New Lenox trustees approve IEPA loan application, school IGAs, and multiple development easements

The Village of New Lenox board approved a package of infrastructure, intergovernmental and development actions at its March meeting, including an ordinance to pursue a $2.5 million loan from the Illinois EPA for water-main replacement, updated agreements with the school district on school resource officers and body-worn cameras, and several easements and sureties for the Spencer Meadows subdivision.

The board voted to authorize an application to the Public Water Supply Loan Program administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for $2,500,000 to replace water mains on Gull Lane, Hawthorne Lane and 1st Street. Trustees voted to waive second reading and adopted the ordinance to proceed with the IEPA application.

"This is the first formal step in seeking project funding from the IEPA," the mayor said during the discussion. The borrowing measure moved and passed on a roll-call vote.

Police and school officials presented three intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with the New Lenox School District related to school safety. The chief told the board the body-worn camera and reciprocal-reporting IGAs "will be put in place with no end date," and that the SRO agreement will be reviewed annually. The board approved each resolution on roll call.

Robin, a village staff member, briefed trustees on several land-use and development items, including a temporary-use request from Northern Builders to place a 30-by-48-foot storage building at 2125 West Haven Avenue in the Cherry Hill Business Park. The board approved a five‑year temporary use, as recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Robin also described an easement package tied to the Spencer Meadows subdivision (Laraway and Spencer Road) to allow off-site storm-sewer connections and a water-main extension. The agreement includes a 35-by-36-foot easement for storm sewer, a 10-foot permanent easement and a 25-foot temporary construction easement; trustees approved the easement.

The board set a surety of $937,287.50 for the off-site water main related to Spencer Meadows with an expiration date of March 23, 2028. The transcript records approval of a second surety for mass grading with the same expiration date, but the amount is unreadable in the meeting record; the exact figure is not specified in the transcript.

Park and events staff described signage proposals for the Crossroads Sports Complex. Scott said staff seeks two new wayfinding signs to better direct guests and food-service lanes; Beth described promotional signage (two scoreboard signs near the playground and wall-mounted concession signs) intended to drive visitors to New Lenox businesses and the children's museum. Trustees approved both sign proposals.

On routine finance business, Trustee Masson moved to approve bi-monthly disbursements of $903,130.88 and a payroll of $511,877.43 (pay date 03/20/2026); the motion was seconded and approved.

During discussion of a resolution in support of the Municipal Housing Authority, the mayor criticized proposed state legislation that board members said would alter local zoning authority and community character. The mayor described elements of the proposal as "absolutely garbage" and warned of potential impacts on water and sewer capacity; the board adopted the resolution in support of the Municipal Housing Authority.

The meeting closed with brief trustee comments and an adjournment. No executive session was held.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (12 items, including proclamations and surplus property ordinances): approved (motion by Trustee Scalise, second Trustee Christofferson; roll call vote carried). - Temporary use for Northern Builders storage building (2125 W. Haven Ave.): approved (motion by Trustee Scalise; second Trustee Christofferson). - Intergovernmental agreements with New Lenox School District (SRO; body-worn cameras; reciprocal reporting): approved (motions and roll-call votes). - Resolution supporting Municipal Housing Authority (opposing certain state proposals affecting local zoning): adopted (motion and roll-call vote). - Granite easement with Sean and Donna Mathias (Spencer Meadows): approved. - Spencer Meadows surety for off-site water main: set at $937,287.50 (expires 03/23/2028); approved. - Spencer Meadows mass-grading surety: approved (amount unclear in transcript; expiration 03/23/2028). - Ordinance to borrow $2,500,000 from IEPA Public Water Supply Loan Program (Gull Lane, Hawthorne Lane, 1st Street): adopted (second reading waived). - Wayfinding and promotional signage for Crossroads Sports Complex: approved. - Payroll and disbursements (bi-monthly disbursements $903,130.88; payroll $511,877.43): approved.

Key quotes: "This is just absolutely garbage legislation," the mayor said of the state proposal described during discussion of the Municipal Housing Authority resolution.

"They are proposing to construct a 30 by 48 foot storage building on this property," Robin said of Northern Builders' temporary-use request.

"These IGAs... will be put in place with no end date," the chief said, describing the body-worn camera and reciprocal-reporting agreements; the SRO agreement will be reviewed annually.

What happens next: The village will proceed with the IEPA loan application and execute the approved IGAs and easement agreements as authorized by the board.