and Attorney Walton stated he had not seen it, but it wasn’t inappropriate. Trustee DeVore asked if the Village could help use a grant to install a driveway. Community Development Director, Mr. Wayne Aldrich, noted that none of the current grant funds could be used, but the Board could look for future funds. Mayor Phelan suggested the Board establish a policy for such matters if it approves the sign. Trustee Wigginton noted there were ordinance issues outside the request that needed to be addressed. Trustee Wigginton made a motion to amend the motion to limit the approval to a probationary handicap sign valid for 120 days with the condition staff will bring the issue and a policy back to the Board for full approval. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the amendment. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the amendment. The Board voted 5-0 to the motion as amended. Trustee Wigginton announced Assistant Chief Thompson was present. Assistant Chief Thompson stated the Fire Department was applying for a construction grant through the Office of State Fire Marshall to do some renovations on the offices upstairs to include an office area as well as a fitness room. Trustee Wigginton asked if there was a matching portion. Assistant Chief Thompson stated the project was 100% grant funded. He also shared there had been promotions in the PHFD recently. Trustee Reichert made a motion to approve the notice of intent to award for the lead service line replacement (LSLR). Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. Trustee Reichert stated the Village had gone out to bid, received 4 bids back, and the lowest bid was from Five Star Energy. Mr. Don Taul, the engineer from Woodard and Curran, came forward to explain the Village had been granted $2.2 million for lead service line replacements in the first year. Mr. Taul explained there are so many unknown service lines that a lot of the project will be potholing to check the material lines. The contract was based on a per unit price. Mr. Taul explained that the Village held a pre-bid meeting to explain the project, but there had been several discrepancies in the bidding process. He noted that they had researched Five Star, and all references came back favorable. Mr. Taul noted he had spoken to the company extensively about the project, and they were comfortable with their bid. He noted the bid price was comparable to others he’d seen for other communities. Mr. Taul stated he had no qualms about recommending the Village accept the bid. Trustee DeVore asked if the high bidders had attended the pre-bid meeting. Mr. Taul noted he was unsure, but all information on the project was available to the bidders. Trustee Wigginton noted his appreciation of Woodard and Curran doing full due diligence researching the bidder. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the notice of intent. Trustee Reichert made a motion to approve Resolution 2025-04: a Resolution of the Village of Peoria Heights Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Woodard and Curran for Water Capital Program and Grant Administration. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. Director Aldrich noted the importance of support to a substantial capital improvement program. He also noted Woodard and Curran had been very helpful to the Village in receiving grant funds. He covered the details of the contract which include budgeting, construction compliance, and grant oversight. Mr. Taul noted the company works cooperatively with the Village on the areas the Village needs assistance. Trustee DeVore asked if the contract would do away with individual contracts. Director Aldrich noted it wouldn’t, and Woodard and Curran would continue to provide engineering proposals on projects. Clerk Turner provided clarification fiscal year 2025 ends April 30, 2025. Attorney Walton noted he would change the contract to read coverage through fiscal year 2026 as that was the intention. The Board agreed with the change to the scope of work. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the contract. Mayor Phelan asked for miscellaneous business. Director Alrich proved an update on Prospect Road noting the progress of the project. He also stated he had been working to find contractors to do the work for the HUD Healthy Home project. He has issued three requests for qualifications, and he thinks he’s finally found one. Trustee Khazzam shared Peoria County had approached the Village with an initiative to celebrate the county’s bicentennial. They’re selling fiberglass bison for $2,500 for decoration and display. She noted it would be a great opportunity to work with local artists and generate tourism. Trustee Khazzam noted she’s working with local groups, like the school or the Chamber, to create displays around the Village. Trustee DeVore requested a cost estimate for the decoration. She also asked what happened after the event. Trustee Khazzam noted the Village could either keep the bison or they can be donated to Wildlife Prairie Park for display. The Board agreed to bring the issue back for additional discussion. Trustee Wisenburg asked Assistant Chief Thompson if the PHFD had two assistant chiefs before. Assistant Chief Thompson noted it was normal, and previously the PHFD had as many as four. Trustee Wigginton reported he had met with Trustee Khazzam and Director Aldrich to review different systems in other municipalities for awarding BDD grant funds. He spoke about a variety of options. He noted they’re still discussing policies and options for the program. Trustee Wisenburg proposed the Village eliminate the BDD tax and then implement a grocery tax in its place. The Board discussed the proposal noting the restricted nature of funds. Hearing no additional business, Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Hearing none, the meeting was closed to public comment. Trustee Reichert made a motion to adjourn, and Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. The Board of Trustees voted 5-0 to adjourn at 6:49 pm. ____________________________________ ______________________________________ Michael Phelan, Mayor Stephanie Turner, Village Clerk