Gurnee board approves consent agenda, awards water projects and authorizes outside counsel; proclaims Black History Month, FBLA Week and 2‑1‑1 Day

The Gurnee Village Board on Feb. 3 approved a multi‑item consent agenda, awarded two public‑works contracts for the village water system, approved two resolutions related to outside legal counsel and adopted three proclamations recognizing Black History Month, Future Business Leaders of America Week and 2‑1‑1 Day.

The board approved the consent agenda by roll call. The consent items listed by staff included approval of minutes from the Jan. 27 meeting; Ordinance 2025‑03, authorizing an agreement between the Village of Gurnee and Vogue Printers for newsletter printing and mailing services; Resolution 2025‑02, declaring certain village property surplus (including Police Department unit 112 and miscellaneous public‑works equipment); authorization for the Police Department to dispose of records as allowed by the State of Illinois Local Records Commission; setting bid dates for the Salt Dome roof rehabilitation (bid date 02/20/2025) and the 02/2025 street maintenance program (bid date 03/10/2025); travel approval for two finance staff to attend the Tyler Connect conference (May 2025) at a cost not to exceed $6,000; payroll in the amount of $984,697.99; and bills for the period ending Jan. 27 in the amount of $814,873.25.

The board then heard a presentation from United Way of Lake County and adopted a proclamation recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month and a separate proclamation designating Feb. 9–15, 2025, as Future Business Leaders of America Week. The board also approved Feb. 11, 2025, as 2‑1‑1 Day; Quentin Snodgrass, vice president at United Way of Lake County, and Matthew Rizzi, executive director of the Great Lakes Credit Union Foundation, addressed the board in support of the 2‑1‑1 program and described referral and partnership work.

Public Works staff recommended, and the board approved, awarding the Well No. 2 televising, pitless adapter installation project to Water Well Solutions at a cost of $70,080 (staff quote cited $67,780 for installation plus $2,300 for televising). The board also approved awarding the lift‑station control panel replacement project to Okay Electric Company at $419,000. Staff told the board the lift‑station budget included $350,000 this year and that the additional cost would be carried in next year’s proposed budget to complete the work.

During an executive session, the board considered pending litigation updates and then approved (by roll call) Resolution 2025‑03 authorizing the village administrator to execute agreements and pay outside counsel for pending litigation matters, and Resolution 2025‑04 approving an engagement letter with Clauss & Miller, P.C., for legal services.

All motions reported in the transcript were approved by roll call. Where recorded, trustees Ross, Garner, O’Brien, Baumas (recorded in roll calls), Thorstenson (recorded as Thorson/Thorsenson in roll calls) and Mayor Thomas Hood voted in the affirmative on the listed items.

Votes at a glance (selected items) • Consent agenda (minutes, Ordinance 2025‑03 with Vogue Printers, Resolution 2025‑02 surplus, records disposal authorization, bid dates, travel approval, payroll $984,697.99, bills $814,873.25): motion by Trustee Baumas, second by Trustee O’Brien; roll call: Ross Aye; Garner Aye; O’Brien Aye; Baumas Aye; Thorstenson Yes; motion carries. • Proclamation — Black History Month: motion by Trustee Balmus, second by Trustee Ross; voice vote — all in favor. • Proclamation — FBLA Week (Feb. 9–15, 2025): motion by Trustee Balmus, second by Trustee Thorson; voice vote — all in favor. • Proclamation — 2‑1‑1 Day (Feb. 11, 2025): motion by Trustee Balmus, second by Trustee Thorson; voice vote — all in favor. Speakers: Quentin Snodgrass (United Way of Lake County) and Matthew Rizzi (Great Lakes Credit Union Foundation). • Award — Well No. 2 televising and pitless adapter installation to Water Well Solutions, $70,080: motion by Trustee O’Brien, second by Trustee Garner; roll call: Ross Aye; Garner Aye; O’Brien Aye; Thomas Aye; Thorstenson Yes; motion carries. • Award — Lift‑station control panel replacement to Okay Electric Company, $419,000: motion by Trustee Garner, second by Trustee Ross; roll call: Ross Aye; Garner Aye; O’Brien Aye; Baumas Aye; Thorson Yes; motion carries. Staff noted the project exceeds this year’s $350,000 budget and recommended carrying $70,000 into next year’s budget. • Executive‑session Item — Resolution 2025‑03 (authorizing village administrator to execute agreements and pay outside counsel): motion by Trustee Garner, second by Trustee Thorson; roll call: unanimous recorded aye; motion carries. • Executive‑session Item — Resolution 2025‑04 (approve engagement letter with Clauss & Miller, P.C.): motion by Trustee Garner, second by Trustee O’Brien; roll call: unanimous recorded aye; motion carries.

No public speakers addressed other agenda items during public comment; the board recessed to and returned from executive session and then adjourned the meeting.