Board approves fee waiver for Olmstead Society, events, insurance renewal, holiday aid and warrants

The Township of Riverside Board of Trustees approved a series of motions during its October meeting that range from facility fee waivers and special-event approvals to insurance, holiday aid and warrants.

Key outcomes (motions approved):

- Waived rental fees for the Olmstead Society's annual meeting but required a refundable deposit because alcohol will be served. Motion: waive $150 in rental fees; require refundable deposit for alcohol service. Motion by Trustee Clark; second by Trustee Heilenbach. Roll-call: Trustee Clark — yes; Trustee Heilenbach — yes; Trustee DeCosta — yes; Trustee Navarro — yes; Supervisor Wilt — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Approved a special-event request for a private memorial on Oct. 26 with the usual insurance requirements for alcohol service. Motion by Trustee Clark; second — recorded. Roll-call: Trustee Navarro — yes; Trustee DeCostilla — yes; Trustee Heilenbach — yes; Trustee Clark — yes; Supervisor Wilt — yes. Outcome: approved. The board noted the organizers must provide dram-shop or alcohol-service insurance as required for events serving alcohol.

- Accepted an employee health insurance renewal with a small premium increase for the township's current enrollment. Motion by Trustee Heilenbach; second recorded. Roll-call: Trustee Clark — yes; Trustee Heilenbach — yes; Trustee DeCastle — yes; Trustee Navarro — yes; Supervisor Wilt — yes. Outcome: approved. Trustees discussed that the township pays roughly 80% of premiums and that switching to a lower-premium alternative would increase employee deductibles.

- Approved the 2026 township meeting dates and holiday closing calendar. Motion to accept the calendar; second recorded. Roll-call: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- Authorized purchase of up to 80 gift cards, plus or minus 10%, valued at $75 each for holiday distribution to food pantry participants, split between Riverside Foods and Aldi where practical. Motion made and seconded; roll-call: unanimous. Outcome: approved. The motion gives supervisor Wilt discretion to purchase up to the authorized amount if needed.

- Authorized up to $700 plus 10% if needed for entertainment for the December 5 holiday stroll. Motion by Trustee Heilenbach; second by Trustee Navarro. Roll-call: Trustee Navarro — yes; Trustee DeCostola — yes; Trustee Heilenbach — yes; Trustee Clark — yes; Supervisor Wilt — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Adopted a resolution of support for the Illinois America250 commission’s commemoration of the United States' 250th anniversary (July 4, 2026). Motion by Trustee Navarro; second by Trustee Clark. The board approved the resolution by voice vote (ayes recorded). Outcome: approved. The resolution encourages local participation in commemorative events and will be posted in the office and newsletter.

- Approved warrants and payments presented at the meeting: general warrant for October 2025 in the amount of $31,361.97; utility warrant $1,224.13; payroll warrant $23,685.66 (note: that payroll period included three pay runs); health warrant $3,429.16; general assistance warrant $13,763.31; township radio players warrant $180.00; food pantry warrant $1,759.56. Motion by Trustee Heilenbach; second recorded. Roll-call: Trustees voted yes; Supervisor Wilt — yes. Outcome: approved.

Procedural and conditional notes: The rental-fee waiver for the Olmstead Society applies to the rental portion only; the refundable deposit remains in place because alcohol will be served. For the memorial event, the township will require proof of alcohol-service insurance before the event license is finalized. The gift-card motion specifies a local split (Riverside Foods and Aldi) to keep aid within the township area. Several motions were moved and seconded without the mover/seconder named in the public transcript; where the transcript recorded names, those names are included above.

Ending: The board moved through remaining business, heard trustee reports, and adjourned following approval of the warrants.