North Aurora board approves Konica Minolta scanning contract, TIF demolition grant, private well and new administrative post; reviews Route 31 road-diet study

The North Aurora Village Board on March 17 approved a $51,712 contract with Konica Minolta to complete village document scanning, authorized a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) façade demolition grant of up to $20,000 for a car-wash structure at 101 Lincoln (South Lincoln Way), approved an ordinance allowing a privately owned shallow well to support water levels at Lincoln Valley Pond, and amended the 2024–25 budget to add an administrative operations assistant position with a $12,910 fiscal-year impact.

The actions are part of routine agenda business but carry operational and budget consequences: the scanning contract closes the three‑phase records-digitization program, the TIF grant aims to remove a long-dilapidated structure at a commercial corner, the private-well approval grants an exception to a village code that otherwise prohibits private wells in areas served by the municipal water system, and the budget amendment shifts personnel duties and funding within the current fiscal year.

Document scanning contract

Steve, a village staff member who presented the item, said the Konica Minolta contract is “phase 3 of a 3 part plan to start digitizing all of our files” and that the firm’s proposal was judged the best in a competitive process. He said the village will use $30,000 available in the current fiscal year (ending May 31) and that $50,000 is included in the draft budget beginning June 1; the village intends to use up to $30,000 of the contract work before June 1 and continue the remainder under next year’s budget. The board approved the contract with a roll-call vote recorded as “yes” by trustees present.

TIF demolition grant for 101 Lincoln

Nathan, a village staff member, presented an application for a TIF façade grant to demolish a long-closed car-wash structure at 101 Lincoln, the site behind a BP/Amoco convenience store. Nathan said the property had “many code violations” and went to sheriff’s sale before a new owner took possession in January and applied for permits. Because the demolition bids exceeded $40,000, the owner requested the TIF maximum (50% up to a $20,000 cap). The board voted to approve the TIF grant; Nathan noted the owner is expected to return with a liquor-license application after the convenience-store repairs are complete.

Private well at Lincoln Valley Pond

Nathan described an application from a private property owner to sink a small, shallow well intended to maintain the water level in Lincoln Valley Pond, which has failed to hold water in recent summers. He said the proposed well “will not be connected to our water system at all” and “will be entirely theirs to maintain,” but that village code usually bars private wells in areas served by municipal water. An ordinance to permit this particular private well for landscape/pond purposes was presented and approved after public‑works review and questions about downstream impacts. The board recorded the vote in the affirmative.

Budget amendment and administrative operations assistant

Jason, a village staff member, presented an ordinance amending the FY2024–25 budget to authorize a newly created administrative operations assistant position. The position will assume duties now performed by the community relations coordinator—agenda and packet compilation, FOIA requests, deputy‑clerk tasks and office support—allowing the coordinator to focus on outreach, events and marketing. The fiscal impact for the remainder of this year was stated as $12,910. The board approved the ordinance by roll call.

Route 31 road‑diet study: preliminary findings

Steve also summarized a preliminary traffic analysis from consultant WBK Engineering that reviewed a possible “road diet” on Route 31. He said the consultant concluded there is “some feasibility in North Aurora getting a road diet for at least a significant portion of Route 31,” with the study area running from Mooseheart south to the airport and a likely three‑lane configuration (one lane each direction with a center turn lane) for many segments. Steve cautioned that parts of the corridor around Oak Street to State Street likely would remain wider because they carry the highest traffic volumes, and that any change would require review and striping approval by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), which can take many months.

Other business

In department reports the police chief (name not specified) said two officers will receive the department lifesaving award and will be recognized at future village-board meetings. The board adjourned after the votes and discussion.

Votes at a glance

- Approve contract with Konica Minolta for document scanning services, $51,712 — approved (roll call recorded as ‘yes’ by trustees present).

- Approve TIF façade/demolition grant (up to $20,000) for car-wash structure at 101 Lincoln (South Lincoln Way) — approved (roll call recorded as ‘yes’ by trustees present). Bids on the demolition exceeded $40,000 so owner requested the $20,000 cap under the TIF program.

- Adopt ordinance permitting a private well to support Lincoln Valley Pond (exception to village code prohibiting private wells in areas served by municipal water) — approved (roll call recorded as ‘yes’ by trustees present). The well was described as shallow, not connected to village water or sewer, and to be privately maintained.

- Amend FY2024–25 budget and create an administrative operations assistant position (fiscal‑year impact $12,910) — approved (roll call recorded as ‘yes’ by trustees present).

What’s next

Staff said the Konica Minolta work will begin as budget timing allows, the new owner at 101 Lincoln will apply for additional permits and licenses as needed, public works will oversee the private‑well installation, and WBK Engineering will deliver a final road‑diet report for further board consideration and eventual IDOT review.