VILLAGE OF SCALES MOUND
Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Stone House
November 24, 2025
6:30 P.M.
The Regular Meeting of the President and Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:30 pm on Monday, November 24,
2025. The members present were Nicole Winter, Ruth Foley, Deven Morgensen, Kristy Hesselbacher, Janet Werner, Josh
Altfillisch, Tami Koons, Village Clerk, and Marissa Marquith, Village Treasurer. Also present were Chet VanRaalte, Zach
Winter and Jerry and Fran Edwards. Dave Fosler was absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting October 27, 2025, Open and Closed, Committee Meeting November
6, 2025, and Special Meeting on November 17, 2025. Werner moved; Altfillisch seconded to approve the minutes from
the Regular Meeting October 27, 2025, Open and Closed, Committee Meeting November 6, 2025, and Special Meeting on
November 17, 2025, to be approved as read. All voted aye.
TREASURERS REPORT
The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. Three certificates of deposit (CDs) are set to mature on November 29, 2025, and two
more on December 1, 2025. Nicole Winter recommended renewing all five (5) CDs for a term of five (5) months at an
interest rate of 3.71%. Nicole Winter also recommended opening 2 additional CDs for a term of five (5) months at an
interest rate of 3.71%. Foley moved; Morgensen seconded, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented and to place it
on file, including the proposed investment renewals. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
APPROVAL OF BILLS
The monthly bills were reviewed. Hesselbacher moved; Werner seconded that the November bills be approved for payment
as presented. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
CITIZENS COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS
A) Citizens Comments – None.
B) SM Chamber – Christmas Party is scheduled for 11/30/2025 at the Scales Mound Town Hall at 3:30 pm.
C) Contact Us Submissions – None.
D) FOIA Requests – None.
E) Other – Foley informed the board that the flag at the four corners is torn and needs to be replaced. Zach Winter added
that the flag pulley needs to be replaced and he will order a new one. Nicole Winter noted that 4H typically provides
the flag and will ensure it gets to Zach Winter. Foley moved; Hesselbacher seconded to purchase the flag pulley
replacement. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE LAW REPORT
Arty Moyer, Ordinance officer, tagged five (5) vehicles belonging to Nathan Wills of Wills Garage that were illegally
parked on the side of the road and/or in the residential lot across from Wills Garage. Once a vehicle is tagged with the 48-
hour notice, a tow notice can be issued if the vehicles do not move. Additionally, Nathan Wills did not appear for the court
date on October 15, 2025. Nathan was found liable for the citations. New citations were issued and the next court date is
December 17 th , 2025.
PUBLIC WORKS
A) Monthly Report – 1) Chet VanRaalte reported that mowing is done for the season. Chet painted the lines in the no
parking areas near businesses, and a couple of vehicles parked on the fresh paint. Chet received some salt from the
county to prepare for inclement weather. He also stated that the framing inside the shop is almost done. Chet will be
putting up the truck signs with arrows for the truckers to identify the truck route clearer. 2) Apple River State Bank
inquired about a safe that they would take if the Village of Scales Mound no longer wanted or needed it. The board
discussed and unanimously agreed to give the safe back to the bank. The bank would like to clean it and put it on
display in the bank lobby. The Village does have another smaller safe that they are willing to sell, Foley moved;
Werner seconded to approve to sell the small black safe and give back the bank safe. On roll call vote, all voted aye. 3)
Chet mentioned that most of the “no parking” signs are faded and should be replaced, and he would like to order new
“no parking” signs. Foley moved; Altfillisch seconded to purchase “no parking” signs. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
4) Chet stated the water tank for the ranger is not needed and could be sold as is. 5) Chet discussed the fence near the
Village burn pile needs to be fixed. Chet reached out to Jason Webster and he will replace it but the fence is the
Village property and the Village will reimburse him, as it was damaged in the fire near the burn pile. Josh Altfillsch
stated that the Village is responsible for half of the fence. 6) Jerry Edwards brought up that to the North of the
Methodist Church the sidewalk is all busted up and he’s not sure if the Village is responsible for fixing this or the Church. He is concerned about elderly people that park there and walk along that area. Chet will investigate this and bring it to the board.
a. JULIE – Chet attended this training.
ZONING REPORT
A) Monthly Report – 1) Tito Beliz applied for a fencing permit on 11/7/2025 and was approved. Josh Winter applied
for a garage and pool permit on 11/7/2025 and was approved.
OLD BUSINESS
A) Water Main Replacement – This topic was tabled.
B) MFT Audit Fiscal Year 2023 – Exit meeting with no findings, could be six (6) months before a final report
notification is received. Next audit will likely be in five (5) years.
C) Utility Rate Ordinance – Nicole Winter emailed the board for review. Morgensen moved; Hesselbacher seconded to
approve the Utility Rate Ordinance as read and reviewed. All voted Aye.
D) Village Shop Repairs – Heating Unit – requested four (4) bids for heating unit instillation but only received one (1)
bid. Werner moved; Hesselbacher seconded to purchase the heating unit for the Village shop. On roll call vote, all
voted aye.
E) Davis New Water/Sewer Connection – The Board has not received a quote for the project from Louie’s Trenching
and Jim Davis does not have a figure to provide at this time. Jim Davis previously mentioned to board members that
he was willing to bring water / sewer to the lot line as a developer to keep the cost down. Zach Winter informed the
board that Jim Davis could not attend the meeting tonight, however, he asked Zach to let the board know that he is
proceeding with putting in the sewer line for the new construction on Jackson Street. Nicole Winter stated that is not
the proper process as it is the Village responsibility to get sewer to the lot line and with no agreement in place and no
figure for cost, we would need to see that before proceeding. Zach Winter stated he was just relaying the information
from Jim Davis.
F) Digital Speed Signs – Nicole Winter spoke with Kirk Raab, the Mayor of Warren, on the possibility of purchasing a
speed camera to go with the radar sign. Kirk is looking into the legality of a speed camera and if it will work with our
current DACRA system to issue tickets. The Village is waiting on cost estimates before deciding to purchase.
G) Unemployment Benefits Appeal – No update on the appeal status as of today 11/24/2025.
H) Water Tap – Well House – Nicole Winter emailed the board with the quote from Louie’s Trenching to install the
water tap at the Well House per IEPA inspection reported as a significant deficiency. Altfillisch moved; Werner
seconded to approve the installation of the water tap at the Well House. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
I) Approval of Audit – This was tabled until the auditor has completed the audit. Appropriate extensions have been
approved to remain compliant.
OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS
A) Street/Maintenance – None.
B) Sewer/Water – 1) Met on November 6, 2025, minutes were sent out today for review by the board. 2) Well House
project – use Village funds 3) Fire House project – use Village funds. 4) Jackson street project – board discussed place on
hold.
C) Finance – None.
D) Park & Special Projects – None.
E) Public Events & Safety – None.
F) Trees & Sidewalks – None.
G) Ordinance/Policy – None.
H) Development – As the newly appointed Acting President, Nicole Winter will be updating the committee assignments
among board members, as she will no longer be serving on any committees. Additionally, she will designate a board
member to participate in IDOT grant-related phone calls with Origin and CFPS.
NEW BUSINESS
A) Garbage Rate Ordinance – This topic was approved in August.
B) Tax Levy Ordinance – This topic was tabled for next month.
C) Christmas Bonuses – Altfillisch moved; Hesselbacher seconded to approve Christmas bonuses for Village
Maintenance Specialist, Temporary Maintenance Specialist, Water Operator, Co-zoning Administrators, Village Clerk,
and Village Treasurer. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
D) Maintenance Specialist – 90-day Probationary Period Increase – Hesselbacher moved; Werner seconded to
approve the 90-day pay increase for the maintenance specialist. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
E) JDC Animal Control Contract – No action.
F) Well House Project – This topic was tabled.
G) Jackson Street Project – This topic was tabled.
H) IDOT – Environmental Survey Request – Required for prescreening for the grant it could take 6-months to a year to
be approved by the State. Foley moved; Morgensen seconded to approve moving forward on the prescreening
application to hire ORIGIN to complete the prescreening. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
I) Holland/Wienen Annexation Agreement – Hailey Wills, Village attorney and Nicole Winter reviewed the
Annexation for Highpoint Storage. This annexation agreement between the Village and Holland/Wienen was approved
by the Village Board in 2022. The agreement was signed by Holland/Wienen, but the Village Board did not sign the
agreement, and it was not properly recorded by the court. This agreement needs to be properly executed and recorded
to be correctly annexed into the Village. Nicole Winter is working with Village Attorney, Hailey Wills, on next steps
to correct this issue from 2022.
J) Other – Holiday Street Display Lights and Garland – Storage and Maintenance Update – Zach Winter has ordered
replacement light sockets to address the issue of burnt-out bulbs in the Christmas street display. Additionally, the
existing garland is due for replacement. Zach will be obtaining quotes for new garland and is also planning to design
and construct improved storage containers. These new containers aim to keep the display lights dry and in better
condition for use in future holiday seasons.
BRAINSTORMING – Foley mentioned that the board needs to update the 5-year plan as we add items.
CLOSED SESSION – None.
ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION – None.
ADJOURNMENT – Altfillisch moved; Hesselbacher seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 8:03 pm. All voted aye.
These Minutes were prepared by Village Clerk, Tami Koons.