Gurnee board approves ordinances, contracts and purchases; payroll and bills authorized

The Gurnee Village Board on Oct. 20 approved a series of ordinances, contracts and purchases, including consent-agenda items, a redevelopment-agreement amendment, event and facilities contracts, and a Public Works equipment purchase.

Consent agenda: Trustees approved the consent agenda by roll call. The contained items included approval of minutes from Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 2025; a police-department request to purchase seven Flock solar PTZ video cameras from Flock Group Inc. for $32,000 (to be paid from Illinois Attorney General Organized Retail Crime Grant proceeds); authorization for Detective Sean Gaylor to attend training in Louisville, Kentucky, in December 2025 at a cost not to exceed $2,400; renewal of the village's fuel-purchase contract with Avalon Petroleum Company for calendar-year 2026; payroll for the period ending Oct. 3, 2025, of $1,144,624.98; and bills for the period ending Oct. 20, 2025, of $2,726,574.99. The motion to approve the consent agenda was moved by Trustee Balmus and seconded by Trustee Ross and carried on roll call.

Red Ribbon Week proclamation: Mayor Thomas Hood read and trustees approved a proclamation designating Oct. 23–30, 2025, as Red Ribbon Week in Gurnee, recognizing the national drug-prevention campaign.

Ordinance 2025-72 (redevelopment agreement amendment): The board approved a third amendment to the redevelopment agreement with Red Crown Investments, LLC for property at 4281 and 4885 Grand Avenue (Avalon BP redevelopment). The amendment extends the construction-start date from Nov. 1, 2025, to June 1, 2026, and requires the developer to restore the site to turf if construction is delayed beyond the extended start date. Staff reported the delays were related to continued permitting coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Ordinance 2025-73 (fireworks contract): Trustees authorized execution of a contract with Mad Bomber Fireworks Production for a fireworks display during the village's 250th-anniversary celebrations at Viking Park; staff said the vendor proposed a $25,000 show and that the available performance date is July 2, 2026. Trustees asked about fire-service staffing and inspection procedures; staff said inspections would be handled as part of the permit process and that current staffing was expected to be sufficient.

Ordinance 2025-74 (Village Hall interior design plan): The board approved a professional-services agreement with FGM Architects to prepare an interior design master plan for Village Hall at a cost of $35,440 plus a recommended $1,000 reimbursable allowance. Staff said the building—constructed in 1992—needs a refresh of paint, carpet and furnishings; the work scope includes staff input, new floor plans for shared work areas, furniture planning and project budget estimates.

Ordinance 2025-75 (holiday lighting at Gurnee Mills): Trustees authorized a professional-services agreement with Northern Power Washing LLC, doing business as Northern Holiday Lighting, to install leased holiday décor and lighting at Gurnee Mills. Staff said Gurnee Mills will cover electrical work and that materials are leased and stored by the contractor; meeting materials did not state a contract price. Installation is planned in November with removal in January or February.

Public Works equipment purchase: The board approved purchase of a Clark forklift (model specified in packet) from National Lift Truck of Franklin Park, Illinois, for $39,675, exclusive of a $3,000 trade-in allowance. Staff said the 2014 unit is ready for replacement and the purchase is included in the current budget.

All actions above were approved by roll call at the Oct. 20 meeting. Where trustees asked questions during discussion, staff provided operational clarifications and implementation steps noted in the board packet.