Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Homer Glen board approves $11,000 settlement, equipment purchase, variances and amended accounts-payable
Summary
The Village Board of Homer Glen approved a mutual settlement with Homer Township Road District, purchased a replacement utility vehicle, granted an agricultural setback variance and approved amended accounts-payable totals after members questioned an itemized ledger.
The Village Board of Homer Glen on a vote Wednesday approved a mutual settlement with Homer Township Road District, purchased a 2024 Honda Foreman for village use, granted an agricultural setback variance and approved an amended accounts-payable total after trustees asked for clarification of a vendor ledger.
The board unanimously approved Resolution No. 25-001 to authorize “the execution of a mutual settlement agreement in real estate of all claims between the Village of Homer Glen and Homer Township Road District” and an $11,000 disbursement from the village insurer to the township to avoid continued litigation. Trustee Reinders said the matter was “frivolous” to pursue in court and urged settlement. The village attorney responded that his firm was not involved in the underlying litigation, saying, “our law firm is not a part of this litigation at all in any way, shape, or form.” The motion passed 5–0.
The board approved a consent-agenda purchase of a 2024 Honda Foreman from the public-works budget for $11,400.
On land-use items, trustees approved a variance to reduce the required agricultural-structure setback from 100 feet to 66 feet for property at 12463 W. 150th Street (file HG 2425-B). The planning commission had recommended approval; the board voted 5–0 to grant the variance.
Trustees also considered an ordinance to reduce an existing nonconforming lot’s required width from 300 feet to 200 feet at vacant 14251 W. 140th Street (file HG 2427-B). After questions about allowing an accessory structure to be built before a primary residence, a motion to table the item for further review carried 5–0.
On fiscal matters, the board approved payment of the village’s December legal bills totaling $21,304.54 and then debated the accounts-payable report for the period 01/24/2025–02/13/2025. Trustees raised questions about the report’s date ranges and a line that showed $65,825 for legal; the clerk and finance staff said the report had been generated with combined historical invoice dates and that some checks had already been written. Trustees amended the motion to approve accounts-payable as presented but with a corrected total of $515,625.73 (subtracting the questioned $65,825 amount), and the amended motion carried on the final roll call 4–1 (Trustee Reinders opposed).
Votes at a glance
- Resolution 25-001 (mutual settlement with Homer Township Road District): Motion passed; vote 5–0. Disbursement: $11,000 from village insurer to Homer Township Road District; note: board discussion emphasized avoiding protracted litigation and that village’s outside counsel said it was not their firm’s litigation.
- K2 (consent): Purchase of one 2024 Honda Foreman — $11,400. Motion passed; roll-call recorded as motion carries.
- L2 (variance): Reduce required agricultural-structure setback from 100 ft to 66 ft for 12463 W. 150th St. (HG 2425-B). Motion passed; vote 5–0.
- L3 (variance: reduce lot width from 300 ft to 200 ft for vacant 14251 W. 140th St., HG 2427-B): Motion to table for further review carried 5–0.
- L4: Approve payment of December legal invoices (Peterson Johnson & Murray) — $21,304.54. Motion passed.
- K1 (accounts-payable, period 01/24/2025–02/13/2025): Original total shown $581,450.75; trustees questioned a $65,825 legal subtotal shown on the ledger. Board approved the accounts-payable as amended to a corrected total of $515,625.73; final vote 4–1 (Trustee Reinders opposed). Staff said the reported discrepancies were generated by how the report pulled invoices with differing dates and that checks for many items had already been issued.
Board members who spoke most during these items included Trustee Reinders, Trustee Mason, Trustee Fialco, Trustee McNaughton and Trustee Stylin. Village Manager Joe Baber, the village attorney and finance staff responded to trustee questions during the accounts-payable discussion.
The board moved on to other agenda items after the votes; trustees scheduled follow-up review for the tabled variance and asked staff to correct and reissue the accounts-payable report for internal tracking.
