Rockford Sun

City of Loves Park City Council met July 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Greg Jury called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Alderman Mark Peterson opened the meeting with an invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present: Aldermen John Pruitt, Jim Thompson, Mark Peterson, Frank Laudicina, Robert Schlensker, Doug Allton, Mike Owens, John Jacobson, Clint Little, Dan Jacobson

Also Present: City Clerk Bob Burden

City Attorney Gino Galluzzo

1. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

The Journal of Proceedings for the regular meeting of July 7, 2025, were approved as submitted by the City Clerk on a motion by Alderman Schlensker. Second by Alderman Allton. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little) 1 Present (Alderman Dan Jacobson)

2. COMMUNICATIONS, MAYOR’S REPORT & ANNOUNCEMENTS

3. SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT REQUEST

Received a Special Event Permit application from Ed Ward to hold a wedding with amplified music at 12315 Empire Street, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight. Referred to Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee.

4. SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT REQUEST

Received a Special Event Permit application for the German Society to hold Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Loves Park City Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Referred to Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee.

5. ANDY GANNON PROCLAMATION

Mayor Jury presented a proclamation to Andy Gannon, proclaiming Friday, August 1, 2025, to be “Andy Gannon Recognition Day” in the City of Loves Park.

Andy Gannon thanked City Council for supporting the proclamation.

6. WATER DEPARTMENT AWARD PRESENTATION

Seth Gronewold of Fehr Graham presented the “Water Ambassador Award” to Craig McDonald and Russ Caveny of the Loves Park Water Department.

7. ROUND-A-BOUT

Mayor Jury announced that an open house regarding a round-a-bout that will be going in at E. Riverside Blvd. and Argyle Road, is going on now at Loves Park City Hall until 7:00 p.m.

8. FUNDRAISER

Mayor Jury announced that a Christmas in July fundraiser will be held at Top Dollar Slots on July 24, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

9. RHYTHM OF THE HEART FESTIVAL

Mayor Jury announced that the Rhythm of the Heart Festival will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 12:00 noon to 10:30 p.m. on Loves Park City Hall grounds.

10. RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

Mayor Jury announced that a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at American Freight Furniture on July 28, 2025, at 3:30 p.m.

11. RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

Mayor Jury announced that a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at Darrian Knotts Hypnotherapy, 7124 Windsor Lake Parkway, on July 28, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

12. SKI NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Mayor Jury announced that the 2025 Division Show Ski National Championships will be held at Shorewood Park on August 1-3, 2025.

13. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Mayor Jury announced that the National Night Out will be held at Harlem High School on August 5, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

14. APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS

15. GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the General Fund and all other bills dated July 21, 2025, in the amount of $1,725,535.47 and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

16. WATER FUND BILLS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the Water Department bills dated July 21, 2025, in the amount of $157,744.47, and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

17. OFFICER’S REPORT

18. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT

Alderman Allton presented the Police Department Report for July 21, 2025; presented the Fire Department Report for July 21, 2025, to be placed on file.

19. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Alderman Schlensker presented the Street Department Report for July 21, 2025; presented the Water Department Report for July 21, 2025, to be placed on file.

20. COMMITTEE REPORTS

21. FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Alderman John Jacobson of the Finance and Administration Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on July 7, 2025, to be placed on file.

22. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Alderman Schlensker of the Public Works Committee presented the minutes from July 7, 2025, to be placed on file.

23. CODE & REGULATIONS COMMITTEE

Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on July 7, 2025, to be placed on file. He also announced that a committee meeting will be held on August 4, 2025, at 5:25 p.m.

24. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Alderman Pruitt of the Community Development Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on July 7, 2025, to be placed on file.

25. RESOLUTIONS & MOTIONS

26. OMNIBUS VOTE

Alderman Thompson moved that Resolutions/Motions Items #18-23 on the Agenda shall be acted upon through a single omnibus vote. Second by Alderman Pruitt. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

27. KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL

Alderman Thompson presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the City Treasurer is authorized to pay DPI Construction, Inc. $82,000.00 for the construction of a parking lot at the Korean War Memorial under an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Rockford Park District. A DCEO grant will reimburse $55,000.00 of this cost with the remaining funds to be drawn from Account No. 01-07-6640 (Parks). Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-062

28. HCC STRONG DAY

Alderman Thompson presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the City of Loves Park is authorized to be a community sponsor for the Harlem Community Center HCC Strong Day to be held on October 17, 2025. The $5,000.00 sponsorship will be drawn from Account No. 01-01-6495 (Organization Grant Program). Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-063

29. HOME REPAIR & ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM

Alderman Thompson presented the following Resolution authorizing acceptance of the Home Repair and Accessibility Program Funding from the Illinois Housing Development Authority. WHEREAS, the City Council of Loves Park, an Illinois unit of local government met on July 21, 2025 and adopted the following Resolution, which is in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois; and WHEREAS, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (the “Authority”) has issued to the City of Loves Park that certain Conditional Commitment Letter (together with any amendments thereto, the “Commitment”), pursuant to which the Authority has agreed to issue a grant from the Home Repair and Accessibility Program (the “Program”) to the City of Loves Park in an amount not to exceed four hundred thousand and xx/100 dollars ($400,000.00) and (the “Grant) and the City of Loves Park will use the Grant funds solely and exclusively for eligible activities in connection with Program and for no other purpose; and WHEREAS, the City Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City of Loves Park to accept the Grant; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council of City of Loves Park hereby authorizes the acceptance of the Grant; and FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Loves Park is authorized to accept the Commitment and enter into a Program Funding Agreement for the Program (the “Agreement”) with the Authority wherein the City of Loves Park agrees to perform Program services in return for the Grant; and FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Loves Park hereby accepts the Grant, agrees to deliver and/or execute the Commitment and the Agreement and any and all other instruments, certifications and agreements as may be necessary or desirable for the City of Loves Park to perform all of its obligations and duties under the Program (including any amendments, other agreements or supplements); and FURTHER RESOLVED, that Mayor, City Treasurer, and Director of Community Development of the City of Loves Park, without the necessity or requirement for the signature of another person, are hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to execute on behalf of the City of Loves Park, the Commitment, the Agreement and all other documents and instruments relating to the Grant to be delivered to the Authority in connection with the closing of the Grant and take such further action on behalf of the City of Loves Park as they deem necessary to effectuate the foregoing Resolutions; and FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Loves Park hereby ratifies, authorizes, confirms and approves any prior action of the City of Loves Park taken in furtherance of the foregoing 2 Resolutions and any and all documents and instruments previously executed on behalf of the City of Loves Park in connection with the Grant. Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-064

30. WINDSOR LAKE PROPERTY TRANSFER

Alderman Thompson presented the following Resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept the transfer of real property adjacent to City Property and Windsor Lake. WHEREAS, the City of Loves Park, Boone and Winnebago Counties, Illinois (“City”), is a duly constituted, organized and validly existing municipality within the meaning of Section 1 of Article VII of the 1970 Constitution of the State of Illinois, and is operating under the Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/1-1-1 et seq., as amended; and WHEREAS, Section 11-76.1-1 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-76.1.1) grants municipalities the authority to acquire real property for municipal purposes; and WHEREAS, Timothy J. Durkee & Ruth A Brick, Trustees of the James Durkee Revocable Trust dated April 28, 2005 (the “Grantor”) desire to transfer the real property with a property index number (PIN) of 08-

32-353-025, and further described in Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Property”), to the City for public purpose; WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Loves Park has determined that it is in the best interest of the City to accept the transfer of the Property from the Grantor; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Loves Park, Illinois, that by the adoption of this resolution, that the City hereby agrees:

1. The above recitals are hereby incorporated into this Resolution as if fully stated herein.

2. The City Council hereby approves the acceptance of the transfer of the Property from the Grantor to the City for general municipal use pursuant to a deed substantially similar to that which is attached as Exhibit B.

3. The Mayor of the City is hereby authorized and directed to take all necessary actions to accept the transfer of the Property.

4. This Resolution will be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval, and publication in pamphlet form in the manner provided by law.

Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-065

31. DRIVEWAY WIDENING

Alderman Thompson presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the Street Department Manager is hereby authorized to allow a footprint change by widening the driveway at 4551 Hilltop Drive, Loves Park, IL 61111. Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-066

32. MOTION TO APPROVE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT

Alderman Thompson moved to approve a Special Event Permit application for the Warrior Foundation Fundraiser to be held at Peak Sports Club on August 29-30, 2025. Second by Alderman John Jacobson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

33. ORDINANCES

34. APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR 2025-26

Alderman John Jacobson presented an ordinance authorizing the Appropriation Ordinance for 2025-26, and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Dan Jacobson)

35. SPECIAL USE PERMIT/101 E. RIVERSIDE BLVD

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance providing for a Special Use Permit for a Food Truck Park for the property known as 101 E. Riverside Blvd, and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 6 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Allton, John Jacobson, Dan Jacobson) 4 Nays (Aldermen Pruitt, Thompson, Owens, Little)

ORDINANCE NO. 4723-25

36. ADJOURNMENT

Alderman John Jacobson moved that the meeting be adjourned. Second by Alderman Schlensker. Motion carried by voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:18 p.m.

https://cityoflovespark.com/minutes-agendas/city-council/