Rockford Sun

Village of Machesney Park Village Board met Feb. 3.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Steve Johnson. Clerk Lori Mitchell gave the Invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Trustee Joe Seipts

Present: Mayor Steve Johnson, Trustees Joe Seipts, Jake Schmidt, James Kidd, Aaron Wilson, and Terri Bailey

Absent: Trustee Erick Beck

Present: Village Clerk Lori Mitchell

Village Attorney Tom Green

Village Treasurer Bradley Robison

Community Development Director James Richter II

Village Administrator Tim Savage

Finance and Human Resources Manager Michelle Johannsen

Public Works Superintendent Chad Hunter

Village Engineer Chris Dopkins

Harlem Student Liaison Hannah Herrera

Public Safety Supervisor Lt. Tammie Stanley

1. Minutes Approved

The Journal of Proceedings for the Regular Board Meeting from January 21, 2020, was approved per typewritten copy submitted by the Clerk on a motion by Trustee Wilson and seconded by Trustee Seipts. Motion carried by voice vote.

2. Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Bradley Robison presented the Treasurer’s Report indicating it reflected what the Village received in Motor Tax Fuel Funds of $103,153.13; Build Machesney Road Funds of $300,611.81; and the total of all funds as of January 29, 2020 was $14,951,153.52. Copies of the report are available at the back of the room. A motion was made by Trustee Schmidt and seconded by Trustee Seipts to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried by voice vote.

3. Communications

Clerk Mitchell reported that in honor of President’s Day, Village Hall will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2020. Our next Committee and Board Meetings will be Tuesday, February 18.

4. Warrant/Approved

Trustee Schmidt presented the warrant in the amount of $725,911.99 and moved for its authorization; seconded by Trustee Seipts. Motion approved. On roll call: 5 ayes (Trustees Seipts, Schmidt, Kidd, Wilson, and Bailey), 0 nays, 1 absent (Trustee Beck)

5. Administrative Reports

6. Mayor’s Report

Mayor Steve Johnson presented his State of the Community Address as follows:

Fellow Trustees and elected officials, appointed board members, residents, and Village staff:

I’m pleased to announce that the State of the Village is outstanding and that we have seen considerable growth and investment in our community over the past year. The success that we are enjoying comes as a result of great work and dedication by our staff, advisory boards and trustees; and I’m excited to share these achievements with you.

The financial position of the Village is strong and stable. For the fourth consecutive year, the Village received the Distinguished Budget Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

After four years of completing the construction of a new boat launch, the State finally reimbursed the Village the $200,000 grant funding that we had been awarded.

The Village is designing and constructing a new public works building with no bonding or financing. The fund balance reserve has increased from 79% to 88% as of April 30, 2019. The highly productive staff. We have sustained our sales tax revenues through hard work and partnerships with our key community stakeholders and this allows us to hold the line on no property taxes.

The Village continues to be a safe place to raise a family and invest in a home or a business. Crime rates here are well below the state and national averages. I’ve talked to businesses that have relocated from other areas in order to enjoy our safe and comfortable community and operate their businesses with peace of mind. The Harlem School District was named “Ally of the Year” by the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance.

Speaking of Harlem Schools, District 122 continues to be a regional leader in educating our youth. We are proud to have them as partners in providing important services to our community. Harlem’s student to teacher ratio of 18-to-1 which gives our students the necessary attention and personal education that is needed to grow and succeed in life.

The Village is growing and we have been active in recruiting new businesses to Machesney Park while supporting the growth made by our incumbent businesses that provide hundreds of jobs to area residents.

Our Community Development Department issued 804 building permits for over $27,500,000 in improvements last year. Over 336,000 square feet of industrial space is currently under construction, and that includes new and renovated buildings. Our Route 173 Corridor is bustling with business activity. Five new retailers and services providers opened along Route 173 last year. These projects are huge wins for the Village and these numbers are indicators that businesses have great confidence in our community to invest here knowing they will have our support. Here’s a brief summary of just a few of these important projects that have progressed in 2019:

The former Menards building, which sat vacant for over ten years, was acquired and is currently being redeveloped by Spider Company, a fantastic regional manufacturer that specializes in deburring, tube assembly, fabrication and machining for the aerospace industry. This is an over $6,500,000 project.

Thanks to the hard work of staff and the First Midwest Group, Old Navy and Five Below both opened new locations last year, in place of the former Bed, Bath, & Beyond (which was not vacant very long!)

Quest 7 is putting the finishing touches on their 24,000 square foot manufacturing building and will be moving their corrugated cutting knives and accessories division from Wisconsin to

Machesney Park this year. This is over a $2,000,000 project.

Quantum Design at Park 90 invested over $7,000,000 in their new facility here in Machesney

Park. Twisted Tulip Banquet Center is building a $775,000 facility.

Dollar Tree and Fashion Brow both took over spaces in the Gateway Shopping Center last year. Pig Minds Brewing commenced construction on a 7,000 square foot addition to make room for additional beer production area and gathering space. They are investing over $1,500,000 on their project here in Machesney Park.

PCI Pharma Services secured 150,000 square feet on Forest Hills Road for warehousing and storage and is currently moving in now.

America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses moved into the last remaining space in the center occupied by Buffalo Wild Wings and Jersey Mike’s.

And Hennig Incorporated is investing over $20,000,000 in a state-of-the-art building addition for their cloud-computing back-up power generation division.

Along with new industrial growth and jobs that are coming to Machesney Park, we are also welcoming new residents. Last year, the Village issued permits for 64 new single-family homes, most of which were in the Silo Ridge area.

TLC Living Community is building a 62 apartment assisted living facility at a cost of over $11,500,000 dollars and is slated to open in Mid-March.

All of this awesome news shows you how hard myself, the board and our staff have worked to make Machesney Park a great place to live, learn and do business.

7. Attorney’s Report

Attorney Tom Green had no report this evening.

8. Village Administrator

Village Administrator Tim Savage reported that last month we expedited the approval of the Countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan that was required as part of grant submittals that were pending. He further reported that the plan and approval were accepted by the granting agencies. So we met the deadline for applying for two grants: one was the Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant for $4,000,000 which would cover approximately 30 properties. The other was the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant for over $5,500,000 covering 36 properties. He gave kudos to the agencies involved in drafting and expediting approval of the plans.

9. Finance/HRManager

Finance and HR Manager Michelle Johannsen presented the Quarterly Investment Report as follows: Included with your board packet was the quarterly investment report as of January 21, 2020. Total interest earned over the past quarter was $59,192 compared to $53,000 in the prior year. Interest rates are trending around mid-to upper 1.0% currently.

10. Comm. Dev Dir

Community Development Director James Richter II had no report this evening.

11. Public Works Supt.

Public Works Superintendent Chad Hunter had no report this evening.

12. Village Engineer

Village Engineer Chris Dopkins reported contractors made very good progress on the Public Works Building during the last couple of weeks. Today they had their first floor pour and during the last few weeks have installed the radiant tubing and insulation in the floor ahead of today’s floor pour. Hopefully, the floors will all be poured by the end of this week.

13. StudentLiaison

Harlem High School Student Liaison Hannah Herrera reported that Harlem Varsity Cheer Team placed fourth at sectionals, so they will be moving on to State this weekend. Also, Boys Varsity Bowling placed seventh overall at Conference and Nathan Pash placed first individually. The Harlem Varsity Wrestling Team did really well at Conference. Both Cadence Hecox and Cameron Prior placed first in their weight class. Chad Richards and Jevin Doke placed at Conference as well and they will be moving on to Regionals.

14. Pub Safety Supervisor

In addition, Hannah reported that the United Nations Club at Harlem is preparing to leave for the Chicago Conference. They will be there Thursday through Sunday and they are hoping to get some awards.

Public Safety Supervisor, Lt. Tammie Stanley had no report this evening.

COMMITTEE AND TRUSTEE REPORTS

15. Committee Reports

16. District #1 Report

District #1 Trustee Seipts, Administration and Finance Committee Vice-Chair had no report this evening.

17. District #2 Report

District #2 Trustee Schmidt, Administration and Finance Chair reported the A&F Committee met this evening and recommended approval of Resolution 10-R-20 that will go to the February 18 Board Meeting and approved one motion, SOP for Permit Fee Refunds/Extensions.

18. District #3 Report

District #3 Trustee Kidd, Planning and Economic Development Vice-Chair had no report this evening.

19. District #4 Report

District #4 Trustee Wilson, Planning and Economic Development Chair, had no report this evening

20. District #5 Report

District #5 Trustee Bailey, Public Improvements and Safety Vice-Chair, had no report this evening.

21. District #6 Report

District #6 Trustee Beck, Public Improvements and Safety Chair, left no report in his absence this evening.

22. Consent Agenda

CONSENT AGENDA - Mayor Johnson noted that the next item is the Consent Agenda. He asked Staff to introduce all items to be considered under the Consent Agenda.

Village Administrator Tim Savage, presented the items on the Consent Agenda as follows:

A. Ordinance 06-20, Modification to the Responsible Bidder Ordinance, First Reading

B. Resolution 08-R-20, Operating Transfers FY 2019-2020

C. Resolution 09-R-20, First Amendment to Redevelopment Agreement with Hennig Inc.

Mayor Johnson asked if there were any items to be removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered separately. Trustee Kidd requested that Item A. Ordinance 06-20, Responsible Bidder Ordinance, First Reading, be removed and considered separately. Mayor Johnson indicated this item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed under Unfinished Business. The Consent Agenda was accepted as amended.

Mayor Johnson called for a motion to approve all items under the Amended Consent Agenda. The motion was made by Trustee Seipts and seconded by Trustee Schmidt. The motion was approved by roll call vote: 6 ayes (Trustees Seipts, Schmidt, Kidd, Wilson, Bailey, and Mayor Johnson), 0 nays, 1 absent (Trustee Beck)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

23. Unfinished Business - Ord 06-20 1st/Pass

Mayor Johnson called for a motion to approve Ordinance 06-20, Responsible Bidder Ordinance, First Reading. Motion was made by Trustee Seipts and seconded by Trustee Bailey. Staff Report: Village Administrator Tim Savage explained this Ordinance reduces the dollar amount threshold for the Responsible Bidder Ordinance to $25,000. Discussion: Village Administrator Savage, responding to a question by Trustee Kidd, indicated that for many years, the dollar amount was set at $50,000. The Village was approached by organized labor requesting that the amount be lowered to $0. The administration assessed some of the minor contracts that we issue. He further indicated there are very few contracts under $50,000 that are issued, so the dollar amount of $25,000 was identified. Trustee Kidd said that with the lower amount, he hopes the Village will be able to hire local businesses such as concrete companies, landscapers, etc., and focus on our MP/LP businesses. The motion was approved by roll call vote: 6 ayes (Trustees Seipts, Schmidt, Kidd, Wilson, Bailey, and Mayor Johnson), 0 nays, 1 absent (Trustee Beck)

Res 03-R-20/Pass

Mayor Johnson called for a motion to approve Resolution 03-R-20, Final Plat 7, Willow Creek Retail Center. The motion was made by Trustee Wilson and seconded by Trustee Bailey. Staff Report: Community Development Director James Richter II explained this is the Final Plat 7 for the Retail Center at the corner of Route #173 and Alpine Road. The developer is aware of the conditions and has no objections. The motion was approved by roll call vote: 6 ayes (Trustees Seipts, Schmidt, Kidd, Wilson, Bailey, and Mayor Johnson), 0 nays, 1 absent (Trustee Beck)

24. New Business - None

25. Public Comment -None

26. Closed Session - None

27. Adjourn

Trustee Schmidt moved to adjourn; seconded by Trustee Seipts. Motion approved by voice vote. Meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m.

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