February Regular Board Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Thursday February 20, 2025, at 5:00pm at the Shields Township Offices located at 906 Muir Avenue Lake Bluff Illinois 60044.

2.20.25_regular_board_meeting_agenda.pdf
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Shields Township
906 W. Muir Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Regular Meeting of the Shields Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 5:00pm
 
AGENDA
 

1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of Bills
4. Public Comment – Three (3) minutes per speaker
5. Reports

1. Supervisor
2. Trustees
3. Assessor's Office
4. Community Service Committee
5. Road & Bridge Committee

1. Old Business  
2. New Business

1. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of January 9, 2025
2. Approval of Residential Solid Waste & Recycling Services Agreement with Lake Shore Recycling Systems, LLC
3. Acceptance of Private Road at 201 Melvin Drive, Lake Bluff, Illinois 

1. Executive Session
2. Adjournment

 
 
 
Serving our communities since 1850

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MINUTES

2.20.25_regular_board_meeting_minutes.pdf
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Shields Township
906 W. Muir Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Regular Meeting of the Shields Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, February 20, 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 February 20th, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
PRESENT:
Vanessa Grum                          Clerk
Jeff Urso                                    Supervisor
Michael Machnicki                  Town Trustee
Brady Andersen                       Town Trustee
David Weil                                 Town Trustee
 
 
ABSENT:
Matt Garrity                             Town Trustee
Lisette Rothing                        Deputy Clerk
 
 

1. Call to Order & Roll Call – Supervisor Urso called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Clerk Grum took roll call; Trustee Andersen, Trustee Machnicki, and Supervisor Urso were present. Trustee Garrity and Deputy Clerk Lisette Rothing 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 5:01 pm.
3. Approval of Bills –
   1. Town Fund: Supervisor Urso motioned to approve the Town Fund expenses in the amount of $43,914.39. Trustee Machnicki motioned and Trustee Weil seconded the motion. Clerk Grum took roll call vote: Ayes: Trustee Machnicki, Trustee Andersen, Trustee Weil and Supervisor Urso; Nays: None. Motion carried.  
   2. GA Fund: The General Assistance fund expenses totaled $0 because they bill quarterly.
   3. Road and Bridge Fund: Supervisor Urso motioned to approve the Road and Bridge Fund expenses in the amount of $3,900.39. Trustee Weil motioned to approve and Trustee Andersen seconded the motion. Clerk Grum took roll call vote: Ayes: Trustee Machnicki, Trustee Weil, Trustee Andersen and Supervisor Urso; Nays: None. Motion carried.
4. Public Comment – Three (3) minutes per speaker: None.
   1. Janice Schnobrich: Janice reviewed the happenings regarding the upcoming Shields Township Elections. She listed details regarding the challenges to the petitions Dan Rogers filed against Kathy Blahunka’s party. She listed the dates and costs of each step in the process including the December 9th, January 9th, and January 16th hearings as well as the February 14th hearing where Judge Salvi ruled “basis of confusion”. She expressed concern about the amount of taxpayer money being used for the attorney fees, court reporter fees, and more during this process. She ended by stating, “Due to concerns about costs for January and February hearings, it is recommended to withhold future payments until a taxpayer committee reviews and verifies their legitimacy against court transcripts.”
5. Reports –

1. Supervisor Report: Supervisor Urso thanks Mrs. Schnobrich for the detailed the description of what happened. He agreed that Kathy Blahunka and her slate were a great cost to taxpayers. He described why the slate was stricken causing voter confusion because of lack of following of regulations with addresses listed. They used the Vote Lake Bluff to circulate even though there were a person on the slate from Lake Forest. The Lake County Court Judge confirmed that she must be removed from the ballot in the end.
2. Trustees Report: None
3. Assessor's Office Report: None
4. Community Service Committee Report: None. Alderman Evans is now our new chair and will be joining us next month.
5. Road & Bridge Committee Report: Supervisor Urso states that the hired township workers have been out there doing a great job dealing with snow in a timely fashion.

1. Old Business – None
2. New Business –

1. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of January 9, 2025: Supervisor Urso moves to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of the Shields Township Board of Trustees from December 16th, 2024. Trustee Machnicki motions to approve and Trustee Weil seconds the motion. Clerk Grum takes roll and all approve. Motion passes. Trustee Weil abstains because he was absent.
2. Approval of Residential Solid Waste & Recycling Services Agreement with Lake Shore Recycling Systems, LLC: Supervisor Urso explains that they have contracted with this company before and are planning to extend this contract. Karl Kitzerow has been working hard with LRS to confirm the contract. Urso suggests continuing the service; the increases in cost are based on CPI. He suggests we develop, print, and distribute a brochure explaining various programs that they offer to share with the Township Residents. Supervisor Urso asks for a motion to discuss; Trustee Machnicki motions and Trustee Andersen seconds the motion. Discussion ensued. The increase in price is printed in exhibit A – Supervisor Urso reads some numbers that are printed in the paperwork so the board can see where the price increases are. Trustee Weil was inquiring about Karl’s research on this and asks is there are there any other bids? Counselman Kimsey confirms that these prices are very competitive. Discussion of a senior rate; Supervisor Urso plans to print this in the brochure as well as posting on Facebook to inform residents. All approved and the motion carries.
3. Acceptance of Private Road at 201 Melvin Drive, Lake Bluff, Illinois: Township board has jurisdiction over roads within boundaries: Jessica Chapelle and Mike are Township residents seeking approval for a difficult situation. They found the perfect house and plot of land. The land had many land issues, which has cost them a lot of money. There has been a 10-year long dispute between Shields Township and the County of who is responsible for this road. This is not costing the family money but her kids are not allowed to go to school where they should. She is requesting Shields Township to allow the gravel road as is. She asks to “Let us handle the road or grant a variance.” She asks the board to please help support them. Supervisor Urso makes a motion of acceptance and Trustee Machnicki seconds the motion. Discussion ensues; Supervisor Urso comments that the least cost is the county variance. He states that he understands and believes it is unfair for them to burden the costs. Supervisor Urso explains that from the Shields Township perspective with a small roads budget, the Township cannot afford to build a new road, Supervisor Urso asks that they apply for a variance with the County. Supervisor Urso says the County should issue a variance and they need to change the rules on how they disclose this information to future home buyers. Let’s build a road and let us maintain it. They will not do a hybrid gravel. Other comments are made from board members. The homeowner offers to plow the drive himself and comments that he will not expect Shields Township to take care of that. Supervisor Urso asks if what he offers would work, and Mike says yes. The plan agreed upon includes the following next steps: Send this proposal to our road committee. Supervisor Urso offers to write a letter of support and suggests they reach out to a Lake County board member to do the same. Supervisor Urso asks for a motion to table the acceptance to a future meeting. Trustee Weil motions and Trustee Andersen seconds the motion. All approved and the motion carries.

1. Executive Session – None
2. Adjournment – At 5:36 pm, Supervisor Urso moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Machnicki motioned to adjourn and Trustee Andersen seconded the motion. All in favor said “I” and the meeting was adjourned.