Oswego Village Board Meeting – March 4, 2025: Police Oath, Parade Approvals, Public Works Contract, and Grocery Tax Discussion
Oswego Village Board Meeting – March 4, 2025
The Oswego Village Board convened on March 4, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The meeting featured the swearing-in of a new police officer, a proclamation for National Athletic Training Month, unanimous approval of a 14‑item consent agenda, and a resolution authorizing a professional services agreement for a new public works facility. Trustee Kurt proposed a long‑term fund using grocery tax revenue to offset resident water bills, to be discussed further on April 22.
Recognitions & Appointments
- Police Officer Oath: Patryk Bednarz was sworn in as a patrol officer. He is a lateral transfer from Orland Park with prior service in Chicago.
- Proclamation: March 2025 was declared National Athletic Training Month, recognizing the Oswego Athletic Training Program (founded 1998).
- Service Award: Officer Anthony Snow received a 20‑year service award (Police Department).
Consent Calendar (Items G1–G14)
All consent items were approved unanimously (7‑0). Key items included:
- Approval of February 18, 2025 Committee of the Whole and Regular Board minutes.
- Resolutions approving temporary road closures for Memorial Day, PrairieFest, Oswego High School Homecoming, Gobbler Hobbler 10K/Mashed Potato Mile, and Christmas Walk parades.
- Ordinance decreasing Class C liquor and video gaming licenses for Tap House Grill (123 W. Washington St., Ste. 101).
- Annual MFT road maintenance: $1,500,000 in Motor Fuel Tax funds for pavement resurfacing, plus a $71,425 engineering contract with HR Green.
- Resolutions authorizing ComEd (approx. $1,700,000) and Nicor Gas (approx. $360,000) to bury/relocate utilities along Wolfs Crossing Road at Douglas Road, funded through impact fees.
- Ordinance accepting plat of easement for Hudson Pointe Unit 2.
- Virtual appliance upgrade: purchase of a four‑node VxRail hyper‑converged server cluster ($190,309) and a five‑year VMware subscription ($95,000 paid in $19,000 annual increments) from [Re]Design Group.
- Purchase of one 2025 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor from Sutton Ford ($48,012) via state contract.
Discussion Items
- New Public Works Facility (J1): The Board authorized a professional services agreement with Frederick Quinn Corporation (FQC) for schematic design and construction services, subject to attorney review. Staff reported eight bids were received; FQC was selected based on committee rankings and lowest adjusted cost. Pre‑construction phase fee: $35,000; general conditions: $27,500/month; construction fee: 2.5% of total cost. Project timeline estimated at 13–18 months. A steering committee will be formed in late April/early May. A fuller budget and option presentation (Option A vs. B) is planned for the March 18 meeting.
- Grocery Tax Fund Proposal (Trustee Kurt): Trustee Kurt proposed keeping the village’s grocery tax (estimated ~$1 million annually) and placing it into a dedicated, untouchable fund. The fund would accrue interest over time; once the annual interest reached a target (e.g., $1.2 million), it would be applied to residents’ water bills, then potentially to Fox Metro bills and eventually property taxes. President said the idea will be discussed at the April 22 meeting, with financial feasibility analysis requested from staff. Several trustees noted the tax would be paid partly by current residents and that the timeline could be long (20+ years at current rates).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved 7‑0.
- Bill List ($1,549,305.01): Approved 7‑0.
- Professional Services Agreement with FQC (New Public Works Facility): Approved 7‑0.
- Grocery Tax Discussion: Deferred to April 22, 2025 meeting; staff asked to research feasibility of the proposed fund.
- Closed Session: Motion carried to enter closed session for pending litigation, personnel, collective bargaining, and property acquisition. No action was taken afterward.
Other Reports
- Trustee Reports: Comments on the Hometown Expo, Polar Plunge (raised ~$500 for Special Olympics), and thanks to Tap House Grill for community support. Trustee Torres requested a marketing push for restaurant spaces in downtown.
- President’s Report: President highlighted the State of the Village event, upcoming legislative trip to Springfield to seek $15 million from the state for widening Wolf’s Crossing Road and Route 30 (total project cost ~$20 million).
- Staff Reports: None.
- Public Forum: No members of the public spoke.
Meeting Transcript
At all, please rise and join them as they lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Trusty Geist. Present. Trusty Jones, present, trustee Kurt. President. Trusty McCarthy Lang. President. Trustee Novi. Present. Trustee Torres. Present. All right, of course, we have uh some recognitions and appointments. Um if I could have uh Patrick Bednars and Chief Bastin and the police commission reps come forward and Chief will have uh a few words to say. Um this uh gorgeous mug here on Commissioner Elvin. You guys aren't going to get to see him too much anymore, because I think he's hanging up his stirrups in a few months and we'll be replacing him, but please uh take a chance to soak it all in. Soak it all in now while he's up here. We we we probably have another one or two before he uh before he moseys off into the sunset. Um but we're here tonight to recognize Patrick and to swear him in. Um Patrick is twenty-seven years old. He's here tonight with his um wife Ashley, his mother and his in-laws are also here. Uh Patrick attended um Joliet Junior College before he started with the Chicago police in twenty nineteen. He then transferred to Orland Park. Um and then he's lateraling over to us, so third time's a charm. Uh Patrick is actually our second lateral from Orland Park. We're very happy with the first lateral we got, so make sure you live up to the officer star standards on that one. Uh Patrick enjoys spending time with his family. Um he's a Cubs and Bears fan. Don't know if that's important to anybody, but his uh soon to be hobby is gonna be uh father, because his uh wife Ashley and him are expecting in June. So congratulations. Mr. President, I'll let you swear in Patrick. All righty. Congratulations, by the way, on being a dad. All right, please raise your right hand. Hi, Patrick Bednars. Having been hired to the position of patrol officer. In the village of Oswego. In the counties of Kendall and Will, Illinois. Do you solemnly swear or affirm? That I will support the Constitution of the United States. Next up uh we have our National Athletic Training Month proclamation. Can I have uh you ladies come and join me once once again? March is National Athletic Training Month, and whereas the Oswego Athletic Training Program was founded in nineteen ninety eight as an organization committed to the education of its members and the enhancement of the profession of athletic training, creating better health care for the population it serves. Athletic trainers from professional, collegiate, and high school teams, industries, physicians' offices, rehabilitation clinics, and every branch of the United States military work together to promote and practice the profession of athletic training within the village of Oswego. Next up, we'll open the public forum. If there's anybody wishing to address the public, please feel free to come forward now. I don't have any green slips, so first come, first serve. Seeing nobody, we will close the public forum and move on to staff reports. Dan.
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