[0:02] call this meeting to order. In the absence of of of Mayor Shapiro, uh would

[0:06] like to do roll call jury. Sure. Um Mayor Shapiro is absent. Trustee Benton

[0:12] » here. >> Trusty Berg

[0:13] » here. >> Trusty Goldstone

[0:14] » here. >> Trustee Greenberg

[0:18] » here. >> Trusty Jacobe

[0:21] » here. >> And Trusty Oppenheim

[0:22] » here. We have a quorum. >> All right. Can I have a motion to

[0:25] nominate Trusty Goldstone as presiding officer for the meeting? So move

[0:30] » second. >> All those in favor say I.

[0:32] » I. >> I.

[0:33] » Motion carries.

[0:49] Um. Okay. So, we should rise for the pledge of allegiance. District 113 is

[0:53] here to lead us.

[1:04] I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

[1:10] for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:17] justice for all.

[1:22] » Thanks, guys. I think I think we have a presentation from you guys in just a

[1:26] little bit after we appoint Daddy as the fine arts committee chairman.

[1:31] » We'll welcome you back in just a second. >> So now we have an appointment of Daddy

[1:38] Feedler. Is that right? >> Yay.

[1:40] » And uh I understand the Fine Arts Commission is here as well to support

[1:44] you in this appointment. >> Thank you.

[1:47] » And I think I was told were you on the commission for 27 years.

[1:51] » Oh my gosh. >> From the beginning. Well, thank you.

[1:57] » Then I guess I'm looking for a motion. >> Motion to approve.

[2:00] » To approve. >> So moved.

[2:01] » Second. >> Roll call, please.

[2:05] » Trusty Benton, >> yes.

[2:07] » Trusty Berg, >> yes.

[2:08] » Trustee Goldstone, >> yes.

[2:11] » Trusty Greenberg, >> yes.

[2:14] » Trusty Jacobe, >> yes.

[2:16] » And Trustee Appenheim, >> absolutely.

[2:18] » Motion passes. >> Congratulations.

[2:20] » Thank you.

[2:23] Daddy, thank you for your continued service. All the members of the finance

[2:26] commission, we thank you for all that you do for us. We we got a chance to

[2:30] recognize Jeff a couple of meetings ago and that was pretty awesome uh given

[2:34] what you do. But we're looking forward, daddy, for another 27 years from you

[2:38] » as our chair. >> Thank you.

[2:43] » Um and now we have a presentation from District 113.

[2:54] Yeah. Uh, good evening everybody. Uh, I'm Amita Reed. I'm a resident of

[3:00] Deerfield. I have two high schoolers. Um,

[3:04] » hello. I'm Mary Beth Arzek. I'm a co-president from Highland Park and my

[3:08] kids are out of the schools. >> And we have Angie Bera, our executive

[3:13] director. and we are here representing the District 113 Education Foundation

[3:18] today. Uh I'm going to go to the next slide. Um this is our mission statement

[3:24] and basically our mission is to champion excellence at Deerfield and Highland

[3:29] Park high schools by trying to fund beyond the budget initiatives at the

[3:34] district and innovative oper uh opportunities and initiatives to empower

[3:40] the students. Um I'm going to go to the next slide. Uh we have been founded uh

[3:46] in 2007. Uh I think I'm going to read from here. Um we are a 501c3 status. Um

[3:54] at the heart of everything we do is our schools. So we we we have funded over

[4:01] 650,000 in grant requests since 2007. And the way this works is the teachers

[4:08] um you know in the beginning of the school year they they they come up with

[4:12] a grant request that's beyond their funded initiatives and they submit to us

[4:18] and we have a rubric and we evaluate the grant and the rubric includes like you

[4:22] cannot have any you know request food items or transportations or there has to

[4:27] be innovation and what is the impact to the students and you know like uh we

[4:33] only fund the for the first year and after that they have to collect all the

[4:38] data points and then make a pitch to the district to continue funding for then

[4:42] on. Um so um we are a 100% volunteer organization. We have a board has all

[4:50] community members from uh we try to get maximum participation from all our

[4:55] villages affiliated villages. We have a students students form a big part of our

[5:01] board especially during the grant review. they are the ones who bring

[5:05] their opinions and um u help us decide on the impact of grants and we have the

[5:11] high school administrators and including uh Dr. Shala Holland the district

[5:16] administrator on a board. Um the next slide actually shows the breadth of our

[5:21] innovative projects that we have funded but really it it goes across all the

[5:27] departments. So I'm just going to go to the next slide. Um this there's too many

[5:31] words here but this this chart shows that um in the past two years we have

[5:37] funded around 40,000 in grants and uh it's not just the usual STEM. We go

[5:43] beyond the STEM. We go arts, culture, sports, well-being, and we also do

[5:49] sponsorships for after proms, genocide awareness day, uh the anti-drug uh

[5:55] community and the empower her. So, we really try to look at the student

[6:00] holistic experience at the at the high school and not just the usual STEM. So,

[6:06] innovation in our mission is not just focused on STEM. it goes beyond in all

[6:11] walks of life. Um so uh we just wanted to touch this slide

[6:17] for the impacts and benefits to the students and the community. So basically

[6:21] after pulling these numbers from the roster 77.5%

[6:25] of the Deerfield High School enrollment is village of Deerfield students. That's

[6:29] around 1,084 um out of 1,399

[6:34] students. For reference, uh, village of Riverwoods is around 10% of, uh, DHS

[6:40] students. An additional 2,721 students come from, uh, the elementary

[6:47] and middle school DPS 109 districts. And our grants and everything we do is here

[6:53] to stay. So, it is not only benefiting our current high school students, but

[6:57] also the new incoming DPS 101 students. And the core outcomes of our uh

[7:04] foundation is we want to help the students foster meaningful long-lasting

[7:08] connections and make sure that they have uh this enhanced academic experience and

[7:15] build their resilience and well-being. And the biggest thing is it's the

[7:20] diversity of grants is accessible to everybody and not just a particular

[7:25] student group. Um so in conclusion I have some numbers

[7:31] here that I didn't get chance to add to the slide. According to the latest niche

[7:36] ranking district 113 is ranked fifth in the nation and number third in best

[7:41] places to teach and best school districts in Illinois.

[7:45] » And uh according to a 5-year projection plan uh by the assistant superintendent

[7:51] for finance that is a sad $1.2 2 million deficit anticipated in 2025 2026 school

[7:59] year with a projected deficit of nearly 3.6 million in the 2028 2029 school

[8:06] year. Given all these data points, we believe our role is even more important

[8:12] than ever to continue to make sure this district uh gives this highquality

[8:17] education um despite all these uh budget cuts. Um

[8:22] so thank you um I know the mayor is not here but thank you mayor and the board

[8:27] uh for your time uh today um and uh we are requesting the village of

[8:32] Deerfield's uh partnership and commitment to help us sustain and expand

[8:37] these programs. Um LA we started this um effort this municipality outreach to

[8:44] request sponsorships uh last year sometime around November

[8:49] and we're excited to report that village of Riverwoods has committed to a $1,000

[8:55] sponsorship. Um so we are requesting the village of Deerfield's partnership um in

[9:00] continuing this. Thank you so much for your time today.

[9:04] » Thank you so much for the presentation. >> There's Thank you. I also wanted to

[9:09] thank sorry um thank you on behalf of the foundation for inviting us to the

[9:13] field of honor and that was mostly all credit goes to NG puter for helping us

[9:19] uh bring these opportunities that we can actually volunteer for the village um

[9:25] events. So we look forward to other such volunteer opportunities in future. So

[9:30] thank you. >> Thank you.

[9:31] » Anything you want to add Mar? >> No thank you.

[9:34] » Thank you. >> Great.

[9:36] » All right. Thank you very much. Amazing. Thank you.

[9:38] » Look forward to working with you. >> Thank you.

[9:43] » Okay. So, next on the agenda item is public works and engineering department

[9:47] objectives reports. Bob Phillips.

[9:53] » Thank you, presiding officer Goldstone. Uh and thank you all for your support uh

[9:58] over the last uh 12 months. Uh we've done our best to provide

[10:04] uh this board uh and the mayor with the best information that we can. Um and on

[10:10] the flip side, uh this board and the mayor have done a great job uh providing

[10:15] us with what with the tools that we need to get our jobs done and that's um much

[10:20] appreciated. Um, first, uh, I'd also like to, uh,

[10:24] recognize my staff, uh, that has prepared, uh, not only this report, um,

[10:30] but, uh, the team is amazing. Um, and and they do, uh, so many different

[10:37] things. Uh, I'm not going to touch on everything they do tonight. Um but

[10:41] there's a lot of metrics in the report uh that if you have an interest in

[10:45] looking through it, you can see uh some of the effort that these uh fine uh men

[10:51] and women are working on uh throughout the year and it's really remarkable.

[10:56] Uh most of all, first of all too, I have uh one announcement that for of

[11:02] retirement uh for a long-term uh superintendent uh of public works, uh

[11:08] Dan Busher is planning to retire uh this year. Uh and though I haven't received a

[11:14] date from him, it looks like it's going to be sometime in the next couple

[11:17] months. >> Um and it's it's a big loss for our

[11:20] department um and for the village. Um, but he's, you know, he's put his time

[11:26] in. Um, and luckily for us, uh, we've planned, uh, a succession plan and we

[11:32] have staff that's coming up behind him. And so, we do have a good plan in place

[11:37] for, uh, filling that position, uh, helping to fulfill his responsibilities

[11:43] in that position. So, rest assured that, uh, we're we're planning for it. We're

[11:47] thinking, uh, for the future. Um though I think there'll probably be some speed

[11:52] bumps along the way. Um but we'll get there. Uh just some of the high points

[11:57] that I'm going to run through tonight uh for 2025 and then talk a little bit

[12:01] about uh some of the things that we're working on for 2026 and and there and

[12:06] and further on down the road. Um in 2025, as you're all aware, we had a

[12:11] pretty major capital project going on. Uh Hazel Avenue uh reconstruction

[12:16] between Wilmont Road and Walkagan Road. Um and that is that that was literally a

[12:21] full reconstruction of uh village utilities water man uh almost almost

[12:26] 7,000 feet of water man uh and and storm sewer as well about 3 4,000 ft of storm

[12:32] sewer. So it it it's a pretty it was a pretty big job. Um it's not 100%

[12:36] complete but the project was um let's say 95% complete by the end of the

[12:41] construction season. Uh we had hoped that we would finish it um but we have a

[12:45] little bit this little bit uh kind of still holding out. It's basically just

[12:49] resurfacing of uh of a section between let's say uh Wayne and and Walkagan Road

[12:54] or Wayne and and the railroad track. Just a small section uh that needs to

[12:58] have the surface course put on it as well as striping and and signs and so

[13:02] forth that need to still go up. Um as you know uh and Tyler was in front of

[13:06] the village board um earlier in 2025 uh to talk a little bit about lead services

[13:13] and that's again on the agenda tonight. Um but lead services uh you know came up

[13:17] lead water services that is came up as part of the Hazel Avenue project. Uh we

[13:21] replaced say 15 or so of those in their entirety. Uh and working with residents

[13:27] in each one of those homes. Uh we had to go from the water man all the way inside

[13:31] the house including replacement of the meter. So there's a lot of lifting that

[13:35] goes along with it. There are a lot of different players involved. There's a

[13:38] plumber, there's an electrician, uh there's a a tyler, there's uh there's a

[13:42] lot of different people that get involved in that. So, it's a big effort

[13:45] and Tyler's going to talk a little bit about that uh later on the agenda

[13:49] tonight. Uh sewer lining is also another thing that we've worked on over the last

[13:55] uh many many years and and we did uh work on lining the east side interceptor

[14:00] main which is the a large diameter sewer that goes between uh the Warwick Road

[14:05] pumping station and the east side pumping station. So, it's about 10,000

[14:08] linear feet of sanitary sewer. Uh we're aligning the second half of that this

[14:12] year. Last year, we lined some of the more challenging portions of it um and

[14:17] and did a um you know, had had a lot of coordination with the with the city of

[14:21] Highland Park uh and their public works. Uh they lined some some crossings that

[14:25] they had that go underneath the creek. So, it was a really great uh team effort

[14:29] that we had with with City of Highland Park u and and uh very grateful to have

[14:34] them as a neighbor and to be able to work with them. Uh in early 2025, uh the

[14:39] WRF division finished the pump and hatch replacement project. Uh and so that that

[14:44] that includes pumps and hatches. So the pumps first of all uh for the uh the

[14:49] Deerfield and Warwick road pumping stations and then also uh the hatches.

[14:53] And if you can imagine uh what these hatches look like, it's it's a it's just

[14:57] a hatch on the floor, but when you lift the hatch, it's very deep and and and

[15:02] it's pretty scary. If somebody were to fall in that hatch, um we'd have some

[15:07] pretty serious problems, particularly if they were by themselves, which is why we

[15:10] don't, you know, really like people to come in and work on things by

[15:14] themselves. So, but these hatch the hatch replacement project replaced the

[15:17] hatch and then the fall protection in there. So, uh we're making making things

[15:21] safe and bringing them up to code. Uh solar panel project, uh as you know, was

[15:25] underway in the latter part of 2025. Uh, and over by the wastewater treatment

[15:29] plant where we have approximately two acres of land. Uh, it's it's 99%

[15:34] complete. I was I was really hoping to have really good news for for you guys

[15:38] tonight. Um, but the uh the startup did not happen today. Uh, so we had a hiccup

[15:43] with Commonwealth Edison. So, we're working on rescheduling that. But, uh,

[15:47] sometime in the next three or four weeks, we should be started up on that.

[15:50] So, I'll keep you posted on that. Um, a big effort that cart that that Tyler and

[15:57] uh the other staff have been working on is the cardigraph implementation. Um,

[16:01] and Cardigraph is a a work order uh slash uh forwardfacing uh software uh on

[16:08] the villages uh website uh where we can we can do work orders, we can do asset

[16:13] management. Um and and there's there's a a backend on that that that's that

[16:17] really takes a lot of work to implement. Tyler and his and and the rest of our

[16:21] team have been very hard at work on that. Uh it was, you know, planned to go

[16:25] live at the end of last week. Um but probably will go live sometime in the

[16:30] next week or so. So, we're just trying to get some of the bugs worked out on

[16:33] that. Uh we've also uh worked uh pretty extensively on the implementation of uh

[16:38] of the native planting uh work that we've been that we started many years

[16:42] ago. Uh native plantings along the east side of the railroad tracks north of

[16:47] Tony Subs. Uh so some of that work has been has been done obviously uh not

[16:53] taken root yet. Um but then also uh there there's a section on the west side

[16:57] of the railroad tracks that uh that we were in front of the village board with

[17:00] uh well maybe the last meeting or meeting before uh and and uh so that

[17:05] that endeavor continues in that regard. Uh we have a street rehab project coming

[17:10] up in 2026. Uh many streets that will be either resurfaced or reconstructed as

[17:15] part of that project. The bid opening is this coming Friday. Uh we had a pre-bid

[17:20] meeting today uh and had about a dozen a dozen contractors show up. So there's

[17:24] good interest in the projects and we'll see what the bids how the bids shake

[17:28] out, but that'll be at the next uh on the next board agenda for you all to

[17:31] consider. Uh we'll close out Hazel Avenue this year. Uh as I mentioned, we

[17:36] have sewer lining on the east side interceptor main uh that will finish up

[17:40] and that's really just kind of checking the box. It's one of these things that's

[17:43] been on the radar uh for a good 20 years and and it's something that Kent and I

[17:47] have had extensive conversations about. Um and we're really happy to get that

[17:51] complete. Uh Deerfield Road uh MCC replacement, so master control center,

[17:56] and that's a Deerfield Road pumping station. That's uh a million or so

[18:00] dollars that we're spending this year that really people don't see. Um but it

[18:05] it does protect a lot of homes. Um and if if you can picture the pumping

[18:09] station on Deerfield Road near uh the West Fork. Uh so it's replacement of the

[18:14] electrical components inside there. Um and then and then we're going to spruce

[18:18] up uh the generator. We've had a lot of discussion about that generator in the

[18:21] past. Uh it's still a pretty good piece of equipment. U but we're working on uh

[18:26] the exhaust and trying to fix some of the exhaust issues that we're having

[18:29] with with that. Um, in 2025, we also had uh some pretty

[18:34] some pretty significant impacts on our rock salt uh purchasing. Uh, I think you

[18:39] know, you've all kind of been uh been in the know on that and and uh the rock

[18:44] salt has started to flow back. Uh so we're starting to get deliveries again,

[18:47] which of course it's it's too late, but uh we've got it and uh we and as a

[18:53] result uh we've already have we already have um Lake County DOT asking us for

[18:58] numbers uh for the 26 27 season. So uh I I have put a number in uh for for them u

[19:05] and we're still waiting on ID dot which just seems to go on and on forever. Uh

[19:09] but at some point in time we'll be we'll be giving ID dot a number uh of what

[19:13] what our bulk volume would be that we request from them. So we'll see how that

[19:17] goes. And of course I'll keep the board posted on that. Um in 2025 we had 52

[19:22] main breaks. Uh and 52 main rates it seems like a lot. Um if you look back 20

[19:29] years uh we used to have around 140 >> and and so that's a lot. Uh 52 is a

[19:36] manageable number. uh we've had less than 52 um in recent years um but 52

[19:42] seems to be about where we're resting and this is a part of the reason why we

[19:45] do uh so much system work and so adding valves uh replacing water manes uh

[19:52] adding VFDs or uh variable frequency drives and different pumps and things

[19:56] this is the reason why we do this work and I and I think this board is well

[20:00] informed on that and you guys understand that and you've supported us in that

[20:04] stuff and and that's that's how we're that's how we're bringing that number

[20:07] down that metric down from 140 down to 52. So, it's really helpful. Uh, lead

[20:12] sampling is a major effort and and and this year in 20 or I should say last

[20:17] year in 2025, uh, the EPA dropped a new requirement on us to have 120 lead

[20:23] samples done um, every year. So, it's 60 in the first six months, 60 in the

[20:28] second six months. Uh, they're sending us bottles. We're coordinating with the

[20:32] residents, the schools, everybody else to try and have these people take

[20:37] samples inside their businesses or inside their residents uh so that we can

[20:41] take those samples and send them to the EPA for their testing. Uh so it's a

[20:45] major effort and uh the water department is on it. Uh so the sewer division

[20:51] talking about metrics and you know the sewer division does a lot of cleaning

[20:56] and so one might ask you know why is the sewer division constantly cleaning

[21:00] sewers. Well, um the metrics that are are in our report um are you should kind

[21:06] of talk about that a little bit to some extent, but if you look back until 2001,

[21:12] uh we have in 2001 we had 440 450

[21:19] sewer blockage calls. >> That means at night, weekends,

[21:22] rainstorms, uh people called us up and said, "My basement's flooding. My front

[21:27] yard's flooding. This is flooding. That's flooding." Okay. In 2005, we had

[21:33] eight. >> Wow.

[21:35] » So, this is why we're lining. This is why we're cleaning. This is why we're

[21:39] doing sewer repairs. And and obviously, the numbers are are very telling. So, it

[21:44] so it really it really shows water man breaks down, sewer blockage is down, and

[21:50] and and this is all a result of the of the hard work that the public work folks

[21:54] are doing every day. um in 2025 and in 2026 and we've had a

[22:01] lot of discussions about trucks and equipment. Uh and so you know there's

[22:05] there's uh you know there's a lot of balls in the air when it comes to trucks

[22:09] and equipment, but I'll just run down and tell you kind of where we're at with

[22:12] some of these purchases that we've made because you know the board approved

[22:16] purchases late last year and then even the previous year. Some of these things

[22:20] we haven't received yet. Um, but in in 2025, we received one 5-tonon truck and

[22:26] we received our bread truck. So, so rest assured, we have a bread truck now. And

[22:31] the and the bread truck is is great. Uh, it it's new and and it's a nice piece of

[22:35] equipment. Um, but we all are also waiting for four additional 5-tonon

[22:39] trucks, four additional one-ton plow trucks, uh,

[22:44] and two leaf machines, which we had we ordered two years ago, which we haven't

[22:47] received. Uh so we're hoping to get those before uh sometime this summer and

[22:52] hopefully before we start to do leaf collection again because we don't want

[22:56] to go through another leaf collection season without new equipment. Uh we've

[23:00] also taken delivery of a skid steer, a generator, and an air compressor. So

[23:03] there there's there's a lot going on when it comes to tools and equipment uh

[23:07] and ordering and figuring out the specs and and actually making the purchases

[23:11] and then you know obviously the village board making making the okay on that

[23:14] one. So, it it's a it takes a whole team to to pull together to kind of make

[23:19] those purchases happen. Uh, one last thing is is special events that that you

[23:24] all know that that we manage and we get heavily involved in and we do traffic

[23:28] control, setup, breakdown. Uh, and and again, you know, public works folks are

[23:33] are working really hard to make all this stuff happen. Uh we have you know we're

[23:38] involved in electronics, recycling, food trucks, farmers market, public works

[23:42] open house, harvest fest, family days. So so all of those are major efforts for

[23:47] us. Um and and we're happy to uh provide uh you know the traffic control and the

[23:53] planning and everything else that we do uh with respect to those events.

[23:57] » Cool. Okay. >> I think that's a sign.

[24:02] » It's a light show. You guys also do light shows.

[24:05] we can fix that. And and that's that's really the end of the report. Um but but

[24:09] I I would like to say, you know, once again, thank you all for for your

[24:12] support uh in in our ende with our endeavors, you know, to help us move

[24:16] forward with things that we have that make this village great. Um and I and it

[24:21] really does show and I and I think um you all you can see that when when

[24:26] you're going when you're on your on your way to work or you're walking, you're

[24:29] running, you know, you you see that the the effect of what we're doing. And it

[24:33] it really is wonderful and thank you very much.

[24:36] » Thank you. >> Amazing. Thank you.

[24:38] » Yeah. >> Two two quick questions or at least I

[24:40] hope they're quick. First of all, did you get full cooperation from Metro for

[24:45] putting the h the pipes under the track when you came down Hazel?

[24:50] » Yes. So, uh we do get a permit from from Metro to do that work. Um and you know

[24:56] it does take quite some time. Uh it takes a good say two to three years to

[25:00] try and get uh right of entry. But we did, of course, we had right of entry,

[25:04] flagging, right? Everything that's required for Metro to do that. Yes.

[25:07] » And the second was, do you have an estimate at this point because people

[25:11] ask um when they're going to be doing the work on the uh Deerfield uh bridge

[25:16] over the uh what? Over the East Fork uh over by the power plant.

[25:21] » Middle fork. >> North Fork.

[25:22] » Okay. So, in between us and Highland Park. So, that'd be the the middle fork.

[25:26] Yes. So, that project is right now in uh in phase one. Okay. So, they're they're

[25:32] just doing environmental study uh on that. Uh have not started design work

[25:36] yet. Um but it looks like construction in 2029,

[25:41] maybe 2028. >> Okay.

[25:44] » And Bob, that's the responsibility of Lake County Department of

[25:47] Transportation, right? >> It is Lake Countyy's bridge and it is

[25:50] their responsibility. Yes. Right. >> So, so remember, uh while we maintain

[25:54] Deerfield Road, we don't own Deerfield Road. So, we fix potholes, they fix big

[25:59] stuff. And we were part that was part of the conversation when we rebuilt

[26:04] Deerfield Road east of the underpass was giving up that jurisdiction. We all

[26:08] talked about that at length and the trade-offs for that. And the trade-off

[26:12] is we don't have to pay for the bridge. They do. On the other hand, we want to

[26:16] make sure the bridge gets fixed before something

[26:19] stops traffic over the bridge. Right? So that's our effort is to keep on them to

[26:23] to to fix that before it gets critical. And my understanding is that Deerfield,

[26:28] my understanding is Deerfield Highland Park are working on what to do about

[26:32] things like trucks and fire fire trucks and ambulances and heavier trucks that

[26:37] go over that and where they're going to go while it's under construction.

[26:41] » The notifications are up and the bridge is posted. So, uh, all the all the the

[26:46] proper, uh, agencies have been notified on that and we were part of that and

[26:51] happy to, uh, you know, to notify people and if anybody has questions, they can

[26:54] they can give us a call. But yeah, we were lucky enough to h sorry, we were

[27:00] lucky enough to hand ownership of that bridge off to Lake County uh, in 2020

[27:05] 2016 or 2017. Um, could we build it quicker than they? Probably. Um, but

[27:10] then we'd have to pay for it. >> Their bridge

[27:14] I had a comment, Bob. I was very pleased to see the five-year statistics that you

[27:21] put in the report and you just talked about the importance of ongoing

[27:26] maintenance and what a difference it makes in terms of the quality and the

[27:31] condition of our infrastructure. Is there some way we can communicate this

[27:36] to the residents of the village for them to know we had, you know, eight

[27:44] overflow problems this year versus hundreds in the past? When we hear

[27:49] complaints from people, we hear, "Oh, this happens all the time. I get

[27:53] flooding." >> Yeah.

[27:54] » Which is not true anymore. >> No.

[27:57] » And it would be nice to let people know how much better we're doing now. than

[28:03] perhaps we did in the far past and the fact that we have been spending the time

[28:08] and the money and all the effort that you guys go through to maintain our

[28:14] infrastructure. Do we send these statistics out somehow to the public so

[28:20] they could see this how much better it is for them now?

[28:24] » We don't. But I think maybe there's a way to work with David's office and

[28:27] Bob's office to >> to do to do like a timeline analysis

[28:31] because >> you know to if we have 50 sewer backups

[28:34] in basements versus 450 sewer I mean if you're one of those people which I was

[28:38] at one point >> me too.

[28:40] » It's nice not to be that person anymore. >> Bet.

[28:43] » It's pretty wild. It's a there's some really good numbers.

[28:46] » So maybe we'll we'll work as a team to figure out maybe how we can highlight

[28:49] some of those stats. >> That would be great. as well as to

[28:52] reinforce the ongoing need to keep after it, right? That that's why do you keep

[28:56] sewer lining? Why do we spend half a million $400,000 half a million dollars

[29:00] a year on sewer lining to stop this stuff,

[29:02] » right? Got to keep the pedal to the metal.

[29:05] » Yeah. So, thank you. That that's a good challenge for us and we ought to figure

[29:08] out how a way to communicate that better.

[29:11] » Great. Thanks. Thank you. >> Any other questions?

[29:14] » This is my favorite read. Every year I tell you this. Every year

[29:19] » I find it exhausting all working just reading it.

[29:22] » Well, if you need to fall asleep, you know what to do. You can read it. Thank

[29:25] » No, I'm like, >> thank you all very much.

[29:28] » Thank you. >> We're into it.

[29:31] » Thanks, Bob. To all your people as well, Tyler.

[29:34] » Okay. Minutes of the previous meeting. >> Move approval.

[29:38] » Do we not have to discuss? Is there an amendment or

[29:42] » uh just want to report we do have uh the scribers error that we want to talk

[29:47] about related to the bond issue. Um just to note that um basically a correction

[29:53] this isn't this isn't anything substantial uh but to the extent that

[29:57] there was a change in the line item and then there was a change in the uh

[30:01] narrative as well and this is at your place. It looks like this

[30:06] um you can see it in red. >> Yeah. So on page 18, a change on page 18

[30:11] on the total amount and then the narrative which we deleted on page 21.

[30:15] That's that's the that's the substantive change.

[30:18] » It doesn't change anything with with the bond ordinance itself or the payment

[30:22] schedule. It just u our bond council is belts and suspenders which is exactly

[30:27] what we pay them to do. So that's what that's about. So

[30:30] » but the motion would be to approve the minutes as amended

[30:33] » as acknowledging the scrier's error. Yeah, I think

[30:36] » okay. So, Mary, you're making that motion?

[30:39] » No. No. Bob made Bob made the motion. >> I did.

[30:41] » I'm just nitpicking. >> Yep. Thank you. I appreciate Thanks for

[30:44] catching. >> I second.

[30:46] » Okay. Uh uh roll call. >> All in favor?

[30:50] » I >> I

[30:55] » Okay, then we're on to treasurer's report. Eric,

[30:59] » thank you.

[31:04] Nobody's ever told me that the Treasures Report is their favorite read.

[31:08] » You know, Eric, you're such a close second.

[31:11] » Such a close second. >> This is the January 2026 Treasures

[31:16] Report. It represents the first month of the new year. There's not a whole lot of

[31:20] analysis we can do only one month in, but I can give you just a few highlights

[31:24] of what's happened so far. Sales tax continues to exceed the prior two years.

[31:30] That's good news. likely due to just the increase in the cost of of things. Water

[31:35] and sewer billings reflect lower usage months. Very typical this time of year.

[31:41] Hotel tax reflects payments from five hotels. The sixth hotel paid shortly

[31:45] after month end. So we are are caught up after this report. And state income tax

[31:51] increased from the same period of the prior year. On the expenditure side,

[31:56] many of the cash payments made in January relate back to 2025. So, we

[32:01] won't see them reflected as expenditures in this report, but uh they did happen.

[32:06] Overall operating expenditures at this point are below projection, which is

[32:11] expected due to the timing of seasonal or once a year type expenditures. Uh

[32:16] general liability insurance gets paid once for the whole year. memberships,

[32:21] um, special events happen later in the year. So, uh, it does look like we're in

[32:26] a really good position, and we are, but, some of that will even out as we move

[32:30] throughout the rest of the year. Uh, just again early in the year, but off to

[32:34] a good start. We will start the audit fieldwork for 2025, probably next month,

[32:41] and, uh, the auditors will be back to the board midsummer with their final

[32:45] report, um, the independent report there. So happy to answer any questions

[32:50] but still real early in the year. >> Thank you.

[32:55] » Thank you. >> Um bills and payroll

[32:58] » move approval. >> Second.

[33:01] » Roll call vote please. >> Trusty Berg.

[33:04] » Yes. >> Trustee Goldstone.

[33:06] » Yes. >> Trustee Greenberg.

[33:09] » Yes. >> Trusty Jacobe.

[33:11] » Yes. >> Trusty Oppenheim.

[33:13] » Yes. >> Trusty Benton.

[33:15] » Yes. >> Motion passed.

[33:17] So now we're at the part in our meeting where we have uh the opportunity to have

[33:21] public comments. I don't see anybody in the audience here that would like to

[33:25] make public comments. >> Nothing signed up here

[33:27] » and nobody signed up. So we will move on to reports. Uh 26-26

[33:33] consideration and action on the report and recommendation regarding residential

[33:38] lead service line replacement cost share program. Tyler,

[33:42] » good evening board. As Bob kind of mentioned, here to talk to you about the

[33:45] recommendation we have for residential lead service line replacement cost share

[33:49] program. As you all know, in 2021, the governor signed the lead service line

[33:53] replacement and notification act. Uh this act, among other things, requires

[33:57] all public water suppliers to start proactively replacing lead service lines

[34:02] beginning in 2027. Uh as part of the budget for this year,

[34:06] staff uh and the in the village board um approved a $100,000 fiscal year 2026

[34:11] budget line item for this program. Uh and a general approach approach to this

[34:16] program was presented at the committee the whole meeting in spring of 2025.

[34:21] Over the last eight months, staff has been refining this program um soliciting

[34:25] feedback from both internal and external stakeholders and we present this to you

[34:29] tonight. Uh so again, just a little background on

[34:33] it. Again, this started in 2021. The IEPA and the and the governor's office

[34:37] signed the law um public act 1020613. Um the lead service line replacement

[34:42] notification act. Um among other things, it's a replacement. It's a notification

[34:46] and it's identification of lead service lines within a public water supply. Uh

[34:52] per our municipal code, we have two different parts of the lead service line

[34:55] or a water service. One is the public portion, which is the main to the B box

[34:59] or the shut off usually around the sidewalk. The second part is the private

[35:03] side which is then from the BB box into the building. Um we this program um as

[35:09] we presented it last uh spring I just want to kind of go over a few different

[35:13] highle guidelines that we will implement um as part of this program. So

[35:17] eligibility is for all village residents of single family residential structures

[35:21] or condo owners unit owners that have a dedicated uh water service line to each

[35:26] building. Um this is not for the larger apartment buildings where they have a

[35:30] large usually 3 4 inch ductal iron but um one's I guess communal water service

[35:36] line. Um it is eligibility is strictly for the full replacement unless it's

[35:43] been documented that um the public side is copper. We will allow then just the

[35:48] partial replacement from the sidewalk into the house. Um the cost sharing is

[35:54] about or it is 50% for a full water service line replacement up to $6,000.

[35:59] So uh it's not factoring in whether it's in the parkway, the water man where you

[36:03] need to dig or it's in the roadway. It's um full uh $6,000 or up to $6,000 uh for

[36:10] each full lead service line replacement. If it is only the private side, that 50%

[36:15] is capped at $2,500. Um the village being rec that we in last spring we kind

[36:20] of recognized that we've already made an expenditure for that replacement on a

[36:23] pre previous project. Uh permit fees will be waved. Um bonds

[36:30] will be still taken just to make sure we have our roads rebuilt correctly. Um the

[36:34] program reimbursements will be awarded on a first come first- serve basis. So

[36:38] we have $100,000 for this calendar year. Uh so we are going to be making this

[36:42] live to the public via our online portal system uh likely hopefully in the next

[36:47] couple weeks and it'll be it is uh first come first serve. So we'll be keeping

[36:51] track of those expenditures and making sure we don't go um too far beyond the

[36:56] $100,000. Uh the $100,000 is also budgeted for

[37:00] next year and as we're in a two-year program we'll be looking at both numbers

[37:03] for the next couple years. Um it should also be noted that recent legislation at

[37:09] this federal level um has changed our overall time frame for completing these

[37:14] lead service line replacements from 15 years to 10 years. That starts November

[37:18] 1st, 2027. So give or take we have until the end of 2037 to complete these. We

[37:24] have about 400 in in uh the village give or take. There are still unknowns out

[37:28] there that we're still working to refine our final numbers on. Um but that's a

[37:32] rough number that we're going with today.

[37:35] Um staff recommends that in the best interest of the village and its

[37:38] residents, financial incentives be provided to owners of a single family

[37:42] homes and multi-unit properties with dedicated water services in the form of

[37:46] a village facilitated residential lead service line replacement cost sharing

[37:50] program. So happy to answer any questions. There's a lot here. I know

[37:54] that >> one I have one question. Have everybody

[37:56] who you've identified with this with lead service been notified of the issue

[38:01] and of this program >> the program? No. So, we we we were

[38:05] careful not to make this public until it was approved at the B village board

[38:08] level. Um over the next two or three weeks, this will become public. We'll

[38:11] give residents a little time to digest it, get their homework in place, see if

[38:15] this is something they want to um you know, facilitate or or look into, and

[38:19] then we'll be making it live maybe in about a month. So, we want there to be

[38:23] enough time for residents to kind of understand it. And then the other

[38:26] question that I get have gotten asked by a few different people is because

[38:31] there's a long timeline of when this is actually going to will there be more

[38:36] incentives if they hold out? >> That's my question.

[38:40] » It's a great question. Um >> it's it's tough. So the act is very

[38:45] silent and Ben can I know speak to this. It's very silent on who pays for it. We

[38:49] have our responsibility but as far as what's on the private side, it is very

[38:52] silent. There are some communities where maybe they got state revolving funds um

[38:57] that require full reimburse or full um cost sharing. So the village would be

[39:02] responsible for 100% if we had outside funding mechanisms. Um because we're

[39:06] using local funds, we get to have that 50% um cost share. So it it's very

[39:11] difficult to know. Um you know I think there's been sweeter deals other you

[39:14] know on Hazel we had a little bit of a sweeter deal because we were very

[39:17] invested in getting those >> 15 17 properties to to change out their

[39:21] lead service lines. Um, I could see that taking place in the future with village

[39:25] board approval. However, for the ATL large program, it's very hard to say.

[39:29] Um, it may take sweetening the pot to get other folks and, you know, we may

[39:33] need to sweeten the pot just to keep up with inflation as well.

[39:36] » You know, as as we're not alone. There's 700 to a million lead service lines in

[39:40] Illinois. I mean, it's like an 8 billion liability right there. Um, so there's

[39:44] going to be a lot of money spent in the next 10 years. That will drive up cost

[39:48] and our cost will likely need to reflect that as well. Um and it could be part of

[39:53] that is sweeten the deal to entice some of the others.

[39:57] » I will also say that that is up to the village board year in year out to to

[40:01] establish budgeting. So, you know, for somebody who may be

[40:06] watching this and if there's an opportunity now, there's a chance that

[40:10] the village board could say next year or two years from now or five years from

[40:14] now, we're not going to make funds available. So, there's no guarantee. So,

[40:18] when you have a program, there's a benefit to take advantage of when you

[40:22] can. >> Um, it's unclear what the state and what

[40:25] the federal government will do in terms of long-term incentives. Ultimately,

[40:29] it's it's such a big >> cost whether it's in Illinois or

[40:34] federally that I would think it would be difficult for either the state or the

[40:38] federal government to offer meaningful subsidies um and to expect that just

[40:43] because just the catastrophic cost. >> It's overwhelming. It's overwhelming.

[40:48] » Um, so you know, and obviously the best thing that anybody can do is when

[40:54] they're doing other work if it happens to present itself, whether obviously if

[40:58] they have a break in their service line, >> you know, you can't do partial

[41:02] replacement anyway, but you know, if they're redoing their driveway and it's

[41:06] right there and it's obvious and easy to do, you know, that's the time to do it.

[41:10] But, uh, you know, there's no guarantees about future funding. Should also be

[41:15] said that as we get further into our 10-year window budgeting, we'll we will

[41:20] likely um recommend additional funds to to chase more um lead service lines just

[41:26] because we it went this time last year, it was a 15-year window. Now, we're

[41:30] looking at a 10-year window. Just last month, the Illinois uh Pollution Control

[41:34] Board approved the US EPA's modifications um or their their their

[41:39] requirements. So, now we're at a 10-year window, shrinking our availability to

[41:43] get this done. So this program is spectacular. So proud

[41:48] of Deerfield, the city of Chicago, their program is they'll wave the permitting

[41:53] fee. That's it. So this is absolutely phenomenal.

[41:59] But we have a much smaller problem than the city of scale. Scale matters, right?

[42:03] » So it's a question of scale. Um Tyler, I had a question in the um description of

[42:08] the program. Um, we talked about replacing either the lead service or

[42:15] galvanized service lines. Are we encouraging people to replace galvanized

[42:18] service lines too >> through through the letter of the law?

[42:21] Any galvanized services that's downstream of lead and typically they do

[42:25] go hand in hand. Um, that is part of this program as well.

[42:30] » So, typically lead would be coming out of the main and then for a straight run

[42:33] they would use galvanized or maybe um into the building. Um, but that being

[42:37] downstream of lead, it can hold on to lead a lot longer. So even if you

[42:41] replace the lead, you've got lead leeching out from that galvanized

[42:43] material. >> Even if it's not still connected to a

[42:46] lead service line, >> if it was ever downstream of a lead

[42:50] service line, any type of piping, that is now uh classified basically as lead.

[42:57] And do we um try to inform our re residents or

[43:03] comfort them in some way to assure them that our drinking water is not

[43:10] contaminated with lead even if they do have a lead service line?

[43:15] » Yes. I I've talked to 50 to 100 different residents. You know, there's

[43:18] there's a general playbook I follow about first addressing that this is not

[43:23] something, you know, we don't have lead in our system. It's safe. Um, these are

[43:26] typically just from private lines. Um, there are a myriad ways of to filter out

[43:33] lead. You can go a $50 filter from Home Depot with a six-month reoccurring

[43:38] subscription. You can go with a all the way up to a full lead service line

[43:43] replacement at anywhere from 10 to, you know, 15. So, and there's everything

[43:47] between. There's osmosis RO reverse osmosis filters under the sink. There's

[43:51] whole house filters in the basement. So, there's a lot of different ways. I

[43:55] always start let them know that you know I have lead service I have a $50 filter

[43:59] I because in Chicago there's no incentive so that's the route I go to

[44:04] each their own though people have their own concerns with it obviously younger

[44:07] families versus you know some of the elderly and it so it really depends on

[44:12] the resident try not to steer them to any one direction just give them the

[44:15] options and let them go >> but in that sense the village is still

[44:18] trying to help our residents to make sure they do not have lead

[44:23] contamination in their Yep. >> Whether or not they want to spend the

[44:26] money on, you know, the the replacement at this time. We can still help them.

[44:31] » Yep. >> So, they should still ask us.

[44:33] » They should. Yeah. I I again, I tell them I can have a three-minute

[44:36] conversation or a 30-minute conversation, whatever.

[44:39] » Testing, all kinds of stuff. >> Yeah. Yeah. Like Bob said, 60 in the

[44:43] first six months and 60 again in the And we're back into our another phase. So,

[44:47] we've got another 60 going out on the street as soon as we get our information

[44:50] from the APA. Do you anticipate the work being done block by block, street by

[44:55] street, oneoffs? >> I I think at the start we're getting

[44:59] those that are the most concerned and that that will utilize the financial

[45:02] incentive to replace these lead service lines. So I vision this program more

[45:05] getting the the odds and ends throughout different quadrants. I do think once

[45:09] this kind of subsides or at least the interest subsides, I do think we'll

[45:12] start to have more of a targeted approach. So, this subdivision that was

[45:17] built in the 20s, 30s, let's go, you know, budget X for this year and we're

[45:22] going to go target that entire area and try to get everybody to replace it in

[45:28] this area. Um, >> I would assume it's more costefficient

[45:31] then to do it that way. >> It would be. Yeah. And that would be

[45:34] more of a villageled initiative kind of like what Hazel was. We went out got had

[45:38] competing bids from plumbers to do the work. We got the best cost. We provided

[45:42] that to the residents. Um but for this more of the at large the one-offs um

[45:47] this is just kind of how we're going to you know look to start it. But I do see

[45:50] us pivoting whether it's in three years or five years or two years um into that

[45:55] more targeted approach method. >> And a couple things I would add Larry I

[45:59] think over the barbecue people are going to have conversations. You're doing it

[46:01] this year. Yeah I'm going to do this year. Why don't we get why don't we do

[46:04] that together because it's a good idea. And I would also say to the extent that

[46:07] that $100,000 gets pushed because we've got all these people. I'll come back to

[46:13] you guys and say, I've got another 20 that want to do it this year, guys. You

[46:17] know, I I think we need to be open to that because we want to get it done.

[46:19] Right. Right. >> But we also want to get it done in a

[46:22] reasonable way that these guys can manage. So, um, don't I'd love to have

[46:26] that problem. And if I have that problem, I'll come back to you later in

[46:29] the year and say I need another X to support support it this year. Um, but I

[46:35] also applaud the group for coming up with this program. And I think from your

[46:39] perspective, this is I I asked the team earlier, this is kind of middle of the

[46:42] road with what our neighbors are doing. >> This is not here. It's not here. It's

[46:47] kind of middle of the road. And I also truly think there's real value in cost

[46:52] sharing from a lot of reasons. >> One, when you have a cost sharing

[46:56] project, you want to get it done. Elaine's going to stay at home and watch

[46:58] this thing get done, and she wants to get it done, which is awesome for us as

[47:01] opposed to, oh, they're coming next week. Oh, I'm out of town. Can't do it.

[47:05] I I think there's just a lot of good value in a in a 50-50 cost share because

[47:10] those residents, their property values also benefit from having this done,

[47:14] right? >> Sure. I Does it make sense as you're

[47:17] getting applications in to reach out to the neighbors on each side saying, "Hey,

[47:23] we're going to do this person's. They've applied,

[47:27] » you know, at the start just to for scale of economy. if you're going there for

[47:31] one house. >> So, the $100,000 to Kensport only gets

[47:35] about 16 or 17. Um, so I I think that'll go fairly quickly. Um, at least I hope I

[47:41] hope there's a lot of interest in it. I hope we're able to kind of utilize these

[47:44] funds and and have that problem of, hey, I've got another 20.

[47:47] » Be awesome. >> Um, that'd be Yeah, it would be. Um, you

[47:50] know, I I think like the barbecue situation, I think there's going to be a

[47:53] lot of talk, you know, and if if if we know that there's a couple here, be

[47:57] like, "Hey, just so you know, your neighbor's got one, too.

[48:00] team up with them, you can drive down that cost for contract because a

[48:03] contractor can do two of these in a day. So instead of for the contractor driving

[48:07] from wherever doing one a day, you're paying their windshield time to and from

[48:11] and their eight hours, now you're only paying the way there in four hours and

[48:15] your neighbors paying the other four hours in the way home. Like you can

[48:17] really trim down the cost quite a bit. So we'll we'll and that's what we did

[48:20] with Hazel. We were knocking out two a day which was awesome. But if we only

[48:24] have in the neighborhood of 400 of these that we know about, we don't have mass

[48:29] swaths of them, you know, in a neighborhood. There'll be a few in a

[48:33] neighborhood, >> you know, or there'll be five or six

[48:36] depending on the age of the neighborhood. That's what dictates it.

[48:40] Older neighborhoods will have more. Newer neighborhoods will have none,

[48:44] right? >> And redeveloped houses with two and a

[48:46] half bathrooms have a new line anyway. So folks that have

[48:49] » So it's going to be, you know, scattershot.

[48:53] » There's there's areas that we'd like to target. Yes. But you're right. You know,

[48:56] just cuz one neighbor has it does does not mean either one.

[49:01] » Okay. Other questions? Okay. Then I will look for a motion.

[49:08] » Move approval. >> Second.

[49:10] » Roll call vote, please. >> Trustee Goldstone.

[49:14] » Yes. >> Trustee Greenberg.

[49:18] Yes. >> Trusty Jacobe.

[49:20] » Yes. >> Trusty Oppenheim.

[49:22] » Yes. >> Trusty Benton.

[49:23] » Yes. >> Trusty Berg.

[49:25] » Yes. >> Motion passes.

[49:27] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[49:28] » Thanks, guys. >> All right. There's nothing on the

[49:30] consent agenda or old business. So, now we're on to new business. 26-25,

[49:35] ordinance amending the village of Deerfield, Illinois wage and salary

[49:39] plan. Eric, >> this item adjusts the wage and salary

[49:43] plan for the discussion we had at the last meeting, which is adding the um

[49:48] building inspector/plan reviewer one category. So, uh just making that

[49:54] finalized. >> Okay. Do we have questions?

[49:59] » Then I would look for a motion. >> Move approval.

[50:03] » Second. >> Roll call, please.

[50:07] » Trusty Greenberg. Yes.

[50:11] » Trustee Jacobe. >> Yes.

[50:13] » Trusty Oppenheim. >> Yes.

[50:15] » Trusty Benton. >> Yes.

[50:17] » Trusty Berg. >> Yes.

[50:18] » Trusty Goldstone. >> Yes.

[50:20] » Motion passes. >> And then uh items for discussion by

[50:25] presiding officer and board. >> I don't have anything.

[50:29] » Trustees. >> No.

[50:31] » I have nothing tonight, your honor. >> Then we'll seek a motion to adjurnn.

[50:35] » So move. >> Second. Roll call, please. Or all in

[50:40] favor? >> I

[50:40] » I >> I

[50:44] motion motion or uh meeting adjourned. Awesome.

Board of Trustees 02-17-2026

Transcript