SHOREWOOD – After a few short orders of business at the Shorewood Village Board meeting Tuesday, the April 4 election results were read and the elected board members were sworn in by Clerk Tracy Ragusa.
Village Finance Director Anne Burkholder addressed the board first for the consideration of approval of a contract with MB Financial Bank for lockbox services. The service would process check payments from residents for their utility bills. Burkholder said the service would cost the village about $1,024 a month, but would save up to 10 hours of work each week, allowing staff time to be used in a more appropriate manner.
The village receives 2,000 checks a month in the mail – the most popular method of payment – for utilities. Online credit cards come in second with 1,800 residents; 1,200 residents use online payments through their bank; 600 use checking account direct debit; and 250 come into the office and pay in person.
Burkholder said the only difference to the check payer is that the checks will be mailed to a P.O. box in Carol Stream and then MB Financial will process the checks daily and create a file for upload into the village’s software. She also said that payments at Village Hall or in the drop box still will be accepted and processed internally.
The board voted unanimously to accept the contract.
Also Tuesday, Village Engineer Bryan Welch gave an update on the Route 52 and River Road improvement plans, and the board unanimously approved paying Nicor Gas $73,867 for relocation of a gas main at the intersection.
The gas mains that need relocation because of the construction project are between the Gas N Wash entrance and River Road, within a gas easement from 1968. The village was responsible for the cost of the portion of the relocation within the easement.
Welch said the total was an estimate and the costs most likely would be less.
Because of the April 4 election, Mayor Rick Chapman asked the board for, and was granted, approval of the re-appointments of David Goodale, Duane Gronwald, Ellen Kijowski and Ken Votava for two-year terms on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Chapman then recognized the service of Trustee Ed Murphy and Ragusa at the end of their service to the board.
Afterward, Ragusa stood before the board to swear in Trustees Daniel Anderson, Daniel Warren and Clarence DeBold, as well as Chapman. DeBold was the only new member of the board after the election.
Chapman spoke about some of his goals for the next four years, which include the finalization of a water deal, youth services and maintenance of a safe community.
He said he knows Shorewood offers many places for youth to play sports outside during the warmer months, but then they go to surrounding communities for indoor sports during the winter because of the lack of a Shorewood facility. His plan is to create an indoor space for basketball and volleyball as well as other sports and activities.
There was no mention or public comment on the ongoing topic of Chapman using village gas for his own vehicle, instead of filling up elsewhere and filing an expense report. Mailers were sent to residents before the election showing Chapman at the village gas pumps with his personal vehicle. During the board meeting April 25, it was standing room only as residents spoke for or against the mayor about the issue.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Trustee Anthony Luciano said the board has planned to discuss the issue at a later date, which could be the next meeting, on May 23. He said no other discussions have occurred on what actions may be taken.