McHenry Times

City of McHenry City Council met Sept. 3

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Roll Call: Mayor Jett opened with the roll call.

Members present Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller, and Mayor Jett. Others present Attorney McArdle, Administrator Ostrovsky, Director of Community Development Polerecky, Finance Director Lynch, Director of Parks and Recreation Hobson, Director of Economic Development Martin, Chief of Police Birk, City Planner Sheriff-absent, Director of Public Works Wirch, Deputy Clerk Johnson, and City Clerk Ramel.

Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Jett led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment: None

Consent Agenda. Motion to Approve the following Consent Agenda Items as presented:

A. Appoint Mark Healy to the Landmark Commission with a term to expire April 30, 2027 (Deputy Clerk Monte Johnson)

B. Award a contract to Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) in the amount of $55,600 to perform the 2024 Pavement Management Study (Director Wirch)

C. Approve a payment to Mad Bomber Fireworks in the amount of $20,000 for the 2024 community fireworks display (Director Hobson)

D. Award a bid for the 2024-2025 Winter Tree Trimming and Pruning Program contract to Advanced Tree Care of Lincolnshire, Illinois, in the amount of $42,483 (Director Wirch)

E. Parks & Recreation Facilities & Special Use Permit Requests

F. August 19, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes

G. Issuance of Checks in the amount of $635,523.34

A motion was made by Alderwoman Miller and seconded by Alderman Koch to approve the Consent Agenda Item as presented: Roll Call: Vote:7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays, 0-abstained. Motion carried.

Individual Action Item Agenda

A. Castle Auto Easement Vacation

A motion to approve and agreement and pass an ordinance to vacate a stormwater easement located at 1121 S Route 31 (Director Polerecky)

Alderman Santi was happy to hear that this was going to be taken care of.

No public comment.

A motion was made by Alderman McClatchey and seconded by Alderman Santi to approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch. 0-nays. 0-abstained. Motion approved.

B. Trio Sign Variance

A motion to pass an ordinance granting a sign variance at 5520 W Elm Street for two additional wall signs, not to exceed four wall signs with a combined total of 82 sq/ft; and a variance to allow two additional free-standing signs on the property. (Directory Polerecky)

Alderman Glab wanted to know how different the Trio is from Bull Valley. The other trio is a fueling station this one is much larger and has a fueling station and car wash. It was also confirmed by the petitioner the signs will be like the Trio on Bull Valley Road, however, there will be more advertising for the car wash, etc. No public comment.

A motion was made by Alderwoman Miller and seconded by Alderman McClatchey to approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch. 0-nays. 0-abstained. Motion approved.

C. Freund Avenue Lift Station Improvements

A motion to accept the bid from Marc Kresmery Construction LLC in an amount of $131,575.00 and a 10% contingency of $13,157.50 for the pump, pipe, and valve replacement and other necessary improvements at the Freund Avenue Lift Station (Director Wirch)

A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderman Koch to approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch. 0-nays. 0-abstained. Motion approved.

D. Route 120 Street Light Replacement

A motion to approve a Task Order in the amount of $32,800.00 to Baxter & Woodman INC. for Professional Engineering Services for the Route 120 (Elm Street) street light replacement (Director Wirch)

Alderman Koch wanted to know why the city engineer will not do this instead, per Director Wirch the scope of the work would take up a ton of manpower while other things are being worked on. This is just the engineering services per Director Wirch.

Alderwoman Miller asked if Green Street to River Road is going to be completed, as confirmed by Director Wirch.

A motion was made by Alderwoman Miller and seconded by Alderman Davis to approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch. 0-nays. 0-abstained. Motion approved.

E. Food Truck Ordinance

A motion to pass an ordinance Adopting Mobile Food Truck Regulations to Title 4 Business and License Regulations of the City of McHenry Municipal Code (Director Polerecky)

Alderman Santi would like to see how it works for 12 months and would like to bring this back to the council.

A question regarding exemption from special events was asked by Alderman Davis and it was confirmed by Director Polerecky.

Alderman McClatchey has a health issue and wanted to know how the food trucks are evaluated. Per Director Polerecky, the food trucks have to be registered with the county. The health permit must be supplied along with liability insurance, also noted by Director Polerecky, including permission from the property owner. Alderman McClatchey is happy to review this again in June or July. 

There was also a mention that a $500 ticket is issued if the ordinances are not followed, expressing the importance of getting the word out for the permits.

Alderwoman Miller is concerned about the pop-ups and feels that communication will be key to this. There will be an application online for this. There will be news and notices on the website and a link for the forms as well online.

Alderwoman Bassi wanted to know if we are limiting where the food truck can go, for example, could one be in a front yard for three days if they are taken down every night if they wanted. It was confirmed that yes this could happen, but has not, per Director Polerecky. She also supports the ordinance and enjoys the food trucks.

Alderman Glab thinks items such as this should be coming back to The Council for further review. Chief Birk stated that he would support Director Polerecky in any request needed when it comes to enforcement.

Alderman Koch wanted to know if he could have a food truck to have a reunion a West Beach, for example, and would a permit be needed. Yes, anything in the parks is a special use application per Director Hobson.

Alderman Davis wanted to know if it is on the special use form, it is not but can be added per Director Hobson.

Alderman McClatchey wanted to know if taxes are being collected, they are supposed to submit local taxes per Director Policy. Per Director Lynch, tracking of the taxes is difficult but they are required to pay taxes.

Having the ordinance would make it easier to track these taxes per Administrator Ostrovsky.

Alderman Santi would like to bring it back next year and wanted to note this for public record before he motioned the vote.

No public comment.

A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderwoman Miller to approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch. 0-nays. 0-abstained. Motion approved.

Discussion Item Agenda:

Staff Reports:

Provided the 1st meeting of each month.

Mayor’s Report: We lost a great friend and father, husband, Ben Keefe who passed away Monday morning. Prayers to his family and children. There are no plans for the funeral yet, but he was a great human being who gave so much to the community and will be greatly missed.

Alderman McClatchey stated Ben was a great guy who did a lot for McHenry, he will be missed. He has a GoFundMe page as well for the family. It will also be listed in the NW Herald per Mayor Jett.

Alderman Glab wanted to talk about the enforcement of signs right away. A developer has been putting them in after talking to Director Polerecky they did pull some but now there is another area where we need to come up with a game plan there are many more signs.

Maybe looking into a budget for a part-time person who could help with something like this in the future, as suggested by Alderman Glab.

Alderman Koch said the fire hydrants are looking pretty good. Thinks there should be taller warning lights for the pedestrian crossings when going down the hill because trucks can block them and cause an accident.

City Council Comments: Rise will be next week any volunteers are welcome.

Chief Birk sept 11th will be the Veterans Park ceremony.

Executive Session if necessary:

Adjourn: A motion was made by Alderman McClatchey and seconded by Alderman Santi to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Davis, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nay-, 0-abstained. Motion carried. 

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