McHenry Times

Village of Cary Board of Trustees met April 1

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

ATTENDANCE

Village Board of Trustees

Mayor Mark Kownick, Trustee Dale Collier, Trustee Rick Dudek, Trustee Ellen McAlpine, Trustee Anthony Stefani, Trustee Rick Walrath, Trustee Jennifer Weinhammer

Others Present

Village Administrator Morimoto, Assistant Village Administrator Radcliffe, Community Development Director Simmons, Public Works Director Noonan, Finance Director Brainerd, Police Chief Finlon, Village Attorney Uhler

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kownick at 6:00 p.m.

II. Roll Call

The roll was called and all were present. Trustee Dudek and Trustee Walrath attended via teleconference.

III. Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Kownick led in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

IV. Open Forum

John Picchiotti of the office of State Senator Craig Wilcox provided a summary of the State's FY25-26 fiscal forecast. Mr. Picchiotti encouraged the Village to contact the office of State Senator Wilcox if there are projects in need of funding so they can assist with possible grants.

Missi Brezina, 671 Krenz Avenue, stated their family has been overwhelmed with gratitude for the many years the Village has invited her son, Danny, to help proclaim April as Autism Awareness Month. Ms. Brezina thanked Mayor Kownick for always being kind and offering words of support to Danny. Ms. Brezina also thanked the Board for their praise as Danny read the annual proclamations. Ms. Brezina offered her thanks for allowing her family to voice autism awareness for so many years.

Jim Feffer, 437 Glen Garry Road, does not feel there is residential support for the Maplewood development and does not support this type of housing in Cary.

Mayor Kownick stated nothing has been decided regarding a design for the proposed development. Mayor Kownick stated the Village has launched an updated dedicated webpage on its website that will be continually updated as the Maplewood project evolves. Mayor Kownick stated the Comprehensive Plan, which was created with public input and adopted in 2015, indicated the desire for higher density housing on the Maplewood site. Mayor Kownick stated the Village conducted outreach for the 2021 Downtown Strategic Plan, which also indicated support for this type of housing on the site.

Chris Reike, 446 Lloyd Street, stated he spoke to a local mover who indicated a lot of people are moving into single-family homes in the Huntley area where there are larger properties being developed.

Tim Thomas, 648 Knollwood Drive, supports the development of the Maplewood property due to the ongoing housing crisis. Mr. Thomas stated he would like to see the property developed with higher density buildings, but with a combination of owneroccupied condos and apartments as well as mixed-use retail spaces. Mr. Thomas would like rent control ordinances on property taxes so tenants can afford to live in Cary long term.

John Rohrbach, 120 Cherry Street, stated he received a piece of mail that informed him he was being enrolled in an electrical aggregation program unless he opted out. Mr. Rohrbach does not feel he should be automatically enrolled in a program without his permission. Mr. Rohrbach stated he does not recall 5-story buildings being included in the resident feedback session regarding the Downtown Strategic Plan and would like to see more data on the information gathered.

Mayor Kownick and Director Morimoto stated the Village will provide Mr. Rohrbach with information regarding the electrical aggregation program and the Downtown Strategic Plan.

Michael Mills, 538 Arthur Drive, stated he understands communities need to grow, but he feels the Village should take into account the feelings of the residents in the area of the Maplewood property.

Martha Ritter, 239 N. School Street, is concerned about flooding with the Maplewood property development.

There being no further comments, Mayor Kownick closed Open Forum at 6:35 p.m.

V. Mayor's Report

Mayor Kownick recognized Tyler Kochanski, an eighth grader at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic School, for winning the 2025 McHenry County Regional Spelling Bee and wished him luck at the National Spelling Bee competition.

A. Proclamation - Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month

Mayor Kownick and Danny Brezina proclaimed April as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month.

B. Proclamation - National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week - April 13-19, 2025

Mayor Kownick proclaimed April 13-19, 2025, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

VI. Consent Agenda

Kurt Zimmerman, 641 Norman Drive, stated he feels there are construction issues with the builder of the new homes in the Cimarron subdivision, who is also the proposed developer of the Ridgefield Park Subdivision. Mr. Zimmerman is concerned about building inspections for the new project.

Director Simmons provided an overview of the permit and inspection process.

Motion:

I will entertain a motion to approved Consent Agenda items A-H as shown on the Village website and as displayed on the video monitor during the Village Board meeting.

Motion moved by Trustee McAlpine and motion seconded by Trustee Stefani.

Motion Passed.

AYES: Collier, Dudek, McAlpine, Stefani, Walrath, Weinhammer

NAYS: None.

ABSTAIN: None.

A. Consider for Approval the Warrant Dated April 1, 2025

B. Consider for Approval the March 15, 2025, Special Village Board Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes

C. Consider for Approval the March 18, 2025, Village Board Meeting Minutes

D. Consider for Approval a Resolution Authorizing the Village Administrator to Award a Contract for the 2025 McHenry County Municipal Partnering Initiative Street Sweeping Joint Bid to Lakeshore Recycling Systems, LLC, Rosemont, IL, in an Amount Not to Exceed $65,431.80

E. Consider for Approval a Resolution Authorizing the Village Administrator to Approve a Contract for Mowing Services to Langton Group, Woodstock, IL, in an Amount not to Exceed $75,610.50 for FY 25-26 and Authorizing the Village Administrator to Approve a 10% Contingency for Unforeseen Changes in Scope for a Total Amount of $83,171.55

F. Consider for Approval an Ordinance Approving the Final Plat of Subdivision for the Ridgefield Park Subdivision

G. Consider for Approval a Resolution Adopting the Village of Cary Fiscal Year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

H. Consider for Approval a Resolution Approving a Joint Funding Agreement Between the Village of Cary and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Work Associated with the Depot Plaza Improvements Project in the Amount of $281,590.40

VII. Items for Separate Action

A. Consider for Approval the Village of Cary Annual Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026

Motion:

I will entertain a motion to approve the Village of Cary Annual Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.

Motion moved by Trustee Collier and motion seconded by Trustee McAlpine.

Motion Passed.

AYES: Collier, Dudek, McAlpine, Stefani, Walrath, Weinhammer

NAYS: None.

ABSTAIN: None.

VIII. Administrator's Report

None.

IX. Department Head Reports

Director Noonan stated work on the Downtown Plaza project is scheduled to begin on April 7th, and substantial completion is expected around mid-June. Director Noonan stated Spring Clean-Up will take place on Saturday, April 26th, for residents on the south side of the train tracks and on Saturday, May 3rd, for residents on the north side of the train tracks. Director Noonan stated the 2nd annual Community Clean-Up Day will take place on May 10th at 8:30 a.m.

Trustee Collier asked about the start of the Flood Brothers yard waste pick-up program.

Director Noonan stated the Village had previously spoken to Flood Brothers regarding the start date of the program and decided on March 31st. Subsequently, there was a miscommunication within the Flood Brothers customer service department regarding the start date, but this has since been corrected.

Director Simmons stated the Village website's dedicated webpage for the Maplewood development project has been updated to provide additional information and will continue to be updated as the project progresses.

X. Future Agenda Items and Discussion by Village Board

Trustee McAlpine would like to revisit the subject of food trucks and associated fees.

Mayor Kownick stated this will be placed on a future Committee of the Whole agenda for discussion.

XI. Adjourn

Motion:

There being no further items to discuss, Mayor Kownick entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:56 p.m.

Motion moved by Trustee McAlpine and motion seconded by Trustee Stefani.

Motion Passed.

AYES: Collier, Dudek, McAlpine, Stefani, Walrath, Weinhammer

NAYS: None.

ABSTAIN: None.

https://www.caryillinois.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04012025-202