Rockford Sun

Village of Pecatonica Village Board met April 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Call to Order – President Tom Heister called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Village Hall.

2. A moment of Silence observed.

3. The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was recited

4. Roll Call - A Roll Call was taken. Trustees Bill Determan, Cheryl Bean, Kim Gipe, Tom Gipe and Collin Hardy were present. Trustee Gerald Howard was absent.

Also present: Village President Tom Heister, Village Treasurer Jordan Hartman, Police Chief Matt Summers, Public Works Director Nick Berry, Village Clerk Darla Stram, Village Engineer Jason Stoll and Village Attorney Dave Kurlinkus

5. A quorum was established.

6. Approve April 3, 2025, Regular Board Meeting Minutes

A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Tom Gipe to approve the April 3, 2025, Regular Board Meeting Minutes. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

7. Additions/Corrections to the Agenda – None

8. Approval of Agenda –

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Hardy to approve the agenda. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

9. Call to the Public –. None

Agenda Items

A. Village President’s Items – None

B. Unfinished Business – None

C. New Business –

1. 2025-04 – An Ordinance of The Village of Pecatonica, Illinois Eliminating Overnight Shift Differential for Full and Part Time Sworn Police Officers in Exchange for an Increase to Their Hourly Pay – 1st Reading

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Hardy to suspend the rules. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1. A motion was made by Trustee Hardy and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve Ordinance 2025-04. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

D. Legal (Attorney Kurlinkus) –

Attorney Kurlinkus reported that they are still waiting on the deed for the DPI transaction.

E. Finance – Bill Determan, Chairman

1. Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

2. Chairman’s Report – None

3. Discussion and Approval of FY 2026 Budget –

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the budget as presented for fiscal year 2025/2026 for the Village of Pecatonica. Village President Heister thanked everyone for their work on the budget. No other discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

4. Discussion and Approval of Wage Increase for Public Works Employee –

A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Bean to increase the public works employee wage by $2.00 per hour since he is past the probationary period. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

5. Discussion and Approval of Clerk’s Vacation Time Payout –

A motion was made by Trustee Hardy and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the payout of the Village Clerk’s vacations time in the amount of 80 hours with the balance of 46 hours needing to be taken before July 31 or else she would lose them. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

F. Planning Commission / Zoning Board

1. Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

G. Public Works – Tom Gipe, Chairman

1. Next Meeting – Monday, May 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

2. Chairman’s Report –

Chairman Tom Gipe reported they are still working on a plan for upcoming projects.

3. Public Works Report -

Nick reviewed the March report.

4. Discussion and Approval of Quote for Upfit New Service Truck –

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the quote from Bonnell Industries for upfit of new service truck in an amount not to exceed $4,900.00. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

5. Discussion and Possible Action in Reduction of Penalties for Account 0010127000 –

Discussion was held regarding the water bill for Account 0010127000. The owner states she had asked for the water to be shut off and did not realize that there was a base fee due each month. She did not receive any bills for the base fee. She would like a reduction in the penalty but is happy to pay the base fees and attorney fees. A motion was made by Trustee Hardy and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to reduce the penalties for Account 0010127000 to $1,457.87. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. Trustees Hardy, Bean and Kim Gipe voted yes. Trustees Determan and Tom Gipe voted no. Motion approved 3-2-1.

6. Engineer’s Report –

Jason reported that the check valve on Well #3 is defective and does not adequately seal. The valve is leaking at a rate of 10-12.5 times the allowable limit. Replacement of the valve is most likely best at this point as the manufacturer does have replacement valves in stock currently. He spoke to the Contractor and asked for a timeline of the next steps. He has shared the Village President’s concerns with Dave Zimmerman regarding the need for door adjustments. The lead service line replacement punch list is nearing completion. He provided quotes for the street projects.

H. Public Safety – Gerald Howard, Chairman

1. Next Meeting – The Public Safety Meeting could be combined with the Public Works Meeting on May 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. This will be discussed at the next regular board meeting.

2. Chairman’s Report – None

3. Police Department Report –

Chief Summers reported that the last license plate reader is going in. The new squad car is in. They are currently waiting for the trade-ins to be decommissioned. The taser grant money has been received. The new furniture has arrived. A new part-time officer has been hired.

I. Economic Development Committee – Collin Hardy, Chairman

1. Next Meeting: Monday, May 12, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

2. Chairman’s Report – None

J. Treasurer (Jordan Hartman) –

Jordan reported the audit preliminary meeting is set up for May 6, 2025.

1. A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Bean to approve Warrant List #38 Regular Board April 15, 2025, in the amount of $40,164.35. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

2. A motion was made by Trustee Tom Gipe and seconded by Trustee Bean to approve the Payroll for the Period Ending April 6, 2025, in the amount of $28,148.84. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

K. Clerk’s Items – (Darla Stram) –

Darla reported that Trustee Training will be on May 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. with the attorney.

L. Executive Session

Closed session to review closed session minutes and to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

A motion was made by Kim Gipe and seconded by Tom Gipe to go into closed executive session. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.

Reconvene: Roll Call - A Roll Call was taken. Trustees Bill Determan, Kim Gipe, Tom Gipe, Collin Hardy and Cheryl Bean were present. Trustee Gerald Howard was absent.

Also present: Village President Tom Heister, Village Clerk Darla Stram, Village Treasurer Jordan Hartman and Village Attorney Dave Kurlinkus

M. Action on Items Arising Out of Executive Session –

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to hire Nikki Thompson to fill the assistant position. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-

N. Adjournment

A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Bean to adjourn the meeting. No discussion. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m.

https://www.villageofpecatonica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-04-15-Regular-Board.pdf