Rockford Sun

Village of Pecatonica Village Board met May 1.

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 Thursday, May 1, 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, Kim Gipe, Tom Gipe and Collin Hardy were present. Trustees Gerald Howard and Cheryl Bean were absent.

Also present: Village President Tom Heister, Incoming Trustees James Green, Heather Squires and Tanya Wurtzel, Village Treasurer Jordan Hartman, Police Chief Matt Summers, Public Works Director Nick Berry, Village Clerk Darla Stram, Administrative Assistant Nikki Thompson, Village Engineer Jason Stoll and Village Attorney Dave Kurlinkus

5. A quorum was established.

6. Approve April 15, 2025, Regular Board Meeting Minutes

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Tom Gipe to approve the April 15, 2025, Regular Board Meeting Minutes. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 4-0-2.

7. Additions/Corrections to the Agenda – None

8. Approval of Agenda –

A motion was made by Trustee Hardy and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the agenda. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 4-0-2.

9. Call to the Public – Tom Lekan of Surf internet addressed the board about their services and would like to set up a meeting to discuss offering Surf Internet to the Village Residents.

Agenda Items

A. Village President’s Items –

1. Swearing in of the Village President Collin Hardy, Trustees James Green, Tom Gipe, Heather Squires and Tanya Wurtzel

The Village Clerk swore in the newly Elected Officials.

2. Appointments

a. Approve Appointment of Village Clerk- Darla Stram

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the Appointment of Village Clerk Darla Stram. No Discussion. A roll call vote was taken and all Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

b. Approve Appointment of Village Treasurer- Jordan Hartman

A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Determan to approve the Appointment of Village Treasurer Jordan Hartman. No Discussion. A roll call vote was taken and all Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

c. Approve Appointment of Police Chief- Matt Summers

A motion was made by Trustee Tom Gipe and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the Appointment of Police Chief Matt Summers. No Discussion. A roll call vote was taken and all Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

d. Approve Appointment of Public Works Director- Nick Berry

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Tom Gipe to approve the Appointment of Public Works Director Nick Berry. No Discussion. A roll call vote was taken and all Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

e. Approve Appointment of Village Attorney- Sosnowski Szeto, LLP

A motion was made by Trustee Tom Gipe and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the Appointment of Village Attorney Sosnowski Szeto, LLP. No Discussion. A roll call vote was taken and all Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

f. Approve Appointment of Village Engineer- Fehr Graham

A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Tom Gipe to approve the Appointment of Village Engineer Fehr Graham. No Discussion. A roll call vote was taken and all Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

g. Approve Appointment of Building Inspector- Casper’s Home Inspection LLC

A motion was made by Trustee Tom Gipe and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the Appointment of Building Inspector Casper’s Home Inspection LLC. No Discussion. A roll call vote was taken and all Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

3. Proclamation for Motorcycle Awareness Month- May 2025

Village President Hardy read the 2025 Proclamation for Motorcycle Awareness.

B. Unfinished Business – None

C. New Business –

1. 2025-05 An Ordinance Adopting Schedule of Meetings of the Village of Pecatonica, Illinois-1st Reading

The board discussed the ordinance to have a Committee of Whole Board Meeting and a Special Board Meeting to replace the 1st Regular Board meeting and the multiple Committee meetings per month. The board discussed the pros and cons of a committee of the whole meeting vs. separate committee meetings.

A motion was made by Trustee Squires and seconded by Trustee Wurtzel to suspend the rules. Discussion. A roll call vote was taken. Trustee Determan no, Trustee Tom Gipe no, Trustee Kim Gipe no, Trustee James Green no, Trustee Squire yes and Trustee Wurtzel yes. Motion failed 2-4-0.

D. Legal (Attorney Kurlinkus) –

1. Attorney Kurlinkus reported that we have now received the deed for the DPI transaction, and that he will be submitting the paperwork to remove the property tax on the location. He also discussed the liens we have put on properties that have past due balances.

E. Finance – Bill Determan, Chairman

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

2. Chairman’s Report –

Trustee Determan discussed the upcoming committee meeting and the lack of a quorum. Discussion. The Village President temporarily appointed Trustees Tom Gipe and Kim Gipe to the Finance Committee.

F. Planning Commission / Zoning Board

1. Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 27, 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 –

The committee continues to work on putting together a street project to present to the full board.

3. Public Works Report -

Nick will present his report at the next meeting he discussed that they have completed hydrant flushing.

4. Engineer’s Report –

Jason gave an update on the punch list for the Lead Service Replacement project. This project should be wrapped up this month. He also discussed the streets we are looking at to potentially complete this year. The focus is W 4th Street.

H. Public Safety – Gerald Howard, Chairman

1. Next Meeting – Wednesday May 7, 2025- There is nothing for the agenda for this meeting and it will be cancelled.

2. Chairman’s Report – None

3. Police Department Report –

Chief Summers reviewed his monthly report. He also informed the board that he has hired two new part-time officers.

I. Economic Development Committee – Collin Hardy, Chairman

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

2. Chairman’s Report – Village President Hardy temporarily appointed Heather Squires, James Green and Bill Determan to the Economic Development.

J. Treasurer (Jordan Hartman) –

Jordan reported the audit preliminary meeting is set up for Friday May 9, 2025.

1. A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Tom Gipe to approve Warrant List #39 Regular Board May 1, 2025, in the amount of $60,153.91. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

2. A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Determan to approve Warrant List #40 GASB Credit Card 3/24/2025-4/22/2025, in the amount of $1,110.78. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0

3. A motion was made by Trustee Tom Gipe and seconded by Trustee Squires to approve the Payroll for the Period Ending April 20, 2025, in the amount of $30,897.90. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 6-0-0.

K. Clerk’s Items – (Darla Stram) –

Darla Stram introduced our new Administrative Assistant Nikki Thompson

L. Executive Session- None

M. Action on Items Arising Out of Executive Session – None

N. Adjournment

A motion was made by Trustee Tom Gipe and seconded by Trustee Determan to adjourn the meeting. No discussion. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05p.m.

https://www.villageofpecatonica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-05-01-Regular-Board.pdf