Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Freeburg trustees adopt stop sign ordinance for High and Edison after 5–1 vote
Loading...
Summary
The Village of Freeburg Board adopted Ordinance No. 1798 on Feb. 3, 2025, adding a stop sign to the village traffic schedule after trustees cited speeding concerns; the measure passed 5–1. The meeting also approved several administrative motions, including a CD reinvestment and an employee vacation carryover.
The Village of Freeburg Board of Trustees on Monday adopted Ordinance No. 1798, "An Ordinance Amending the Traffic Schedule (Stop Sign)," approving the addition of a stop sign (the change applies to a location discussed as High Street and Edison Street) in a 5–1 roll-call vote.
Trustee Dana Miller moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1798 by title only; Trustee Ramon Matchett Jr. seconded the motion. The roll call recorded Trustee Dana Miller, Trustee Ramon Matchett Jr., Trustee Robert (Bob) Kaiser, Trustee James (Mike) Blaies and Trustee Elizabeth (Lisa) Meehling voting yes; Trustee Tom Carpenter voted no. The motion carried 5–1.
The ordinance was introduced earlier on the agenda by Mayor Seth Speiser as a revision to the village traffic schedule. During trustee comments after the vote, Trustee Ramon Matchett Jr. urged the measure on safety grounds, saying, "People just fly down that street. Sooner or later, someone is going to get hit." Public Works Director John Tolan added that removing a stop sign later can be difficult.
The meeting also included a series of administrative approvals and reports. In finance business, Trustee Tom Carpenter reported a certificate of deposit (CD) maturing Feb. 9 and moved to reinvest it at "4.1% or current rate for 6 months at Citizens Bank;" Trustee James (Mike) Blaies seconded and the motion carried unanimously (6–0). Village Administrator Matt Trout reviewed FY26 budget highlights and asked trustees to review the draft for direction; he noted discussions with Waste Management about contract rates and a vendor inquiry about a possible grant for a leaf machine.
On personnel matters, Trustee James (Mike) Blaies moved to allow employee Joel Boeving to carry over vacation time; Trustee Dana Miller seconded and roll call was unanimous (6–0). The board entered Executive Session at 7:47 p.m. to discuss personnel under the cited statutory authority; the session ended at 7:56 p.m.
Police business was discussed in committee reports: Chief of Police Mike Schutzenhofer told trustees the department logged 168 calls since the last committee meeting and "overall they had 1,330 calls/events in 2024." Trustees received an ESDA update from ESDA Coordinator Gene Kramer and an engineer's report from Village Engineer Tim Pruett; no questions were raised on the engineer's packet report.
The meeting concluded with reminders of upcoming committee and board meetings and adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
Votes at a glance: - Adopt Ordinance No. 1798 (Traffic Schedule / Stop Sign): mover Trustee Dana Miller; seconder Trustee Ramon Matchett Jr.; result Approved 5–1 (Tom Carpenter voted no). - Reinvest CD maturing Feb. 9 at 4.1% for 6 months (Citizens Bank): mover Trustee Tom Carpenter; seconder Trustee James (Mike) Blaies; result Approved 6–0. - Joel Boeving vacation carryover: mover Trustee James (Mike) Blaies; seconder Trustee Dana Miller; result Approved 6–0. - Enter Executive Session to discuss personnel (5 ILCS 120/2-(c)(1)): mover Trustee Dana Miller; seconder Trustee Ramon Matchett Jr.; result Approved (voice vote).