VILLAGE OF SCALES MOUND
Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Stone House
September 29, 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, September 29,
2025. The members present were Ruth Foley, Nicole Winter, Kristy Hesselbacher, Janet Werner, Joshua Altfillisch. Deven
Morgensen, Village Clerk, Tami Koons. Village Treasurer, Marissa Marquith was absent. Also present was Chet
VanRaalte, Zach Winter, Dave Fosler, Jerry and Fran Edwards. Nathan Wills entered at 6:53pm.
PRESIDENT PRO-TEM
Foley moved; Werner seconded to appoint Nicole Winter as President Pro-Tem. All voted aye.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Regular Meeting August 25, 2025 – Werner moved; Foley seconded to approve the
regular meeting minutes from August 25, 2025, to be approved as read. All voted aye.
TREASURERS REPORT
In Marissa’s absence Nicole Winter reviewed the treasurer’s report. 1) The motor fuel tax (MFT) CD matured today, and
Apple River State Bank changed the CD term from a 7 month to a 5-month term. Winter recommended to rollover to a new
CD at 4.01% for a total of $170,000.00 for a 5-month term. Foley moved; Morgensen seconded to approve the Motor fuel
tax CD roll over for 5 months at 4.01% for a total of $170,000.00 as presented. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. Hesselbacher moved; Altfillisch seconded to approve the Treasurer's Report as
presented and to place it on file. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
APPROVAL OF BILLS
The monthly bills were reviewed. 1) Any resident or business that is overdue (more than 2 months) for water/sewer
payments will be receiving a disconnect notice within the next 30-45 days. 2) Chet submitted a reimbursement receipt for
$105.59 for hardware. 3) Morgensen created a dual control form for bill pay for two (2) members of the Finance Committee
to sign each month prior to bill payments being approved. Hesselbacher moved; Werner seconded that the August bills be
approved for payment. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
CITIZENS COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS
A) Citizens Comments – 1) A complaint was received for personal fireworks within the Village. The Board discussed
that residents need to continue to call Jo Daviess County law enforcement as these instances arise.
B) SM Chamber – None.
C) Contact Us Submissions – 1) An anonymous complaint was submitted through the "Contact Us" form in the Weekly
Visitor regarding dogs barking between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM at 102 Clark Ave. The board will send a letter to
inform the residents of the noise ordinance. No follow-up requested. 2) Bob Wachter states that he is trying to sell his
house and complains of excessive vehicles on the streets and on residential lots on and around Wills Garage. The last
letter from the Village to Wills Garage did state that if items mentioned were not removed, they would be removed at
the owner’s expense with additional fines. The court date has been set for October 15, 2025. Nicole Winter will attend
this court date.
D) FOIA Requests – None.
E) Other – Jerry Edwards inquired if anyone heard about 4-gun shots at 2:00 AM on Sunday morning on August 21,
2025. The board discussed and was unsure where shots came from.
ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE LAW REPORT
A) Nathan Wills for Will Garage court date set for 10/15/2025 Nicole Winter will attend this court date.
PUBLIC WORKS
A) Monthly Report –
1) Chet VanRaalte reported with mowing slowing down he has been working on the shed and doors are in as well as
completing some cold patch.
2) “No Trucks” Sign Purchase Request – Chet requested two (2) “No Truck” signs at $70.00 and two (2) arrow
signs at $65.50 also, add two (2) brackets about $20.00 each for a total of $175.50. Foley moved; Werner seconded to
purchase the No Truck Signs and 2 brackets totaling $175.50. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
3) Pallet Fork Purchase Request – Chet requested the purchase of a pallet fort for $895.00. Altfillisch moved;
Hesselbacher seconded to purchase the pallet fork for $895.00. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
ZONING REPORT
A) Monthly Report – 1) Zach Winter reported that one compliance form was received for a bond relating to Kudronwicz’s
solar project.
OLD BUSINESS
A) Water Main Replacement – Winter and Altfillisch reported that they met with Louie’s Trenching. Louie’s Trenching
is going to do a couple small pothole samples to locate the old water line and existing to figure out a plan and get
figures to the Village.
B) IML Conference – Winter and Morgensen attended the conference and reported on key takeaways.
C) Truck Route and Street Signage – The new truck route signage has been displayed.
D) Electronic Recycling Event – Winter reported that this event was successful again. Winter reported that 70 cars came
through to recycle. The board discussed looking at additional event options for next year.
E) MFT Audit Fiscal Year 2023 – No update has been received at this time.
F) Unemployment Benefits Appeal – The Unemployment agency of Illinois ruled in the favor of the Village of Scales
Mound.
G) Utility Rate Ordinance – This topic was tabled as the Village is pending a response from Attorney, Hailey Wills.
H) Village Shop Repairs – 1) The doors are installed, the ceiling is framed, the outlets are wired but insulation is
outstanding.
OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS
A) Street/Maintenance – None.
B) Sewer/Water – None.
C) Finance – None.
D) Park & Special Projects – None.
E) Public Events & Safety – None.
F) Trees & Sidewalks – None.
G) Ordinance/Policy – None.
H) Development – None.
NEW BUSINESS
A) Village President –The individual previously interested is no longer interested in the Village Presidency.
B) Set Halloween Trick-or-Treat Date/time – The board discussed setting the Trick or Treat time for October 31, 2025,
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Hesselbacher moved; Werner seconded to approve the date and time for Trick or Treating. All
voted aye.
C) Altfillisch’s Properties Request for TIF Reimbursement – Hesselbacher moved; Werner seconded to approve
payment to Altfillisch Property Care for TIF Reimbursement previously agreed upon. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
Altfillisch abstained.
D) Ventilations System – The IEPA requires a vent in the chemical room of the Well House., A quote was received from
Kloss-Winter Electric for labor and material to install exhaust fan with louvers (to come on with light switch) in
chemical room at $1,075.00. Foley moved; Altfillisch seconded to approve $1,075.00 for a vent in well house chemical
room as required by the IEPA. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
E) Water Tap – Winter and Altfillisch reported that they met with Louie’s Trenching. Louie’s Trenching is going to do a
couple small pothole samples to locate the old water line and existing to figure out a plan and get figures to the Village.
F) Davis New Water/Sewer Connection – This topic was tabled due to no updates at the time of the meeting.
G) Mum’s Purchase from Daycare – 7 Mum’s were purchased from the Scales Mound Daycare totaling $100.00. Foley
moved; Hesselbacher seconded to approve the purchase of the 7 Mum’s. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
H) Shed Roof Repair – An estimate was received from Jeffery Construction for the shed roof repairs totaling $4,000.00.
Foley moved; Werner seconded to approve this bid for $4,000.00 with Jeffery Construction for the shed roof repairs.
On roll call vote, all voted aye.
I) Laptop Purchases (Maintenance employee/water & sewer) – Winter reported that the laptop used by village
employees needed to be replaced. The village will wait until a laptop is on sale before purchasing. Werner moved;
Altfillisch seconded to purchase a new laptop for the maintenance employee/water & sewer. On roll call vote, all voted
aye.
J) Digital Speed Signs – Winter presented two (2) quotes for two (2) different types of digital speed signs. The board
tabled this topic to obtain more quotes prior to moving forward.
K) Other – 1) Nathan Wills inquired about the $165.00 citation he received for parking vehicles on what he believed to be
a commercial lot. Winter clarified that the property in question is zoned residential, not commercial, and that Wills
Garage is not designated as a storage facility. As such, vehicles may not be parked there for extended periods.
Winter also noted that PODs are classified as portable buildings and must be removed promptly. Nathan Wills
responded that the POD had not yet been used and was intended for use once the house was demolished. Nathan mentioned he had contacted a structural engineer regarding the demolition. Winter informed him that the Village must
initiate contact with the structural engineer to conduct a property inspection prior to any demolition. Property owners
are responsible for covering the cost of the inspection. Nathan requested that the Village proceed with contacting the
structural engineer, and the Village Board agreed to do so.
BRAINSTORMING – Foley suggested we start updating the 5 – year plan.
CLOSED SESSION – Morgensen moved; Altfillisch seconded to go into closed session at 7:29 PM to discuss personnel.
On roll call vote, all voted aye. Foley moved; Altfillisch seconded to come out of closed session at 8:00 PM. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION – The board agreed that the vacancy of the Village Presidency will be advertised in
The Weekly Visitor to encourage candidate submissions ahead of the October meeting.
ADJOURNMENT – Altfillisch moved; Werner seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 8:00 PM. All voted aye.
These Minutes were prepared by Village Clerk, Tami Koons.