Sangamon Sun

Village of La Grange Board of Trustees met Feb. 13 

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Board of Trustees of the Village of La Grange meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Village Clerk Paul Saladino. On roll call, as read by Clerk Saladino, the following were:

PRESENT: Trustees Augustine, Gale, Kotynek, O'Brien and Peterson, with President Kuchler presiding.

ABSENT: Trustee McGee

OTHERS: Village Manager Jack Knight

Village Attorney Benjamin Schuster

Community Development Director Charity Jones

Public Works Director Richard Colby

Finance Director Lou Cipparrone

Police Chief Robert Wardlaw

lnterim Fire Chief John Buckley

President Kuchler welcomed the Village Board and thanked Trustees for attending the meeting. The video of the meeting is available on YouTube, and will also be available on Facebook and posted to the Village website.

President Kuchler asked The Pefra Family to lead the audience in reciting the pledge of allegiance.

2. PRESIDENT'S REPORT

President Kuchler recognized and congratulated Hector Pefra on his 25 years of service with the La Grange Public Works Department as both a General Utility Worker and currently as a Crew Leader. President Kuchler thanked the Pefra family for supporting Hector, and the Public Works Department who came to support Hector. President Kuchler thanked Public Works for all of their hard work.

Hector Pena stated that he is glad to have worked for the Village for the past 25 years, he appreciated the recognition of his accomplishment and the recognition of his skills. He thanked the Public Works Department for the support.

President Kuchler noted that February is Black History Month and he invited Becky Lorenzen from the Community Diversity Group to talk about the community Mosaic project. 

Becky Lorenzen, Community Diversity Group, noted that the group will be working with the organization Green Star on the Community Mosaic Project to fundraise and install a mosaic at the Community Center.

President Kuchler thanked Ms. Lorenzen for the details, and noted more information can be found at www.communitydiversity.orq.

President Kuchler noted that it is still winter and it gets dark early, so drivers should be alert and aware of pedestrians and bike riders.

President Kuchler congratulated all the Department Heads, especially Charity Jones, Director of Community Development on the installation of the Gateway signage at the Village limits.

President Kuchler noted that La Grange Restaurant Week will take place starting Friday, February 24 through Sunday, March 5. The participating restaurants will feature specially-priced menus. For more information including restaurant listings, visit www.laqrangeevents.com.

President Kuchler stated that he participated in a discussion with Rick Colby, Public Works Director, Jack Knight, Village Manager, Burke Engineering and representatives of MWRD to discuss the 50th Street conveyance project.

President Kuchler noted that the next regular meeting of the Village Board will be held Monday, February 27,2023.

3. MANAGER'S REPORT

Village Manager Knight announced the following upcoming meetings. The Plan Commission meeting on February 14th, was cancelled. The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners was scheduled for Wednesday, February'l5th, at 7:30 p.m. The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Thursday, February 16th, was cancelled. The Foreign Fire lnsurance Board will be on Friday, February 24th, at 8:00 a.m. at the Fire Department.

Village Manager Knight reminded residents that Village Offices will be closed in observance of President's Day on Monday, February 20th. During this time, public safety services will not be impacted. Offices will reopen on Tuesday, February 21 , 2023.

Village Manager Knight stated that the Capital Projects Workshop will be the first of several upcoming discussions regarding the Village's Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget. This presentation will include an overview of the proposed capital, water, and sewer

fund budgets. ln addition to funding now available for capital projects, revenue increases have aided in planning for the future, improved support for the fulfillment of the strategic priorities identified by the Village Board, and demonstrate a responsible commitment to maintaining the Village's aging infrastructure. He noted that staff has worked diligently in crafting these proposals for review and are able to respond to any questions that the Village Board may have. Manager Knight invited Lou Cipparrone, Finance Director to begin the presentation.

Finance Director Cipparrone noted that the Capital Projects are included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget. This year, the Village has been afforded an opportunity to make some critical investments in its infrastructure due to higher than anticipated revenues. The higher than expected revenue performance is due to several factors, including a significant increase in sales tax as a result of the "Leveling the Playing Field for Illinois Retail Act," effective January 1,2021.

ln addition, State-shared revenues (Income Tax and Corporate Replacement Tax) have increased due to individual and corporate income tax revenue increases and a robust Illinois labor market. State per capita distributions have been augmented by the increase in La Grange's population as of the last Census. Lastly, due to uncertainties related to the national economy and the possibility of a recession, the Federal Reserve took an aggressive approach by raising the federal fund target rate from near zero to 4.5 percent over the past year. This targeted move has significantly increased investment income.

As a result, the proposed budget includes an increased annual contribution towards capital improvements, from $1 .0 million to $2.5 million, in FY 2023-24. The increased contribution will serve to fund current planned projects, address inflationary pressures, continue streetscape improvements, and allow {or further capital planning. An increased transfer also allows for more complete maintenance programs which serve to maintain a high level of repair, and hedge against the more significant costs of reconstruction.

Department of Public Works Director Colby outlined the capital projects that the Village intends to pursue this upcoming fiscal year. The first capital project will include the storm water and sewer program north of 47th Street sewer improvements. Funds are proposed for reviewing and updating the modeling for the Maple Avenue Study Area, Ogden Avenue Study Area, and Drainage District D. Another project will be the south of 47rh Street Sewer Improvements. Pending litigation, the impacts on the design of this improvement, legal expenses, and the increasing cost of construction factor into the scope of the project. Sewer Televising is another planned project. The purpose of the sewer televising and cleaning program is to maintain the Village's sewer system by removing debris from within the sewers, assessing the condition of the pipes, and identifying areas that require immediate repair. Finally, the Sewer Lining Program provides a new structurally sufficient pipe within the existing pipe, offering a significant advantage over traditional open trench methods.

Mr. Colby outlined the Neighborhood Streets and Hardscape Improvement projects. The Neighborhood Resurfacing Program serves to resurface and repair neighborhood streets on a defined schedule utilizing a data-driven approach. The Brainard Avenue Resurfacing project consists of the resurfacing of Brainard Avenue from 47th Street to approximately 150 feet north of Ogden Avenue to the La Grange Village Limit, excluding the recently resurfaced section. The Shawmut Avenue resurfacing project, from Kemman to the Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) Railroad crossing, is a federal aid eligible route. The Gilbert Avenue Road Resurfacing project, for which the Village has received notification of approval of a joint project for the resurfacing of Gilbert Avenue from 47th Street to Ogden Avenue was received. Funding is estimated to be available in FY 2026-27. The Village's Street Patching Program incorporates pothole patching using both cold and hot methods. Due to the increase in the transfer from the General Fund to the Capital Fund, a new maintenance program was added for annual street patching.

The Streetscape Improvements which began in FY 2022-23 are nearly complete for both phases of the project, with minor work to occur in spring of 2023. The 50/50 Sidewalk Program is a cost sharing program offered to residents for the repair of public sidewalk. The 47th Street and East Avenue Intersection Improvements are forthcoming, per IDOT representatives, as bids are scheduled for the fall of 2023 with construction to begin in the spring of 2024. The Edgewood Reconstruction {rom 47th to 51st Streets, was initiated in the fall o{ 2022 with sewer improvements and curb replacement that will continue in the spring o{ 2023. The Permeable Paver Lot 3 Replacement will be contingent upon available funding.

Mr. Colby outlined the Capital Maintenance Programs, one of which includes a tree planting program which aims to plant a replacement tree for each parkway tree removed due to disease or damage, and serves to fill vacant parkway locations. The crack filling program is a preventative maintenance program that extends the life expectancy of a street. Thermoplastic street marking is part of an overall effort to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety through re-striping various thermoplastic street markings that are damaged or worn from vehicles, plows and other conditions that may cause deterioration. Re-striping improves the visibility of the markings.

Director Cipparrone provided an overview of the water fund as an enterprise fund structured to finance the cost of operating, maintaining, and replacing the Village's water distribution system. The Village's goal is to maintain reserves at about 50% of operating expenses. Fund reserves at the end of the fiscal year are estimated to be $2.0 million or 42.9"/" of operating expenses. ln order to restore Water Fund reserves, no water main replacement projects or other capital improvement projects were scheduled in FY 2022-23. Water fund reserves decrease to $600,000, or 7 .4y" of operating expenses after completion of the Brainard Avenue water main project scheduled and budgeted in FY 2023-24.

Director Cipparrone summarized the Village's policy to pass through water rate increases from the Village of McCook, which supplies Lake Michigan water to the Village. McCook receives Lake Michigan water directly from the City of Chicago. The City of Chicago implemented a water rate increase in the amount of 3.0% which was passed on by the Village of McCook to governmental users, effective June 1,2020. Chicago/McCook also implemented water rate increases of 1.35% effective June, 2021 , and 4.3olo effective June, 2022. 

Trustee Kotynek inquired if the additional funding would affect the Village's Moody Rating.

Director Cipparrone noted that the additional funding should have no effect on the Villages AA2 rating since the Village has not issued bonds for a number of years and is still low in the overall debt capital.

Trustee Kotynek requested that the Village reach out to Moody's in order to confirm that the additional funding will not affect the Village's AA2 rating.

Director Colby presented the water system improvements beginning with the Brainard Avenue Water Main Replacement. The resurfacing of Brainard Avenue from 47th Street to just north of Ogden Avenue is planned for FY 2023-24 in conjunction with the federal roadway grant for this project. Water main replacement on Brainard Avenue is included in this project due to water main's condition and age. Fiscal year 2024-25 has several larger one-time cost projects which have been recommended and were included in the water and sewer rate study for water system improvements and resiliency hardening. Fiscal year 2026-27 has no water main replacement projects planned in order to build up fund reserves. A total of $1 Million in annual debt service is shown to begin inFY 2027 -28 as an expense item for a $15M in bond issuance in FY2026-27 . Actual timing of the water main projects will be over the course of several years as water main improvements are coordinated with street, sewer improvements, and storm water projects. Water accountability (pumped vs. billed ratio) is subject to fluctuation based on the time of year, water main breaks, timing of correction, and demand. Each year, the Village performs a leak survey with electronic equipment in order to detect possible water leakage on hydrants, valves, mains and services.

ln summary, the proposed budget includes significant investment in infrastructure over the next several years across all major asset classes including streets, water, sewer, and storm water. The infrastructure capital plan will align projects, timing, and financing for the major infrastructure initiatives for planned expenses over the next five to ten years.

President Kuchler clarified what water accountability is, noting that the Village purchases the water from McCook and then sells/delivers it to the residents and businesses in the Village. Based on how much water is purchased from McCook and sold to residents and businesses, there is a loss o{ 20-257o that needs to be accounted for. The Village uses best practices to address water accountability like the annual leak survey in order to better control the loss of water and funds.

Trustee Augustine asked what percentage of the sewer lining has been completed.

Mr. Colby noted that an accurate number is not available, but about 20o/" of the Village sewer lines have been lined.

Trustee Gale inquired as to how bonds are issued.

Director Cipparrone noted that the source of the payment of the bond is what determines what the process will be for issuing bonds. lf property taxes are recommended, a public referendum is needed. When an alternate source is pledged, then the referendum can be petitioned through the Village Board.

President Kuchler clarified that the meeting is only reviewing the budget for the next 5 years, and the Board is not seeking to issue bonds at this time but is reviewing the possibility of issuing bonds in the future.

Trustee Kotynek inquired if the 15 million funding encapsulates all the Village streets in the Street Condition survey that ranked poor / fair.

Mr. Colby stated that that survey recommended 3-4 million per year over a 15-20 year cycle to address the most pressing needs.

Trustee Augustine inquired as to the time frame of the project north of 47th Street.

Mr. Colby noted that proposals are currently being reviewed to analyze the overall costs.

President Kuchler thanked Village Staff for the presentation.

4. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS

None.

5. CONSENTAGENDAANDVOTE

A. Ordinance - Plat of Consolidation for 208 Sawyer Avenue / Janine Ferguson-Marsha ll

B. Material Purchase - Spring Flower Planting Program

C. Minutes of the Village of La Grange Board of Trustees Regular Meeting, Monday, January 9, 2023

D. Consolidated Voucher 230123

E. Consolidated Voucher 230213

A motion was made by Trustee Kotynek to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Trustee Gale.

Trustee Augustine stated that in consideration of her relationship with the Village Prosecutor, she recused herself from each item on the voucher related to the Village Prosecutor. 

Approved by a roll call vote:

Ayes: Trustees Augustine, Gale, Kotynek, O'Brien and Peterson

Nays: None

Absent: Trustee McGee

6. CURRENT BUSINESS

None.

7. PUBLIC COMMENT

Ms. Laura West, 140 Sunset Avenue, stated that she appreciated the in-depth discussion regarding the capital projects budget. She explained that she is happy to see that a study to study flooding North of 47th Street has been budgeted and expressed frustration that a capital project has not been accounted for in the budget in the next 5 to 10 years. She inquired if any other alternatives to mitigating flooding were being considered for La Grange, in particular for the corner of Sunset Avenue and Elm Avenue.

President Kuchler thanked Ms. West.

Maria and Robbie, Scout Troop 216, are currently working on their Communications Merit badge by attending the Village Board meeting.

President Kuchler thanked Maria and Robbie for attending to earn their badge, especially during such a long meeting.

Maria asked if an off-leash dog park could be considered in La Grange.

President Kuchler explained that the Village does not oversee any parks, as the La Grange Park District is responsible for the parks in the Village. He asked Trustee O'Brien, who was previously on the Park District Board, if an off-leash dog park was planned.

Trustee O'Brien advised that while it had been previously discussed, he was unaware if it was moving forward.

B. TRUSTEE COMMENTS

Trustee Peterson noted that she attended the Lyons Township High School South campus and was impressed with the group of student volunteers working with Feed My Starving Children Organization for Martin Luther King Day.

Trustee Augustine encouraged residents to contact the Park District to request a proposal for a dog park in La Grange. She also noted that the study for the area north of 47th Street will provide better information to other projects in the area. 

Trustee Kotynek thanked the scouts for attending and offered his assistance to any troop members if needed. He also reminded residents to be careful and aware during student drop off and pick up at Cossitt School.

President Kuchler reminded residents to be aware and safe at all area schools during student drop off and pick up.

9. CLOSED SESSION

None.

10. ADJOURNMENT

At 8:36 p.m. Trustee Kotynek made a motion to

Approved by a roll call vote.  

https://www.villageoflagrange.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3035