The Village of Manhattan, though brief, approved two major village actions at the November 18 meeting, among other business items; officials approved an agreement for design bidding related to the phase one expansion of its wastewater treatment plant and a resolution appointing a new village administrator.
Dan Small, from Strand and Associates, attended the board meeting to explain the wastewater treatment plant expansion isn’t a new project. Instead, it has been designed and ready to go since 2020, but will need to be updated with regard to current cost and materials, IEPA loan application, code review, and construction cost. Design updates and the loan application would be completed in late spring, with bidding in late July or August.
Mayor Mike Adrieansen explained the money already was spent to complete the initial design, so the board would be approving a refresh of the design to make sure everything is current; they don’t anticipate it taking the full amount approved. Phase one was approved for $87,000, plus an additional contingency of $75,000 that was not anticipated to be used in full and would require approval before use.
In other news, Joliet’s Media Engagement and Communications Director Rosemaria DiBenedetto was named the Village of Manhattan’s new village administrator, slated to start January 2. Her three-year contract will give her an annual salary of $165,000.
Former village administrator Jeff Wold tendered his resignation at the last board meeting, with Marc Nelson named interim administrator. Wold previously had been Manhattan’s chief of police before becoming the village administrator. He resigned to return to policing as the Chief of Police for the Village of Seneca.
Per the village’s press release, DiBenedetto has 30 years of experience working with municipalities and holds a Master of Public and Social Administration from Brunel University of West London in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from DePaul University in Chicago.
The village also approved the final plat approval for Butternut Ridge South, the new subdivision recently approved by the village.
In other news, the board approved an Easy Spot heavy-duty pole setter for $10,039.07, which would aid public works in setting new poles. It’s an attachment for their skid steer. In the past, the village would contract this installation out for $4,000 per pole.
High-mileage police vehicles were declared surplus and included a 2015 Ford Explorer, a 2016 Chevy Tahoe, and a 2019 Chevy Tahoe, all of which would be auctioned.
“All the equipment that is still 2025ish, we’ve kept. We kept the computer, the dash camera, the radios, obviously, the radar, the stuff that is reusable we have here to be used in our next car,” Police Chief Ryan Gulli explained in response to a question by Trustee Bob Dilling.
Before the meeting concluded, Adrieansen offered his gratitude to the village board, the community, and state officials over the collaborative efforts to improve Rt. 52. He advised more improvements are to come and studies are ongoing. He also thanked IDOT for their swift action and advised that they would continue to work together on future improvements.
“I’d like the mayor and the rest of the board, too, for us to look into that group because that intersection is very, very dark. There’s one light off by the clock by Times Square, but at night it’s pretty, pretty dark,” Trustee Bob Dilling said in his remarks, indicating he hoped the village could pursue the crosswalk lighting after the presentation at the last meeting by Éric Ladouceur, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Lighting of Cyclone, an Acuity Brand.
“I made a remark trying to get the state out here was like an act of God and you did it. So, thank you,” Dilling joked about IDOT’s quick action.
Trustees Lucinda Neighbors and Clint Boone each echoed Dilling’s sentiments, noting the intersection is very dark, and each noted they were very grateful everyone was able to work together and get it done.
Trustee Tom Doyle said the only issue he had with the stop sign was that traffic blocks Trask Street, making it nearly impossible to pull out. He hoped there could be a “do not block intersection sign” installed.
“Obviously, the three-way stop, we’re keeping an eye on it, and you can’t change something overnight that’s been like that for 50 years, probably longer than that. But we’ll give people time to figure out what that stop sign means. And after that, we’ll invite him to court with us,” Gulli said.
Adrieansen also added the construction at Bruns and Rt. 52 has mostly been completed. He said it’s much wider and nicer now, and a turn lane on Rt. 52 there should be coming in the spring.
Public Works Supervisor John Tyk reported the Rt. 52 water main project is ongoing and is expected to be completed sometime in the next week. The Park Road water main project and Well 6 lining projects are complete.
Eastern Avenue construction is slated to resume now that Nicor has completed its work. The unexpected delay caused much consternation in the village, as the road was closed with no work appearing to be happening. After construction began, Nicor wanted to move a gas line they previously indicated would not need to be moved, resulting in delays.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.