Roscoe trustees authorize economic-development consulting to support new business alliance; members urge continued funding

Trustees for the Village of Roscoe voted to authorize a five‑month professional services agreement to bring economic‑development consulting support to the newly formed Roscoe Business Alliance.

The decision follows public comment from Rita Kaminski, owner of Snowdrop Coffee, who urged the board to continue investing in the business alliance as an early‑stage nonprofit. "Most businesses don't turn a profit their first year," Kaminski said. She told trustees the alliance has built momentum, created a shared space for collaboration and could access grant funding that the village cannot.

Katie Thompson, representing the Roscoe Business Alliance, described the group's recent work: drafting bylaws and articles of incorporation and holding biweekly meetings to define mission and leadership. "What started as the Main Street business alliance . . . has now transitioned to the Roscoe Business Alliance, which allows us to go deeper into the community," Thompson said. She and other speakers cited guidance from a paid advisor as a key part of the alliance's progress.

Trustees approved resolution 20 25 R 38, authorizing execution of a professional services agreement with Boundary (listed as the contractor in the resolution) to provide economic‑development consulting services along the I‑90/Rockton Road corridor; the agreement is Task 1 and covers five months. The board also held a first reading of resolution 20 25 R 39, a related professional‑services authorization described in the meeting packet as not to exceed $7,000 for five months; R 39 was treated as a first reading and was not voted to final adoption at this meeting.

Members of the board discussed the alliance and consultant relationship briefly during the meeting. Several trustees voiced support for continuing the paid guidance after hearing from business owners who said the alliance had created momentum. Thompson said the alliance aims to "promote, preserve and enhance the Main Street District and beyond" and emphasized outreach events and nonprofit formation as near‑term goals.

Votes at a glance: minutes and routine items were approved earlier in the meeting. The board approved resolution 20 25 R 38 (professional services agreement) following a motion and second; recorded votes were Yes from Wright, Mead, Babcock, Bach, Bridal and Simon (see provenance). Resolution 20 25 R 39 was presented as a first reading and will return for consideration at the next regular meeting; no final vote was recorded. The meeting packet also included a cash/bill list; trustees later authorized payment of listed invoices (see separate votes at a glance entry).

Why it matters: Alliance organizers said the nonprofit structure will let them pursue grant funding and perform outreach beyond Main Street; trustees cited the adviser role as a way to accelerate that work. The consultant contract formalizes village support for the alliance during its early, nonprofit‑formation phase.

What happens next: R 39 will return for final action at the board's next meeting. The alliance leaders said they plan outreach events and continued formation of governance documents; trustees asked that future contract proposals and related invoices be circulated in advance to allow board review.