DeKalb Times

City of Sandwich City Council met May 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order: Mayor Latham called the meeting to order at 7:22 PM

A. Oath of Office for Newly Elected Officials: Plan Commission Chair, Bill Hall, administered the Oath of Office for Mayor Todd Latham. The Mayor then administered Oaths of Office to the following:

Denise Ii – City Clerk

Sandra Koehler – Treasurer

Ward 1 Alderman – Matt Chunn

Ward 2 Alderman – Genelle Inman

Ward 3 Alderman – Jay Ketchum

Ward 3 Alderman – Don Danko

2. Roll Call

Present: Mayor Latham, City Clerk Ii, Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson

Absent: Alderwoman Erickson

Also present: City Attorney Gottschalk, City Administrator Penman, Police Chief Senne, EEI Engineer Dettmann, Economic Director Alesky & SEMA Director Eberle

Quorum established

3. Audience Comments: None

4. Consent Agenda:

Motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as a whole. (All matters listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately).

A. Approval of Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Minutes of April 7, 2025

B. Approval of Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting of April 7, 2025

C. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of April 21, 2025.

Motion made by Alderman Arnett and seconded by Alderman Robinson adopting the consent agenda as presented. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote.

5. Mayor’s Report: Mayor Latham distributed his list of appointments that included, but not limited to, department heads, finance committee, council liaisons, and agency appointments (appointment list is attached and made a part of the minutes). Mayor Latham explained the purpose of assigning Alderman Arnett as the waste water liaison was due to his expertise once the plant becomes operational and should there be any engineering issues.

Motion made by Alderman Kreinbrink to approve the appointments as presented. Alderman Robinson seconded. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried 7:0

6. Attorney’s Report: Attorney Gottschalk will meet briefly after the meeting with Clerk Ii regarding the Nelnet agreement, and funds should be arriving this coming week. She also will be working with the City Administrator and Clerk to meet once a week or every other week at City Hall to cut down on phone tag. This had worked in the past, and the plan is to reimplement the in-house meetings.

7. City Clerk Ii welcomed new aldermen to the council.

8. Treasurer Koehler thanked everyone that voted for her, and she plans on fulfilling her election platform. She added she appreciates the opportunity to be in the position.

9. City Administrator Penman welcomed new aldermen. He advised that a change order for the waste water treatment plant will be coming at the next meeting advising there was an issue with a broken digestor. The City has authorized the repair, and appears this is the last remaining item holding up the project.

10. City Department’s Reports:

A. SEMA – Tony Eberle thanked the outgoing aldermen and welcomed the new incoming adding he was looking forward to working with everyone.

B. Police – Chief Kevin Senne echoed the same sentiments as EMA Director Eberle.

C. Engineering – Curt Dettmann also thanked everyone and was looking forward to working with the council on city projects.

D. Economic Director – Don Alesky provided an update on progress and different projects he is working on:

• He thanked Tony for upgrading the City’s website to make it more informative, and to list ongoing projects

• Dollar Tree is all permitted, and waiting for the start date. It will be located next to A&B Roofing on Route 34.

• Solar farm will probably be receiving their permits in the next few days. It will be located north of Route 34 on the west side of Sandy Bluff Road. It is a $7 million investment from the company, and Don has been working with the Kendall County tax assessor’s office because of the difference in taxing. The first tax bill will increase from $6,000 to $36,000 that will increase revenue for the city

• Northwestern Hospital has four projects scheduled for this year that total $1.9 million. They submitted the third project this week; everything must be approved by the Department of Health prior to moving forward.

• After the plat is approved for Fairwinds, Phase 4, everything will go to the County where addresses will be created and where construction material is to be shipped. It is a $1.9 million investment that will create 58 new homes

• ComEd has a program to assist municipalities; City Hall, police station and waste water treatment plant had lights checked and replaced. The City qualified and received $35,000 in light replacement at no cost. There will be an assessment conducted to analyze the variable frequency drives on the four pumps to allow more energy efficiency. Also assessed will be two furnaces. It will be 7-10 days before the city will know if they qualify for any money.

• Regarding Fay’s Barbeque, a meeting is schedule with the architect. Owners want to open on Friday, May 16th, and every following Friday as a soft opening.

• Four developers and three commercial brokers have been approached by the City regarding 122 W. Church Street. It will be a commercial enterprise with B3 zoning.

Director Alesky explained that when the City gets these projects, he forecasts the revenue such as sales tax, retail sales, real estate taxes, and utility usage taxes. He stressed the importance of a quick turnaround for the developers.

11. Council Reports: None

12. Old Business:

A. Resolution 25-10 entitled “A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Out-Of-State Service for Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF)” presented for passage. Attorney Gottschalk advised that there is no clean or easy way to calculate the cost. City Clerk Ii, as IMRF administrator, was requested to get cost information to present to the council. The buyback would cover approximately 2.3 years, and it would be paid back under a certain percentage in the future. Attorney Gottschalk also noted that passing the resolution does not automatically make the next step happen but does allow the employee to apply for it. Consensus of the Council was to reach out to IMRF for the cost to the city. IMRF has indicated that it is not possible to make a calculation. City Administrator stated that if the Council decides against the resolution, he would be forced to forfeit 2.3 years of out-of-state credit.

B. Fairwinds, Phase 4 Development: Recommendation to approve the plat for Fairwinds Phase 4 development. The proposed plat of subdivision has not changed from what was approved years ago, and the Plan Commission, as a formality, approved the plat. Council action is required to move forward that requires signatures and recordation at the County. Attorney Gottschalk explained the original plat had been vacated, and a new plat was required even though the newer plat made no changes.

Motion made by Alderman Robinson to accept the plat of subdivision for Fairwinds, Phase 4, as presented. Alderman Arnett seconded. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Erickson, Inman, Ketchum & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried 7:0

13. Amend the Agenda: Mayor Latham explained there was a need to go into Executive Session prior to proceeding with the present agenda. He also noted the numbered items on the agenda would be adjusted accordingly.

Motion made by Alderman Kreinbrink approving to amend the agenda, as stated. Motion was seconded by Alderman Arnett. Motion carried unanimously via voice vote.

14. Executive Session:

Motion made by Alderman Arnett to enter closed session at 8:02 PM pursuant • to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity”

• to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) “The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body • to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) “Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable of imminent”

Motion was seconded by Alderman Kreinbrink Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried 7:0

Alderman Kreinbrink moved to return to regular session at 9:05 PM. Motion was seconded by Alderwoman Inman. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried unanimously

15. New Business:

A. Police Chief Kevin Senne Contract: Discussion and possible approval of annual contract. Alderman Arnett moved to table until more information is received, and Alderman Robinson seconded. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn. Danko, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried 7:0

B. City Administrator Geoff Penman Contract: Discussion and possible approval of annual contract. Motion made by Alderman Arnett to table until more information is received. Motion was seconded by Alderman Danko. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried unanimously

C. Monthly Bills: Motion requested authorizing payment of invoices as recommended by the Finance Committee, in the total amount of $140,637.12. The total amount was amended from originally $140,821.12.

Motion made by Alderman Kreinbrink, and seconded by Alderman Arnett, authorizing payment of invoices as amended. Motion carried unanimously via voice vote.

16. Announcements:

A. Next Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, May 19th, 2025 at 6:30 PM

B. The next Committee-of-the-Whole Council Meeting will be held on May 19th, 2025 at 7:00 PM followed immediately by the Regular Council Meeting.

17. Adjournment: Motion made by Alderman Robinson to adjourn at 9:07 PM. Motion was seconded by Alderman Arnett. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote.

https://www.sandwich.il.us/media/3426