[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6267099,"mediaKeyId","3077373-342410264a6ccb82e33d5cc10aa38f73","parentId",3077373,"title","Residents press Manteno officials on Goshen plant safety, brownfield remediation and container fencing","audioSeconds",334,"startMs",1146000,"endMs",1480000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077373-342410264a6ccb82e33d5cc10aa38f73&start=1146&end=1480","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077373-342410264a6ccb82e33d5cc10aa38f73/thumbnail_1146000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267099/Manteno/Kankakee-County/Illinois/Residents-press-Manteno-officials-on-Goshen-plant-safety-brownfield-remediation-and-container-fencing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267099-80b61b99ee5959b4f139bb07a3ccf02c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770397627&Signature=hdhgGwACPzNGaDlmRvVqUR~9UNEFYgaJ6khVB87W1uw2tOvDkynsekUTyg2-LMd~WBRSSW1d0x38Lveb6hINLyPxyEFpgT8kF8xuH9ft9u1aCDnugSSsUmnpkfbTiTcBiEbNkubwPganRsDJAqyMhmyDS~4~ZSJpG805ViCB03iPQ0rFv7bJ4UfHdR7svQff5z7ao2oEjRbPsCxdMCOXmioEhAo45UTiztNU1DXr3xbHpvoGzPDHfRZ4N4mQIisrQ4~qMShFKcrF-wXQGuWNxElavzSzYs69lfil5-v8X58Kg97YebbkHKiwb0VFikGFE~Rerw3xf6FJQ48l8jystA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Manteno, IL","date","2025-04-22T08:55:54.5Z","article","Several residents used the public‑comment period at the Manteno Village Board meeting on April 21 to press officials for more transparency and safety checks related to the Goshen lithium‑ion battery project and a former Kmart site that residents described as a federally and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)‑registered brownfield at 33333 Spruce.

Anne Gates told the board the property at 33333 Spruce qualifies as a brownfield and asked why the village had not used available funds to hire IEPA or EPA remediation work before rezoning the site: \"When we know that the site at 33333 Spruce is a federally and an Illinois EPA registered Brownfield ... why did you choose to not invest in having the EPA come in, do the evaluation, do the remediation?\" Gates asked.

Amanda Piper raised safety concerns about containers stored behind the Goshen plant and cited the code language in the meeting packet about energy storage systems (ESS): \"Per the code, fencing, an approved fence with a locked gate or other approved barrier shall be provided to keep the general public at least 5 feet from the outer enclosure of a deployed mobile ESS,\" Piper said, and noted that plan review recommended guardrails and fencing around the containers. She said she had emailed Village Administrator Chris LaRocque and received a general response that did not show where compliance filings were located.

Other public speakers asked for audits or financial reviews of prior board actions and raised concerns about transparency in zoning and contracting. Bill Barnes urged trustees to delay contract votes until the new mayor had time to review staffing decisions, saying pushing contracts through immediately \"will speak volumes to the residents.\" Karen Brzicki and others echoed calls to delay personnel votes at least one meeting so newly sworn trustees could review materials that were delivered shortly before the session.

Trustee Tim Crockett announced a planned outreach to apartment owners about exterior property maintenance and read a draft letter that will be mailed to owners. The letter cites the village property maintenance code (sections 302 and 304) and warns that deficiencies will be documented and could lead to fines up to $750 per day for ongoing violations: \"Any deficiencies will be noted and you will receive a letter detailing any actions required with a deadline to bring your building into compliance. Failure to comply could result in fines up to $750 per day the violation exists,\" Crockett read.

Village Administrator Chris LaRocque and staff clarified regulatory oversight for the Goshen project. LaRocque said Goshen did not have full operational occupancy and was operating under temporary occupancy provisions that allow work to continue but do not permit full operations; LaRocque and the village’s electrical consultant Eric Weber said outside inspectors (identified in the meeting as B & F / BNF in the transcript) perform plan review and inspections for large industrial projects and that Goshen contracted for those inspections directly. \"They have a temporary occupancy permit, which allows them to do certain things ... but they are not allowed to be operational at this point,\" LaRocque said.

The board did not take formal action on remediation or zoning at the meeting. Trustees and staff said they would continue to track inspections, schedule plant tours for elected officials and follow up on code compliance for containers and ESS fencing. Trustee CJ (name recorded as Michael Berry and others) said he expected outreach from Goshen for scheduled tours for county and local officials.

What residents asked for

- IEPA/EPA site evaluation and remediation funding or a public accounting of why remediation was not pursued before rezoning.
- Proof of required guardrails/fencing/impact protection for ESS containers and the location of plan‑review documents and permits.
- A full audit or accounting of recent village contracts and spending (requested by at least one public speaker).

What the village said it will do

- Village staff will continue permitting oversight and receive inspection reports from the outside consultant used for the project.
- The village administrator indicated officials plan to schedule plant tours and follow up with documentation about temporary occupancy and inspection results.
- Planning & Zoning said it will mail property maintenance notices to apartment owners under existing code (sections 302, 304) and pursue compliance steps if needed.

No ordinance or zoning reversal was proposed or adopted at the April 21 meeting; public commenters and some trustees requested additional transparency and documentation before future decisions.

Quotes

\"Per the code, fencing, an approved fence with a locked gate or other approved barrier shall be provided to keep the general public at least 5 feet from the outer enclosure of a deployed mobile ESS,\" Amanda Piper said.

\"Any deficiencies will be noted and you will receive a letter detailing any actions required with a deadline to bring your building into compliance. Failure to comply could result in fines up to $750 per day the violation exists,\" Trustee Tim Crockett read from the apartment owner letter.

\"They have a temporary occupancy permit, which allows them to do certain things ... but they are not allowed to be operational at this point,\" Village Administrator Chris LaRocque said when asked about operational status.

Ending

Residents asked for clearer public records and a timeline for inspections and remediation steps. Trustees and staff said they would follow up with the requested documentation and schedule plant tours for elected officials to review the site and associated inspection reports.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Manteno Village Board Meeting April 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several residents urged Manteno officials on April 21 to require remediation, inspections and clearer code compliance at the former Kmart site rezoned for heavy industrial use and at the Goshen battery plant, citing brownfield contamination and container/ESS safety concerns.","taxTitle","Manteno, Kankakee County, Illinois","taxId",70424,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267104,"Manteno board approves interim employee contracts and adopts FY2025‑26 budget after split votes",594,2413000,3007000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077373-342410264a6ccb82e33d5cc10aa38f73&start=2413&end=3007","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077373-342410264a6ccb82e33d5cc10aa38f73/thumbnail_2413000.jpg","/articles/6267104/Manteno/Kankakee-County/Illinois/Manteno-board-approves-interim-employee-contracts-and-adopts-FY202526-budget-after-split-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267104-ebe7209f3ac7e3d0b1da117f46244d31/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394667&Signature=dG0s4ShMsvUA4IiZj9cXxmsaERQRa6KM~O05ht0RBJm4MyrNgkbgFVf8n1M6Ue2K2O3ROO3J4Wa~gtbNBg-1m82Gt1j0CXNubUwjOlf4DzJEIziV3P34Q5hnLdKKBbVVnwAzlI5e200I1dzO1jS2lqSE5Fa3xQcY~fYsaeM~7HibjR3OqKPsx-QpXfdshd4Qth8F-1eaeyTWmiYOXE3oUqaQwfsKN2HIOVjBkfO2BKRRa9aGeqJKiHw3IRGexFUYqOt7FnRascIrdxQhIdTZxSnNcRj6uNkb8WyU4LB6rO-j4FNAkpUKW03WDlF4gO2um7hPbOZ308gF5WQLjgHjyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Village Board of Manteno on April 21 voted to approve one‑year, at‑will employment contracts for Village Administrator Chris LaRocque, Public Works Superintendent Jim Hanley and Police Chief Alan Swinford, and adopted an ordinance approving the village’s FY2025–26 budget and a related year‑end reallocation.

The votes followed extended public comment and discussion among trustees about whether newly sworn officials — sworn in at the start of the meeting — should be given more time to review personnel agreements. Trustee Dawn Geske, who presented the personnel motions, said the contracts were intended to protect village operations while the new mayor makes appointments: \"This is not to steal an appointment away from the mayor; this is simply to provide some protection for our employees who will be continuing to do the work until appointments by the mayor are made,\" Geske said.

Members who pressed for delay said they needed time to review the packet that had arrived shortly before the meeting. Newly sworn Mayor Annette Lamour said she had \"only been your mayor now for what? An hour and a half,\" and asked for professional courtesy and time to review staffing decisions before ratification.

After procedural exchanges and calls to table the motions, the board voted on the individual employment agreements. The public works and police chief contracts were approved by roll call with the following recorded votes in the transcript: Jim Hanley (superintendent of public works) — Boudreau: yes; Crockett: yes; Getzke/Geske: yes; Zimbelman: yes; Barry: no; Vaughn: no (recorded votes matched the roll call in the transcript). The agreement for Chief Swinford was recorded with Boudreau: yes; Crockett: yes; Getzke/Geske: yes; Zimbelman: yes; Vaughn: no (other votes were not read aloud in the excerpt). The village administrator contract was also approved during the same sequence; the roll call in the transcript shows mixed votes and subsequent approval.

The board additionally approved Ordinance 20426, a year‑end funds reallocation, and Ordinance 20427, the fiscal year 2025–26 budget. Finance reports and payment of bills in the amount of $72,222.97 (excluding TIF) were also included on the consent agenda and approved by omnibus vote.

Trustees who favored immediate approval said leaving key administrators without contracts risked losing personnel and interrupting services. Trustee Mike Berry noted that combining the administrator and interim building‑inspector roles saved the village on hiring costs, an argument used by other supporters to justify approving the agreements before new appointments were finalized.

Opponents emphasized transparency and the pace of decision‑making. Trustee Peggy Vaughn and other newly sworn trustees said they wanted reasonable time to review contract language and job scopes before casting votes.

No amendments to the approved contracts were recorded in the meeting. The contracts adopted were described in the meeting as one‑year, at‑will agreements; the village attorney clarified that the board and mayor retain appointment and removal authority under village rules.

Votes at a glance

- Employment agreement — Chris LaRocque, Village Administrator: motion moved/seconded, approved by roll call (recorded roll calls in transcript show mixed votes; final motion passed).
- Employment agreement — Jim Hanley, Superintendent of Public Works: approved by roll call (Boudreau: yes; Crockett: yes; Getzke/Geske: yes; Zimbelman: yes; Barry: no; Vaughn: no).
- Employment agreement — Alan Swinford, Chief of Police: approved by roll call (Boudreau: yes; Crockett: yes; Getzke/Geske: yes; Zimbelman: yes; Vaughn: no).
- Ordinance 20426 (year‑end fund reallocation): approved as part of consent/omnibus.
- Ordinance 20427 (FY2025–26 budget): approved as part of consent/omnibus.
- Payment of bills: approved ($72,222.97, excludes TIF bills).

What it means

Board supporters said the agreements maintain continuity in daily operations and safeguard experienced staff while the mayor and trustees complete appointment work. Trustees who wanted to delay said that newly sworn members should be given time to review personnel files and contract details before deciding. No formal change to the mayor’s appointment authority was taken during the meeting.

Next steps and follow up

Mayor Lamour and individual trustees said they would schedule follow‑up conversations with the three department heads to review job scopes, and the mayor will make appointments or ratifications as provided under village code. The village clerk and administrator will complete the paperwork and signatures for the approved agreements and the budget ordinances.","The Village Board of Manteno on April 21 approved one-year, at‑will employment agreements for the village administrator, public works superintendent and police chief, and adopted a fiscal 2025–26 budget and a year‑end reallocation ordinance after debate over whether newly sworn officials should get time to review contracts.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents press Manteno officials on Goshen plant safety, brownfield remediation and container fencing

Manteno board approves interim employee contracts and adopts FY2025‑26 budget after split votes