Oswego Village Board Regular Meeting – March 3, 2026

The Oswego Village Board held its regular meeting on March 3, 2026, at Oswego Village Hall, beginning at 7:00 p.m. or immediately following the Committee of the Whole meeting. The board approved the consent agenda, a $12,541,293.72 bill list, and the First Amendment to the Jade Estates of Oswego Annexation Agreement after a public hearing. It also proclaimed March 2026 as National Athletic Training Month and honored Joe Renzetti for 15 years of service. President Ryan Kaufman chaired; Trustees Koenig and Torres were absent, Trustee Novi participated remotely after initially being listed absent, and Trustee Caranobi was approved for electronic participation.

Consent Calendar

• No items were pulled; the board approved the consent agenda as read.
• G.1: February 17, 2026 Committee of the Whole minutes.
• G.2: February 17, 2026 Regular Village Board minutes.
• G.3: Ordinance adopting the official Village of Oswego Zoning Map.
• G.4: Redwood Apartments resolutions — (a) final acceptance of Phase 1 storm sewer and release of project surety; (b) initial acceptance of Phase 2; and (c) final acceptance of Phase 2 erosion control and release of project surety, all effective March 3, 2026.
• G.5: Resolution reducing project surety for Redwood Apartments Phase 3, effective March 3, 2026.
• G.6: Resolution for initial acceptance of DeVille Manor and further reduction of project surety, effective March 3, 2026.
• G.7: Resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois State Police for participation in the Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force and access to grant funding.
• G.8: Ordinance amending Title 6, Chapter 1 and Appendix A of the Oswego Municipal Code to add an administrative fleeing/eluding fee.
• Roll-call vote: Trustees Cooper, Hughes, McCarthy-Lang, and Novi voted yes; no nays. President Kaufman did not vote on this item in the transcript.

Bill List

• Approved the March 3, 2026 bill list in the amount of $12,541,293.72.
• Roll-call vote: Trustees Cooper, Hughes, McCarthy-Lang, and Novi voted yes; no nays.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Berdemus asked the board to consider a riverfront park and trail vision along the Fox River from the Route 34 bridge to Mill Road, suggesting acquisition of riverfront properties as they become available and use of grants. He gave a rough example of $100 per riverfront foot, noted the floodplain had expanded after the river rose 10 feet, and said construction should not be allowed in those areas. He stated he has 377 feet of river frontage but said the proposal did not have to include his property. He said he had previously raised the idea with the Planning Commission and was directed to the Village Board.
• No other public comments were made.

Discussion Items

Jade Estates of Oswego – First Amendment to Annexation Agreement

• The board held a public hearing on the proposed First Amendment to the Jade Estates of Oswego Annexation Agreement. No public speakers testified, and the hearing was closed.
• Village staff explained that the original annexation agreement, approved in May 2025, covers a 9.6-acre project at Wolf and Douglas with 52 duplex units. The amendment addresses a shared stormwater detention facility tied to Wolf Road improvements. Under the original agreement, if the developer built first, the developer would construct the village's portion of the detention pond and the village would compensate the developer $150,000.
• Under the proposed amendment, the village will construct the entire stormwater detention facility as part of the Wolf Crossing project. The developer will build ancillary basin improvements, including retaining walls, railings, and guardrail, beginning by August 15, 2026, and will assume maintenance of the pond. Staff recommended approval.
• Board discussion: A trustee asked whether the amendment only changes who builds and pays for the pond; staff confirmed the site plan and stormwater approach are unchanged. Board discussion referenced a $166,000 current contractor quote in relation to the original $150,000 compensation. The village prefers constructing the whole pond at once to avoid multiple contractors and change orders, and it can store materials on a nearby property it owns.
• A trustee who said they cast the only 'no' vote on the original annexation noted the amendment does not change the site plan or annexation itself. Staff agreed and said final PUD/final plat approval would return to the board in coming weeks or months.

Recognitions & Appointments

• Proclamation: March 2026 was proclaimed National Athletic Training Month. Representatives of School District 308 accepted the proclamation. The proclamation noted the Oswego Athletic Training Program was founded in 1998 and that the National Athletic Trainers Association represents more than 45,000 members, including more than 2,700 in Illinois.
• Service Award: Joe Renzetti, Director of IT/GIS, received a 15-year service award. Staff noted he was hired in 2011 as a GIS technician and became the first director of IT, growing the IT staff from zero to four.
• Appointment: Terry Anderson was approved to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a term expiring October 6, 2028. Roll-call vote: Trustees McCarthy-Lang, Hughes, Cooper, and Novi voted yes; no nays.
• Discrepancy note: The agenda also listed the appointment of Hitam Patel to the Economic Development Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2028, but no action or discussion on that appointment appears in the transcript.

Trustee & President Reports

• Trustees reported on the Hometown Expo, praised the new prize wheel, and encouraged attendance at upcoming community events, including the polar plunge at the police station on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
• A trustee encouraged residents to participate in the ongoing comprehensive plan update and mentioned planned infrastructure improvements on Harrison Street south of Washington, including parking, sidewalks, and lighting improvements.
• President Kaufman said he believed the Hometown Expo had a record number of booths. He reminded residents of early voting at Village Hall: weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., until the week of March 8. He invited residents to the State of the Village address on March 4 and offered condolences to the family of Christine Faltz.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Trustee Caranobi's electronic participation in the March 3, 2026 meeting (yes: Cooper, McCarthy-Lang, Hughes, Kaufman).
• Adopted the National Athletic Training Month proclamation and presented the 15-year service award to Joe Renzetti.
• Approved the consent agenda (G.1–G.8) and the $12,541,293.72 bill list.
• Approved Terry Anderson's appointment to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
• Approved the ordinance authorizing the First Amendment to the Jade Estates of Oswego Annexation Agreement. Roll call: President Kaufman and Trustees Hughes, Cooper, McCarthy-Lang, and Novi voted yes; no nays.
• The board adjourned. The agenda listed possible closed-session items, but the transcript moves directly from the President's report to adjournment, with no closed session reflected.