Regular Village Board Meeting - March 18, 2025
Regular Village Board Meeting - March 18, 2025
The Village Board of Oswego held its regular meeting on March 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Oswego Village Hall. The meeting included recognitions, public forum, consent agenda approval, new business on video gaming license waiting periods and an economic incentive amendment, and trustee reports. Key decisions included directing staff to prepare a text amendment reducing the downtown waiting period for ancillary/not-for-profit video gaming licenses to six months, and approving a first amendment to the economic incentive agreement with Freddie's Off the Chain Mexican Cuisine.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0) the following items:
- March 4, 2025 Committee of the Whole Minutes
- March 4, 2025 Regular Village Board Minutes
- March 4, 2025 Closed Session Minutes (approved but not released)
- Resolution authorizing purchase of 1,800 tons of bulk rock salt through the State of Illinois joint purchasing agreement
- Ordinance allocating $4,819,620 in 2025 volume cap to Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority
- Ordinance decreasing Class A-3 liquor and gaming license for JCR Gaming LLC (Players Corner)
- Resolution authorizing intergovernmental agreement with Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network
- Resolution approving professional services agreement with SAFEbuilt for building inspection services
- Ordinance granting variance to eliminate curb and gutter for a 23-space parking lot at 2031 Farmington Lakes Drive
- Resolution ratifying electricity purchase contract through NIMEC bid process
- Resolution authorizing professional services agreement with Baxter & Woodman for inspection services related to Lake Michigan water receiving stations ($1,015,000)
- Ordinance amending Title 9, Chapter 4 (mailbox parking regulations)
Bill List
- Approved the Bill List dated March 18, 2025, in the amount of $2,391,052.57.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mona (owner of Freddie's Off the Chain Mexican Cuisine): Expressed frustration that her application for a video gaming license was not grandfathered, as she had applied before the village changed the ordinance to require a one-year waiting period. She also requested that the village honor its original commitment of a $40,000 economic incentive, stating that she had paid $25,000 toward the water main construction and that the village had contributed additional funds. She noted she has invested $629,000 in the building and is set to open April 1, 2025. Village President Kaufman clarified that the one-year waiting period applies to video gaming licenses, not liquor licenses (which she already has). The board acknowledged her prior application and showed support for considering an exception.
Discussion Items
- Video Gaming License Waiting Period for Downtown (J.1): Staff presented two options: (1) approve a license for Nash Vegas Saloon effective August 2, 2025 (after one year), or (2) direct staff to bring back a code amendment at the April 8 meeting to eliminate or reduce the one-year waiting period for downtown ancillary and not-for-profit establishments. After debate, a motion to approve the license for Nash Vegas effective August 2 failed (3-3). A second motion to direct staff to bring back a text amendment reducing the waiting period to six months for downtown Oswego ancillary and non-for-profit establishments passed (4-3). The board also expressed consensus to allow Mona (Freddie's) an exception because her application was submitted before the ordinance change; this will be brought back for formal approval on April 8.
- Economic Incentive Agreement Amendment (J.2): Staff recommended approval of the first amendment to the economic incentive agreement with Freddie's Off the Chain Mexican Cuisine, updating the opening date and clarifying that the original incentive was $20,000 (not $40,000 as Mona claimed), with the village contributing an additional approximately $52,000 for water main work. The board approved the amendment unanimously. Discussion on whether to provide an additional $20,000 (based on a prior $100,000 allocation to the loan fund) was deferred; staff will review eligible expenses and bring back a recommendation.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda and Bill List approved without dissent.
- Text Amendment on Gaming Waiting Period: Staff directed to prepare an ordinance reducing the one-year waiting period to six months for downtown ancillary/not-for-profit video gaming license applicants, to be presented at the April 8, 2025 board meeting. The ordinances for Nash Vegas and Freddie's licenses will follow that discussion.
- Economic Incentive Amendment for Freddie's: Approved. The board will consider additional $20,000 after staff review.
- Recognition Items: Art contest awards presented (over 250 entries), $20,000 check presented to Oswego Senior and Community Center, Fox Valley Winery recognized as Business of the Month, and a proclamation declaring Earth Hour (March 22, 2025, 8:30-9:30 PM) was read.
- Trustee Reports: Updates on the Springfield trip (meetings on LGDF funding and infrastructure requests), the public works building project (funded with cash on hand), and upcoming events (Wine on the Fox, community coffee at Fox Valley Winery on April 12).
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening. We're going to call our regular village board meeting to order. This evening we have uh Alejandro Hardaway. He'll be leading us in tonight's Pledge of Allegiance. Alejandro served six years in the United States Air Force as a one Alpha Four Airborne Operations Specialist. His service awards include the Medal of Global War on Terrorism, Air Force Good Conduct, and distinguished top grad in both Airborne Flight School and Airman Leadership School. Alejandro began work in August 2024 as the new public works management analyst. He's an Oswego resident who, after completing his MBA, spent the last decade working for the private sector and municipal governments. He is responsible for implementing the village's strategic objective of managing our infrastructure while assisting the department with purchasing and data collection. If you'd all please rise and join Alejandro in the Pledge of Allegiance, please. And to the Republic for which it stands. Under God, indivisible. With liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Alejandro. And thank you for your service. All right, roll call, please. President Coffin. Here. Trustee Geist. Present. Trustee John Sinnett. Present. Trustee Cart. Present. Trustee McCarthy Lang. Present. Trustee Novi. Present. Trustee Torres. Present. All right. First up, we have the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce Hometown Expo Artist Recognitions. If I could have Karen Colzer and Angie Hibbon come up to the front, please. On your way in, you likely noticed the incredible works of art that adorn our walls in the lobby. Recently, the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Hometown Expo at Oswego High School. And as part of the expo, an art contest was curated with the help of Karen Colzer, president of the Fox River Academy of Music and Art. A total of 30 students and adults were selected as the winners within their grade level and or their medium, many of whom are here tonight. Thank you, Ryan. We had over 250 entries this year with categories containing digital art, drawing, painting, mixed media, photography, sculpture, and other areas of fine art. We have the results from the adjudicators with us tonight. So we will just go down all the categories and read first, second, and third, and hand you your certificates. If you hear your name, please come forward and uh we will uh present you with your award. So kindergarten through second grade. We had first place uh was Nadia Mugnolo from ACE's Academy. Second place was uh Clara Ralph from Fox Chase Elementary. Clara. Third place, Duck in the Meadow by Vivian Johnson, also from Aces Academy. Third through fifth grade. First place is Drew Archer from Fox Chase. Second place is Isla Brooks from Fox Chase Elementary, and third place is Milo Wester House, which was an individual entry.
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