Rockford Sun

City of Loves Park City Council met Aug. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

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

Alderman John Pruitt opened the meeting with an invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Absent: Aldermen Doug Allton and 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 August 4, 2025, was approved as submitted by the City Clerk on a motion by Alderman Schlensker. Second by Alderman Thompson. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

2. COMMUNICATIONS, MAYOR’S REPORT & ANNOUNCEMENTS

3. SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT REQUEST

Received a Special Event Permit application from Spring River Girl Scouts to hold a Trunk or Treat at Loves Park City Hall, on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Referred to Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee.

Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee moved to approve the Special Event Permit for Spring River Girl Scouts to hold a Trunk or Treat at Loves Park City Hall, on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried by voice vote.

4. COMMERCE COMMISSION HEARINGS

Received notices from the Illinois Commerce Commission of three public hearings to be held via WebEx. Placed on file.

5. TREE TRIMMING

Received a notice from ComEd of tree trimming activities to be conducted in Loves Park in the next few months. Placed on file.

6. OFFICES CLOSED

City Offices will be closed on Friday, August 29, and Monday, September 1, 2025 in observance of Labor Day.

7. COUNCIL MEETING

The next Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

8. RESIGNATION LETTER

Mayor Jury received a letter of resignation from Zoning Board of Appeals member Jennifer Hall.

9. ZONING BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Mayor Jury presented the names of Karl Lusis and Linda Danielson for appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Alderman Schlensker moved to approve the appointments of Karl Lusis and Linda Danielson for appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

10. APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS

11. GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the General Fund and all other bills dated August 18, 2025, in the amount of $1,826,124.71 and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

12. WATER FUND BILLS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the Water Department bills dated August 18, 2025, in the amount of $270,699.14, and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

13. OFFICER’S REPORT

14. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT

Alderman Allton presented the Police Department Report for August 18, 2025; presented the Fire Department Report for August 18, 2025, to be placed on file.

15. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Alderman Schlensker presented the Street Department Report for August 18, 2025; presented the Water Department Report for August 18, 2025, to be placed on file.

16. COMMITTEE REPORTS

17. FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Alderman John Jacobson of the Finance and Administration Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on August 4, 2025, to be placed on file.

18. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

Alderman Thompson of the Public Safety Committee announced that a committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.

19. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Alderman Pruitt of the Community Development Committee announced that Ordinance No. 24 has been removed from the Agenda and will be presented next month.

20. NEW BUSINESS

Mayor Jury called to order a Public Hearing at 6:09 p.m. regarding the proposed pre-annexation agreement between the City of Loves Park and Steven M. Pearson.

No public comment.

The Public Hearing closed at 6:10 p.m.

21. RESOLUTIONS & MOTIONS

22. SCL BUSINESS PARK AGREEMENT

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution authorizing the execution of the Agreement with SCL Business Park LLC and Loves Park One LLC regarding TIF assignment. WHEREAS, the City of Loves Park (“City”) is a duly organized and existing municipality created under the provisions of the laws of the State of Illinois, and is now operating under the provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code, as supplemented and amended from time to time; and WHEREAS, the City has duly established the “Spring Creek Lakes Redevelopment Project Area” (“RPA”) under the provisions of the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law, 65 ILCS 5/11-74.6-1 et seq., (“Act”), within which Spring Creek Lakes Redevelopment Project Area the City has implemented Tax Increment Financing; and WHEREAS, the City entered a redevelopment agreement with SCL Business Park, LLC (“Developer”) on November 6, 2014, which redevelopment agreement allocated certain amounts of available Developer Property Increment to Developer in furtherance of the redevelopment plan adopted for the RPA; and WHEREAS, the redevelopment agreement permitted Developer to assign its Available Developer Property Increment to end-users of property within the RPA, and set certain terms and conditions regarding the direction of payment by the City of Available Developer Property Increment to assignees; and WHEREAS, on July 22, 2021, the City and end-user Loves Park One, LLC (“LP One”) entered a redevelopment agreement (“LP One RDA”) that paid a portion of Developer’s Available Developer Increment to LP One; and WHEREAS, subsequent to the City’s redevelopment agreement with LP One, the Developer entered an agreement with LP One to have LP One assign part of its Available Developer Property Increment back to Developer, a permitted assignment under the redevelopment agreements, but through certain oversights of the involved parties, payment continued to be made to LP One by the City; and WHEREAS, the City desires to enter into an agreement with Developer and LP One to memorialize the payment history pursuant to the LP One RDA, affirm agreement with payments already made, and identify to whom the remaining payments should be made pursuant to LP One RDA; and WHEREAS, the City has determined that the execution of the Agreement is in the best interests of the City. 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 Agreement attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit “A” and authorizes the Mayor to execute the same on behalf of the City.

3. All prior Ordinances and Resolutions of the City shall remain in full force and effect as previously enacted except that those ordinances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby amended and/or repealed to the extent of such conflict.

4. The provisions and sections of this Resolution shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity of any portion of this Resolution shall not affect the validity of the remainder.

5. This Resolution with 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 Peterson. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-069

23. NEW POLICE OFFICERS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the Mayor authorizes the Police Chief to hire two police officers to fill vacant positions within the Loves Park Police Department. These individuals are the next two eligible candidates on the current Civil Service roster; Mary Brown and Bryce McDonald. Be it further resolved that the official start date will be Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Wages are set by current Fraternal Order of Police collective bargaining agreement. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-070

24. PORTABLE RADIOS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that Loves Park Fire Department Chief James Hart is authorized to purchase 6 Motorola APX 6000 portable radios from Motorola Solutions. The total purchase cost is $25,071.60. Funds are to be taken from Account No. 01-12-8550 (New Equipment). Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-071

25. ORDINANCES

26. OMNIBUS VOTE

27. Alderman Pruitt moved that Ordinances No. 19-23 and No. 25-29 on the Agenda be acted upon through a single omnibus vote. Second by Alderman Thompson. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

28. VARIANCE/4XXX INTERSTATE BLVD.

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a Variance in the sign ordinance for the property known as 4XXX Interstate Blvd., and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4726-25

29. VARIANCE/4908 INTERSTATE BLVD.

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a Variance in the sign ordinance for the property known as 4908 Interstate Blvd., and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4727-25

30. VARIANCE/4806 INTERSTATE BLVD.

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a Variance in the sign ordinance for the property known as 4806 Interstate Blvd., and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4728-25

31. SPECIAL USE PERMIT/5642 N. SECOND ST.

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a Special Use Permit for an indoor storage facility at the property known as 5642 N. Second St., and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4729-25

32. VARIANCE/6873 LANTERN DRIVE

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a Variance in the sign ordinance for the property known as 6873 Lantern Drive, and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4730-25

33. TEXT AMENDMENT

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance amending Chapter 102, Zoning, Article III, Districts, Division 4, Industrial, Section 102-189, IG Industrial General of the Loves Park Code of Ordinances, and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4731-25

34. TEXT AMENDMENT

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance amending Chapter 102, Zoning, Article III, Districts, Division 4, Industrial, Section 102-188, IL Light Industrial of the Loves Park Code of Ordinances, and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

35. ORDINANCE NO. 4732-25

36. TEXT AMENDMENT

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance amending Chapter 102, Zoning, Article IV, Signs, Section 102-284, Commercial Districts of the Loves Park Code of Ordinances, and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4733-25

37. ANNEXATION AGREEMENT

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing the Execution of an Annexation Agreement for the property known as XXXX Harlem Road (PIN 08-25-400-009), and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4734-25

38. SPECIAL USE PERMIT/XXXX HARLEM ROAD

Alderman Pruitt presented an ordinance authorizing a Special Use Permit for a solar farm at the property known as XXXX Harlem Road (PIN 08-25-400-009), and moved to waive the reading of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 8 Ayes (Aldermen Peterson, Laudicina, Schlensker, Owens, John Jacobson, Little, Pruitt, Thompson) 2 Absent (Aldermen Allton, Dan Jacobson)

ORDINANCE NO. 4735-25

39. GOOD OF THE ORDER

Police Chief Mike McCammond administered the oath of office to new Police Officers Mary Brown and Bryce McDonald to be effective August 19, 2025.

40. ADJOURNMENT

Alderman John Jacobson moved that the meeting be adjourned. Second by Alderman Schlensker. Motion carried by voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 p.m.

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