DeKalb Times

Village of Shabbona Board of Trustees met Nov. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Regular Meeting of the Shabbona Village Board was called to order by Village President Donald J. Goncher on Monday, NOVEMBER 25, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. in the meeting room at Village Hall, 206 S. Blackhawk Street, Shabbona IL. The following were present:

Title	Name	Present	Not Present		Title	Name	Present	Not Present
President	Donald J. Goncher				Trustee	Marc Cinnamon
Treasurer	Cindy Barnes				Trustee	Denny Sands
Clerk	Jen Morrison				Trustee	Allison Kidd Probst
Attorney	Keith Foster				Trustee	David Simpson
Engineer	Chastain & Associates: Curtis Cook				Trustee	Joy Fay
Public Works	Bud Forrer				Trustee	Geoff Cooker

OPENING OF MEETING/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/ ROLL CALL 

Roll Call Vote: Marc Cinnamon-aye, Allison Kidd Probst-aye, Denny Sands-absent, Joy Fay-aye, David Simpson aye, Geoff Cooker-absent. 4 present, 2 absent.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA – Don Goncher added New Sales Tax laws under New Business 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Marc Cinnamon motioned to approve the agenda, Allison Kidd Probst seconded. All in favor vote aye, motion carried.

Don Thanked Marc Cinnamon, Joy Fay, Cindi Cinnamon, and Laura Shepp for doing the downtown planters

CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE BOARD: 

• Jon Ritter – Shabbona Fire District water issue and opposition from the village

• Don Goncher asked Joshua Snyder about posting of October meeting as he heard it wasn’t posted.

REPORTS and ACTION 

A. VILLAGE ENGINEER: Curtis Cook

1. PROJECT UPDATES: 

a. IEPA visiting Shabbona Road watermain project, Buddy has as-builts

b. Apache Street-on hold with the pay app 2 we received

c. Still waiting on ComEd, ICC, Railroad about quiet zone

B. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT-BUD FORRER: Continue to vacuum leaves, getting closer on being finished. Buddy has been working with Chastain on getting as-builts and it’s the first time he has really gotten any updated plans. Turned off waters on 11/15. Got snow blower for downtown sidewalks. All cement planters at parks have been cleaned out. Marc Cinnamon asked if Buddy is planning on setting up trees, yes public works will be setting up.

C. COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

1. FINANCE COMMITTEE-ALLISON KIDD PROBST: no update

2. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE-MARC CINNAMON: had a walk thru of streetscape project with Fehr Graham and had a number of punch list items to be addressed as well as questions that need to be answered. Marc let them know they did not use correct soil in planters and it needs to be addressed. Committee talked about future projects – alleys are priority, Illini Street, some finger streets.

3. DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE-ALLISON KIDD PROBST: no update

4. PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE-DAVID SIMPSON: Holiday Festival 12/7 4pm-7pm, still looking for volunteers

D. DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF – reviewed Sheriff’s report for October 2024

E. VILLAGE CLERK 

1. APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 28, 2024-Joy Fay motioned to approve the minutes of the Board Meeting from October 28, 2024, David Simpson seconded. Marc Cinnamon requested Old Business E change municipality to county. Joy Fay motioned to approve minutes from October 28, 2024 as amended, David Simpson seconded. All in favor vote aye, motion carried.

2. ZONING PERMITS ISSUED TO DATE: reviewed report

FINANCIALS 

A. APPROVAL OF BILLS AND PAYROLL – Village Clerk Jen Morrison asked board to also approve bill for Foster Buick Attorneys for $2143.75. David Simpson motioned to approve November 2024 bills including Foster Buick and payroll, Joy Fay seconded. Roll Call Vote: Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, David Simpson-aye, Denny Sands-absent, Marc Cinnamon-aye, Joy Fay-aye, Geoff Cooker-absent. 4 aye, 2 absent. Motion carried.

B. TREASURER’S REPORT – Allison motioned to accept the Treasurer’s report as of October 31, 2024, Joy seconded. Roll Call Vote: Joy Fay-aye, Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, Denny Sands-absent, Geoff Cooker absent, David Simpson-aye, Marc Cinnamon-aye. 4 aye, 2 absent Motion carried.

C. UTILITY BILLING: 

1. All shut offs were turned back on with exception of 103 W Cherokee Street which has been off about 2 years.

D. CONSIDERATION/APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 2024-11-25(A) TAX LEVY ORDINANCE: Allison Kidd Probst motioned to approve Ordinance 2024-11-25(A) Tax Levy Ordinance, Marc Cinnamon seconded. Cindy Barnes requested that the names of items of appropriations be updated/changed for Membership/Training to just Training and snow pusher to unidentified equipment. Allisom Kidd Probst motioned to approve Ordinance 2024-11-25(A) Tax Levy Ordinance as amended, Marc Cinnamon seconded. Roll Call Vote: Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, David Simpson-aye, Denny Sands-absent, Marc Cinnamon-aye, Joy Fay-aye, Goeff Cooker-absent. 4 aye, 2 absent. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS 

A. FIRE DEPARTMENT RETAINING WALL: Don Goncher and village engineer would like to meet with fire department and their engineer. Steve Probst said they already met with village and village engineer. In 2023 had water inside the fire department building again, and this summer it didn’t rain so they didn’t see anything. Water and silt inside the station and water/ice outside the building. Jon Ritter said it is a safety risk. Don said that he has been told the run off is coming off fire department building. Steve Probst said that Marc, Curtis, Don had met with Fire Department and at that time Curtis said a swale would help. Jon Ritter said that from their apron to village sidewalk there is a large incline that didn’t exist before. Curtis said that from day one less water is going east than before, solution of swale and tile should address permanently. Fixed tile in 2022 and Steve asked why issue in 2023 then. Jon asked why bushes were bad, Marc thinks over time wetness at bushes created rot, even prior to well house being built. Don said that in February 2024 IGA was finally signed by Fire Department. Jon expressed frustration with how long it has taken to get to this point. Marc talked about timing of doing anything at Fire Department is at least a year or two out. Marc talked about connecting fire dept roof tiles to storm as they were connected to sanitary. Don will speak with Curtis this week and will get back to Jon by the end of the week.

B. PROPERTY NOTICES/VIOLATIONS UPDATE: 

a. West Comanche was continued again in court

C. VACANT BUILDINGS UPDATE: No property owners have registered vacant buildings nor have any requested to present plan for remediation to the board. Village Clerk will be sending out updated invoices in December.

D. ADJUDICATOR CONTRACT: Keith talked to adjudicator that is willing to do it and he will be sending a proposal.

E. CONSIDERATION/APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 2024-11-25(C) AMENDING CHAPTER 16 PUBLIC CAMPING: Joy Fay motioned to approve Ordinance 2024-11-25(C) Amending Chapter 16 Public Camping, Allison Kidd Probst seconded. Marc Cinnamon commented that he was able to hear IML President speak at a meeting he was at. IML is strongly encouraging all municipalities across the state to pass this ordinance. If millions get removed from the country, many will try to hide and this is a way they would be moving around. David Simpson asked if this primarily is focus on homeless and can’t village wait to see if issue happens. Jen has reported a car in front of her house that someone has slept in overnight. Roll Call Vote: Marc Cinnamon aye, Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, Denny Sands-absent, David Simpson-no, Joy Fay-aye, Geoff Cooker-absent. 3 aye -1 no, 2 absent. Motion carried.

F. CONSIDERATION/APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 2024-11-25(B) AMENDING CHAPTER 24 HOTEL AND MOTEL TAX: Don Goncher requested to amend page 5 24-127a to 4 from 5 to match table a few pages later. Joy Fay motioned to approve Ordinance 2024-11-25(B) Amending Chapter 24 Hotel and Motel Tax, Marc Cinnamon seconded. David asked about owner living quarters, that would fall under zoning variance. Roll Call Vote: Marc Cinnamon-aye, Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, Denny Sands-absent, David Simpson-aye, Joy Fay aye, Geoff Cooker-absent. 4 aye, 2 absent. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS 

A. AMENDING TITLE 8 BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT ADOPTING 2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODES: State law takes effect on 1/1/2025 that any municipality that has not adopted a building code that is within the last 5 years, the state will adopt code for you. There are multiple exceptions that are considered reasonable to except out of and would not be able to do that if state adopts code for us. B&F has a set of exceptions that they have done for municipalities, there is a list of B&F exceptions. Ordinance will be presented in December meeting.

B. CONSIDERATION/APPROVAL FOR $2,500 FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR KISHWAUKEE WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT (KWRD): Don Goncher received email from KWRD stating that $20,000 of $25,000 to do feasibility study is covered by Waterman’s grant and the Potawatomi Nation. There is a remaining $5,000 that KWRD would pay $2500 if we would pay $2500. Marc Cinnamon motioned to approve $2,500 for feasibility study, Joy Fay seconded. Roll Call Vote: Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, David Simpson-aye, Denny Sands-absent, Marc Cinnamon-aye, Joy Fay-aye, Goeff Cooker-absent. 4 aye, 2 absent. Motion carried.

C. NEW SALES TAX LAWS: Elimination of grocery tax as of 1/1/2026, Municipal Grocery Occupation Tax Law allows municipalities to levy a grocery tax of up to 1%. IML recommends municipalities consider passing levy. Don Goncher said if we do get a grocery store it would already be an ordinance. Marc Cinnamon recommends levy of 1%, David Simpson disagrees. Tabled until Spring 2025. A levy would need to be done by October 2025.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: No Executive Session

ADJOURNMENT: Joy Fay motioned for adjournment at 8:05PM, Allison Kidd Probst seconded. All in favor vote aye, motion carried.

https://www.shabbona-il.com/media/2081