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Kirkland trustees discuss policing IGAs, line-of-credit and downtown vacancies ahead of April election
Summary
Trustees discussed outsourcing police duties via intergovernmental agreements, applying for a line of credit, grant-writing help from NIU students, vacancy-tax research, and downtown property updates; President Block said action for a sales-tax referendum must be taken 60 days before the April 7 election.
The board spent part of the Jan. 19 meeting on village finances and downtown economic conditions. President Ryan Block opened a discussion with Police Chief Adam Davenport about which police duties might be outsourced through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA); Chief Davenport noted department cross-training and that a full-time officer had moved to part-time.
Trustees exchanged ideas about a line of credit with local banks, pursuing grant-writing support from Northern Illinois University students ("The students will provide an answer Friday, January 23, 2026"), and research on vacancy taxes. Trustee Benes shared his research on other cities' experiences with vacancy taxes. President Block also updated the board on several downtown properties and said a sales-tax referendum would require action 60 days before April 7, 2026: "Action has to be done 60 days before the election on April 7, 2026," he said, and the board asked the village attorney to prepare paperwork so trustees could vote on the referendum at the Feb. 2 meeting. The board discussed holding village meetings in advance of the election to answer resident questions.
