The Village Board of Oswego held a regular meeting on August 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Oswego Village Hall. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by veterans Joe McGillis and Rob Bailey, followed by roll call (President Kaufman, Trustees Cooper, Hughes, Koenig, McCarthy-Lane, Torres; Trustee Novi absent). Major actions included swearing in two new police officers, recognizing a young boxing champion and student artists, appointing student commissioners and a village engineer, approving a consent agenda (with one item discussed separately), authorizing an economic incentive agreement, and approving the hiring of two new positions for the public works and building departments.
G14 – Polo Crossing Phase 2 – Trustee McCarthy-Lane inquired whether the lot spacing had changed from the original proposal. Staff confirmed no changes from the originally approved annexation agreement. The board then voted to approve both the final PUD and subdivision plat for 120 single-unit detached dwellings and the vacation of a public utility easement. Vote: 4 in favor (Trustees Koenig, Cooper, Hughes, Torres), 1 opposed (Trustee McCarthy-Lane). The item passed without requiring a supermajority.
J1 – Economic Incentive Agreement for Susan K. Wilhelm Trust (15–25 Jefferson Street) – Village staff presented a request for a $5,000 grant to replace a failing retaining wall. The property manager, Craig Caffarello, described the wall’s condition (approximately 3.5 inches of movement over two years) and noted that unsafe stairs would be removed and a fence considered after wall curing. The board approved the ordinance unanimously. Vote: 5-0.
J2 – Hiring of Plumbing/Building Inspector and Project Engineer – Village Administrator Dan reported that Public Works Director Kurt Cassidy is leaving September 18, 2026, and recommended splitting his role into a project engineer and a separate director. Due to rapid growth (permit inspections up 4,000 per year since 2023, housing starts back to 600+ per year), the board authorized hiring a combined plumbing/building inspector (estimated CY26 cost up to $45,000) and a project engineer (estimated CY26 cost up to $50,000). Total cost not to exceed $95,000, funded from previously reserved $145,000. Both positions are difficult to fill; hiring anticipated within 45 days but may take longer. Vote: 5-0.
This evening we have Joe McGillis and his special guest, Rob Bailey for the Pledge of Allegiance. Joe joined the United States Army in 2007 and has served on active duty for six years. He still serves in the reserves and is attached to the 416th Theater Engineer Command. Joe has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Uganda, and other locations throughout the world. He has served alongside and in support of the U.S. Border Patrol. Joe has been with the village of Oswego as a forestry technician since July 1st of 2014. Joe is a highly committed, he's highly committed to the village and the community. He's one of the first to volunteer when the village responds to calls for assistance through the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network. Thank you, Joe, for your service to the country and to Oswego. Robert, or Rob Bailey. Yeah, you can applaud. Absolutely. We'll always take time to applaud our veterans. Robert, or Rob Bailey, enlisted in the United States Navy in October of 1996. He attended recruit training command and engine men A school at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. He graduated in 1997. His subsequent duty station was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, CBN 72, homeported in Everett, Washington from 1997 to 2000. While serving in the nuclear reactor department, he trained as a collateral duty master at arms and completed his tour assigned to the ship's security force. In 1998, the Abraham Lincoln deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, earning the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Rob joined the veterans of foreign wars Montgomery Memorial Post 7452 in 2013, where he is a gold legacy life member. He served as the Post Commander from 2016 to 2022. And Rob is a five-time All-State Post Commander and earned the distinction of being an all-American Post Commander in 2020. Rob served in various positions at the district level, including District Commander. He served as the state inspector in 2022 and 2023, the state chief of staff in 2022, uh 23, excuse me, and 2024, state junior vice commander in 2024 through 2025, and the state senior commander, state senior vice commander in 2025 through 2026. Rob is a life member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 242, where he served as the chapter treasurer from 2019 to 2025. He currently serves as the state treasurer, and he's a member of Yorkville American Legion Post 489, the Naval Order of the United States, and a life member of Amvet's Post 103. He's a charter member of Private Henry M. Hardenberg, Camp Number 39, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, where he served as a camp secretary. He previously served as Treasurer for the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission Executive Board and as public relations officer for Save Joe Incorporated Veterans Charities. Rob was elected as the Illinois State Commander in June 2026. He's retired and currently resides in Oswego, where he lives with his fiancee and children. How about a round of applause for him as well? Now if you'd all please rise and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the Republic for which it stands, under God, invisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Joe, and thank you, Rob. Thank you for your service and thanks for leading us tonight. And for all you do for public works. Thank you. Roll call, please. President Kaufman. Here. Trustee Cooper. Here. Trustee Hughes. Here. Trustee Coneg? Here. Trustee McCarthy and Lane.