Steger trustees vote to pay bills after debate over uninsured mechanic work

Trustees in the Village of Steger debated whether to pay two maintenance invoices for work performed by a private mechanic, leading to a wider discussion about whether the village should require insurance from informal contractors.

At the meeting on Sept. 15, Trustee Perchinski questioned the decision to use an outside mechanic and the risk to the village if the worker were injured, saying the lack of insurance was a concern. Trustee Trotier pressed for a definitive policy, asking, "Do they need to be insured to work for the Village? Is that a yes or a no?" Mayor Joyce responded that the mechanic has agreed to provide paperwork before doing any further work and noted that the work in question had already been completed. Village Attorney Vlado Vranjes advised that requiring insurance is good practice.

The board first considered a motion to approve all bills except those for David Wheeler; that motion failed on a 4–1 roll call. A subsequent motion to pay all bills as listed passed unanimously. The minutes reflect the board's interest in formalizing procurement and vendor-insurance practices to protect the village, though no new formal policy was adopted at this meeting.

The vote and the board's exchange underline an outstanding administrative question for Steger: whether future informal or after-hours repairs should be conditioned on proof of insurance or a written contract. Officials said the mayor and department heads will require paperwork going forward, but trustees continued to press for clearer, written procedures.