Get those applications in the mail; property tax rebates are approved for the 3rd year.
There was also talk of all village board members along with the public to begin a free pickleball lesson/ tournaments. Trustee Joel Gesky proposed the idea to incorporate fun into the village board and public.
After the public spoke the reading of the minutes for the June 16th meeting was approved by trustees with Trustee Todd Crockett not present.
The mayor appointed Village Administrator Chris La Rocque to the Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Jim Hanley, Superintendent of Public Works was not present, acknowledgement was given to his appointments. Hanley was appointed to the Kankakee County Geographic Information Systems Board as well to the Kankakee Area Transportation System/MPO.
Fallen Hero Foundation honors Aaron Toppen
It was announced that on August 16th Aaron Toppen, a fallen hero of war, will be honored with the Fallen Hero Foundation Mission. The mission provides emotional and financial means to veterans, active military and their families and communities. Toppen was on assignment in Zabul Province on a mission to secure an area for the upcoming presidential election when his unit encountered Taliban resistance. PFC Toppen, along with four other Americans and an Afghan interpreter lost their lives in a tragic friendly fire incident. He was just 20 years old.
Property Tax Rebate
Trustee Mike Barry announced an Ordinance 25-08 establishing a Tax Reimbursement for the 2024 Tax Year and authorizing distributions to owners of taxable homestead property within the village of Manteno. This will be the third year for the rebate program. 100% of the village portion of the property tax for all homestead exempt properties that qualify will be rebated. It was declared that the village has a surplus of $1,300,000 in the General Fund and such surplus monies shall be transferred and deposited into a Tax Reimbursement Account.
Applications will be available at the village hall or on their website currently. Checks for qualified will be mailed out in December or January. To qualify one must be a legal or equitable owner/occupant of taxable homestead property as defined in the 35 ILCS 200/15-175. Between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, no rental income can be received from other residents of the homestead. The property owner must be up to date on all taxes and free of debts or outstanding payments—including taxes, accounts, tickets, and fines—owed to the Village of Manteno. An application for distribution shall be filed with the Village Treasurer on or before October 31st, 2025, and accompanied by such information as required by the Village treasurer. The village treasurer shall approve such distributions as to meet the requirements of this ordinance.
Payment of the bills was authorized for $572,256,31 including TIF $201.66
Planning and Zoning
Trustee CJ Boudreau announced Ordinance 2511; an ordinance granting a variance for the property located at 175 N McGuire Drive. The board was asked to consider the request for a variance that was originally denied due to the parking lot being in dire need of resurfacing. That work was completed, and the owner is asking for the board to reconsider the variance request to allow renting of the former office community room as a rental unit.
Public works
Motion to approve a PSA with HR Green for the 2025 storm sewer improvements. HR Green provided a PSA to draft the engineering and bid documents to repair the storm sewers in the Leahy area of the village. This is the first step in the process to get the repairs needed done.
General Government
Trustee Annette Zimbleman presented two ordinances. Ordinance 25-09; an ordinance amending Title One Administration, Chapter 21, contracts purchase and Financial Regulations under Illinois Budget Act section 1-21-6, Purchases and purchasing agent of the Manteno Municipal Code. Due to some recent overages with projects, the board asked the attorney to review the contract process and add language to ensure any increases over $5000 must be presented to the board for formal approval. He also updated some of the language to comply with the current state statutes.
Second Ordinance 25-10; an ordinance provided for a Moratorium on the Assessment and Collective of Uniform Garbage Collection Fees payable from Residential Units as set forth in Title 5, Health Sanitation Chapter 6, Garbage and Refuse Section 5-6-5 service charge of the Municipal Code for the Village of Manteno. The ordinance provides for the village to continue paying for garbage collection for all single family and duplex residents. The fees have been paid by the village since 2017 when the new sewer system was sold.
Public Safety and Health
Trustee Peggy Vaughn complemented Police Chief Allen Swinford talking about officers that helped cook hot dogs and all the things they did to make the Scooter Rodeo a success. Approximately 35 to 40 kids showed up. They had a lecture, safety rodeo challenges, and it was a productive day with fun for all.
Parks and Recreation
Trustee Gesky announced they formed an advisory committee for the park committee and what they’re going to be doing starting August 1st is putting together two classes for pickleball over at Lucille Thies Park. They’re going to have them two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. There will be a senior group from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM giving a free class to hopefully get people involved. “It’s a place where everybody can get together and put their differences aside and play,” said Gesky. Lessons are also available for the youth, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 to 1:00, on the same day for free and they are working on putting it together. Gesky went on to state that “hopefully they can all meet at the park, have fun and look forward to having some pickleball time to get away from the work aspect and have some fun.” Mayor LaMore was all for the idea; yet she felt her age was a deterrent. She jokingly said she would wrap herself in bubble wrap but was up to the challenge.
With the agreement and consideration of an omnibus vote, to address questions or agenda one question was presented by Trustee Barry about Ordinance 2510 and the process for collecting uniform garbage fee. After discussion the consent agenda was approved.
Closing Remarks Stress for Communication
Trustee CJ Boudreau commented about the beauty of the fireworks, not even comparable to Washington DC in his thoughts. He talked about the rebates and asked to “dive in” based on what he’s had some time to investigate. Garbage fees amounted to $700,000 the village paid and talked about the cost of the village rebate tax incentive. He mentioned that it costs the village almost $1.3 million and stated these programs can’t go on forever. The board will eventually have to make cuts somewhere to be fiscally responsible as a village; adding “we will have to make sure that we are doing our due diligence.” He went on reminding the board that new business is where they need to focus. “More business means more revenue.” Boudreau then discussed the need for communication. He stated that after public comments at the last meeting he did discuss Gotion with some members of the public. “If you guys have any concerns, you can always come and talk to me. I like hearing different opinions so I can maybe change my mind.”
Trustee Barry chimed in as well stating “we are available here and we are going to do our best to make sure that we keep everything on the up and up.” He went on to say “you can always come and talk to me; you might not like the answer you get from me, but I’ll tell it to you; that’s just the way I am.”
Four new businesses in town
Manteno has added four new businesses to its roster. Mellow Brick Road Vapes and More, Village Realty, Vital Landscape, and Dynamic Designs now are open and doing business. Be sure to check out their websites.
Executive Session Begins
The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 to go into the ExecutiveSession. The next village board meeting will be held on July 21 at 6 pm at the Leo T. Hassett Community Center, located at 211 north Main Street in Manteno.