Plainfield Village Board Meeting Summary - May 18, 2026

The Plainfield Village Board met on Monday, May 18, 2026, for its regular meeting. This summary is based on the meeting transcript. The board approved the consent agenda, a site plan for a Dutch Bros Coffee drive-through, vehicle and police radio purchases, and Ordinance 3798 prohibiting the sale of Kratom and other novel synthetic/psychoactive drugs. It also heard a National Public Works Week proclamation and public comments.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the meeting agenda.
• The consent agenda was approved unanimously and included: minutes from the May 4 board meeting; bills paid and bills payable reports for May 18; cash and investment revenue/expenditure reports for April; Ordinance 3797, reducing Class E video gaming licenses to four due to the closing of Piggies; and approval of $200,000 in Portillo's public infrastructure reimbursement for 135th Street right-turn deceleration improvements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Kathleen Burke, Will County Health Department behavioral health division, urged the board not to allow Kratom or 70H or their derivatives to be distributed in Plainfield. She described Kratom as acting on the same opioid receptors as heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl, called it a potential fourth wave of the opioid epidemic, cited FDA warnings, and expressed concern that smoke shop and vape shop products can be mislabeled or upsold.
• Micah Freeman, Will County Board District A, reported that the Will County Board is considering a resolution about Bitcoin kiosks targeting seniors, low-income residents, and people unfamiliar with digital assets. He said AARP presented on the issue, the resolution passed unanimously through committee, and encouraged Plainfield to consider oversight or bans.
• Ryan Ray, a Chicago Street resident, requested a second public input meeting for the Old Town South neighborhood improvements. He described concerns about the Ottawa Street multi-use path, roadway widening, bike lane replacing sidewalks in places, and safety for young children, and said many neighbors did not know about the first meeting. Staff responded that the first plans are not final, more public input will be sought, and comments are being accepted online through May 27.
• Kim Hurley, an Ottawa Street resident for about 35 years, raised safety and design concerns with the Old Town South improvements, noting that the multi-purpose path would affect numerous driveways. She asked that residents' submitted comments be taken seriously.
• Anthony Scala, owner of Moe Green at 13717 South Route 30, praised the village's building, police, and public works departments during his business's soft opening and said Plainfield is a great place to open a business.

Proclamations, Reports, and Trustee Comments

• The mayor proclaimed the week of May 17-23, 2026, as National Public Works Week, noting it is the 66th annual observance sponsored by the American Public Works Association. The proclamation was accepted by Mr. Kissel on behalf of Mr. Threewood.
• The mayor encouraged attendance at the American Legion's Memorial Day wreath ceremony at Settlers Park, around 10:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, saying it generally draws over 1,000 people and includes local high school marching bands. Trustees thanked the public works department and the police department, including the Special Olympics Cop on the Roof fundraiser and an SRO post about e-bike and e-scooter safety.
• The village administrator reported that staff is monitoring the General Assembly, build legislation, and the Local Government Distributive Fund, and that the Illinois Municipal League has proposed counter legislation. He described Plainfield as one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the Chicagoland area.
• The engineer presented a monthly report with no questions; the plan director, attorney, and public works director had no report. The plan commission meeting scheduled for the next night was canceled.

Discussion Items and Votes

• Dutch Bros Coffee site plan: The board reviewed a proposed drive-through coffee shop at the southwest corner of Spangler Road and US Route 30, adjacent to the Encore car wash, on a pad site created through a 2020 planned development. Staff said the Plan Commission recommended approval and the plan conforms to village code. In response to board questions, the applicant team discussed the photometric plan, tree selection, and bicycle parking. A trustee asked that rear lot line light spillage be reduced toward zero, tree diversity was encouraged, and bike accommodation was requested. The applicant stated construction could begin in July or August and take about 20 to 22 weeks, with a possible November opening. The board unanimously approved the site plan at 16340 South Lincoln Highway, subject to the stipulations in the staff report.
• Building department vehicle purchase: The board authorized the purchase of two 2026 Ford Escape all-wheel-drive vehicles with minimal equipment for code enforcement, replacing a 2013 Ford Focus and a 2016 Ford Escape, at a total cost not to exceed $62,966 from Terry's Ford Fleet Piatone. Staff noted the Escape is being discontinued and the vehicles were found through the state bid program. The motion passed unanimously.
• Police radio purchase: The board authorized the purchase of 17 Motorola APX N70 radios and required accessories from Westcom at a total cost of $120,884.96, or $7,110.88 per radio. The purchase is part of the police department's five-year radio replacement plan; Motorola is phasing out the APX 6000. The motion passed unanimously.
• Kratom and novel psychoactive substances ordinance: The board first voted unanimously to remove from the table the proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale of Kratom, novel synthetic, and psychoactive drugs. Police staff recommended approval and described Kratom's opioid-like effects, FDA warnings, and the DEA designation as a drug of concern. Staff noted state law currently prohibits sale to minors under 18 as a Class B misdemeanor, and that several other Illinois towns and states have banned Kratom. Discussion included House Bill 4737, which would create a Kratom Consumer Protection Act with civil penalties and a two-year distribution ban for a third violation. Staff said the local ordinance bans sale rather than possession and gives the village flexibility to address future novel synthetic drugs. The board adopted Ordinance 3798 unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• The board approved all agenda items, consent items, purchases, the site plan, and the Kratom ordinance unanimously.
• The next regular village board meeting is June 1, 2026, at 7 p.m.; the May 25, 2026 meeting is canceled for Memorial Day.
• The board adjourned after the final motion carried.