McHenry Times

Village Of Holiday Hills Village Board met Nov. 18

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order

President French called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

Please note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Clerk Kirchner attended the meeting via phone. Also, the meeting was held at the Village Hall and there was enough space for the two residents who attended. Proper social distancing was observed.

Roll Call

Board members present: President Lou French; Trustees Kathy Andrews, Terri Beaudoin, Jeff Giles, Lisa Maier, Cheryl Thompson, Rich Young

Board members absent: None

Staff present: Treasurer Melanie Gatza, Police Chief Darec Kleczka, Clerk Maura Kirchner (electronically)

Pledge of Allegiance

President’s Report (Lou French)

Prior to giving his report, President French stated that, due to the high rate of COVID-19 infection, only necessary business will be conducted and reports will be minimized. He said that safety for residents is top priority. He anticipates following this approach for the next several months. He said that if anything arises that would affect residents, it would be announced, and he and the board would come up with a way for all residents who so wish to participate.

Ratify consensus to move forward with a grant application and potential agreement with Northern Moraine Water Reclamation District for possible sewer project: President French asked for a motion.

Motion: Thompson

Second: Beaudoin

Ayes: Andrews, Beaudoin, Giles, Maier, Thompson, Young

Nays: none

Abstain: none

Absent: none

Motion carried

Ratify consensus to purchase and install a memorial bench honoring the late Community Service Officer Ken Olson (not to exceed $500): President French asked for a motion.

Motion: Young

Second: Andrews

Ayes: Andrews, Beaudoin, Giles, Maier, Thompson, Young

Nays: none

Abstain: none

Absent: none

Motion carried

Discuss annual Santa visit with COVID-19 safety guidelines: President French stated that he would like to still have the annual Visit with Santa for the village children, despite the current pandemic. He said that, in order to keep everyone safe, he would construct a plexiglass barrier behind which Santa would sit. Only one family would be allowed in the Village Hall at any given time. Trustee Thompson would act as an elf and she would wear gloves and a mask and deliver gifts down a chute that President French said he would build. A board member asked who would play Santa. President French asked Trustee Beaudoin if her spouse would be willing and she said that it depends on whether he has to work on the chosen date. Chief Kleczka will stand if Mr. Beaudoin is otherwise occupied.

Request Santa visit budget (not to exceed $200): President French asked for a motion. 

Motion: Young

Second: Giles

Ayes: Beaudoin, Giles, Maier, Thompson, Young

Nays: none

Abstain: Andrews

Absent: none

Motion carried

Clerk’s Report (Maura Kirchner)

Approve minutes for 10/21/2020 Board Meeting: Clerk Kirchner asked for a motion. Motion: Young

Second: Giles

Ayes: Andrews, Beaudoin, Giles, Thompson, Young

Nays: none

Abstain: Maier

Absent: none

Motion carried

Treasurer’s Report (Melanie Gatza)

Approve financial report: Request motion to approve the financial report. 

Motion: Thompson

Second: Andrews

Ayes: Andrews, Beaudoin, Giles, Maier, Thompson, Young Nays: none

Abstain: none

Absent: none

Motion carried

Approve warrant: Request motion to approve warrant.

Motion: Andrews

Second: Beaudoin

Ayes: Andrews, Beaudoin, Giles, Maier, Thompson, Young 

Nays: none

Abstain: none

Absent: none

Motion carried

Building Inspector’s Report (Chris Carlsen and Chris Johnson) No report

Absent

Village Maintenance Report (Doreen Dzialo)

No report

Absent

Police Department Report (Chief Darec Kleczka)

No report

Standing Committees

Buildings and Grounds (Jeffrey Giles)

No report

Community Relations (Teresa Beaudoin)

No report

Environmental (Lisa Maier)

No report

Finance (Cheryl Thompson)

No report

Planning and Development (Rich Young)

No report

Village Codes (Kathy Andrews)

No report

Public Comment

President French stated that the clerk received one Public Comment by email. He said that he found it disturbing and said that he felt it incites fear. Trustee Thompson read the email aloud. Ms. Tami Chesler, 3001 Holiday Drive, suggested that the board consider dissolving the village, to be absorbed by Nunda Township. She said that she has been hearing rumors about the upcoming election and that she and other residents feel that the election could be as disconcerting as the United States presidential election is. President French said that he feels that Holiday Hills residents are above this and that everyone who fits the criteria has a right to run for office. He said that he does not see any issues with the integrity of the residents of the Village of Holiday Hills. He also pointed out that if the village was unincorporated there would be no chance of obtaining grants for sewers. President French asked for candidates to campaign with integrity and to call the police if anyone feels at all threatened. He asked whether anyone else heard of a desire to dissolve the village, and Trustee Andrews responded that she has heard of residents wishing to dissolve the village for approximately two years. She said that it was due to complaints of road maintenance and the Police Department. Trustee Thompson wondered aloud whether this would be a decision that would need to be put to a resident vote during an election. She also said that she feels that being a small group of residents, we would most likely not be represented as well as if the village remains a village. She said she felt that if the trustees all agreed that dissolving the village is not a feasible option, it would not reach a vote. More discussion followed and there was no talk of looking into this option.

Old Business

Trustee Maier said that she would collect water samples from different parts of Griswold Lake for testing shortly.

New Business

Trustee Giles reported that his water has an increased sulfur odor lately.

Executive Session

No Executive Session

Adjournment

Motion: Andrews

Second: Giles

Ayes: Andrews, Beaudoin, Giles, Maier, Thompson, Young

Nays: none

Abstain: none

Absent: none

Motion carried

Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13t7ylEtKWLilW7jcZX4jRqt5xj1UweYb/view