Willow Springs Village Board approves $644,130.94 warrant, adopts zoning tweak and appoints Robert Sprinkle

The Willow Springs Village Board on Tuesday approved a warrant dated 02/13/2025 that included payroll- and unemployment-related payments totaling $644,130.94 and adopted a zoning-code amendment to allow limited administrative variances for minor plan departures.

The board took the warrant up after a trustee noted it covered two pay periods and several large, routine budget items such as insurance, dispatch services and engineering charges. A motion to approve the warrant was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote; President Nedemeyer said, “All ayes and that’s approved.”

In zoning business, board members approved an ordinance authorizing the village administrator and building commissioner to grant variances of roughly 10% or less for narrowly defined cases where requirements are nearly met, a change intended to streamline minor permitting. A trustee asked that the ordinance use consistent job titles (for example, “building commissioner” and “plan and zoning commission”) and requested that board members be notified when administrative permits are exercised; the board approved an amendment to capture notification language before adopting the ordinance.

The board also approved business licenses for operations at 8374 Archer and for Bella at 8216 Arthur Avenue. The applicant for 8216 Arthur described prior flooding, a landlord dispute and extensive mold remediation and said the business is preparing to reopen with upgraded equipment and staffing; trustees confirmed tax and sanitation licenses were current before voting to approve.

On land-use matters, the board voted to rezone 123 North 6th Street (the Gilmore Building) to permit commercial use on the ground floor and residential (R2) above. The village owns the property and described rezoning as an initial, transparent step to make the parcel more marketable; there were no pending sale contracts at the time of the meeting.

The board approved procurement actions discussed by staff, including moving forward on an identified resurfacing project for French Street and selecting audit services following a staff outreach to multiple firms. The board also approved the appointment of Robert Sprinkle to fill a vacancy on the village truck team; the oath of office was read and trustees congratulated him.

President Nedemeyer used his closing report to note that Willow Springs received a Special Olympics award and to thank Robert Sprinkle and Tammy Veil for representing the village. The next regular meeting was announced for March 13; the meeting adjourned after final remarks.

Votes at a glance - Minutes from 01/09/2025: approved (roll call, all ayes). - Warrant dated 02/13/2025 (payroll/unemployment items totaling $644,130.94): approved (roll call, all ayes). - Business license — 8374 Archer: approved (roll call, all ayes). - Business license — Bella, 8216 Arthur Avenue: approved (roll call, all ayes). - Ordinance (zoning-code amendment permitting limited administrative variances): adopted after amendment (roll call, all ayes). - Rezoning — 123 North 6th Street (Gilmore Building): approved (roll call, all ayes). - Audit services contract selection: approved (roll call, all ayes). - Appointment — Robert Sprinkle to the village truck team: approved; oath administered.

The board recorded routine community updates including a water commission report, a March 18 food pantry, a Feb. 28 community dinner-and-movie event, storm-response costs reported by staff, and an announcement of upcoming elections on April 1.