Joliet Pre-Council Meeting Summary

The City of Joliet held its Pre-Council meeting on January 5, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered a wide range of actionable items, including the purchase of firefighting equipment, infrastructure contracts, liquor license approvals, and a public hearing on a boundary agreement with the Village of Elwood. All council members were present, and the meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Invoices to be Paid
• Approval of Minutes: Pre-Council Meeting Minutes - December 1, 2025, and City Council Meeting Minutes - December 2, 2025
• Approval of Purchase of One (1) LP35 (Cardiac Monitor) and three (3) LP 1000’s (AEDs) from Stryker Medical in the Amount of $59,847.12 (Council Memo 1-26) – for the Fire Department
• Approval of Purchase of 110 Additional Sets of Firefighter Turnout Gear from Air One Equipment, Inc. in the Amount of $398,310.00 (Council Memo 2-26) – for the Fire Department
• Approval of the 2026 Rock Salt Purchase Contract with the State of Illinois and Morton Salt Inc. for Bulk Rock Salt at the Average Unit Price of $67.20 per Ton for a Not to Exceed Amount of $470,375.00 (Council Memo 3-26)
• Approval of Purchase of One (1) Elgin Broom Bear Sweeper from Standard Equipment Co. Inc., in the Amount of $448,690.00 (Council Memo 4-26) – to replace a 20-year-old sweeper that went out of service
• Approval of Change Order No. 1 for the 2025 Unleaded Fuel Purchases to Al Warren Oil Company, Inc. in the Amount of $120,837.00 (Council Memo 5-26) – additional fuel purchase
• Approval of Change Order No. 1 for the 2025-2026 Sidewalk Maintenance Contract to PT Ferro Construction Co. in the Amount of $51,004.14 (Council Memo 6-26)
• Approval of Change Order No. 1 for the 2024 Bituminous Surface Treatment - Contract A to AC Pavement Striping Co., an Increase in the Amount of $9,421.60, and Payment No. 2 & Final in the Amount of $9,650.00 (Council Memo 7-26)
• Approval of Change Order No. 3 for the 2024 Sidewalk / Curb Replacement Project - East Joliet Contract to Davis Concrete Construction Co. in the Amount of $22,065.40 and Payment No. 4 and Final in the Amount of $30,936.68 (Council Memo 8-26)
• Approval of Amendment No. 2 for the Phase II Engineering Services for the Farrell Road over Spring Creek Improvement Project - MFT Section No. 21-00542-00-BR to Hutchison Engineering, Inc. in the Amount of $15,000.00 (Council Memo 9-26)
• Approval of Payments for Contractor Snow Removal Operations for the November 29th - November 30th, 2025 Snowstorm in the Amount of $135,505.50 (Council Memo 10-26)
• Award of Contract for the 2026 Aluminum Sulfate Purchase to USALCO LLC for the Not-to-Exceed Amount of $792,805.00 (Council Memo 11-26)
• Award of Contract for the 2026 Biosolids Disposal Program to New Era Spreading Inc. in the Amount of $2,516,550.00 (Council Memo 12-26) – for sludge from wastewater treatment
• Award of Contract for the 2026 Drinking Water Sodium Hypochlorite Purchase to Univar Solutions USA LLC for the Not-to-Exceed Amount of $467,325.00 (Council Memo 13-26) – a zero percent increase over last year
• Award of Professional Services Agreement for Water Treatment Residual Rule Compliance Assistance to Duffield Consulting Engineers LTD for the Not-to-Exceed Amount of $46,284.00 (Council Memo 14-26)
• Approval of Purchase of One Vehicle Mounted Hydraulic Valve Turning Machine for the Public Utilities Department from E.H. Wachs in the Amount of $32,794.00 (Council Memo 15-26)
• Approval of Change Order No. 1 for the Railroad Street Water Main Improvements Project on behalf of P.T. Ferro Construction Co. for Adjustments to Project Completion Dates (Council Memo 16-26) – time extension only, through May 30, 2026
• Approval of Change Order No. 1 for the Hickory Creek West Water Main Improvements Project to Airy’s Inc. for a Deduction in the Amount of ($559,493.40) and Pay Estimate No. 6 and Final in the Amount of $1,148,647.82 (Council Memo 17-26) – final close-out of a completed project
• Approval of Payment for Emergency Repairs to the Water Main in the Des Plaines River Crossing to Airy’s Inc. in the Amount of $388,881.01 (Council Memo 18-26)
• Approval of Change Order No. 1 for the Broadway (Theodore to Ruby) Water Main Improvements Project on behalf of Austin Tyler Construction Inc. for Adjustments to Project Completion Dates (Council Memo 20-26) – time extension
• Approval of Change Order No. 1 for the North Prairie Water Main Improvements Project on behalf of Austin Tyler Construction Inc. for Adjustments to Project Completion Dates (Council Memo 21-26) – time extension

Licenses and Permit Applications

• Issuance of Class “B” Liquor License at 50 E. Jefferson Street - Casa Catrina (Council Memo 23-26) – consumption on premises, full alcohol service at a new restaurant at the train station.
• Issuance of Class D Liquor License at 800 N. Raynor Avenue - Sharks Fish & Chicken (Council Memo 24-26) – beer and wine only, on-premise consumption. Councilwoman Ibarra was informed by the owner’s representative that seating is for 12 people.
• Issuance of Class D Liquor License at 325 S. Larkin Avenue - Sharks Fish & Chicken (Council Memo 25-26) – beer and wine only, on-premise consumption. The representative stated seating for 24 people. Councilman Clement asked the owner, Kevin Kelly, which locations he owned, and inquired if any calls for service checks had been done on the Crest Hill location. Kelly said the Crest Hill location does not serve alcohol and that he had no problem with a check. Kevin Kelly noted that no calls-for-service report was done for the Crest Hill location.

Public Hearing: Boundary Agreement between the City of Joliet and the Village of Elwood

• Dustin Anderson, representing the city, explained to Councilman Clement’s request for clarification that the City of Joliet and the Village of Elwood have not had a boundary line agreement since 2019. The proposed agreement re-establishes the line on the west side as substantially the same, while the east side is different due to parcels annexed by Joliet in the interim. The agreement stops further expansion of Joliet’s southern and southwestern expansion. The mayor stated that multiple meetings with Elwood resulted in everyone being satisfied with the agreement. Councilman Hug asked for further clarification, noting that Joliet went beyond the 2019 boundary after the agreement expired.

Public Comments – Agenda Items

• Cathy Garthus spoke against the boundary agreement (Council Memo 30-26), expressing concern that Joliet’s annexation of former Elwood territory has placed warehouses next to homes, affecting residents’ quality of life. She urged the council to “start thinking about the residents and stop thinking about the businesses.”

Discussion Items

• Ordinances Associated with Briggs Street Subdivision (Council Memo 29-26): The Plan Commission recommended approval 6-0 for a Dunkin’ Donuts with a drive-through. The package includes a preliminary plat, alley vacation, and zoning reclassification from R-2 to B-1.
• Ordinance Approving an Intergovernmental Cooperative Planning and Boundary Agreement Between the Village of Elwood and the City of Joliet (Council Memo 30-26): The ordinance was presented for passage.
• Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Joliet and Will County (Council Memo 32-26): This relates to radio frequencies as presented by Chief Carey.
• Resolution Appropriating Supplemental Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Amendment No. 2 to the Phase II Engineering Services for the Farrell Road Bridge over Spring Creek Improvement Project (Council Memo 33-26): Described as housekeeping related to an earlier item.

Public Comments – Non-Agenda Items

• Cathy Garthus spoke about her health difficulties, including an incident with Genesis Orthopedics of Joliet that she said led to police being called to her motel in Shorewood twice before Christmas. She stated the situation caused her stress and emotional distress, and asked the city to intervene to stop what she described as abuse.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items, licenses, and ordinances are expected to be approved at the regular council meeting on January 6, 2026.
• Councilman Clement thanked Greg Ruddy and his team for work on potholes and traffic lights (Engels and Broadway), and asked Todd Lenzie to look into the “Malner's tap issue.”
• Councilwoman Quillman requested attention to the traffic light at Raynor and Western, noting long wait times.
• Councilman Hug thanked Dustin for his work on the boundary agreement.
• Councilwoman Ibarra thanked Paulina Martinez and her economic development team for their work on redeveloping the corner at McDonough and Larkin Avenue and the Dunkin’ Donuts in Ingalls Park.
• The meeting adjourned with a motion by Councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra, seconded by Councilman Juan Moreno, with all nine council members voting aye.