Saturday, January 31, 2009
Where's Bill?/Congress on Your Corner
Congress on Your Corner:
An event where, instead of having constituents coming to one of the offices in the district, Rep. Foster goes out into the community. At these events, he sits and listens to constituents' concerns and ideas.
DATE CITY TIME LOCATION
Jan. 31 Elburn 9:30am-11:30am Jewel Grocery Store, 800 N. Main St.
Jan. 31 Sugar Grove 1:00-2:30pm Jewel Grocery Store, 465 N. Rt. 47
An event where, instead of having constituents coming to one of the offices in the district, Rep. Foster goes out into the community. At these events, he sits and listens to constituents' concerns and ideas.
DATE CITY TIME LOCATION
Jan. 31 Elburn 9:30am-11:30am Jewel Grocery Store, 800 N. Main St.
Jan. 31 Sugar Grove 1:00-2:30pm Jewel Grocery Store, 465 N. Rt. 47
Friday, January 30, 2009
Bill Foster @ Jewel Tomorrow 1pm
Tomorrow, US Congressman, Bill Foster will be at the Sugar Grove Jewel. Below is a comment Blair Peters (Mallard Point resident from the 500 block of Brookhaven Circle) posted a few days ago:
I hope that other residents in Sugar Grove received the Robo-Call from Bill Foster our US Congressman. He will be visiting the Jewel-Osco in Sugar Grove this Saturday 1/31/09 from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm.
http://foster.house.gov/WheresBill/
I think it would be very good for Mr. Foster to be aware of our challenges with the village. He or his staff may even do a follow-up call to the village to ask for details on the problem. In my mind, anything that increases the sense of urgency in our trustees will be a positive thing. I would encourage anyone that can make it to the Jewel-Osco for Bill Foster's visit should take a few minutes to talk with him about Mallard Point. If enough of us show up with the same concern, he will not be able to resist helping a large group of voters.
I hope that other residents in Sugar Grove received the Robo-Call from Bill Foster our US Congressman. He will be visiting the Jewel-Osco in Sugar Grove this Saturday 1/31/09 from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm.
http://foster.house.gov/WheresBill/
I think it would be very good for Mr. Foster to be aware of our challenges with the village. He or his staff may even do a follow-up call to the village to ask for details on the problem. In my mind, anything that increases the sense of urgency in our trustees will be a positive thing. I would encourage anyone that can make it to the Jewel-Osco for Bill Foster's visit should take a few minutes to talk with him about Mallard Point. If enough of us show up with the same concern, he will not be able to resist helping a large group of voters.
Flooding still problem for Mallard Point (From Today's Elburn Herald)
by Susan O’Neill
More than 100 residents of the Mallard Point subdivision in Sugar Grove attended a meeting on Tuesday called by the Village Board to listen to flooding and drainage concerns. One by one, the residents located their lot on a map of the subdivision and told their specific problems.
Most said they had sump pumps that either never shut off or that run every few minutes. A number of residents said their basements flood every time it rains; others said they have yards with pools of standing water.
Tom Scales said there is so much flooding in his yard that his children lose their shoes in the grass the day after a rain.
For some, the problems have been ongoing. According to an Elburn Herald article in June 2000, resident Laurie Geary said that she and her husband had already had extensive work done to solve the drainage and flooding issues.
“Ten sump pumps later, we discovered our dream house is built on a water aquifer,” she said then.
For others, like Leo Brown, the problems are just beginning. Brown, who has lived in Mallard Point for 10 years, said his sump pump had cob webs in it for the first eight years. He said now it goes on all the time, with a substantial increase in his electric bill as well.
Problems with the subdivision date back to the mid-1990s, when Mallard Point was first built. After the first builder declared bankruptcy, two others took over before the development was finally completed. Difficulties determining who was responsible for what problems go back to the beginning.
Although the annexation agreement called for the establishment of a homeowners association, one was never created. There was also some discussion about establishing a special services area. This would have meant Mallard Point residents would have been charged an additional tax that would pay for maintenance of the property and other outstanding issues, but that did not take place, either.
According to Village President Sean Michels, the development was built with inappropriate grading, causing many of the flooding and drainage issues.
Brad Sauer, who owns the property directly to the south of the subdivision, said that Mallard Point’s drainage problems have destroyed the crops and made that land, once farmed, unusable.
“I know some people think I’m the bad guy,” he told the crowd gathered on Tuesday. “I’ve spent thousands of dollars trying to fix the problem, so I’m with you. I want this problem fixed, too.”
Karen Romero, who lives on Brookhaven Circle, attended the Jan. 6 Village Board meeting to see if she could get any assistance from the village. Romero told the board her basement had flooded three times since the beginning of 2008.
She said when she initially approached village staff in October 2008, she was told the problem was a leak in the water line on her property, and it was her responsibility to fix it. She said it wasn’t until she had someone dig up her entire lawn that she discovered it was not where the problem was. She said she has been through three sump pumps and now the sewer line is backing up into her basement.
Romero said that so far, she has spent about $5,000 trying to fix the problem on her own. The last tradesperson she hired told her it was a drainage issue.
“I just don’t want other people to have to pay all this money like I did,” she said.
Trustee Kevin Geary, who owns a home in Mallard Point with his wife Laurie, said he did not feel the village had been responsive to Romero’s concerns and those of other Mallard Point residents. He and village presidential candidate Perry Clark held a meeting with residents several weeks ago.
“I’ve been getting phone calls from everyone,” Geary said. “My opinion is that the village did not want to be bothered with it.”
Village attorney Steve Andersson said the Village Board has asked him to research what the rights and responsibilities are for both the village and the landowners, including the Mallard Point residents and Sauer.
Although several residents said they wanted a timeframe in which the village thought the problem could be solved, village officials were reluctant to set one.
Trustee Mary Heineman said she has spent 12 hours so far talking to people and reading through previous meeting minutes to get a better sense of the problems. She asked the residents for their patience while the village takes steps to come up with both short-term and long-term solutions.
“While I know you all want a timeline, we don’t know the extent of the problem, so we can’t determine how long it will take,” trustee Melisa Taylor added.
Andersson said he will review the annexation agreement, and work with the engineers to determine the problems, as well as attempting to determine what is village-owned and what is not.
The Village Board is expected to approve a contract with the engineering firm Trotter & Associates at its next board meeting on
Tuesday, Feb. 3, to evaluate the problems.
More than 100 residents of the Mallard Point subdivision in Sugar Grove attended a meeting on Tuesday called by the Village Board to listen to flooding and drainage concerns. One by one, the residents located their lot on a map of the subdivision and told their specific problems.
Most said they had sump pumps that either never shut off or that run every few minutes. A number of residents said their basements flood every time it rains; others said they have yards with pools of standing water.
Tom Scales said there is so much flooding in his yard that his children lose their shoes in the grass the day after a rain.
For some, the problems have been ongoing. According to an Elburn Herald article in June 2000, resident Laurie Geary said that she and her husband had already had extensive work done to solve the drainage and flooding issues.
“Ten sump pumps later, we discovered our dream house is built on a water aquifer,” she said then.
For others, like Leo Brown, the problems are just beginning. Brown, who has lived in Mallard Point for 10 years, said his sump pump had cob webs in it for the first eight years. He said now it goes on all the time, with a substantial increase in his electric bill as well.
Problems with the subdivision date back to the mid-1990s, when Mallard Point was first built. After the first builder declared bankruptcy, two others took over before the development was finally completed. Difficulties determining who was responsible for what problems go back to the beginning.
Although the annexation agreement called for the establishment of a homeowners association, one was never created. There was also some discussion about establishing a special services area. This would have meant Mallard Point residents would have been charged an additional tax that would pay for maintenance of the property and other outstanding issues, but that did not take place, either.
According to Village President Sean Michels, the development was built with inappropriate grading, causing many of the flooding and drainage issues.
Brad Sauer, who owns the property directly to the south of the subdivision, said that Mallard Point’s drainage problems have destroyed the crops and made that land, once farmed, unusable.
“I know some people think I’m the bad guy,” he told the crowd gathered on Tuesday. “I’ve spent thousands of dollars trying to fix the problem, so I’m with you. I want this problem fixed, too.”
Karen Romero, who lives on Brookhaven Circle, attended the Jan. 6 Village Board meeting to see if she could get any assistance from the village. Romero told the board her basement had flooded three times since the beginning of 2008.
She said when she initially approached village staff in October 2008, she was told the problem was a leak in the water line on her property, and it was her responsibility to fix it. She said it wasn’t until she had someone dig up her entire lawn that she discovered it was not where the problem was. She said she has been through three sump pumps and now the sewer line is backing up into her basement.
Romero said that so far, she has spent about $5,000 trying to fix the problem on her own. The last tradesperson she hired told her it was a drainage issue.
“I just don’t want other people to have to pay all this money like I did,” she said.
Trustee Kevin Geary, who owns a home in Mallard Point with his wife Laurie, said he did not feel the village had been responsive to Romero’s concerns and those of other Mallard Point residents. He and village presidential candidate Perry Clark held a meeting with residents several weeks ago.
“I’ve been getting phone calls from everyone,” Geary said. “My opinion is that the village did not want to be bothered with it.”
Village attorney Steve Andersson said the Village Board has asked him to research what the rights and responsibilities are for both the village and the landowners, including the Mallard Point residents and Sauer.
Although several residents said they wanted a timeframe in which the village thought the problem could be solved, village officials were reluctant to set one.
Trustee Mary Heineman said she has spent 12 hours so far talking to people and reading through previous meeting minutes to get a better sense of the problems. She asked the residents for their patience while the village takes steps to come up with both short-term and long-term solutions.
“While I know you all want a timeline, we don’t know the extent of the problem, so we can’t determine how long it will take,” trustee Melisa Taylor added.
Andersson said he will review the annexation agreement, and work with the engineers to determine the problems, as well as attempting to determine what is village-owned and what is not.
The Village Board is expected to approve a contract with the engineering firm Trotter & Associates at its next board meeting on
Tuesday, Feb. 3, to evaluate the problems.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Anonymous said...
(Below is a comment that "anonymous" left. I wanted to make sure people who visit this blog see it. I also think we should all go to all board meetings. I wonder if the board will do something or just try to pass this buck...)
If my schedule permits, I want to make it to the board meeting next Tuesday to ask my question that never did receive a solid answer..."What timeline is the Village working towards"
I understand we won't have final resolution next week or month, but I feel like our problem has become an inconvenience for the board. Looking at the faces of some of the board members last night, it really looked like some didn't want to be there.
I could be completely over-reacting with my observations, but am I?
I personally plan to make every board meeting I can to stay on top of this and make every effort I can to keep the board accountable.
My family and I are relatively new to the subdivision so the last couple of weeks/meetings have been very educational. And the more I'm learning, the more inspired I'm becoming to make sure we all see a quick and reasonable solution to this situation.
Can I suggest forming a small committee to represent the greater whole? I guess taking it a step further than just identifying voices to represent us.
The board will be doing their homework and getting their ducks in a row, I think we should too.
I'm signing this anonymous, but if anyone else feels my idea of a committee has merit, I'm more than happy to step forward and certainly be a part of it.
If my schedule permits, I want to make it to the board meeting next Tuesday to ask my question that never did receive a solid answer..."What timeline is the Village working towards"
I understand we won't have final resolution next week or month, but I feel like our problem has become an inconvenience for the board. Looking at the faces of some of the board members last night, it really looked like some didn't want to be there.
I could be completely over-reacting with my observations, but am I?
I personally plan to make every board meeting I can to stay on top of this and make every effort I can to keep the board accountable.
My family and I are relatively new to the subdivision so the last couple of weeks/meetings have been very educational. And the more I'm learning, the more inspired I'm becoming to make sure we all see a quick and reasonable solution to this situation.
Can I suggest forming a small committee to represent the greater whole? I guess taking it a step further than just identifying voices to represent us.
The board will be doing their homework and getting their ducks in a row, I think we should too.
I'm signing this anonymous, but if anyone else feels my idea of a committee has merit, I'm more than happy to step forward and certainly be a part of it.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Where do we go from here?
Do we go to the next board meeting as a large group? What is the next step? Please leave a comment! You do not have to have a google account to comment, you can click on anonymous and leave a comment. But in that case, please leave your name/address. Thanks!
Rick Montalto; Unplugged!
Background info:
Rick Montalto (Law Enforcement, 30 years) (married 34 years)
Wife: Carol (Kindergarten Teacher)
Daughter: Michelle 27, (works at the Kane County Sheriff 911 center)
Daughter: Christina 23, (English Teacher at Kaneland High School)
Son: Michael 21, Senior at Bradley University also majoring in secondary education.
Mallard Point Resident for 15 years
A.S. degree from Triton College
B.A. degree from Northern Illinois University
M.S. degree from Benedictine University in Management & Organizational behavior
Employed by the Village of Lombard Police Department for 30 years with a current position of Administrative Sgt. overseeing all the civilian personnel, records, property and evidence, and building issues.
Served 7 years on Sugar Grove Public Safety Committee and have been the Chairman of the Sugar Grove Board of Police Commissioners for the last 5 years
Coached youth soccer, baseball, and basketball teams as my children were growing up in town.
Active with Kaneland music boosters and sports boosters as children went through school system
Active members of St Gall Church in Elburn until St Katharine Drexel recently started in Sugar Grove (we switched to the Sugar Grove Church and are volunteering time to get the church off the ground)
Hobbies:
Restoring Classic cars and motorcycles
Home repair
Yard work
Volunteerism
Goals if given the ability to become a trustee:
Monitor balanced growth in the village of homes, retail, and industrial buildings in an effort to reduce the tax burden on homeowners.
Improve lines of communication with other government agencies so our village needs are not ignored (Ex. State roads through town)
Be a voice for the people of Mallard Point, and the other residents of Sugar Grove, who seem to be ignored by some members of the current board.
Encourage broadcasting village board meetings on cable access channel in an effort to make the board more accountable to the residents for what is said and done in meetings.
Provide incite for the proposed new Police Station and future needs of the village as growth continues through my 30 years experience with a larger village
(OFF TOPIC) Sugar Grove must wait for Walgreens
By ERIC SCHELKOPF - eschelkopf@kcchronicle.com
SUGAR GROVE – Walgreens has delayed building a store in Sugar Grove until 2012 because of the slowing economy.
But village officials are still hopeful the project will get under way before then.
“We would like to have them in town, the sooner, the better,” said Rich Young, the village’s community development director.
Sugar Grove village trustees on Feb. 3 will vote on final plans for the Walgreens store, which would be the first business in the 44-acre Prairie Grove Commons center at the corner of Route 47 and Galena Boulevard.
Young said he found out recently that Walgreens will not start the project until 2012. Construction was originally slated to start this year, with the store opening late in the year.
“Walgreens is looking at the economy and waiting for things to get better,” Young said. “We are not unique. Every town is going through the same thing. We don’t have a lot of residential activity right now.”
Village trustees on Feb. 3 will vote on final engineering and site plans for the proposed Walgreens store. The extension of Galena Boulevard to the center will be done in September, Young said.
The average size for a typical Walgreens is about 14,500 square feet.
Following approval of the plans, “they could request a building permit when ever they are ready,” Young said.
Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger said the company does not currently have a signed lease to open a store in Sugar Grove.
The Walgreens store would be the village’s first stand-alone drug store. A pharmacy is in the Jewel-Osco store on Route 47 in Sugar Grove.
SUGAR GROVE – Walgreens has delayed building a store in Sugar Grove until 2012 because of the slowing economy.
But village officials are still hopeful the project will get under way before then.
“We would like to have them in town, the sooner, the better,” said Rich Young, the village’s community development director.
Sugar Grove village trustees on Feb. 3 will vote on final plans for the Walgreens store, which would be the first business in the 44-acre Prairie Grove Commons center at the corner of Route 47 and Galena Boulevard.
Young said he found out recently that Walgreens will not start the project until 2012. Construction was originally slated to start this year, with the store opening late in the year.
“Walgreens is looking at the economy and waiting for things to get better,” Young said. “We are not unique. Every town is going through the same thing. We don’t have a lot of residential activity right now.”
Village trustees on Feb. 3 will vote on final engineering and site plans for the proposed Walgreens store. The extension of Galena Boulevard to the center will be done in September, Young said.
The average size for a typical Walgreens is about 14,500 square feet.
Following approval of the plans, “they could request a building permit when ever they are ready,” Young said.
Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger said the company does not currently have a signed lease to open a store in Sugar Grove.
The Walgreens store would be the village’s first stand-alone drug store. A pharmacy is in the Jewel-Osco store on Route 47 in Sugar Grove.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sugar Grove Board Meetings Overview and Protocol
When does the Village Board meet?
The Village Board meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The Board conducts a Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m. where formal action is taken. The Board meets as a Committee of the Whole at 6:30 p.m. At a Committee of the Whole items are discussed no formal action is or may be taken. Additional meetings are scheduled as needed, including Special, Emergency and Adjourned meetings.
Agendas for all meetings are prepared the Friday preceding the meeting. If you have any questions about the agenda or would just like to check the schedule, please call the office at 630-466-4507 during normal business hours (Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or check online @ www.sugar-grove.il.us. An outline of a typical meeting agenda can be found on the backside of this publication.
Village Board meetings are formal business meetings and it is requested that the process and the individuals present be respected. Please refrain from private conversation during the meeting. Please turn pagers and cell phones to silent mode. Gentlemen are asked to remove hats.
What is the difference between a Committee of the Whole and a Regular Board Meeting?
Items of business are normally discussed at one or more Committee of the Whole Meetings prior to being placed on a Regular Meeting agenda. As items are discussed and debated at the Committee of the Whole typically there will be little or no discussion of an item at a Regular Meeting. Items on the Consent Agenda may not be discussed and are required to be passed unanimously. Should any member of the Board desire to discuss a consent agenda item the item is removed from the consent agenda.
When can I speak during a meeting?
Audience members are provided three opportunities to address the Board Regular Board meetings. The first, “Public Comment on Items Scheduled for Action”, takes place prior to any scheduled vote, and comment is limited to items to be voted on. The second opportunity, “Public Comment”, takes place at the end of the Regular Board meeting, and comment can be made on any issue. The third opportunity is at the beginning of the Committee of the Whole. In addition, the Village President may allow comment during other portions of a Regular Board Meeting at his/her discretion.
Should a member of the audience desire to comment, all they need do when public comment is called for is raise their hand and wait to be recognized by the Village President. When recognized, they will be asked to state their name and address, and then address the Board. Board members will make every effort to respond to concerns at the meeting, however, in many cases additional research may need to be done.
How do I know when a public hearing will take place?
From time to time a Public Hearing is held on various issues facing the Village. Public Hearings are noticed in the Aurora Beacon News and/or the Elburn Herald in the Legal Section. The Legal Section can be found in the beginning of the Classified Section of each newspaper. Take a moment when you are reading the paper(s) and glance at this section. Not only does the Village of Sugar Grove post notices in this section, but all other government agencies and municipalities must use this section (by state statute) when holding a Public Hearing or Advertising for Bid on a project. The Village always complies with state statute for notice of pending annexations, zonings and bids.
What type of other meetings may take place?
Special Meetings
At times the Village Board may deem it necessary to hold a Special Meeting. A Special meeting must have at least a 48-hour notice and an agenda must be prepared. The Board may only discuss those items that are specifically listed on a Special Meeting agenda.
Adjourned Meetings
An adjourned meeting is a meeting that is continued from another Board meeting to a date specific and follows the same rules of procedures as a Regular Board Meeting.
Emergency Meetings
An emergency meeting is a Special Meeting called without the required 48-hour notice. An Emergency meeting deals with an emergency involving injury or damage to persons or property or the likelihood of such injury or damage, when the time requirement would make notice impractical and increase the likelihood of such injury or damage.
Regular Board Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Public Hearing
Item Explanation
Appointments and Presentations
Item Explanation
Public Comment on Items Scheduled for Action
Consent Agenda
Approval: Minutes
Approval: Vouchers
Approval: Treasurer’s Report (*on the 2nd agenda of each month)
xxxxxxx: Other items *
Items that appear on the consent agenda shall be any items deemed appropriate for said consent agenda by the Village Board, staff or Village officers. Items may include any designated ordinances, orders, resolutions, or motions that appear on the agenda under General or New Business. At the request of any member of the Board, without a vote, any matter appearing on the consent agenda shall be removed from said agenda and moved to "general business" and shall be voted upon separately. For items appearing on the consent agenda, there is a single vote taken to approve the Consent Agenda and all Board members present must vote in the affirmative for the motion to be carried (approved). Therefore any item that a member does not wish to vote in the affirmative on said item must be removed from the consent agenda.
General Business
Ordinances: Title of Ordinance
Resolution: Title of Resolution
Approval: Item to be approve
New Business
Ordinance/Resolution/Approval: Title
Items that are new in nature that need to be discussed. A vote may not be taken on New Business items that are not specifically on the agenda.
Reports
Staff Reports
Trustee Reports
President’s Report
Public Comment
Closed Session: Exception to the Open Meeting Statement
Adjournment
Committee of the Whole Meeting – 6:30 p.m.
The purpose of the Committee of the Whole is to provide a more informal and open discussion of all issues between the Village Board, staff and consultant.
Call to Order
Public Comments
Discussion: Subject of Discussion
Discussion: Subject of Discussion
Closed Session: Exception Statement
Adjournment
The Village Board meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The Board conducts a Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m. where formal action is taken. The Board meets as a Committee of the Whole at 6:30 p.m. At a Committee of the Whole items are discussed no formal action is or may be taken. Additional meetings are scheduled as needed, including Special, Emergency and Adjourned meetings.
Agendas for all meetings are prepared the Friday preceding the meeting. If you have any questions about the agenda or would just like to check the schedule, please call the office at 630-466-4507 during normal business hours (Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or check online @ www.sugar-grove.il.us. An outline of a typical meeting agenda can be found on the backside of this publication.
Village Board meetings are formal business meetings and it is requested that the process and the individuals present be respected. Please refrain from private conversation during the meeting. Please turn pagers and cell phones to silent mode. Gentlemen are asked to remove hats.
What is the difference between a Committee of the Whole and a Regular Board Meeting?
Items of business are normally discussed at one or more Committee of the Whole Meetings prior to being placed on a Regular Meeting agenda. As items are discussed and debated at the Committee of the Whole typically there will be little or no discussion of an item at a Regular Meeting. Items on the Consent Agenda may not be discussed and are required to be passed unanimously. Should any member of the Board desire to discuss a consent agenda item the item is removed from the consent agenda.
When can I speak during a meeting?
Audience members are provided three opportunities to address the Board Regular Board meetings. The first, “Public Comment on Items Scheduled for Action”, takes place prior to any scheduled vote, and comment is limited to items to be voted on. The second opportunity, “Public Comment”, takes place at the end of the Regular Board meeting, and comment can be made on any issue. The third opportunity is at the beginning of the Committee of the Whole. In addition, the Village President may allow comment during other portions of a Regular Board Meeting at his/her discretion.
Should a member of the audience desire to comment, all they need do when public comment is called for is raise their hand and wait to be recognized by the Village President. When recognized, they will be asked to state their name and address, and then address the Board. Board members will make every effort to respond to concerns at the meeting, however, in many cases additional research may need to be done.
How do I know when a public hearing will take place?
From time to time a Public Hearing is held on various issues facing the Village. Public Hearings are noticed in the Aurora Beacon News and/or the Elburn Herald in the Legal Section. The Legal Section can be found in the beginning of the Classified Section of each newspaper. Take a moment when you are reading the paper(s) and glance at this section. Not only does the Village of Sugar Grove post notices in this section, but all other government agencies and municipalities must use this section (by state statute) when holding a Public Hearing or Advertising for Bid on a project. The Village always complies with state statute for notice of pending annexations, zonings and bids.
What type of other meetings may take place?
Special Meetings
At times the Village Board may deem it necessary to hold a Special Meeting. A Special meeting must have at least a 48-hour notice and an agenda must be prepared. The Board may only discuss those items that are specifically listed on a Special Meeting agenda.
Adjourned Meetings
An adjourned meeting is a meeting that is continued from another Board meeting to a date specific and follows the same rules of procedures as a Regular Board Meeting.
Emergency Meetings
An emergency meeting is a Special Meeting called without the required 48-hour notice. An Emergency meeting deals with an emergency involving injury or damage to persons or property or the likelihood of such injury or damage, when the time requirement would make notice impractical and increase the likelihood of such injury or damage.
Regular Board Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Public Hearing
Item Explanation
Appointments and Presentations
Item Explanation
Public Comment on Items Scheduled for Action
Consent Agenda
Approval: Minutes
Approval: Vouchers
Approval: Treasurer’s Report (*on the 2nd agenda of each month)
xxxxxxx: Other items *
Items that appear on the consent agenda shall be any items deemed appropriate for said consent agenda by the Village Board, staff or Village officers. Items may include any designated ordinances, orders, resolutions, or motions that appear on the agenda under General or New Business. At the request of any member of the Board, without a vote, any matter appearing on the consent agenda shall be removed from said agenda and moved to "general business" and shall be voted upon separately. For items appearing on the consent agenda, there is a single vote taken to approve the Consent Agenda and all Board members present must vote in the affirmative for the motion to be carried (approved). Therefore any item that a member does not wish to vote in the affirmative on said item must be removed from the consent agenda.
General Business
Ordinances: Title of Ordinance
Resolution: Title of Resolution
Approval: Item to be approve
New Business
Ordinance/Resolution/Approval: Title
Items that are new in nature that need to be discussed. A vote may not be taken on New Business items that are not specifically on the agenda.
Reports
Staff Reports
Trustee Reports
President’s Report
Public Comment
Closed Session: Exception to the Open Meeting Statement
Adjournment
Committee of the Whole Meeting – 6:30 p.m.
The purpose of the Committee of the Whole is to provide a more informal and open discussion of all issues between the Village Board, staff and consultant.
Call to Order
Public Comments
Discussion: Subject of Discussion
Discussion: Subject of Discussion
Closed Session: Exception Statement
Adjournment
Monday, January 26, 2009
MEETING REMINDER
Tomorrow (Tuesday, January 27th) there is a meeting at the Sugar Grove Fire Station at 6pm.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Mallard Point water woes raise residents' ire
Here is a link to an article in Sunday's Kane County Chronicle:
http://tinyurl.com/amdamb
-------------------------------------------------------
Here is the article:
Mallard Point water woes raise residents' ire
By BRENDA SCHORY - bschory@kcchronicle.com
SUGAR GROVE – With standing water, a sink hole, flooded basements and continuously running sump pumps, the excess of water is giving new meaning to the name Mallard Point subdivision.
A fine situation for its namesake duck, perhaps, but not for the people living there.
Carol Rommel of the 500 block of Brookhaven Circle complained to the village board that she has had to replace her sump pump three times because of continuos storm water coming into her basement.
Diana Baker of the 400 block of Brookhaven Circle, said her street developed a sink hole last year, which has been temporarily fixed.
Village President Sean Michels said a special meeting for engineers to do fact-finding on the flooding and draining issues is scheduled at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Sugar Grove Fire Protection District, 25 S. Municipal Drive.
"We're going to identify who has problems and how long have they been going on and when they arose," Michels said. "We might have to create a special service area, but it depends on what the issues are and what needs to be done. If it's a factor of a high water table, there's not much we can do about it."
Baker said the problems likely arose from various developers going belly-up during the build-out of the subdivision. An original owner, she bought her home in 1984. The developer was supposed to have created a homeowners association to maintain a retention pond and wetlands for flood control – but it never happened.
The subdivision has 210 houses and is located off Route 47 and Prairie Street. It was annexed in the early 1990s, Michels said.
Baker said it might be too late to create an association to maintain the pond and wetland because they are now privately owned.
"The pond was not maintained to serve the purpose it's supposed to," Baker said. "And now we don't own the retention pond."
http://tinyurl.com/amdamb
-------------------------------------------------------
Here is the article:
Mallard Point water woes raise residents' ire
By BRENDA SCHORY - bschory@kcchronicle.com
SUGAR GROVE – With standing water, a sink hole, flooded basements and continuously running sump pumps, the excess of water is giving new meaning to the name Mallard Point subdivision.
A fine situation for its namesake duck, perhaps, but not for the people living there.
Carol Rommel of the 500 block of Brookhaven Circle complained to the village board that she has had to replace her sump pump three times because of continuos storm water coming into her basement.
Diana Baker of the 400 block of Brookhaven Circle, said her street developed a sink hole last year, which has been temporarily fixed.
Village President Sean Michels said a special meeting for engineers to do fact-finding on the flooding and draining issues is scheduled at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Sugar Grove Fire Protection District, 25 S. Municipal Drive.
"We're going to identify who has problems and how long have they been going on and when they arose," Michels said. "We might have to create a special service area, but it depends on what the issues are and what needs to be done. If it's a factor of a high water table, there's not much we can do about it."
Baker said the problems likely arose from various developers going belly-up during the build-out of the subdivision. An original owner, she bought her home in 1984. The developer was supposed to have created a homeowners association to maintain a retention pond and wetlands for flood control – but it never happened.
The subdivision has 210 houses and is located off Route 47 and Prairie Street. It was annexed in the early 1990s, Michels said.
Baker said it might be too late to create an association to maintain the pond and wetland because they are now privately owned.
"The pond was not maintained to serve the purpose it's supposed to," Baker said. "And now we don't own the retention pond."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Mallard Point Resident Rick Montalto to get his name on ballot to run for village trustee
This is where you can really help. Let's get enough signatures on a petition for Rick Montalto to become a Village Trustee. We need Mallard Point to be as represented as possible.
There is a petition at two places, but we need your signatures by THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.
BP at Cross and Rt. 47
anytime now until Sunday evening (store hours are 6am -10pm)
or even closer:
393 Mallard Lane (Julie and Chris Walker's house)
Thursday anytime until 9pm
Friday 8-9am or 4-9pm
Saturday 10-noon OR 8-9pm
OR anytime if you just call ahead and see if we're home.
It's important to get the signatures, so feel free to call and we can set up a time to get your signature. It'll only take about 10 seconds!
SPECIAL REQUEST TO ALL: There are many Mallard Point residents whose email we don't have and there are those who don't know about what is going on. So please, spread the word. Make a quick call to your neighbors. And if anyone does want to take a petition to your immediate neighbors, that would be very helpful. If we got 4 or 5 people to just get 10 signatures each, we'd have it made!
There is a petition at two places, but we need your signatures by THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.
BP at Cross and Rt. 47
anytime now until Sunday evening (store hours are 6am -10pm)
or even closer:
393 Mallard Lane (Julie and Chris Walker's house)
Thursday anytime until 9pm
Friday 8-9am or 4-9pm
Saturday 10-noon OR 8-9pm
OR anytime if you just call ahead and see if we're home.
It's important to get the signatures, so feel free to call and we can set up a time to get your signature. It'll only take about 10 seconds!
SPECIAL REQUEST TO ALL: There are many Mallard Point residents whose email we don't have and there are those who don't know about what is going on. So please, spread the word. Make a quick call to your neighbors. And if anyone does want to take a petition to your immediate neighbors, that would be very helpful. If we got 4 or 5 people to just get 10 signatures each, we'd have it made!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Roll Call
I just altered the comments section so anyone can comment, even if they do not have a google account. So come on in, just say hi. You can leave your name or not.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
VILLAGE OF SUGAR GROVE BOARD REPORT (December 2008)
Below is a copy of the Village's Board report from a meeting that was held in December concerning Mallard Point's Drainage situation. The meeting on the 27th will be with the below mentioned Trotter & Assciates, Inc.
VILLAGE OF SUGAR GROVE BOARD REPORT
(This is the html version of the file http://www.sugar-grove.il.us/current%20agenda/20081216COTWMallardPoint.pdf.)
VILLAGE OF SUGAR GROVE BOARD REPORT
TO: VILLAGE PRESIDENT & BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FROM: ANTHONY SPECIALE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS GEOFF PAYTON, STREETS / PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION OF MALLARD POINT DRAINAGE
AGENDA: DECEMBER 16, 2008 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
DATE: DECEMBER 11, 2008
ISSUE: Should the Village conduct an assessment of the drainage and erosion conditions in the Mallard Point Subdivision.
DISCUSSION: In response to reoccurring groundwater issues and the elevated water levels in the wetland area, Village Staff began an investigation in to the Mallard Point Subdivision drainage conditions. Based on Staff’s initial review, it was determined that an engineering review of the subdivision drainage system was needed. The Village contacted Trotter and Associates, Inc. for a proposal based on their performance on the Stafford Woods drainage project.
The Mallard Point Subdivision was originally started during the early 1990’s and is currently complete. In addition to sanitary, roadway and storm sewer improvements, this development improved an existing wetland for use as a storm water management facility. During the development of the subdivision, there were issues regarding construction due to unforeseen underground conditions and the fiscal ability of the developer to complete the improvements. It is the intention of the Village to determine if these improvements were designed in accordance to Village and other jurisdictional improvements. In addition, it must be determined if the storm water management were not designed correctly or there are required maintenance items Trotter and Associations, Inc. will develop a comprehensive list of each. A required action and estimated construction cost will be provided for each.
Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI) will review the available drawings, copies of permits, utility maps and photographic evidence available for the Mallard Point Subdivision.After the final engineering plans and storm water management report have been reviewed, TAI will complete an onsite investigation of the storm water management facilities. Finally, TAI will prepare an executive summary including the findings of the Documentation Review and Field Investigation Phases of the project.
The cost for Trotter and Associates, Inc. to complete the Assessment of Drainage and Erosion Conditions for the Mallard Point Subdivision is $25,520.00 plus the cost of professional services, outside services and reimbursable expenses. As this project was not anticipated in fiscal year 2008-2009, the project is unbudgeted. There are several ways to fund this project. The funds could be transferred from the reserve account funds or the Village could establish a Special Service Area.
COST: The associated costs with this project were not anticipated, therefore are unbudgeted in Fiscal Year 2008-2009. Staff recommends allocating the funds from the General Fund account number 01-53-6303: Engineering Services.
RECOMMENDATION: The Village Board reviews the engineering agreement with Trotter and Associates, Inc., and directs staff to prepare a resolution authorizing an agreement for the assessment of drainage and erosion conditions in the Mallard Point Subdivision and that the funding source either by the establishment of an SSA or the use of the fund balance is determined.
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Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Mallard Point Story Begins
In effort to find a place for Mallard Point residents to "meet" (especially when it comes to this headache called drainage) I thought I'd start a blog about it. (Keep in mind, I have never created a blog before so it might have a rough start.)
Everyone will be able to comment here in the comments section. Just click it. You do not even have to sign in, but if you comment as anonymous, please add your name.
I will start this out by introducing myself. I am Julie Walker. My husband Chris and I have been married for ten years. We live at
393 Mallard Lane. We moved to Mallard Point in May of 2004. We have two children Ryan who is 9 and our little toddler, Abby.
We never had a drop of water in our basement until the day after Christmas last month. Our whole finished and unfinished area got about an inch or so of water.
We never had a water issue outside either, until this past summer when the far edge of our yard turned into a literal sponge. Our adjoining neighbors' yards had varying degrees of water as well.
Please pass this site on to any of your neighbors in Mallard Point. I hope we can use this place to discuss the pressing issues that face us now. I hope in the future we could still us this blog for things like finding a babysitter or a handyman. Maybe a playgroup or a poker game.
I think the first order of business would be to select a few residents to be our voice at the meeting on the 27th (and perhaps meeting after that.)
If you wish to volunteer for this or nominate someone you know, please leave that information in the comments section.
I think Bill Angelotti is a good choice. (He lives on Brookhaven Court and is a 25 year professional in the environmental field. He has many years experience in the clean out and management of lagoons and ponds much larger than the Mallard Point pond.) I know there were some others who would be good from the meeting on the 14th, but I do not know their names.
Feel free to email me (juliered@mchsi.com) or leave a comment in the comment section if you have any ideas for this blog or if you have any important information that I can post.
Thanks for stopping by!
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