Batavia City Council approves series of routine measures, liquor license and EV charger site-host agreement

The Batavia City Council voted on a cluster of routine and programmatic items Monday night, approving a multi-item consent agenda plus separate motions to authorize police tow contractors, a liquor license for a convenience store at 336 E. Wilson St., public-works fleet spending and a site-host agreement for Level 3 electric-vehicle (EV) fast chargers at Batavia High School.

The council approved the consent agenda, which included payroll and accounts-payable registers and several ordinances and resolutions, by a recorded vote of 14-0. Mayor Jeffrey Schuelke called the roll before the vote and later said he would sign the liquor license "tomorrow" after its approval.

Why it matters: The consent and supplemental approvals move forward multiple administrative items at once — payroll, routine contract and procurement actions, and budget adjustments — and the EV charger agreement advances a state-funded climate program for publicly accessible fast-charging infrastructure at a school site.

The council approved a Class B-1 liquor license for Krishada Home, LLC to operate at the Windmill Food and Wine Spirit Store, 336 E. Wilson St. Applicant Veil Patel, who said he owns two Chicago-area stores, described plans for a convenience store carrying food, wine, spirits, lottery and packaged goods. The motion passed on a roll call of 14-0.

Council members also approved a resolution authorizing police-authorized tow contracts for four in-town tow vendors. That resolution passed 13-1 with one council member recorded as voting no; the meeting minutes show the negative vote but do not identify an amended motion or change in the contractor list.

A public-works budget amendment of $113,507 to purchase a truck chassis and related fleet adjustments was approved by the council (roll call recorded as aye on the motion). Separately, the council authorized purchase of a truck chassis from Rush Truck in Springfield through a state purchasing program; that motion was approved on voice and roll call.

On transportation, the council authorized a site-host agreement with Batavia Public Schools for Level 3 EV fast chargers at the high school. Council discussion noted the project is funded through the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CJA) grant program and that the chargers will be available 24/7; the resolution to execute the agreement passed on a roll call vote.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (committee minutes, payroll $1,073,792.57, accounts payable $3,187,395.76, minutes, and several ordinances/resolutions): approved, roll call 14-0. - Class B-1 liquor license, Krishada Home, LLC (Windmill Food and Wine Spirit Store, 336 E. Wilson St.): approved, roll call 14-0. Applicant: Veil Patel. - Resolution authorizing police-authorized tow contracts (four in-town vendors): approved, roll call 13-1 (one no). - Resolution authorizing budget amendment, Public Works Capital Fleet, $113,507: approved (ayes recorded; final motion approved by roll call). - Purchase of truck chassis through state program (Rush Truck, Springfield): approved (motion approved by roll call). - Resolution authorizing execution of a site-host agreement with Batavia Public Schools for Level 3 EV fast chargers (CJA grant-funded): approved (ayes recorded; motion approved by roll call).

What the council directed next: Council discussion on several procurement items noted timing and delivery constraints for vehicle bodies after chassis purchase and flagged the need to revisit tow-rotation qualification criteria in the next contracting round. No further formal direction, amendments or referrals were recorded.

Provenance: These votes and motions were recorded on the March 3, 2025 meeting transcript and were confirmed by roll-call votes shown in the meeting record.