The Dwight Village Board met Tuesday, April 28 in the lower level of the Public Services Complex.

In attendance were trustees Joshua Jahn, Marla Kinkade, Austin Haacke, Deb Karch, and Dan Hansen. Trustee Pete Meister was absent.

Others in attendance were Mayor Paul Johnson, Village Administrator Crissy Livingston, Village Attorney Nick Ehrgott, and Village Clerk Nicole Bozarth.

Detective Gary Beier was sworn in as Deputy Police Chief.

Village Clerk Nicole Bozarth swears in Gary Beier as Deputy Police CHief

 

CONSENT AGENDA

The following items were approved:

  1. Minutes of March 24, 2026, Village Board Meeting
  2. Payments in between board meetings of $368,661.28
  3. Payments dated 4/28/2026 of $170,332.70

PUBLIC FORUM

Charles and Christine Gliwa, along with other residents living on Karen Drive, addressed the Board regarding flooding in their neighborhood following recent heavy rains. They recounted excessive flooding problems and expressed concerns that sewer and storm drains were not operating correctly.

REPORT OF MAYOR/OFFICERS

Mayor Paul Johnson reported that the Teska Land Planning interviews had begun. He added there is a meeting scheduled on June 1 with representatives from the State of Illinois regarding the Surplus to Success program involving the Dwight prison site.

Village Administrator Crissy Livingston reported on multiple events taking place within the Village:

  1. Red Carpet Corridor weekend May 2 and 3
  2. DTHS Student Artwork installed on Village Hall windows
  3. May 9 Village Clean-up Day
  4. Decorative bench attraction has been installed across from Village Hall paid for with grant from Heritage Corridor.
  5. July 11 Virtual Run – medals will be awarded for various legs of multiple runs

EMS Director Dustin Campbell reported on the ongoing negotiations with the insurance company following a fire in one of the ambulances. He added that donations from the Dwight VFW, Dwight Lions Club, Dwight Masons and a private donor have aided in the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which will be installed at Renfrew Park. Also, the EMS Department will begin billing for lift assists at the nursing homes beginning April 1.

Police Chief Mike Nolan reported that a new squad car was recently put into operation but within only a few hours it was involved in a chase pitting maneuver on a car going the wrong direction on the interstate causing about $5,000 damage.

Nolan added that yard nuisance letters were being sent out and that National Night out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4.

Public Services Director Cory Scoles reported on the following:

  1. Village Clean-Up Day is scheduled for Saturday,May 9.
  2. The department is now working out of the new Public Works Building on Watters Drive.
  3. The new bucket truck is in operation.
  4. Scoles noted that the concerns raised in Public Forum regarding sewer draining will be aggressively investigated.

ORDINANCES / RESOLUTIONS

  1. Resolution 2026-10 waiving competitive bidding and authorizing spray patching services was passed.

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Approval of Change Order and Final Payment of $42,657.20 to Johnson Building for Windmill Repairs was approved. This was for reconstruction of the walking platform around the base of the windmill, including new column bases.

NEW BUSINESS

The following items were were approved:

  1. Dwight Economic Alliance Christmas Parade Street Closure on East and West Main Street starting at 4:00 pm, December 5, 2026
  2. Bucket Brigade for St. Jude Fundraiser on Friday, October 2, 2026, 4 pm-7
    pm, and Saturday, October 3, 2026, 8 am-Noon at the Intersection of Route 17 and 47.
  3. Building Fee Schedule
  4. Solicitor permit for Conner Thompson with Solar Ships from May 1, 2026, to May 15, 2026.
  5. Resignation of Officer Helsing
  6. Hiring of EMS Basic contingent on the pending resignation of a current emplpoyee.

The following additional items were discussed:

  1. Fast 5 Travel Plaza – Consideration and Direction Regarding Development Incentives, Projected Tax Revenues, and Development Conditions. A motion was passed allowing the Village Administrator to negotiate a hybrid package involving sales tax and TIF incentives.
  2. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Public Infrastructure: Consideration of Water and Sewer Rates Related to Grant Eligibility. The Board opted to not pursue this grant because current water rates do not meet the required State threshold. In effect, water rates would need to be raised in order to qualify for the grant and the Board did not feel this was a prudent sourse of action.
  3. A one-year Temporary Use Permit for Grown Rogue for continued use of the marijuana cultivation center located at 1200 E Mazon was approved.
  4. A motion was passed sending to the Planning Committee for review, ordinance Chapter 120 Cannabis.

The Board did not move to Executive Session and adjourned.

The next regular Board Meeting will be Tuesday, May 26.

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