Village of Montgomery Village Board met Oct. 12.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Roll Call
Trustee Gier Yea
Trustee Sperling Yea
Trustee Lee Yea
Trustee Betsinger Yea
Trustee Jungermann Yea
Trustee Marecek Yea
Also present: Administrator Jeff Zoephel, Attorney Laura Julien, Director of Public Works Mark Wolf, Director of Finance Justin VanVooren, Director of Community Development Rich Young, Senior Planner Jerad Chipman, Engineer Peter Wallers, Chief of Police Phillip Smith, Clerk Penny Fitzpatrick, Members of the Press and others.
President Brolley advised that the Board Meeting was being held both in person and remotely due to the Governor’s Executive Order regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic. Trustees Lee and Sperling were present for the meeting via video conference.
Public Participation
A. Public Comments.
President Brolley inquired and Administrator Zoephel confirmed that there were no Public Comments for the meeting.
B. Bid Opening for 310 N. River Street.
Administrator Zoephel summarized that bid opportunities for the property at 310 N. River Street had been published and that the one bid received would be accepted and read publicly during the Board meeting. He opened the bid, noted its details as received from Edward Schleining on behalf of the Wurst Kitchen Sausage Company, and shared the bid offer would be brought back to the Board for consideration of acceptance at a future meeting.
H. Proclamation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
President Brolley clarified that this item was removed from the Consent Agenda and would be read and considered separately for approval. He proclaimed that the second Monday of October would be recognized as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the Village of Montgomery, and thanked the McDole Elementary third grade students who wrote persuasive letters to him requesting that this historical day of significance be recognized.
Trustee Marecek moved to approve the Proclamation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Trustee Jungermann seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee and Trustee Jungermann voting yea.
Consent Agenda
A. Minutes of the Village Board Meeting of September 28, 2020.
B. Accounts Payable through October 8, 2020 in the Amount of $500,238.50.
C. Building Report for September 2020.
D. Accounts Receivable Report for September 2020.
E. Water Production Report for September 2020.
F. Refuse and Recycling Report for August 2020.
G. Cancelation of the October Committee of the Whole Meeting.
I. Ordinance 1891 Authorizing and Supporting the Continuing Rebate of Residential Property Taxes (Second Reading).
Trustee Jungermann moved to approve Items A-G, and I of the Consent Agenda. Trustee Marecek seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling and Trustee Lee voting yea.
Items for Separate Action
A. Recommendation of the Plan Commission on PC 2020-008 Special Use for Outdoor Storage Accessory to a Principle Use with Alternative Surfaces – Central States Bus Sales.
President Brolley noted Items for Separate Action A. and B. regarding a Special Use Request for Outdoor Storage with Alternate Surfaces would be discussed together and voted on separately. Director Young summarized this Plan Commission recommendation and noted a new building would be constructed and an alternate surface bus parking area would be added to the property. He shared that both staff and the Plan Commission recommended approval of this request, clarified that additional landscaping material would be required for approval, and noted wooden fencing would surround the entire property.
Trustee Betsinger and President Brolley commended staff and the Plan Commission for their thorough review of this special use request. President Brolley asked and Director Young discussed how the residential property on site would be addressed and how the stockpile area would be utilized during the construction process. Trustee Marecek inquired and Director Young noted that dust control materials would be used on the site, if needed, and shared that no comments from adjacent properties had been received regarding this outdoor storage request.
Trustee Marecek moved to approve the Recommendation of the Plan Commission on PC 2020-008 Special Use for Outdoor Storage Accessory to a Principle Use with Alternative Surfaces – Central States Bus Sales. Trustee Betsinger seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee and Trustee Jungermann voting yea.
B. Ordinance 1893 Granting a Special Use for Outdoor Storage with an Alternative Surface (Central State Bus Sales – 30 Baseline Road) (First Reading).
With no further discussion, President Brolley requested and Board consent was granted to add Ordinance 1893 to the Consent Agenda at a future meeting.
C. Recommendation of the Plan Commission on PC 2020-009 Final Plat for Unit 3 of the Balmorea Subdivision – Ryan Homes.
Director Young summarized the Plan Commission recommendation in regard to this item and shared that 52 new townhome units would be constructed to complete Unit 3 of the Balmorea subdivision. He noted the footprint and same number of townhome units that were approved as part of original plat would be used, and shared that both staff and the Plan Commission recommended approval of this request.
Trustee Gier moved to approve the Recommendation of the Plan Commission on PC 2020-009 Final Plat for Unit 3 of the Balmorea Subdivision – Ryan Homes. Trustee Jungermann seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee, Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek and Trustee Betsinger voting yea.
D. Ordinance 1894 Approving the Final Plat for Balmorea Townhomes (Waiver of First and Passage on Second Reading).
With no further discussion, President Brolley requested a motion to approve Ordinance 1894 Approving the Final Plat for Balmorea Townhomes.
Trustee Marecek moved to approve Ordinance 1894 Approving the Final Plat for Balmorea Townhomes (Waiver of First and Passage on Second Reading). Trustee Jungermann seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee and Trustee Jungermann voting yea.
E. Montgomery Development Fund Program Amendment.
Director Young summarized this amendment proposal for a grant incentive program to help establish new restaurants in the Mill District and discussed the program’s overview, objectives, requirements and application review process. He noted a grading worksheet would be used to evaluate each applicant’s restaurant experience, business plan, financials, proposed full-time jobs and services to be offered. Director Young shared that two businesses were interested in utilizing this program, and this item would be brought back to the next meeting for Board approval.
Board questions were raised and Director Young explained how the program guidelines would address what site improvements or equipment would be eligible for grant fund use. Trustee Marecek discussed how the Montgomery Development Fund Committee would individually assess each application and grading worksheet submitted in order to determine whether a recommendation for approval would be granted and what grant amount would apply, based on the proposed scope of operations. After Board discussion, Trustee Betsinger shared that he was not in support of implementing this program amendment.
Trustee Gier moved to approve the Montgomery Development Fund Program Amendment. Trustee Jungermann seconded this motion.
5 Yea. 1 No. Motion carried. Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee, Trustee Jungermann and Trustee Marecek voting yea. Trustee Betsinger voting no.
F. Ordinance 1892 Approving a Redevelopment Agreement by and between the Village of Montgomery, Illinois and American Crystal Sugar Company (Waiver of First and Passage on Second Reading).
Director VanVooren summarized Ordinance 1892 and noted it approved an agreement for the development of a second sugar dome for the American Crystal Sugar Company. He stated no incentives had been previously provided and shared what revenues had been generated from construction of the first dome, and noted similar revenues were expected to be generated by this substantial investment and construction of a second dome. It was also shared that the petitioner would be requesting reimbursement of qualifying expenditures for this construction project, and the Village’s TIF Attorney would be consulted, if necessary, to determine whether TIF2 funds would be eligible for reimbursement in regard to the planning, building demolition and storm sewer work for this project.
Board questions were raised and Director VanVooren discussed the estimated timeline for when this project would come back for approval in order to begin construction and when completion was projected by March 2022. He further discussed the TIF2 Fund balance and noted when qualifying expenditures would be eligible for reimbursement over time for this project. Trustee Jungermann asked that the Fire Department be consulted to determine whether additional foam fire apparatus would be required. Clare Walter of the American Crystal Sugar Company thanked the Board for their willingness to partner with them on this project. Trustee Sperling and President Brolley thanked them for partnering with the Village to locate their facility in Montgomery and further invest in our community.
Trustee Marecek moved to approve Ordinance 1892 Approving a Redevelopment Agreement by and between the Village of Montgomery, Illinois and American Crystal Sugar Company (Waiver of First and Passage on Second Reading). Trustee Sperling seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee and Trustee Jungermann voting yea.
Items for Discussion
A. Sustainability Update.
Senior Planner Chipman summarized the Sustainability Update and noted Montgomery had been designated as an EPA Green Power Partner. He discussed the usage and benefits of the recently installed Electrical Vehicle Charging Station and Fox River Bike Share Program, noted the number of solar permits that had been issued, and provided an updated status on the Fox Metro Reclamation District Utility Scale Solar Field installation.
Trustees Lee, Jungermann and Sperling inquired and Senior Planner Chipman summarized the average number of cars that had used the charging station monthly, and shared how the pandemic had affected community participation in the bike share program. He noted more communities were expected to join the bike share program, which would likely increase bike rental usage, and clarified that bikes rented in Montgomery could be dropped off in other designated program community locations. Senior Planner Chipman outlined the timeframe for when the bikes would be removed, stored for the winter and available again for use next spring.
B. Public Works Space Needs Analysis.
Director VanVooren summarized the Phase One results of the Public Works Space Needs Analysis in order to be able to design, fund and build a new Public Works Facility. He introduced Mark Bushhouse and Marc Rohde of Williams Architects, who discussed the design criteria, space programming, building concept plans, current and future facility needs and the cost estimates for the project. Architect Bushhouse summarized the total estimated building and garage area square footage suggested, outlined the various departmental spaces that would be needed, and shared how this project proposal compared to similar communities. He additionally shared the total estimated cost for the facility and noted the projected time table for the design, bidding, construction and completion stages in order to begin operations usage in 2022.
Board questions were raised asking how the existing Public Works building would be utilized, whether the cost estimates included improvements to that facility and whether the lime softening plant would be decommissioned, if an alternate water source was utilized in the future. Further questions asked how and when the design and engineering for the future expansion area would be determined, how the Village would pay for the new building, and what outstanding debt still existed from the construction of the Police Station and Village Hall facilities. Architects Rohde and Bushhouse explained how the cost estimates were developed with mid-range interior materials. President Brolley and Trustee Jungermann both noted the importance of responsibly and cost effectively building this facility to best meet the long term needs of the Village.
Additional Board questions included whether the cost estimates included everything needed to improve the site and construct the building, and which comparable communities were used to determine the staffing to population ratios referenced. Further questions were asked and Director Wolf addressed whether the onsite fuel and water tanks would remain in their current locations or be moved when the Illinois regulations regarding underground tanks were amended in the future. President Brolley and Trustee Betsinger asked and Director VanVooren discussed what timeline, processes, agreements and various phases of the project would need to come back to the Board for consideration and approval in order to take advantage of the current low interest rates, manage bond issuance and address debt service to best fund this project. President Brolley thanked Williams Architects for their analysis and presentation.
New or Unfinished Business
Trustee Jungermann inquired and Director Wolf clarified that one large refuse item can be disposed of per week. He and Trustee Betsinger discussed that residents were encouraged to call DC Trash or Public Works ahead of time to ensure that their large refuse items would be properly collected. Trustee Marecek noted that mattresses being disposed of needed to be enclosed in a large bag, which could be purchased at local hardware stores. Trustee Jungermann asked and Director Young advised that McAlister’s Deli was anticipated to open soon after some sidewalk and landscaping site improvements were completed.
Future Meetings
A. Historic Preservation Commission – Monday, October 19, 2020 (Canceled).
B. Committee of the Whole Meeting – Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Canceled) C. Beautification Committee – Wednesday, October 21, 2020 (Contest Judging).
D. Zoning Board of Appeals—Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
E. Intergovernmental Committee Meeting—Monday, October 26, 2020 (Canceled).
F. Village Board Meeting—Monday, October 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
Executive Session: None
Adjournment: 8:34 p.m.
Seeking no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Trustee Jungermann and seconded by Trustee Marecek to adjourn the meeting.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling and Trustee Lee voting yea.
https://ci.montgomery.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10122020-478
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