Village of Pecatonica Village Board met March 3.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
1. Call to Order – Village President Hardy called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Village Hall.
2. Roll Call – A Roll Call was taken. Trustees Bill Determan, Tanya Wurtzel, Heather Squires, Tom Gipe, and Kim Gipe were present. Trustee James Green was absent.
Also present: Village President Collin Hardy, Public Works Director Nick Berry, Village Engineer Jason Stoll, Village Clerk Darla Stram, Village Attorney Dave Kurlinkus, Police Chief Matt Summers, and Village Treasurer Jordan Hartman.
3. Establishment of a Quorum
4. Approve February 17, 2026, Regular Board Meeting Minutes
A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Squires to approve February 17, 2026, Regular Board Minutes. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. Trustees Determan, Tom Gipe, Wurtzel and Squires voted yes, Trustee Kim Gipe abstained. Motion approved 4-0-1-1.
5. Additions/Corrections to the Agenda – None
6. Approval of Agenda –
A motion was made by Trustee Tom Gipe and second by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve the agenda. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.
7. Call to the Public – None
Agenda Items
A. Village President’s Items –
1. Approve Date Change for March 17, 2026, Regular Board Meeting
The Board Discussed Changing the Date of March 17, 2026, Regular Board Meeting.
A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Tom Gipe to approve the Date Change for the March 17, 2026, Regular Board Meeting to Monday March 16, 2026. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion Approved 5-0-1.
2. Action on Request from Jose and Jeannie Fernandez to Vacate Alley
A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Squires to approve moving forward with the Alley vacation and to authorize the Village Attorney to draw up letters. Discussion. A roll call vote was taken. Trustees Determan, Kim Gipe, Squires, and Wurtzel voted yes, Trustee Tom Gipe Abstained. Motion approved 4-0- 1-1.
3. Action on DPI’s use of Their Building at 630 Main Street Violation of Zoning Laws
The board discussed the Special Use Permit at 630 Main Street. The board authorized the Village Attorney to send letter to DPI stating there are in violation of the permit.
B. Unfinished Business –
1. None
C. New Business –
1. None
D. Legal (Attorney Kurlinkus) –
1. None
E. Finance – Bill Determan, Liaison
1. Approve Employee Raises
A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve a 4% rate increase for employees for the upcoming fiscal year. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.
F. Planning Commission / Zoning Board
1. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
G. Public Works – Tom Gipe, Liaison
1. Approve Proposal for Structural Engineering Professional Services 2026 Village of Pecatonica NBIS
A motion was made by Trustee Tom Gipe and seconded by Trustee Determan to Proposal for Structural Engineering Professional Services 2026 Village of Pecatonica NBIS in the amount of $3,900.00. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.
H. Public Safety – Heather Squires, Liaison
1. Approve Purchase of Camera System
A motion was made by Trustee Squires and seconded by Trustee Determan to approve the Purchase of Camera System not to exceed $6,500.00. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees voted yes. Motion approved 5- 0-1.
I. Economic Development Committee – Kim Gipe, Chairman
1. Next Meeting: Monday March 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
J. Treasurer (Jordan Hartman ) –
1. A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Squires to approve Warrant List #70 Regular Board March 3, 2026, in the amount of $70,776.13. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.
2. A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to approve Warrant List #71 GASB Credit Card 1/23/2026-02/20/2026, in the amount of $2,573.77. Discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.
3. A motion was made by Trustee Kim Gipe and seconded by Trustee Determan to approve the Payroll for the Period Ending February 22, 2026, in the amount of $30,495.71. No discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.
K. Clerk’s Items (Darla Stram) –
1. The Village Clerk has begun working on Licenses and Permit Renewals and plans to have letters out by the end of March. She also has contacted Two additional insurance companies for additional quotes for our Health insurance and will have information available for vote at the upcoming Committee of the Whole and Regular Board Meeting.
L. Executive Session
A motion was made by Trustee Wurtzel and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to go into closed (or executive) session to review closed session minutes and to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, 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. Discussion A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.
Executive session to include Village President Collin Hardy, Board of Trustees, Village Clerk Darla Stram, Village Treasurer Jordan Hartman, Village Attorney Dave Kurlinkus, Public Works Director Nick Berry, and Police Chief Matt Summers. Executive Session began at 7:20 p.m.
M. Action on Items Arising Out of Executive Session –.
The Board resumed the Regular Board meeting at 8:05 p.m. A roll call was taken.
A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Squires to approve Accounting Services by Benning Group, LLC, not to exceed $10,000.00. Discussion. A roll call vote was taken. All Trustees present voted yes. Motion approved 5-0-1.
N. Adjournment
A motion was made by Trustee Determan and seconded by Trustee Kim Gipe to adjourn the meeting. No discussion. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
https://www.villageofpecatonica.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-03-Regular-Board.pdf
