McHenry Times

Village of Fox River Grove President and Board of Trustees met Aug. 20

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 

Village President McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Center. Present at roll call were Trustees Curtiss, Hester, Knar, Migdal, Schladt, and Wall. Also, present were Administrator Soderholm, Assistant Administrator Bechler, Operations Manager Reese, and Clerk Caesar. 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Ron Hameetman, 435 Woodbine - Mr. Hameetman stated he was against the approval of ordinance 2024- 11 on the agenda, stating if granted the additional height request would affect his sunshine and sunsets to the front of his property and that he does not feel a hardship has been identified to warrant the request. 

Andriusis, Gintaras, 415 Ski Hill - Mr. Gintaras stated he is the petitioner for the variance request at 415 Ski Hill Rd. Mr. Gintaras, addressed the Board, stating he is seeking an additional 4 1⁄2' in height for the garage he currently has a permit to build. Mr. Gintaras expressed his property is his oasis and he spends lots of time there working on cars, which is his hobby, and would like the garage to be built to his liking and needs. 

Gala, Joann, 105 Millard - Ms. Gala wanted to express her concerns on a couple matters. She felt residents should not have been required to pay for the private portion of the water service replacement all up front. She also stated that when her driveway apron was dug up as part of the sidewalk project, there was no notice given by the contractors and she and her neighbor found themselves unable to get their vehicles out of there driveway. Ms. Gala stated calls to staff were handled very nicely, however she felt the project manager conversation was not as understanding or helpful. Ms. Gala stated the end result is beautiful, however she would like her experience to be heard and improved upon so other residents do not have a similar experience. 

VILLAGE PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE REPORTS 

Village President - President McLaughlin stated he is looking forward to the Villages 105th year Fox Fest celebration this weekend. 

Trustee Curtiss announced volunteers are still needed at the swag sales tent and to please go online and sign-up if available. 

STAFF MONTHLY REPORTS 

None 

1. APPROVAL: CONSENT AGENDA – APPROVAL VIA ONE VOTE FOR ALL 

A. Village Board Meeting Minutes - August 6, 2024 

B. Accounts Payable - August 20, 2024 

C. Resolution 2024-05, Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant, Local  Assurance

Trustee Knar requested to remove item C from the consent agenda. 

Trustee Hester made a motion to approve consent agenda items A and B. Trustee Curtiss seconded. Roll Call: Trustee Curtiss, Hester, Knar, Migdal, Schladt, and Wall -all "yes." MOTION PASSED. 

C. APPROVAL: Resolution 2024-05, Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant, Local Assurance 

Trustee Curtiss made a motion to approve consent agenda item C. Trustee Hester seconded. 

Administrator Soderholm stated that in preparation of the OSLAD grant application the total anticipated project costs discussed in 2022 and 2023 are significantly higher for several reasons. Administrator Soderholm added that inflation and the impact of the project taking place in a floodplain are major contributors to the increase. 

Trustee Knar asked when the grant needed to be submitted and if new drawings from the consultant would be needed. 

Administrator Soderholm stated the grant submission time is in mid-September and that the step of approving the resolution is necessary to proceed with the grant submission. Administrator Soderholm explained that the boardwalk was too expensive as originally planned, so it was re-routed to make the shortest route possible from the Metra station to the park, which will be reviewed in more detail during the OSLAD grant application discussion. Administrator Soderholm stated the chance of receiving a second grant in the same park, within a year or two of receiving one, was highly unlikely so it makes sense to spend at least $1.2 Million to capture $600,000 in grant money for this submittal. 

A vote was taken to approve Resolution 2024-05, Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant, Local Assurance. Roll Call: Trustee Curtiss, Hester, Knar, Migdal, Schladt, and Wall - all "yes." MOTION PASSED. 

2. APPROVAL: ORDINANCE 2024-11, 415 SKI HILL ROAD, ACCESSORY STRUCTURE VARIATION - EXCEEDING 12′ IN HEIGHT 

Trustee Knar made a motion to deny Ordinance 2024-11, granting a variation to allow the construction of a 16.5' detached garage. Trustee Hester seconded. 

A discussion was held. 

Trustee Hester stated he feels the same as the last meeting, that being there was not a specific hardship presented to warrant the variance request. Given the petitioner already has a garage and this is a second on the same property, he does not feel the additional height request is necessary to eliminate any 

hardship for the petitioner. Trustee Hester supports the ordinance to be revisited to clear up the language, potentially reducing the need for such variance requests. 

Trustee Knar stated that he feels inclined to consider residents concerns when they take the time to attend meetings 

Trustee Curtiss stated that there currently is no limit to the number of accessory structures one can build on their parcel at this time and therefor did not feel the additional height was a necessity. 

A vote was taken to deny ordinance 2024-11, 415 Ski Hill Road, granting a variation to allow the construction of a 16.5' detached garage. Roll Call: Trustee Curtiss, Hester, Knar, Migdal, Schladt, and Wall - all "yes." MOTION TO DENY PASSED. 

3. DISCUSSION: FAÇADE GRANT REQUEST – 100 NORTHWEST HIGHWAY 

Assistant Administrator Bechler stated Fred and Debbie Cardella, owners of The 100 Lounge, were present to answer questions for the Board regarding their façade grant application. Many renovations have taken place on the interior of the location prior to the business opening, and now Mr. and Mrs. Cardella would like to improve the exterior of the building to make the business more noticeable and pleasing to the public. The Board is being asked to consider the Façade grant request in the amount of $19,500 to cover the cost associated with the summary of planned expenses submitted for the Boards review. 

A discussion was held. 

Trustee Curtiss stated that while she is a fan of the 50/50 façade grant program, and loves the sample rendering of the exterior of the building, she does not feel seal and striping the parking lot falls into the "façade" aspect of the grant program. Trustee Curtiss is in support of a $14,700 grant split 50/50 after deducting $4,800. 

Trustee Hester supports Trustee Curtiss in that the parking lot should be removed and would favor a $14,700 50/50 split. 

Trustee Migdal stated for the $2,000 difference he supports leaving the parking lot in. 

President McLaughlin agrees the parking lot is out of scope of the façade grant, but would not be upset if the parking lot was included. 

The consensus of the Board was to place the façade grant request for 100 Northwest Highway on an upcoming Village Board agenda for approval in the amount of $7,350 for the reimbursement. 

4. DISCUSSION: OSLAD GRANT APPLICATION – LIONS PARK 

Administrator Soderholm stated that the $1.2 Million originally anticipated for the Lions Park project list has increased substantially being that it is in a flood plain area, plus inflation. Staff has prepared and prioritized the list of Lions Park projects and is looking for direction from the Board on what projects to keep or not keep for the preparation of the OSLAD grant application. 

Trustee Knar stated he would be good with eliminating the basketball courts since there are some located at Algonquin Road School, but definitely supports keeping the pickle ball courts. Trustee Knar also feels the Boardwalk / Metra Path would be a good project to pull, saving almost $423,400 for a path that is not an immediate necessity. 

Trustee Curtiss agrees with Trustee Knar with the exception of eliminating the basketball courts. 

President McLaughlin supports cutting the Boardwalk, but is on the fence with eliminating the basketball courts. 

Trustee Curtiss feels that as much as possible should be in the plan to capture as much of the grant as possible, however she too is on the fence with whether to keep or eliminate the basketball courts. 

Further discussion was held. 

The consensus of the Board was to eliminate #6 Boardwalk / Metra Path all together and not to include #16 Shoreline Stabilization as part of the grant, but to include shoreline stabilization instead as a separate project for consideration in this year's capital budget meeting. 

5. OTHER BUSINESS 

Trustee Hester made a motion to reconsider Ordinance 2024-09, 220 Gladys Avenue, Accessory Structure Variation Exceeding 576 Square Feet in Area, at 220 Gladys Avenue. Trustee Curtiss seconded. 

Trustee Hester stated that while he still feels there was no hardship presented to warrant approval, he feels that the petitioner, Mr. Ryan Budyak was not given a fair opportunity for a full board consideration. 

Trustee Curtiss supports the reconsideration, stating it came from zoning fully recommended and feels the case needs a better representation of board members for review. 

Trustee Migdal reiterated that the case came to the board from zoning with a full recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Board. 

A vote was taken to place Ordinance 2024-09 on the next agenda for approval reconsideration. Roll Call: Trustee Curtiss, Hester, Migdal, Schladt, and Wall all "yes." Trustee Knar "No." MOTION PASSED. 

Trustee Hester announced changes to the Cary-Grove Homecoming parade this year. Trustee Hester stated there will only be one parade route centered on Cary-Grove High School. The route will loop immediately south of the high school through Saints Peter and Paul's parking lot. Saints Peter and Paul's parking lot will be set aside for Fox River Grove residents to gather together and cheer on the parade. The homecoming parade will be on Sunday evening, September 29 to kick off homecoming week. The school will communicate specific details about the route and timing as the event gets closer. 

ADJOURNMENT 

Trustee Knar made a motion to adjourn the Village Board meeting at 7:31 p.m. to go into Executive Session to discuss Property Purchase and Sale, Pending & Imminent Litigation, Personnel, Executive Session Minutes Review. Seconded by Trustee Schladt. A voice vote was taken. Trustee Curtiss, Hester, Knar, Migdal, Schladt, and Wall-all "yes." MOTION PASSED. 

Village President McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 7:41 p.m. in the Municipal Center. Present at roll call were Trustee Curtiss, Hester, Knar, Migdal, Schladt, and Wall. 

Trustee Knar made a motion to adjourn the Village Board meeting at 7:41 p.m. Seconded by Trustee Wall. A voice vote was taken. Trustee Curtiss, Hester, Knar, Migdal, Schladt, and Wall-all "yes". MOTION PASSED.

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