I am here with my closest 15 friends. It’s a full house.
Jeremy Dirksemeyer is here to discuss the proposed Request for Proposals to put houses on the north side of the sports complex. He’s concerned with traffic. He has a camera on his house and said he had 21,000 hits- I think he means that many cars drove by his house. (That’s crazy)
He’s discussing how there is only one way in and out.
Also, bringing up that it was supposed to be a park. “I think it’s pretty disrespectful in my eyes.”
Dan Ahart- discussing the same thing. The biggest thing I am searching for is transparency. Why are we in this position and why are we searching this out? Ultimately that is what I am looking for. Said he decided to live where he is partly because of the park. “As far as long as I know that land is a gift, and it was intended to be used as a park and how did that change?”
Gina Kerr (I am sorry if I misspell any names)
Her main concern is traffic. 1 vehicle per house would make it at least 260 cars.
Bringing up how the athletic field will be diminished. “We are trying to make this a community for our families and kids but we are now limiting the activities our kids and communities can be involved in.”
A gentleman, I missed his name, is asking if they I’ll be doing an impact study. Asking how they are going to fund the moving infrastructure and athletic fields. Asking where the water would go and about drainage? Saying if they put in as many houses as they estimated they will be crunched together. Saying the project will be right in his back yard.
They only had one bidder for the sewer plant. Hartman is saying that because of the size only one bid. It was Illinois American Water company. Shocker, said no one.
They offered to buy it for half of what it is valued at. (HOLY COW)
They also offered 4.9 million for the collection system. They would pay the interest and principal on the loan and then when the loan is paid off could pay to buy the entire system. Then they could buy it at the end of the loan. So, the village would get the 4.9 million, then the remaining amount after the pay off Elm, the village could spend. Hartman is saying to hold back 2 million for the IEPA repayment. “We believe the IEPA will waive the payments so the reserved money will not have to be used. But we do not know that. It was the first time in my career that the IEPA has held disbursements in my career. I don’t know what they were thinking.”
Art asking if they could counter offer. Hartman saying they could counter but the $4.9 is equal to the value of the collection system. So the collection system would be transferred to IAW, they would assume all the responsibility and requirements.
They would operate the waste water treatment plant if the village wishes. They would give to the village the net revenues to pay the principal and interest until the loan is paid off. IAW can be made to pay a franchise fee.
Art made a motion to ask staff to further negotiate with IAW to make the proposal more agreeable to the village.
They are discussing field contractors now. Basically, the people who take care of the grass. I looked at it. It was a ton of info , Last year they did something weird and awarded part of it to the not low bidder.
Matt W. saying that maybe they should do what they did last year because there haven’t heard any complaints.
The difference lowest bid and what they did last year is $11,000. People in the audience saying it’s good.
They are doing the same thing they did last year.
Now discussing mowing.
Soccer was very happy with the Reins who do Hackler Park.
Page saying that they don’t want to sell the sports complex but they have to or have to at least consider it. He’s saying development is needed for the village’s long term economic vitality.
But let’s just be honest- the village doesn’t get a ton of money from property taxes. More goes to the schools. And honestly, the village’s argument that the schools are losing tons of kids is more nuanced than just a lack of housing in St. Joseph. It has decreased but it has decreased all over America for a lot of different reasons.
Page is talking about how they haven’t had much building.
Also, talking about how the population has decreased in St. Joseph.
He is saying a lot of people in St. Joseph would like to downsize within the village but cannot.
Basically, he’s just reading from the paperwork they had in the packet. Which you can find here.
Jim saying he has talked to two of the Woodard children and they understand.
Saying they will try to develop the whole east side of the park to replace where they put the houses, because they have to under law from the places they got the grants from.
“I don’t want to do this but I also don’t want to be here ten years from now and hear why didn’t they do something back then,” Page said.
Page saying they could raise property taxes. Saying village is in debt and brings up the $19 million loan for the sewer plant.
“I don’t want to do it but we are stuck,” Page said.
Page saying his big hesitation is traffic. He is continuing to talk about his feelings about it but I want to hear the trustee’s opinions because they are the ones who actually vote.
Resident saying that the four way will be the fall festival every day. #thatisseriouslyhorrible.
Resident also bringing up how the community building will be out there and increase traffic and the community building will have a liquor license.
Page is saying he is looking for ideas for ways we can turn this around.
Matt Wolfersberger saying he thinks there are other options and he wants to table it for two weeks.
“In two weeks, just to know,” he said. “I think it is a better option. It is not in the park and it is in the TIF district. I think we should table it.”
Walsh saying he agrees. Andrea wants a traffic count . Art saying he would support tabling it.
Reviewing the history of the sewer plant. The audience is kinda asking why they can’t pay the $19 million loan. “It’s a big part of our debt and why we are in this situation. You want to put 90 houses in to compensate for that mistake.”
Art is talking about how they thought the sewer plant would cost $10 million and then it came back at $19 million and that’s what the rates were estimated off of.
But, honestly, it was like $14 million and it was just an estimate.
Here’s a refresher.
Page saying businesses don’t want to come to a town where the population is going down.
Matt Wolfersberger has voted to table. Walsh seconds. They all voted to table.
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