Plainfield, Illinois Village Board Meeting – July 20, 2026
Plainfield, Illinois Village Board Meeting – July 20, 2026
The Plainfield Village Board met Monday, July 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Boardroom, 24401 W. Lockport Street, Plainfield, Illinois. The board approved its agenda and consent calendar, approved the 2026 Moldova Sports Festival, extended and awarded public works contracts, and authorized a police utility vehicle purchase. The meeting ended with a unanimous vote to enter executive session under the Open Meetings Act to discuss real property, not to reconvene.
Presidential and Trustee Comments
- Mayor Gadellis praised Plainfield Fest at its new venue and said Lockport Street restaurants gave positive feedback; he also thanked volunteers and police. Additional trustee comments thanked community volunteers and highlighted recent community events, including the Plainfield Public Arts Council's Art in the Park Fest.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the July 6, 2026 board meeting minutes, July 20, 2026 bills paid and bills payable reports, and June 2026 cash/investment, revenue, and expenditure reports.
- Ordinance No. 3807 (the agenda left the number blank) increased Class B liquor licenses to six for Woodman's Food Market at 11751 S. Route 59.
- Ordinance No. 3808 (the agenda left the number blank) approved the street name change in Springbank Unit 3 from Corinne Circle to S. Cassandra Drive.
- The board released a Byline Bank letter of credit in the amount of $183,805.05 for completed restoration and erosion control for the Five Star Tennis addition at 119th Street and Normantown Road.
- The board accepted a Plat of Easement over Lot 4 of Plainfield Business Center Resubdivision No. 1.
- Resolution No. 1872 authorized incorporating the Plainfield Fire Protection District's updated development impact fees into future annexation agreements.
- The board authorized an intergovernmental agreement with Will County for installation of license plate reader cameras on Will County-controlled roadways.
- The board authorized continued participation in the Lower DuPage River Watershed Coalition and $22,819.81 in budgeted funding for watershed planning and membership. The mayor noted the coalition helped bring over $1,000,000 into the DuPage River reconstruction.
- The consent calendar passed with no dissenting votes reported.
Public Comments & Testimony
- JD Quinn criticized the village's code enforcement and Will County ordinance violation (OV) process, saying three OV cases for the same property were dismissed, a vehicle remained inoperable for a decade, and property maintenance violations recurred. He argued the phrase 'at their discretion' is used to justify inaction and can become selective enforcement, and he asked the board to provide accountability, consistency, and follow-through.
- Susan Walsh, a Plainfield resident for over 23 years, supported Quinn's comments and said she has made many reports without seeing reinspection or enforcement. She said violations are plainly visible under a 'reasonable person's test' and asked for fair, consistent enforcement of the village's codes.
- Glenn Vilkis opposed the license plate reader camera agreement, warning that surveillance infrastructure grows incrementally and erodes liberty. He cited Benjamin Franklin, Ecclesiastes 8:11, and John Adams, and urged the board to prioritize justice and restraint over expanded monitoring.
2026 Plainfield Moldova Sports Festival
- Police Chief Miller presented the request for the festival on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Settlers Park and adjacent vacant property west of the park. The event was expected to attract about 150–200 people and celebrate Moldovan heritage through sports, music, food, and wine.
- Staff recommended two officers at a cost of about $2,000, with the organizer responsible for 50 percent of public safety costs because alcohol would be served. Chief Miller said the event was small and staff had no concerns about the shortened application timeline.
- Consul General Anton Lungu of the Republic of Moldova in Chicago spoke for the proposal, describing the large Moldovan community in the Chicago suburbs and the event as a free, noncommercial family festival that reflects Moldovan tradition and community values.
- Trustees asked about possible turf damage from tug-of-war and event placement; staff and the organizer said locations are flexible and would be checked against park infrastructure. A trustee also asked whether administrative and public works costs were included, and staff noted portable toilets could be added if attendance grows.
- The board approved the festival and related fees with no dissenting votes reported.
Public Works and Police Items
- Sidewalk Trip Hazard Removal Program: The board extended the contract with Universal Concrete Grinding for the 2026 construction season in an amount of $48,010.00, plus a $4,800.00 contingency (10%), for a total not to exceed $52,810.00. A trustee suggested future sidewalk replacements include doweled joints to reduce trip hazards, and staff agreed to consider it. The motion carried with no dissenting votes reported.
- Well #6 and #7 Rehabilitation: The board awarded the project to Water Well Solutions, LLC as the lowest responsible bidder at a total cost not to exceed $708,970.00. Four bids were received, and the initial low bidder withdrew due to a mistake in the bid. The motion carried with no dissenting votes reported.
- Polaris Ranger Crew XP1000: The board authorized the purchase from Shorewood Home and Auto for $32,048.00. The police chief said the department's current Polaris would be transferred to Plainfield's emergency management agency, and additional lighting and markings would be handled separately, likely using existing funds. The motion carried with no dissenting votes reported.
Department Reports
- The Administrator, Management Services, Planning, and Attorney reported nothing. The Engineer's report for July 2026 and Building and Code Compliance report for June 2026 were available, and no board questions were raised.
Executive Session and Reminders
- The board unanimously voted to adjourn to executive session under Section 2(c)(5) of the Open Meetings Act to discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the public body, not to reconvene.
- Reminders were given: Plan Commission on July 21 at 7:00 p.m., Committee of the Whole Workshop on July 27 at 7:00 p.m., and the next Village Board meeting on August 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the agenda and consent calendar, including Ordinance Nos. 3807 and 3808, Resolution No. 1872, the Will County license plate reader camera intergovernmental agreement, and the Lower DuPage River Watershed Coalition funding.
- Approved the 2026 Plainfield Moldova Sports Festival and related fees.
- Extended the sidewalk trip hazard removal contract with a total not to exceed $52,810.00.
- Awarded the Well #6 and #7 Rehabilitation project to Water Well Solutions, LLC for a total not to exceed $708,970.00.
- Authorized the Polaris Ranger Crew XP1000 purchase for $32,048.00.
- Adjourned to executive session with no reconvening.
Meeting Transcript
But I was not like Thursday later in the Thursday night. Okay, we're gonna call the meeting to order. Um Ms. Gibbus, Roll Call, please. Trusty Paniker, Trusty Bruin. Here, Trusty Sula. Here, Trusty Wojowski, Trusty Knucci, here, Trusty Keefer. Present Mayor Gadellis. Yes, we'll stand for the pledge, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for thank you and welcome everyone. It is our July 20th meeting. Um presidential comments. I will not steal too much of the thunder from some of our trustees here, but I attended Plainfield Fest, and I will tell you, I thought that it was really well done at the new venue. I think the um the band area and the beer garden really worked really well. People were able to bring their sling chairs and hang out in the grass and enjoy the music and everything. Um, so I think that was really well done. We had a lot going on this weekend. We also had our Plainfield players had their production of the dining room, and that went very successfully too. And then yesterday was the Rotary Club's duck drop. So it was a jam-pamped weekend, but I think there was plenty of fun things for people to do. I will say that with the new location for Plainfield Fest, I heard a lot of positive feedback from Lockport Street restaurants. They felt that uh, you know, not being in the downtown helped them have a normal weekend. Sometimes that was one of their concerns they expressed. But um, I'm gonna pass it right on to Ms. Benucci, the head of the Riverfront Foundation. I know she wants to give an update, but from my personal opinion, I think it worked really well. Maybe a couple bugs to work out, but really good for a first effort out there. Well, thank you very much for your kind comments. I I would have to agree we had we had a couple of uh bumps of the road, but we want to focus on the positives. I think um our moving there was great. People are people like, why are you downtown not in downtown anymore? We outgrew it. You got to remember when we were running Plainfield Fest downtown, all these businesses didn't exist, or many of them didn't. So now, if when we're there, we're taking up so much space, so much parking, all the different things, and then spread it out all over. So it really we really want to thank um Carl Capalbo and the board of the park district for giving us a chance out there. Um we we've got a whole report that's gonna be coming, not tonight, but when we get the finalized numbers, but I I just want to say what a group of people and right now I just want to embarrass Tom Rwain because I'll tell you what, if we didn't have Tom Rowane and Dave Shellhammer doing all that they did for this fest, it would not have happened. It's just that simple. I mean, it's very complex, it's not as easy as just saying we're gonna set up some tents or we're gonna do this or hire a band. It was phenomenal, and without their expertise, their hard work, and the whole committee. But Tom is here right now, and I really wanted to focus on him for that because he does the Irish parade as well. And it it just was amazing. But the whole group of people, everybody had a job, everybody figured it out. I don't know how we all figured it out, but really what a great group of people, and we want to thank the community for coming out, supporting us and giving us a chance. Thank you. Well, thank you, Trustee Banucci, and obviously my arm was long enough, so I'd be patting you on the back as well, because we could have not done this without Mrs. Banucci. Uh and more actually almost more importantly, and I she's nodding her head, her grandson and his crew, these teenagers that came and worked all weekend huffing garbage. That's all these kids did. Didn't complain once about it.
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