McHenry Times

The Lake in the Hills Village Board met as a committee of the whole June 21.

Here are the minutes of the meeting as provided by Lake in the Hills:

Call To Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Trustees Harlfinger, Bogdanowski, Yensen, Huckins, Ruzanski and President Mulcahy.

Also present were Village Administrator Gerald Sagona, Assistant Village Administrator Jennifer Clough, Chief of Police Dave Brey, Public Works Director Fred Mullard, Finance Director Shane Johnson, Village Attorney Brad Stewart and Village Clerk Denise Wasserman.

Audience Participation: None

Administrator:

Raffle License – EAA Chapter 790 – presented by Village Administrator Gerald Sagona – Up for discussion a request from the EAA Chapter 790 requesting a raffle license. All provisions of the Section 31.02 of the Village Code have been met. The EAA Chapter 790 unanimously voted to request a waiver of the fidelity bond requirement associated with the Raffle Application form. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Raffle License – Lake in the Hills Youth Athletic Association – presented by Village Administrator Gerald Sagona – Up for discussion a request from Lake in the Hills Youth Athletic Association requesting a raffle license. All provision of Section 31.02 of the Village Code have been met. The Lake in the Hills Youth Athletic Association unanimously voted to request a waiver of the fidelity bond requirement associated with the Raffle Application form. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Project Two Music – Huntley High School – Waiver of Zoning Ordinance, Section 16, Signs - presented by Village Administrator Gerald Sagona – Up for discussion a letter from Project Two Music requesting enforcement activities be suspended to allow the erection of temporary signage in the right-of-way on the corner of Lakewood and Miller for a concert being held at Huntley High School on July 9, 2016. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Ordinance – Surplus Property – presented by Village Administrator Gerald Sagona – The Illinois Municipal Code requires adoption of a formal ordinance to dispose of surplus Village property. It has been determined that the items listed in Exhibit A are no longer necessary or useful to the Village. The Ordinance declares the personal property listed in Exhibit A as surplus in order to allow for their disposal or sale. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Ordinance – Prevailing Wage Rates – presented by Village Administrator Gerald Sagona - State statute requires that during the month of June each calendar year, each public body must investigate an ascertain the prevailing rate of wages for laborers, mechanics and other workers in the locality performing public works projects for the public body. This ordinance will satisfy the statutory requirements. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Staffing Request – Property Maintenance Inspector – presented by Village Administrator Gerald Sagona – The Community Development Department is seeking approval to increase staffing levels from one part-time property maintenance inspector at 24 hours/week to one full time property inspector at 40 hours/week. This will result in a net gain of 16 hours per week for property maintenance and other duty assignments in support of the department’s goals. To substantiate this budget request, a current review was conducted of department and village activity level and goals against current staffing levels. Additionally, a previous department analysis conducted in 2015 determined a substantial gap existed between targeted goals, and employee resources available specifically for property maintenance enforcement. The hours needed to meet the duties and goals of the property maintenance inspector position totaled nearly 1,800 hours/year, while the current part-time position is established for a maximum of 1300 hours/year. With the recent resignation of the part-time property maintenance inspector, this would be the time to re-tool for a full-time worker, prior to posting for a replacement of the position. I concur with the recommendation that the savings created by the vacancy in the Community Development Director and being less reliant on consultants to fill in will cover the additional expenses and provide better service to the community. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Ordinance – Conditional Use Permit for “Medical Office” & Variance to Section 24.11-3 of the Zoning Ordinance at 261 N Randall Road (All Smiles Dental/Compassionate Dental Care) – presented by Village Administrator Gerald Sagona – The applicant, Tim Stimeman, is requesting approval of a conditional use permit for a 7,000 square foot dental office in an existing 16, 720 square foot multi-tenant commercial building at 261 N Randall Road. The applicant is also seeking a variance to Section 24.11-3 of the Zoning Ordinance to decrease the required floor area of a multi-tenant commercial building from 80% to 59% for a conditional use which does not generate retail sales tax. The multi-tenant building contains three other tenants (Einstein Brothers Bagels, Jersey Mikes Subs and Yumz Frozen Yogurt and three vacant spaces (2,200sf, 2,320sf and the 7,000 sf). The applicant proposes to locate a state of the art dental facility in the former Hollywood Video space which has been vacant for six years. On June 13th the Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing and recommended approval of a conditional use permit and variation request for the proposed dental office in the tenant space by a vote of 6 to 1 (Commissioner Dustin voted Nay). There were no objectors at the hearing. Trustee Harlfinger wondered why Commissioner Dustin voted Nay on the conditional use. Mr. Dustin was in the audience and took to the podium. His reasoning for voting Nay was based on discussions in the past couple of years regarding the Randall Road corridor being predominately retail to bring in sales tax. Trustee Yensen agreed with Mr. Dustin, however she would like to see the vacancy filled and she believes the dental office will bring additional food traffic to the area who will visit the other existing establishments. Trustee Huckins mentioned that the space up for discussion has been vacant for many years. While sales tax will not be generated for the Village at a prime location, it will help bring foot traffic to the area. Trustee Harlfinger understands Mr. Dustin’s concern yet because of current market conditions and the long vacancy he would like to see this move forward. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Public Hearing – Zoning Application for Text Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance – presented by Village Administrator Gerald Sagona - At the June 13th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting the members had a discussion about the recent text amendments to the zoning ordinance (Ordinance 2016-11). There were several commercial property owners, commercial tenants, and commercial real estate agents in the audience that commented about the ordinance. The unified feedback from the business community members present was that these new regulation would make it more difficult to attract retail tenants, causing vacancies, which would lead to lower property values that would ultimately lead to less property tax revenue for the Village on these properties. They asked that the PZC repeal the ordinance. Accordingly, a motion was unanimously approved by the commission to recommend to the Village Board that Ordinance 2016-11 should be repealed in its entirety. After removing the changes form the zoning ordinance, the commission would then begin work on developing changes to the zoning ordinance that would be better received by the Village’s business community while remaining in the best interest of the entire Village. Trustee Ruzanski believes this is the right thing to do. Trustee Harlfinger wondered if any possible applicants coming to the Village will be made aware of the pending changes. Village Administrator Sagona mentioned that if that is the wishes of the Board then of course. Trustee Yensen received a memo from staff recently. She mentioned that if she had this information before the original vote, she would have voted no for the ordinance. She advised “lessons learned” regarding the channels of communication. President Mulcahy mentioned that most likely this ordinance will be repealed. He was speaking to the business owners in the audience. He would like the input of the community to create an ordinance that benefits everyone. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Police Department: Nothing to present

Community Development:

Engineer: Nothing to present

Parks and Recreation: Nothing to present

Public Works:

Agreement – Commonwealth Edison – Convert Village Street Lighting to LED – presented by Public Works Director Fred Mullard - Public Works has been discussing a possible conversion of the existing street lighting system from High Pressure Sodium and Mercury Vapor fixtures to all Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures. We lease the fixtures from Commonwealth Edison. Commonwealth Edison is willing to use funds from the state mandated energy efficiency program to pay for the conversion. They believe the conversion can take place by the end of this year. The conversion will improve the standardization of the street lighting system and will reduce electrical costs. Based on the current inventory, we estimate the reduced costs for leasing the fixtures and the cost of electricity will save over $17,000 annually. The improvement is expected to produce a 9% cost reduction based on a 2016 budget of $189,000. The Village is required to provide access and a point of contact. Commonwealth Edison will upgrade the fixtures and provide credits to cover the cost of the conversion. If approved, Lake in the Hills will be the first community in McHenry County to make a complete conversion. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Grant Application/Resolution – Illinois Transportation Enhancement Grant Program (ITEP)- presented by Public Works Director Fred Mullard - In May, the State of Illinois released its request for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Grant Program (ITEP). Staff is proposing applying for grant funding for a bike path along Lakewood Road from Miller Road to Algonquin Road. Construction of a bike/walking path along Lakewood Road was one of the most repeated requests in the last resident survey. The path would be on the east side of Lakewood Road and connect the existing bike paths at Miller Road, Reed Road, and Algonquin Road. This would also connect many homes to the business at Lakewood Road and Algonquin Road. HR Green estimates the total project cost to be $1,009,260 for engineering, possible right-of-way and easement acquisition, and construction. The grant consists of 80 percent federal and 20 percent local funding. McHenry County is in agreement to continue their support if a grant is received and to split costs for this work since most of the improvements will be in their right of way. This would put the Village’s contribution near $101,000. Additionally, the First Amendment to the Annexation Agreement for Lake Pointe Center Phase 2 calls for the developer to pay a percentage of the cost up to $50,000, which will further reduce the Village’s liabilities. The Village is not obligated to complete the work until the grant is offered and accepted by the Village. The grant would require the Village to have the project bid and awarded prior to September 30, 2019. The proposed resolution and letter authorizes the Village President, of behalf of the Village, to sign and file applications for funding with the Illinois Department of Transportation for an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) Grant. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Mr. Dustin took to the podium with a question. He wondered if Plote was going to pay for a sidewalk over by where the medical buildings have gone in. He remembers discussion from about two years ago regarding this item. According to President Mulcahy the annexation agreement with Plote contains a language for a payment of $50,000 for this project.

Airport – Office Lease – Joe Standley – 8397 Pyott Road – presented by Airport Manager Mike Peranich - Up for discussion a lease between the Village of Lake in the Hills and Joe Standley. The lease includes a 10’x11’ office space, and use of the common areas that the Village currently leases from S&K Aviation at 8397 Pyott Road. Mr. Standley intends to use the space to offer an intensive flight training course – something no other tenant on the airport currently offers. To assist Mr. Standley in starting up, a tiered rent was offered in addition to several incentives to help promote use of the Village facilities. The lease will begin July 1, 2016 and end on June 30, 2018. The monthly rent will be $300 for the first year and $350 for the second. This rent is higher than but still in range of similar office rentals near the airport. A security deposit of $350 is requested. Required insurance coverage has been obtained and is on file. Motion was made to place this item on the Village Board Agenda.

Finance Department:

Organizations and Developers:

Board of Trustees:

Trustee Harlfinger – Nothing to report

Trustee Huckins – Parks and Recreation Board Liaison Report – Attend the P&Z Commission last week. He too felt that more information was given regarding the above discussed ordinance. He learned a lot from the business owners in attendance.

Trustee Bogdanowski – Planning and Zoning Liaison Report – Nothing to report

Trustee Ruzanski – Airport Marketing Committee Liaison Report - Nothing to report

Trustee Yensen – McHenry County Division of Transportation Liaison Report – Attended the committee McDot meeting. The Randall/Algonquin corridor project was up for a vote again. Village of Algonquin president John Schmitt took to the podium to speak in favor of the project. The measure failed. It will go to finance and audit and then to the county board for a round of votes.

President:

Appointment – Village Trustee – Doug Cummings (06-23-16 to 05-011-17) – Thursday – Trustee Yensen would like to meet with Mr. Cummings as she has never been introduced to him. Regarding McDot, he feels it is disheartening that discussions are heading in the direction they are. He does however believe that there are enough votes in the county board to move this project forward. The county needs this project to move forward.

Audience Participation:

Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, the Committee of the Whole meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.