April Board Meeting

Regular Meeting of the Shields Township Board of Trustees

Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 5:00pm

Meeting minutes:

04.17.25_shields_regular_meeting_minutes.pdf
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Click here to download the agenda:

04.17.25_regular_board_meeting_agenda.pdf
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Click here to download the financials:

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AGENDA

I. Call to Order & Roll Call
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. Public Comment – Three (3) minutes per speaker
IV. Approval of Bills
V. Reports
      a. Supervisor
      b. Trustees
      c. Assessor's Office
      d. Community Service Committee
      e. Road & Bridge Committee
VI. Old Business
VII. New Business
      a. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of March 13, 2025
      b. Approval of FY2026 Budget & Appropriation Ordinance
      c. Appointment of Trustee(s) to Arden Shores North Fire Protection District
      ​d. Appointment of Trustee(s) to Arden Shores South Fire Protection District
VIII. Executive Session
IX. Adjournment

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MINUTES

​ Shields Township
906 W. Muir Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Regular Meeting of the Shields Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, April 17th, 2025, at 5:00pm
STATE OF ILLINOIS      )
LAKE COUNTY )           ss.
TOWN OF SHIELDS     )
THE TOWN BOARD OF SHIELDS TOWNSHIP held its Regular Monthly Meeting on Thursday April 17th, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
PRESENT:
                   Vanessa Grum                    Clerk
Jeff Urso                            Supervisor
Lisette Rothing                    Deputy Clerk
David Weil                          Town Trustee
Brady Andersen                  Town Trustee
 
ABSENT:
Michael Machnicki               Town Trustee
Matt Garrity                                     Town Trustee

1. Call to Order & Roll Call – Supervisor Urso called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm. Clerk Grum took roll call; Trustee Andersen, Trustee Weil, Deputy Clerk Lisette Rothing and Supervisor Urso were present. Trustee Garrity and Trustee Machnicki were absent. Also in attendance was Administrator Counselman Kimzey and Clerk Grum.
2. Pledge of Allegiance – Supervisor Urso opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance at 5:05 pm.
3. Public Comment – Three (3) minutes per speaker:
   1. Janice Schnobrich: Janice Schnobrich stated that since 1997 most supervisors have prioritized self-interests over public welfare. Currently the township outsources many duties and responsibilities yet still employs full-time staff. Janice continues saying that the Supervisor and Road Committee Chair misled the board into defunding roads by $600,000 over the past 3 years. Mrs. Schnobrich states that the Assessor’s Office has not properly assessed new construction and nothing has been done to change either one of these concerns. Legal costs have consumed budgets while road repairs have been neglected. A taxpayer revolt may soon be necessary.
   2. Kathy Blahunka: At 5:10 pm, Kathy Blahunka stated that Jeff (Urso) can call her anything he wants in regards to social media posting, but she never said she wants to remove the speed humps. She passed out copies of examples of text messages she stated were from Supervisor Urso’s phone to prove that she believes the speed humps were done in retaliation.
   3. Kamila Urso: Kamila introduced herself and thanked those who participated in the election. She recognized Kathy Blahunka for running an impressive campaign. Kamila congratulates those who won and states that she will be offering some who didn’t win positions on our Road Committee. She states that she will be appointing Mike Dunn to be the new Chair of the Road Committee and thanks Mr. Dan Rogers for the time he has served in this role. She states that she will be reappointing Alderman Carl Evans from North Chicago to Chair our Community Services Committee. She confirms that future committee meetings will be held in the evenings so the public can attend. She comments on the things she will enact immediately including recording all meetings and posting on the website and requesting quarterly updates from staff. Thanks to those who have previously served.
   4. Brian Soboliak: At 5:13 pm, Mr. Soboliak asked the board why they do not publish the ledger meetings, and why these meetings are not held via zoom so others can attend. He also asked about the bike path through Knowlwood and why this project has not been worked on.
4. Approval of Bills –
   1. Town Fund: Supervisor Urso moved to approve the Town Fund expenses in the amount of $11,959.00. Trustee Andersen motioned and Trustee Weil seconded the motion. Clerk Grum took a roll call vote and all approved. Motion carried.
   2. GA Fund: The General Assistance fund expenses totaled $0 because they bill quarterly.
   3. Road and Bridge Fund: Supervisor Urso moved to approve the Road and Bridge Fund expenses in the amount of $3,469.76. Trustee Weil motioned to approve and Trustee Andersen seconded the motion. Clerk Grum took a roll call vote and all aprroved. Motion carried.

1. Reports –

1. Supervisor Report: Supervisor Urso congratulates the elected Shields Township officials. He addressed some of the questions and comments brought up during public comment by agreeing with Mrs. Schnobrich regarding the extensive legal costs, confirms that we do have 4 full time employees which is a decrease from the previous 6 so we have minimized staff and comments that the bike path project has not happened due to the need for County and State funding because of the high costs associated with the path over the railroad crossings. Supervisor Urso highlights some of the work that was completed in the last 4 years including:
   1. Creating and maintaining a partnership with Waukegan Township
   2. Major roads paved
   3. New Truck
   4. Completed drainage projects
   5. Installation of speed humps
   6. Renewed refuse services to minimize commercial vehicles on roads
   7. Reduced staff and contracted Assessor services to minimize costs
2. Trustees Report: None
3. Assessor's Office Report: None
4. Community Service Committee Report: None
5. Road & Bridge Committee Report: None

1. Old Business – None
2. New Business –
   1. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of March 13, 2025: Supervisor Urso moves to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of the Shields Township Board of Trustees from March 13th, 2025. Trustee Weil opts to abstain because he was not present during the last meeting. However, he read the minutes and will motion to approve with the caveat that he was not present. Trustee Andersen seconds the motion. Clerk Grum takes roll and all approve. Motion passes.
   2. Approval of FY26 Budget & Appropriation Ordinance: Supervisor Urso seeks a motion to make appropriations to defray expenditures for Shields Township for the Fiscal Year beginning March 1, 2025 and ending February 28, 2026 as follows:
      1. Town Fund in the amount of $992,280
      2. Assessor in the amount of: $508,400
      3. Road Fund in the amount of: $416,048

                        For a total appropriation of $1,916,728.

1. Appointment of Trustee(s) to Arden Shores North Fire Protection District: Supervisor Urso moves to appoint Margaret Marek to Trustee for Arden Shores North Fire Protection District. Trustee Weil motions to approve and Trustee Andersen seconds the motion. Clerk Grum takes roll and all approve. Motion passes.
2. Appointment of Trustee(s) to Arden Shores South Fire Protection District: Supervisor Urso moves to appoint Jonathan Tomek to Trustee for Arden Shores South Fire Protection District. Trustee Weil motions to approve and Trustee Andersen seconds the motion. Clerk Grum takes roll and all approve. Motion passes.

1. Executive Session – None
2. Adjournment – At 5:27 pm, Supervisor Urso moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Weil motioned to adjourn and Trustee Andersen seconded the motion. All in favor said “aye” and the meeting was adjourned.