DeKalb Times

City of Sandwich City Council met July 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order: Mayor Latham called the meeting to order at 9:52 PM

2. Roll Call

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

Also present: Attorney Gottschalk, City Administrator Penman, City Treasurer Koehler, Chief Senne, & EEI Engineer Dettmann

Absent: SEMA Director Eberle

Quorum established

3. Audience Comments: Owner of Lilly’s, Jim Rud, explained that he retiring and has an interested party in purchasing his business. Question raised if the purchaser, already a local bar owner, requires an additional liquor license. The problem seems to be the interpretation of the City’s municipal code relating to issuance of liquor licenses.

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 Special COW Budget Meeting Minutes of April 14, 2025

B. Approval of Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2025

C. Approval of Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting of June 16, 2025

D. Approval of May’s Financial Report removed @ Mayor’s Request

Alderman Kreinbrink made a motion approving the Consent Agenda, as amended, removing Item “D”. Motion seconded by Alderman Chunn. Motion carried unanimously on voice vote

5. Mayor’s Report: No Report

6. Attorney’s Report: No Report

7. City Clerk Ii shared a tidbit of trivia advising that the minutes for April 14th were prepared with the assistance of AI (artificial intelligence) software.

8. Treasurer Koehler: No Report

9. City Administrator Penman advised that he will not be in the office on Thursday nor Friday.

10. City Department’s Reports: No reports

11. Council Reports:

Alderman Arnett encouraged council to review the municipal code, and email him with their interpretation of the liquor licensing for dual businesses. Mayor concurred there is need to clean up the wording, and will bring this matter back to the Council at the next meeting.

Alderman Kreinbrink sadly reported that wife of SEMA Director, Tony Eberly, passed away. Also, former Plan Commissioner, Jackie Greene, passed away on July 4th. He requested that their families are in thought and prayers.

Alderman Robinson requested that updating the personnel ordinance regarding per diem expenses be placed on the agenda.

12. Old Business:

A. Ordinance 2025-03 entitled “An Ordinance Amending Chapter 38, “Historic Preservation” of the City of Sandwich Municipal Code”. Attorney Gottschalk explained the application process under the proposed ordinance including consent and opting out. No action was taken.

13. New Business

A. Monthly Bills: Motion requested approving payment of monthly bills totaling $209,477.99. Alderwoman Erickson, chairwoman, amended the amount to read $209.420.85.

Alderwoman Inman made a motion approving payment of monthly bills, as amended. Alderwoman Erickson seconded. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Erickson, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson Nay: 0 Motion carried 8:0

B. Budget Committee Appointments: Mayor Latham requested a motion approving the appointment of Alderman Chunn and Alderman Ketchum to the Budget Committee for fiscal year 2025-2026.

Motion made by Alderwoman Erickson, and seconded by Alderwoman Inman. Motion carried unanimously via voice vote.

C. EEI Grant of Easement Proposal for Dearborn Property: Motion requested authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with EEI for a lump sum fee of $8,500 to prepare necessary paperwork to establish a Grant of Easement for a new sanitary sewer for the Dearborn property. There was no further discussion.

Motion made by Alderman Kreinbrink, and seconded by Alderman Robinson authorizing the Mayor to sign said agreement. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson Nay: Aldermen Danko & Erickson Motion carried 6:2

D. Ordinance 2025-10 entitled “An Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Dedication of Public Right-Of-Way for the Public Road Purposes for Big Bear Farms, Inc. to the City of Sandwich for 0.840 Acres on Pratt Road and Temporary Construction Easement Agreement for Big Bear Farms, Inc. to Access Said Property” presented for passage.

So moved by Alderman Kreinbrink, and seconded by Alderman Ketchum. Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Erickson, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried 8:0

14. Executive Session: Motion made by Alderman Chunn to enter into closed session at 10:11 PM, and seconded by Alderwoman Erickson, pursuant to

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) personnel “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”; pursuant to

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) “The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired”, pursuant to

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6) “The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body: and pursuant to

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) pending litigation “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 probably or imminent”.

Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Erickson, Inman, Ketchum, Kreinbrink, & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried 8:0 Mayor Latham announced there would be no action following the closed session.

Alderwoman Inman moved to return to regular session at 11:07 PM. Motion was seconded by Alderwoman Erickson. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Chunn, Danko, Erickson, Inman, Ketchum & Robinson Nay:0 Motion carried unanimously

15. Announcements:

A. Next Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, July 21st, 2025 at 6:30 PM.

B. The next Committee-of-the-Whole Council Meeting will be held on July 21st, 2025 at 7:00 PM followed immediately by the Regular Council Meeting.

16. Adjournment:

Motion made by Alderman Robinson to adjourn at 11:09 PM. Motion was seconded by Alderman Chunn. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote.

https://www.sandwich.il.us/media/3766