Oswego Village Board Regular Meeting - November 18, 2025
Oswego Village Board Regular Meeting - November 18, 2025
The Oswego Village Board held its regular meeting on November 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Oswego Village Hall. The meeting included several recognitions, approval of consent agenda items, public hearings and votes on the 2025 property tax levy, the Capital Improvement Plan for 2026-2045, and the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Trustee Hughes was absent.
Recognitions & Appointments
- Proclamation for Brad and Judy Smith: Honored for their decades of service to Oswego, including Brad's 45-year tenure with the Oswego Volunteer Fire Department, 19 years as fire chief, 12 years as village trustee, and the donation of property at 76 Van Buren Street to the village. Judy served 24 years in various village roles.
- Artist Recognition: Luisa Cedin, a Brazilian physical therapist and PhD candidate, was recognized for her watercolor exhibition at Village Hall through the Cultural Arts Commission.
- Business of the Month: Church of the Good Shepherd (United Methodist) was recognized for its 130+ years of community service, including its food pantry, chili supper at the Christmas Walk, and partnerships with the Salvation Army.
- Proclamation: December 2025 was proclaimed as Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public addressed the board during the Public Forum portion of the meeting.
Consent Agenda
- Board unanimously approved the consent agenda (roll call vote: 6-0, with Trustee Hughes absent). Items included:
- Minutes from the November 4, 2025 Committee of the Whole and Regular Board meetings.
- Special Service Area (SSA) tax levies for SS60 and SS84 for tax year 2025.
- Six tax levy abatement ordinances for various general obligation bond series (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2025A, 2025B).
- Resolution authorizing a Phase III engineering observation services contract for Wolfs Crossing and Douglas Road with V3 Companies for $1,278,209.
- Resolution authorizing a reduction in the project surety bond for Reserve at Hudson Crossing Building #2 to $1,875,286.
- Professional services agreements for water/wastewater engineering (RJN Group) and various engineering services (V3 Companies).
- Resolution authorizing a farm contract with Creekside Farms, LLC.
- Resolution accepting a real estate donation of 0.1556 acres at 76 Van Buren Street (the Smith property).
New Business
- 2025 Property Tax Levy: A public hearing was held. Andrea (staff) presented that the 2025 tax levy totals $1,845,047, an increase of $144,201 in dollars but a 2.0% decrease in the tax rate due to an estimated 10% increase in equalized assessed value. Multiple trustees praised the rate reduction, calling it the lowest on record. The ordinance passed 5-1, with Trustee Novi voting against.
- Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 2026-2045: Staff presented the CIP outlining $244.8 million in capital improvements over five years, with three revisions previously discussed. The ordinance passed unanimously (6-0).
- Fiscal Year 2026 Budget: A public hearing was held. The budget totals $174.6 million across all funds, including operating and capital funds, and was discussed over three prior meetings. The ordinance adopting the budget passed unanimously (6-0).
Key Outcomes
- Approved Consent Agenda (unanimous).
- Approved Bill list dated November 18, 2025, in the amount of $1,541,633.66 (unanimous).
- Approved 2025 Property Tax Levy ordinance (5-1, Trustee Novi opposed).
- Approved Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2026-2045 (unanimous).
- Approved Fiscal Year 2026 Village Budget ordinance (unanimous).
- Adjourned at the conclusion of Trustee and President reports.
Trustee Reports & President's Remarks
- Trustees thanked honorees, highlighted upcoming events (Christmas Walk, OHS football semifinals on November 22 at 5 PM), noted the police department's seventh CalEA accreditation, promoted community giving opportunities, and suggested an evening community event with beer. President Kaufman gave a legislative update reminder (November 19 at noon, Oaks Grill).
Meeting Transcript
We have uh Jason Bastin, our chief of police, who's going to lead us in the pledge. So if you all please rise and join Jason as he leads us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States America and to the Republic. Under God, indivisible liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. President Kaufman? Here. Trustee Cooper. Here. Trustee Koenig. Here. Trustee McCarthy Lang. Here. Trustee Novi. Here. Trustee Torres. Trustee Hughes absent. All right. First up, we have a proclamation for Brad and Judy Smith. If I could have Brad and Judy come join me down front. Thank you so much. Thank you. All right. This evening we are honoring Brad and Judy Smith. Brad Smith has been a dedicated and lifelong member of the Oswego community since moving here in 1951, graduating from Oswego High School, and continuing his education before serving honorably in the United States Marine Corps. Upon returning to Oswego, Brad began his professional journey at Oswego Grain and Supply while also farming part-time, demonstrating a strong work ethic and commitment to the local economy. In 1966, Brad and his wife Judy purchased their first home on Washington Street. The same year, Brad began his forty-five-year tenure with the Oswego Volunteer Fire Department, including 19 years as fire chief, where he provided steadfast leadership and life-saving service to the community. Brad's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-purchase Oswego Grain in 1975. And later, upon retirement, he transformed the business property into rental units, contributing to the village's development and housing availability. Brad served with distinction as village trustee for 12 years, offering his time, insight, and leadership to help guide the growth and governance of Oswego. Brad has expressed his desire to donate the remaining property located at 76 Van Buren Street that has been a meaningful part of his life to the village of Oswego. A gesture that reflects his enduring generosity and his love for this community. Judy Smith, Brad's wife, also served the village of Oswego with dedication for 24 years in various roles, including the water billing department, building and zoning, and his acting village clerk, and was the first paid secretary for the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce. Therefore, I Ryan Kaufman, President of the Village of Oswego, do hereby recognize and honor Brad and Judy Smith for their lifetime of service, their leadership, their generosity, and express our deepest gratitude for their unwavering commitment to the betterment of our village. I will say it's nice to be up here and see some people and Kramer's the one that uh really started this going for me. So I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right, next up we have our Cultural Arts Commission, Artist Recognition. At Village Hall. That's Luisa Luisa Sedden. Luisa, could you come down front and join me, please? Also, if there's any members of our Cultural Arts Commission. All right. Luisa Sedden. Am I saying that correctly? Sidine. Luisa Sidin was selected as one of the artist exhibitors by the Cultural Arts Commission. Her work has adorned the halls of Village Hall Lobby since October 30th.
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