May 4, 2026
Call to order at 7:00 pm by President Mat.
Members answering roll call, President Mat, Tom Smargiassi, Mike Tichler, Angie Niehaus, Noah Liebenstein, Dean Wright, Tim Martens, Jamie Melville, and Cheryl Liebenstein.
The minutes from the April meeting were reviewed and accepted without dissent, by Dean. Second by Angie. Motion Carried.
Tim made a motion to pay all bills as presented. Motion second by Tom. Motion carried.
No transfer of funds needed.
Angie made a motion to approve the treasurer report as presented. Second by Noah. Motion carried.
MAINTENANCE
VISITORS
Tim Maurer was present to discuss with the board his option for the agreement made which provides up to $4000.00 for electric hookup on his property. During the construction of the new well house we needed to move an electric pole to Tim’s property. In exchange, we agreed to give him up to $4000.00 for electric hook-up. At this time the agreement is about to expire. In exchange for the electric hook-up, Tim would like to purchase a generator instead. Boards members did not see a problem with this. Tom made a motion to have Tim Maurer purchase the generator and the village will reimburse him up to the $4,000.00 maximum. Motion second by Dean. Motion carried.
Audra Lartz was present to request a piece of land be annexed into the village. She and her fiancé will be building a new home just south of Windhaven sub division. Her plot is 3 acres of a 40-acre parcel. The board questioned whether the whole parcel be annexed and what the cost is to annex. Audra will let us know if it will be just 3 acres or the whole parcel. President Mat will speak with our attorney to get a current price for annexation. The board will discuss this again at the June meeting. Rob did note that Audra will need a building permit, water hook-up and sewer hook-up permits. This will cost $250.00.
The village will be responsible for running water and sewer to the property line.
Fehr Graham was not present, but President Mat had the bid opening information for the Crack Sealing Street project. President Mat noted that our cost is lower than Freeport. We had two bids: SKC (out of Elgin) $59,339.28 and Joliet Denler $69,600.96. The bids came in lower than what Fehr Graham estimated.
Dean made a motion to approve the low bid from SKC company for the street Crack Seal project, for $59, 339.28. Motion second by Noah. Motion carried.
FINANCE/TIF FINANCE
Tim made a motion to accept the engagement letter for our annual audit/TIF audit from the Lucas Group for a total not to exceed $19,500.00. Motion second by Tom. Motion carried.
Appropriations will be due in June.
WATER AND SEWER
Our Water Run contract is due for renewal soon. The committee recommends that we do not renew the contract. Rob does not use the program and he is able to file all his reports through the SCADATA program at the well house. Our current contract says that we can have our data downloaded when the contract ends. We want to keep all the mapping that we did at the start of the contract. Mike made a motion to not renew the contract with Water Run when it comes due. Motion second by Tim. Motion carried.
Rob has some damage to our SCADATA display, meter, etc., from the big storm. It has been approved that we can turn the expenses into our insurance.
STREETS/ALLEYS/LIGHTS/SIDEWALK
The committee thanked Rob for the storm clean-up. Mike would like to look into other options for clean-up. Volunteers to help haul trees and limbs? Possibly purchasing a grinder for all the little branches? We do not want Rob to do all the clean up and not do any of his regular workload.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Noah noted that the committee hired three part-time summer help. Dusty Martins, Clayton Downs and Braylon Liebenstein. They will begin as soon as school is out. Tim helped Rob out with some of the mowing as it is too much for one person to keep up with.
Noah reported that he is ready to start the Disc golf course. He has almost $3,000.00 in equipment donated.
CEMETERY
No report
POLICE
Kurt noted that he may have a person interested in some part-time hours.
LIQUOR
Kurt noted that the liquor ordinance states that you cannot obstruct the windows for view inside. Fork & Flavor would like to use the blinds when the sun is shining in. Board members discussed amending the ordinance, eliminating that section all together or leaving as is. Tom made a motion to amend the Liquor Ordinance Section 3:19 to state that blinds can be used to block the sun two hours before sunset and 30 minutes after sunset. Motion second by Tim. Motion carried. The board will keep the original ordinance as written in Section 3:19 and note that it is not applicable during the 2.5 hours at sunset as noted in the motion.
Old Business
Discussions on the library are still ongoing with their consulting firm. The library plans to have a public meeting in June to discuss the new building, give access to the building plans/design and to seek input from the public as to what they would like included or eliminated in the new building.
New Business
We received an email from Marni at Rock River Energy giving us advance notice as to what Com-Ed will be charging their customers starting in June. To note first, Com Ed charges their customers a purchase electricity adjustment. This PEA is either a charge or a credit and is subject to change on a monthly basis. You only get this charge if you get your supply from Com-Ed. May’s PEA was 8 cent charge. That is in addition to the 9-cent supply cost. The supply rate for June is 10.6cents/kwh. The village has locked in a rate at 9.9cent/kwh with MC Square and those who are on our electrical aggregation will not pay the additional PEA that Com-Ed charges. If you opted out of our program and would like to get back on it you can call Rock River Energy and they will be happy to help you. (8157682627)
Dean made a motion to designate the month of May as Motorcycle Awareness in Pearl City. Motion second by Angie. Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn at 8:20 by Tim. Second by Tom. Motion carried.
Attest: Cheryl Liebenstein, Village Clerk