Kankakee Times

Village of Grant Park Board of Trustees met April 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

6:33PM Meeting called to Order / Pledge

Roll call was taken, all members present

*Motion to approve minutes of previous 4/07/25 meeting

       Motion: Morgan        2nd: Bruni        Motion Carried 5-0-1     Wiedl abstaining

Public Comments: Valgene Raloff asked to speak concerning 3 topics.

   1) While Surf Air was installing lines in town, an old hitching post was discovered. The Historical Society would like to relocate this, and put it on display. There are a few of these in different state of repair, one at 111 N Maple is best to be used

 2) Surf Air has installed a switch box in an obvious spot in the Community Center Park creating an eyesore, is asking that the Village have it moved to a better location

 3) asked if the Trustees had seen the proposed Ordinance concerning chickens had been seen by the Trustees prior to tonight

*Motion to approve Bills for Payment: <4/18/25 General Fund $57,624.66 , Fest Account $75.78, TIF $4,885.00 <4/12/25 Payroll $19,792.23 <4/14/25 Stipend $3,189.79

        Motion: Morgan       2nd: Bruni         Motion Carried 6-0-0

Departmental Reports: 

Clerk Dillman: the “Mommy and Me” chair the GP Foundation proposed has been ordered, due in June. Reported the Certificate of Canvas results of the April 1, 2025 election. 

*Motion to approve Liquor, Gaming, and Tobacco License for fiscal year 2026 as presented

       Motion: Morgan      2nd Bruni       Motion Carried 6-0-0

Atty Santschi: spoke concerning the “Pepin Property” and it potential sale possibilities. Stated 2 processes to sell it, one being a bid process. Second would to have the property appraised by a MAI Certified process, where sale price must reflect at least 80% of value. After some discussion, the second option will be pursued.

Spoke of the discovered old liens in the Hamilton Farms lots. He is working with the purchasers lawyers to have the issue solved, and removed so the sale can proceed

Engineer Piggush spoke briefly, and presented drawings for the “Streetscape” project. Will need to do soil sampling, spoke of the required design for lighting required by IDOT, will address issues found concerning the Esson Farm walkway, still working on the Hilgert Park       

Ordinance & Insurance, Wiedl: no report

Streets & Alleys, Passini: brush pick-up has begun, alley dragging will begin, Village street lights have been repaired

Finance, Morgan: gave a brief review of the 2025 budget, reporting a $40k deficit, but ended with a small surplus. Gave an explanation of the proposed 2026 budget, and fielded questions

*Motion to approve FY 2026 Budget as presented

        Motion: Morgan      2nd: Bruni       Motion Carried 6-0-0

 Community Outreach, Detloff:

*Motion to donate $250 to the GP Foundation, and $250 to the GP Chamber from the Fest account

          Motion: Detloff       2nd: Bruni         Motion Carried 5-1-0   Wiedl voting no

Building & Grounds, Bruni:

*Motion to paying the GP Rangers $1000 to help maintain our Parks and Village Grounds

        Motion: Bruni        2nd: Detloff      Motion Carried 4-2-0      Whorrall and Wiedl no

Question and answer, with discussion held concerning the proposed change to allow chickens to be raised within Village limits pertaining to Ordinance 6-1-2-9 animals subcatagory A 

*Motion to suspend the rule and adopt Ordinance O-4-25-1 making a change to Ordinance O-6-1-2-9    

      Motion: Bruni      2nd : Morgan        Motion Carried 5-2-0       Whorrall and Wiedl no

Motion to  waive first reading Ordinance O-4-25-2 to suspend the rule and permit chickens within Village limits

       Motion: Bruni       2nd: Morgan          Motion Carried 5-2-0       Whorrall and Wiedl no

*Motion to host second reading to suspend the rule and adopt Ordinance O-4-25-2 to permit chickens within Village limits

        Motion: Bruni       2nd: Morgan      Motion Carried 5-2-0      Whorrall and Wiedl no

Law Enforcement, Whorrall : reported 92 calls in March, with breakdown to types of calls

Chief Frey: discussion over ferrule cats around town, and discussion how to control them

Pres. Hawkins: spoke of recent Easter event held at the Community Center, as a success. Also hosted the County Mayors meeting recently at the Community Center.

*Motion to accept proposed building permit increases for fiscal year 2026, and proposed contractor registration program for 2026

        Motion: Detloff        2nd: Wiedl       Motion Carried 6-0-0

Reported all legal fees incurred for making building safe on West Taylor were reimbursed

No Executive session held

Mr. Detloff made a special presentation to outgoing Board Members, Pres. Hawkins, Robin Bruni, and Frank Passetti and thanked them for their services to the Village  

8:16PM Meeting Adjourned 

https://www.grantpark-il.org/s/Village-of-Grant-Park42125.docx