Woodstock City Council Meeting - March 18, 2025
Woodstock City Council Meeting - March 18, 2025
The Woodstock City Council met on March 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. Five of seven council members were present, establishing a quorum. The meeting included public comments, approval of the consent calendar, and transmittal of the FY2025/2026 annual budget. The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:50 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (5-0) all items under the consent calendar, including: acceptance of February 25, 2025 Budget Workshop #1 and March 4, 2025 City Council minutes; warrants #4140 and #4141; Human Resources Monthly Report for February 2025; TIF Joint Review Board minutes of February 26, 2025; and Manager’s Report No. 267 comprising six items:
- Ordinance authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement and Funding Resolution with IDOT for the Route 47 Road Widening Project (D1)
- Resolution appropriating $1,682,395.62 of Rebuild Illinois funds for the city’s share of Route 47 costs (D2)
- Resolution authorizing Change Order #1 for audiovisual work at the Opera House South Annex Renovation Project, not to exceed $23,547 (D3)
- Resolution to induce redevelopment of 610 E. Judd Street within TIF #2 by AFA Polytek (North America) Inc. (D4)
- Professional Services Agreement Supplement #2 with HR Green for design engineering related to Route 47 utility relocation, lighting, and landscaping, not to exceed $98,944.42 (D5)
- Postponement to time indefinite of an ordinance for massage establishment licensing (D6)
- Council members requested discussion on items D1 and D5 before the vote. After discussion, no items were removed; the full calendar was approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Keith Lines (Commander, American Legion Post 412) read into the record the names of five Woodstock residents who died in the Vietnam War: Sidney John Alia, Donald Eugene Durmont Jr., Dennis Earl John, Toby Edwards Jackles, and Gordon Mason Gaylord (whose remains have never been found). He noted that 35 names from McHenry County are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Council member Gordon Nearman added personal reflections on the mistreatment of returning veterans.
- Joseph Bonk (Woodstock resident, ~2.5 years) expressed frustration about being banned from Walmart and subsequently trespassed by police based on what he said was incorrect information from a non-manager employee. He asserted he was trying to purchase Easter gifts for St. Mary’s School children. Mayor Turner explained trespass law, noting it is a private property matter, and agreed to a five-minute phone call with the Walmart manager if she contacts City Hall.
Discussion Items
- Route 47 Road Widening Project (Consent Item D1) – Councilman Nearman questioned the likelihood of securing supplemental funding from three sources:
- Federal assistance: City Manager Stelford estimated a 50/50 chance, noting Congressman Foster considers it a high priority and funding decisions may come with the federal budget by October 1.
- ITEP grant: Probability estimated at 70-75%, with an announcement expected in three to four weeks (April).
- State assistance: Estimated at less than 50% (around 35-40%), though the state has significant road fund balances. Mayor Turner and Mr. Stelford described the project as critical for the region, noting that inflation added $10 million to costs. They emphasized that signing the IGA is essential to keep the project on schedule, and that the city will pursue multiple funding avenues. Councilman Seegers noted that the state’s investment remains small relative to overall budget, and that rejecting the project would be devastating.
- Engineering Services Supplement (Consent Item D5) – Councilman Seegers commented that the additional cost ($98,944.42) represents nearly 1% of the project and should be included in the state’s share since delays and right-of-way issues were not the city’s fault.
- Transmittal of FY2025/2026 Annual Budget – City Manager Roscoe Stelford presented a $74 million balanced budget, a decrease of nearly $5 million from the previous year due to completion of major capital projects (e.g., Opera House renovations). Key projects include the final year of the Season’s Hand streets improvement program, recreation center improvements, and a new splash pad. Staffing additions recommended: a police officer, a facilities position, and two part-time IT help desk employees. A public hearing is scheduled for April 1, 2025, and a budget workshop for April 8, 2025, with final adoption expected on April 15, 2025.
Key Outcomes
- The consent calendar was approved unanimously (5-0).
- The FY2025/2026 budget was formally transmitted; the city will post it online and make copies available at the library. A public hearing (April 1) and a council budget workshop (April 8) will follow.
- Mayor Turner agreed to contact the Walmart manager regarding Mr. Bonk’s trespass issue.
- Councilwoman McMahon noted she would be absent for the April 8 budget workshop and was encouraged to submit written input.
- The meeting adjourned with a unanimous vote.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to welcome you to this evening's meeting of the Woodstock City Council. Brief announcements before we get started this evening. First is that the agenda for this evening's meeting will be shown on the uh on the screens in the um uh in the chamber. Um the city of Woodstock operates under what's called a consent format. Consent format means that all items for action this evening will be considered under a single motion and a single vote. Member of the Woodstock City Council may request an item to be removed and considered separately with a separate vote. And members of the public may request an item to be removed as well for separate consideration and voting, and if agreed to by a member of the Woodstock City Council, that item as well will be removed for separate consideration and voting. There are two opportunities for public comment this evening. The first being at the start of the meeting under uh under the public under floor discussion, public comment. May members of the public may come forward to the podium in the middle of the room. If they're willing to do so, state their name and address for purpose of the record, and feel free to make their comments. The City of Woodstock does have a limitation of three minutes for public comment during floor discussion. The second opportunity for public comment this evening is uh when we take uh action uh uh have items for action, the members of the public will be offered an opportunity to provide input to the city council on those items considered for action. Any questions on those brief announcements before we get started? All right, hearing none, I'll go ahead and officially call the order this March 18th, 2025 meeting of the Woodstock City Council to order and ask the clerk to please call the roll. Councilman Flynn, Townswoman McMahon, Councilman Nearman. Here, Councilman Seegers. Here, Councilman Thibault. Here. Councilwoman Zemba. Here, Mayor Turner. Here. The record reflect that five of the seven members of the Woodstock City Council are present in the chamber this evening. That is enough for a quorum. Uh Jane, would you please confirm that the that the agenda this evening is the same as the true and published agenda? Yes, it is. Thank you, Jane. That being the case, ladies and gentlemen of the council, the people's business is duly and appropriately before us. The first item under this evening's agenda is floor discussion, public comment. At this time, I invite members of the public to come forward to the podium in the middle of the room. They're willing to do so, say their name and address for purpose of the record. Feel free to make public comment to the Woodstock City Council, and just uh so the public is aware there is a three minute limitation under floor discussion, public comment by the City of Woodstock ordinance. Members of the public are free to come forward at this time. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I would ask um if we're not finished at the end of our three minutes, if we'll be as close as we can. I'm here tonight as the commander of the American Legion post-412. In 2012, President Obama signed a presidential proclamation declaring March 29th, the annual observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day. The signing marked the 50th anniversary of the departure of the last American troops from Vietnam, which was March 29th, 1973. A quote from the proclamation states in one of the war's most profound tragedies, many of the men and women who came home were shunned or neglected to face treatment unbefitting their courage and valor, and a welcome that was unworthy of their example. We must never let this happen again. There are 35 names on the Vietnam Venture Memorial in front of the administration building on Ware Road. Twenty-six were in the Army, five were Marines, three were in the Air Force, one was in the Navy. Two casualties of those thirty-five were helicopter pilots and lost their entire crew. The young men hailed from twelve villages around McHenry County, and each death left a hole in the fabric of our public life, whether we knew them or not. The families who mourned them, the communities who lost the contributions they might have made, the children that might have called them father, lost. We lost all of that. The cost of war is devastating, and it makes the lives of survivors grief-filled for decades. I will tell you since researching this project, I have never skipped putting my hand on that memorial in front of the uh McHenry County Government Center on Ware Road.
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