Oswego Village Board Meeting – June 24, 2025

The Oswego Village Board held its regular meeting on June 24, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Oswego Village Hall (100 Parkers Mill, Oswego, Illinois). President Kaufman presided, and Trustees Cooper, Hughes, Koenig, McCarthy Lang, Novi, and Torres were present. Police Chief Jason Bassin led the Pledge of Allegiance. The board administered oaths to two new patrol officers, recognized a summer artist and the June Business of the Month, approved the consent agenda and bill list, approved two downtown development items, and later moved into closed session. No staff reports or old business items were presented.

Oaths, Appointments, and Recognitions

• President Kaufman administered the Oath of Office to Patrol Officer Trevor S. Hauck (badge number 95) and Patrol Officer Nicole A. Quiroga.
• The board recognized Jenna Butler for the Village Hall Art Exhibit on display June 6 through August 14, 2025.
• The board recognized Prairie Pals, a preschool and child care program operating under the Oswego Christian Foundation, as the June 2025 Business of the Month.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the June 10, 2025 Committee of the Whole and Regular Village Board minutes.
• Authorized the release of certain closed session minutes.
• Adopted amendments to the Oswego Municipal Code covering Title 1 Chapter 19, Title 3 Chapters 2, 7, 19, 31, and 35, and Appendix A.
• Approved reducing project surety bond #OHHNSU0836986 to $265,111.58 for earthwork for the Piper Glen Subdivision.
• Amended Appendix A water tap-on fees.
• Amended Section 6.09 submittal requirements and OSW-R-1 construction details in the Subdivision and Development Control Regulations.
• Executed a contract with Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. for the Main Street ADA ramp and Harrison Street parking lot improvement project in the amount of $283,950.25.
• Authorized Task Order No. 25-2 with Strand Associates, Inc. for the Booster Station Generator Project in the amount of $63,000.00.
• Adopted Title 10 Unified Development Ordinance text amendments to Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 13.
• Approved the June 24, 2025 bill list in the amount of $1,024,197.83.
• The consent agenda was approved unanimously, and the bill list was approved unanimously by a separate roll-call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The public forum was opened and closed with no members of the public addressing the board.

Discussion Items

• Harrison Street Square Concept Plan (Item J.1): Village staff presented a concept plan for the two-acre property at 174 S. Harrison Street, consisting of an existing industrial building and two vacant lots. The proposal includes multi-tenant commercial reuse of the building, a large central open recreation space, eight small boardwalk-style shops along the railroad side, three commercial pads for food trucks, and a proposed dog park/dog bar. Staff noted that Harrison Street streetscape improvements are currently in the capital improvement plan within the next five years, but staff is exploring accelerating that timeline and may bring it to the Committee of the Whole in July. Jeff Miller of Watermark Engineering and project representative Mike Cardamone answered trustee questions. They described the existing building as roughly 10,000 square feet with Mike Cardamone retaining about 20 percent, and possible future tenants including restaurants, a bakery, smaller office/retail space, and a dog bar. The outdoor area would be open and free-flowing, with the fenced, off-leash dog run on the south side and leashed dogs elsewhere. Several boardwalk shops would be seasonal, with two or three anchor shops open more year-round. The project representatives estimated the project cost at roughly $1.2 million to $1.4 million, and said the building could be occupied in the fourth quarter of 2025 with the outdoor yard and tenant area coming in the third or fourth quarter of 2026. Trustees expressed strong support for the concept, praising its walkability, the activation of the southern end of downtown, and the potential for an Italian restaurant; the next step is Planning and Zoning Commission review for preliminary and final PUD approval. The board unanimously approved the concept plan.
• Dog Park Special Use Permit (Item J.2): Village staff requested approval of a special use permit for outdoor recreation use to allow a dog park at 174 S. Harrison Street, associated with the applicant, Barkville Buddies. The business would include an indoor bar area and an outdoor fenced dog area. Outdoor recreation use requires a special use permit in the downtown district. The proposed dog park would be fully fenced with six-foot-tall aluminum fencing, limited to about 2,700 square feet, with an astroturf/grass surface and an overhead door connecting indoor and outdoor spaces; dogs would not be in the play area without their owners present. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the request on June 5, 2025. The board unanimously approved the ordinance granting the special use permit.

Trustee and President Reports

• Trustees welcomed the new officers, congratulated Prairie Pals and Jenna Butler, and highlighted upcoming events including the Venue 1012 concert, the July 4 holiday, a public safety cadets pork and chicken drive, and a run/walk/ruck event at Hudson Crossing Park.
• President Kaufman congratulated the Oswego Panther softball team on winning the state championship, thanked the Park District for Prairie Fest, reminded residents of the July 4 fireworks at Prairie Point Park, and welcomed Taco Dolly and Crumble Cookie to downtown Oswego.

Closed Session

• The board unanimously moved into closed session for pending and probable litigation; appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of personnel; collective bargaining and salary schedule deliberations; and sale, lease, and/or acquisition of property.
• No action was taken on closed session items after the board returned.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items and the bill list were approved unanimously.
• The Harrison Street Square concept plan was approved unanimously and will proceed to PZC preliminary and final PUD review.
• The dog park special use permit at 174 S. Harrison Street was approved unanimously.
• The board entered closed session; no subsequent action items were reported.