Kendall County Times

Village of Oswego President and Board of Trustees met Aug. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

President Ryan Kauffman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Chief Bastin led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

ROLL CALL

Board Members Physically Present: President Ryan Kauffman; Trustees Jennifer Hughes, Rachelle Koenig, Karin McCarthy-Lange, and Andrew Torres.

Board Members Absent: Trustees Jac Cooper, and Karen Novy.

Staff Physically Present: Dan Di Santo, Village Administrator; Jean Bueche, Asst. Village Administrator; Tina Touchette, Village Clerk; Jason Bastin, Police Chief; Joe Renzetti, IT/GIS Director; Andrea Lamberg, Finance Director; Rod Zenner, Development Services Director; Phil Tartaglia, Public Works Deputy Director/Engineer; Kevin Leighty, Economic Development Director; Maddie Upham, Asst. to Village Administrator; Lisset Padilla, Communications Manager; Alejandro Hardaway, Management Analyst; and James Murphy, Village Attorney.

NBC 5 News Chicago was in attendance and filmed parts of the meeting.

President Kauffman addressed the Board, staff, those in attendance, and the community: I want to acknowledge the unimaginable tragedy that happened last week at Portillo’s where 13 people were injured and a two-year old lost his life. As a father I can’t begin to comprehend the pain and the heartbreak the family is feeling. It’s the kind of loss that leaves you breathless. If words could heal, I’d say them all. On behalf of the entire Village Board and the community, I want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and to all those injured or affected. I also want to thank the Police Department, Fire Department and bystanders for their quick reaction. Oswego is a strong and compassionate community. In times of grief, we come together. I have no doubt we will continue to support this family and one another in the days to come. We will rise as one community. Can we please have a moment of silence for this little boy who lost his life.

A moment of silence was held.

RECOGNITIONS/APPOINTMENTS

D.1 Business of the Month Recognition - Imagination Print & Design

President Kauffman asked representatives of Imagination Print & Design, Economic Development Commission members and Director Leighty to come to the front. He read the recognition and presented the owner, Kelley Rice, with a certificate. Kelley thanked everyone; really honored; she is passionate about this community; she gets to meet people; thankful for her family and the community. Pictures were taken.

PUBLIC FORUM

Public Forum was opened at 7:09 p.m. There was no one who requested to speak. The public forum was closed at 7:09 p.m.

STAFF REPORTS

Administrator Di Santo- I want to echo the Village President’s sentiments. The community has come together over this tragedy. I want to give my condolences to the family of the boy who passed. I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge our brave Police Officers who ran to the tragedy and within two minutes were at the scene to assist people. I also want to thank the Fire District, Public Works Department and the many other agencies who came to help in a difficult time. Incidents like this take a toll. It’s important that we are all looking out for each other.

CONSENT AGENDA

President Kauffman read the items under consent.

G.1 July 15, 2025 Committee of the Whole Minutes

G.2 July 15, 2025 Regular Village Board Minutes

G.3 July 15, 2025 Closed Session Minutes, Approve, but Not Release

G.4 Barkville Buddies

a) Ordinance Amending Title 3 Chapter 7 and Appendix A of Village Code; Create Class E-2 Liquor Classification.

b) Ordinance Amending Title 3 Chapter 7; Increase Class E-2 Liquor License for Barkville Buddies LLC Located at 174 S. Harrison Street.

G.5 Ordinance Repealing Ordinance 24-69 for the 3.175-Acre Property Located at 1038 Harvey Road.

G.6 Resolution Authorizing the Execution of Task Order No.1 with Layne Christensen Company for Scheduled Maintenance of Well 4 in Accordance with the Master Service Agreement 23- R-99 in the Amount of $102,000.00.

G.7 Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Water Remediation Technology (WRT), LLC for the Continued Operation, Service, and Eventual Decommissioning of Radium Removal Systems in the Amount of $633,600.00 Annually.

G.8 Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Engineering Services Agreement with HR Green, Inc. for the Harrison Streetscape Improvement Project in the Amount of $205,086.25.

G.9 Resolution Authorizing Reduction in Project Surety Bond No. EACX209000002 to $5,000 for the Reserve at Hudson Crossing Building No.1 Effective August 5th, 2025.

G.10 Resolution Authorizing the Reimbursement to Oswego Township for the Paving of Minkler Road Pavement Repairs in an Amount Not to Exceed $60,000.00.

G.11 19 Jackson Street LLC

a) Ordinance Approving the First Amendment to the Economic Incentive Agreement by and Between the Village of Oswego and 19 Jackson Street, LLC (19 E. Jackson Street). b) Resolution Approving the First Amendment to an Agreement with Respect to Sewer and Water Service to 19 E. Jackson Street.

G.12 Ordinance Approving the First Amendment to the Economic Incentive Agreement by and Between the Village of Oswego and Premier Investments, LLC (76-78 Main Street)

A motion was made by Trustee Koenig and seconded by Trustee Hughes to approve the Consent Agenda as read by President Kauffman.

Aye: Jennifer Hughes Rachelle Koenig

Karin McCarthy-Lange Andrew Torres

Nay: None

Absent: Jac Cooper Karen Novy

The motion was declared carried by an omnibus roll call vote with four (4) aye votes and zero (0) nay votes.

BILL LIST

H.1 Approve Bill List Dated August 4, 2025, in the Amount of $3,735,162.38.

A motion was made by Trustee McCarthy-Lange and seconded by Trustee Torres to approve the Bill List Dated August 4, 2025, in the Amount of $3,735,162.38.

Aye: Jennifer Hughes Rachelle Koenig

Karin McCarthy-Lange Andrew Torres

Nay: None

Absent: Jac Cooper Karen Novy

The motion was declared carried by a roll call vote with four (4) aye votes and zero (0) nay votes.

OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS

J.1 Taco Dale Cantina

Clerk Touchette addressed the Board regarding the request for a liquor and gaming license. Taco Dale submitted an application for a Class A-2 liquor and gaming license. The Class A-2 liquor license permits the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption, with no revenue requirement from food sales. According to Village Code, the business must operate for a minimum of six months before the gaming license becomes active, and the gaming terminals can be operational. The six month waiting period commences on the day the business opens. The applicant is present this evening to address any questions you may have.

Board and staff discussion included: does the license take affect six months after the official opening date; the day they open is when the six-month clock starts; they can be building the gaming area and get everything ready for when the time limit is up. There was no further discussion.

a) Ordinance Amending Title 3 Chapter 7; Increase Class A-2 Liquor License for TDCantina Corporation d.b.a. Taco Dale Cantina Located at 123 W. Washington St.

A motion was made by Trustee Hughes and seconded by Trustee Koenig to approve an Ordinance Amending Title 3 Chapter 7; Increase Class A-2 Liquor License for TDCantina Corporation d.b.a. Taco Dale Cantina Located at 123 W. Washington St.

Aye: Jennifer Hughes Rachelle Koenig

Karin McCarthy-Lange Andrew Torres

Nay: None

Absent: Jac Cooper Karen Novy

The motion was declared carried by a roll call vote with four (4) aye votes and zero (0) nay votes.

b) Ordinance Amending Title 3 Chapter 31; Increase Class A-2 Video Gaming License for TDCantina Corporation d.b.a. Taco Dale Cantina Located at 123 W. Washington St.

A motion was made by Trustee Hughes and seconded by Trustee Koenig to approve an Ordinance Amending Title 3 Chapter 31; Increase Class A-2 Video Gaming License for TDCantina Corporation d.b.a. Taco Dale Cantina Located at 123 W. Washington St.

Aye: Jennifer Hughes Rachelle Koenig

Karin McCarthy-Lange President Ryan Kauffman

Nay: Andrew Torres

Absent: Jac Cooper Karen Novy

The motion was declared carried by a roll call vote with four (4) aye votes and one (1) nay vote. J.2 Approve the Hiring of a Full Time Police Training Coordinator in the CY25 Budget.

Chief Bastin addressed the Board regarding the hiring of a training coordinator. The Village of Oswego and the United City of Yorkville hired a Police Training Coordinator as a joint position in 2023. This shared services position was needed based on the training mandates imposed by HB3653, otherwise known as the SAFE-T Act. Additionally, we have increased our training program beyond just mandates and have discovered that a part-time training coordinator is unable to fulfill the requirements of the role in only twenty hours per week. Yorkville has also provided notification that they will be transitioning the shared services Police Training Coordinator into a full-time position and will be hiring our current Police Training Coordinator to fill that position on January 1, 2026.

The SAFE-T Act was passed in 2021 and it created numerous training mandates for officers to retain their certification as a police officer. The requirements include minimum training hours obtained in specific fields of study on an annual, triennial, and quinquennial basis. The SAFE-T-Act also requires in-house instructors to become certified instructors through the North Eastern Multi Regional Training unit (NEMRT) and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) and that all instructor syllabi are approved by NEMRT and ILETSB. These requirements are in addition to requirements for accreditation through CALEA and OSHA/DOL requirements. In 2020 police employees spent 7,502 hours training, and the training hours have risen each year and now exceed 9,000 hours annually. The training program has grown to include new proficiency training and standards called Core Critical Tasks (CCTs). CCTs are a new training practice that requires officers to receive training in high risk/low frequency events, and to show minimum proficiency annually in all training disciplines.

When we entered into a shared services agreement with Yorkville in 2023, we speculated that twenty hours per week would be sufficient to provide for our training needs. However, we quickly learned that a part time position was insufficient, and that was before accounting for the growth of our department and the growth of our training program. Yorkville is terminating our shared services agreement at the end of 2025. They will be creating their own full-time position and hiring our current shared services Police Training Coordinator to fill that role in January of 2026. Since we will be losing our current Training Coordinator, we need to hire a new Training Coordinator in CY25 so they can be trained prior to the departure of our current Training Coordinator. Expected salary and benefits impact to CY25 Budget is approximately $19,505.34 for two months of pay and benefits. In CY26, the position is expected to cost up to $122,336.78, including salary and benefits. This will be a 50% increase in cost due to no longer being reimbursed by the City of Yorkville for a shared services position.

Board and staff discussion included: didn’t know the workload would be as extensive; coordinator will not be doing the training; will have in-house instructors; training has to be approved by the State; coordinator will track the classes, certifications, mandates, and tracking of new hires; CPR and emergency training for non-police staff; 9,000 hours of training last year; will help with CALEA and accreditation; they look extensively at the training files and mandates; our police force is well trained; impacts, expectations and needed training; de-escalation training; bring in actors to provide element of realism for trainings; 26,000 calls for service last year; .04% of those calls were use of force; better outcomes with training; emphasis on adequate training and supporting it; no one is going to college for this type of position; a lot are usually sworn or retired officers; hiring of this position offers the opportunity to look at someone who is retired and familiar with training; sad to see our coordinator go because she’s done an excellent job. There was no further discussion.

A motion was made by Trustee Torres and seconded by Trustee McCarthy-Lange to approve the Hiring of a Full Time Police Training Coordinator in the CY25 Budget

Aye: Jennifer Hughes Rachelle Koenig

Karin McCarthy-Lange Andrew Torres

Nay: None

Absent: Jac Cooper Karen Novy

The motion was declared carried by a roll call vote with four (4) aye votes and zero (0) nay votes.

J.3 Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit for a Utility Use for the Ogden Falls Receiving Station located at 378 Ogden Falls Boulevard.

Director Zenner addressed the Board regarding a special use for the receiving station at 378 Ogden Falls Blvd. The Petitioner is requesting approval of a Special Use permit for a Utility use, which will allow them to construct a water receiving station.

In 2028, the Village will be purchasing and distributing Lake Michigan water from the DuPage Water Commission (DWC). The High Zone Receiving Site will be one of three water custody transfer points used to receive, meter, control, store, and pump water to the Village’s high-pressure zone. Water pressure sent from DWC is not high enough to flow directly into the Village’s distribution system at this location, causing the need for a ground-level storage tank and several pumps that will fill the existing elevated Ogden Falls Water Tower. Regular use of the site will generally consist of daily visits by Public Works staff, bi-weekly visits by DWC staff, and monthly chemical deliveries. Typical operations will primarily occur inside the receiving & pumping station and the meter station. Noise and traffic generated by the proposed use will be similar to the current use.

The subject property consists of two parcels: a western parcel with exiting utility infrastructure and an eastern parcel that is currently vacant. The western parcel is currently accessed by a driveway from Ogden Falls Boulevard which runs south of the water tower and terminates at a 3-space parking lot west of the well house. The tables below describe the existing conditions on the western parcel, and how they will be affected by the project, as well as the details of the proposed improvements on the eastern parcel.

Landscaping & Fencing

Existing volunteer trees will be removed from the site. Many of the existing trees are dead or in poor condition. Staff proposes buffer yard “B” on property lines that do not currently have landscape buffers. Substitutions were utilized to increase the number of evergreen trees for year-round screening. The entire site will be surrounded by an 8 ft, anti-climb fence.

Planning & Zoning Commission

A public hearing was held on July 10, 2025. No members of the public spoke during the public hearing. Commission recommended approval 7-0.

Board and staff discussion included: this is the first of three special uses to be brought to the Board; this site will be hidden; located in the very back of Kickers Club; will be quite a distance away from residential; landscaping will be around the entire site; surrounding neighbors understand what is going on; Wolf & 5th site is not eye pleasing. There was no further discussion.

A motion was made by Trustee Hughes and seconded by Trustee McCarthy-Lange to approve an Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit for a Utility Use for the Ogden Falls Receiving Station located at 378 Ogden Falls Boulevard.

Aye: Jennifer Hughes Rachelle Koenig

Karin McCarthy-Lange Andrew Torres

Nay: None

Absent: Jac Cooper Karen Novy

The motion was declared carried by a roll call vote with four (4) aye votes and zero (0) nay votes.

TRUSTEE REPORTS

Trustee Hughes- condolences to the families at the Portillo’s tragedy; thank you to first responders; Oswego has come through together for many tragedies and this is another one; giving each other a hug; it is difficult and we will get through it, but we are going to mourn for a while; we have one short life; love each other; congratulations to Imagination Print & Design; they help countless organizations; I still wear a scarf they did for Christmas Walk years ago; like to see Lake Michigan water project moving forward; thank you to Public Works for installing the flashing beacon on Mill Road; deck is being poured on Minkler Rd.; Brookside water project is moving forward; a lot going on in the Village; kudos to Chief Bastin, Administrator Di Santo and President Kauffman for the Portillo’s press conference; you handled it well.

Trustee Koenig- congratulations to Imagination Print & Design; lucky to work with Kelley; if there is a need in the community, they show up; attended the sidewalk sales last month; spend money locally; had an adventure with the Asst. Village Administrator at the Oswego Area Chamber golf outing; they had fun despite the storms; Chamber did a great job; had the honor of attending the vigil at Portillo’s today; prayers and condolences to the families; Oswego is a special community; we come together; as a parent I can’t even imagine the sadness this family is experiencing; no parent should have to go through this; no words will take away the hurt; important to honor this boy by preventing future tragedies so this doesn’t happen again; thank you to the community for the outpouring of support; makes me proud.

Trustee Torres- condolences to the family of the two-year old boy and all those injured; difficult to fathom; it’s tragic; agree with looking at infrastructure to prevent this from happening again; will be squeezing my kids more; share love with those around you.

Trustee McCarthy-Lange- no report

Trustee Cooper- absent; no report.

Trustee Novy- absent; no report.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The family of the two-year-old boy has set up a GoFundMe; please consider contributing. We are also mourning the passing of Oswego Firefighter Roberto Flores. Thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and the Fire Department. Congratulations to the Oswegoland Park District; they have a beautiful new building that will serve the public for a long time.

CLOSED SESSION

There was no closed session.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Trustee Koenig and seconded by Trustee McCarthy-Lange to adjourn the meeting; upon a voice vote with all remaining members voting aye, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

https://www.oswegoil.org/home/showpublisheddocument/8332/638914772974670000