Steve Balich Editors Note: The window is still not fixed as of 1/13/2020 with now fix in site. Watch the video of the meeting Grant Spooner took, at no charge of the Township meeting.
The way the minutes are worded it is a little hard to follow. The discussion is for the most part about hiring a structural engineer for $8700 what is causing water damage to the Sports Announcers Tower on the Homer Township football field. The window according to the minutes has not been fixed since it broke in 2017 or 2018. Dan Hagan from Stallions Football got a price of $12,000 to replace all the windows. As of January 13, 2020 the window has not been fixed and the temporary Plexiglas cover has a inch to a inch and 1/2 opening around it. The Supervisor said water is not getting in, Mr. Hagan disagrees.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HOMER TOWNSHIP M E E T I N G M I N U T E S BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMBINED PLANNING/BUSINESS MEETING December 9, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. Homer Township Hall 16057 S. Cedar Road Lockport, Illinois 60491 Visit our Website: www.homertownship.com Draft approved by the Township Board 1-13-2020
#twill #tcot #sbalich #Homer Township
The Board of Town Trustees met at the Homer Township Old Town Hall, 16057 Cedar Road, Lockport, IL on December 9th 2019. Supervisor Pam Meyers conducted the Meeting of Township Board where the following official business was transacted. Also present was Mike De Vivo Highway Commissioner, Attorney Sramek, Homer Township Clerk Kathleen Kruczek and Assessor Karen Szynkowski. The Meeting began at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and ended at 8:02 pm 1. Call to order and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Supervisor Pam Meyers and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was performed. 2. Roll Call: Present Supervisor Meyers, Trustees Tom Fijan, George Offord and Ed Kalas. Absent: Trustee John Kruczek 3.
Matters from the Public: A. Tom Bell: Mr. Bell spoke on behalf of the Homer Stallions in regard to the football tower window/water leaking concerns. He addressed the need for clarification of a motion made by Trustee Kalas at the October Board meeting and the Boards alleged response to this motion at the November Board meeting.
Supervisor Meyers read aloud the October motion in question that was made by Trustee Kalas which stated “to have the Homer Township office move forward getting a proposal from Paschen Construction concerning the April 24th email that was sent out previously.” At the November Township Board meeting it was indicated that upon the Board’s directive Paschen /Job Order Contracting Program was contacted to develop a scope of work based upon the testing results and recommendations of WJE/structural engineers.
Mr. Bell questioned what he perceived as the Boards misunderstanding of the October motion and the inclusion of WJE/ structural engineers as he believes they were dismissed by the motion made at the October meeting. Supervisor Meyers indicated that all the Board members with the exception of Trustee Kalas were under the impression that the motion was advising to seek a scope of work from Paschen without dismissing the Structural Engineer’s findings. Adding that they have different functions; Paschen is not capable of giving a second opinion to structural engineers as they are contractors, and the structural engineers do not submit proposals because they are not Page 2 of 7 contractors.
Paschen has been contacted with the report from the structural engineers. To date, no scope of work has been developed, no proposal has been submitted and no contract has been awarded. Given that the motion made by Trustee Kalas made no mention of the opinions or dismissal of the structural engineers, nor was it indicated in the audio or minutes, she contends there was no misunderstanding at least not from the majority of the Board. She cited, there is a difference between a contractor and a structural engineer. Also, she had contacted all Trustees for clarification of the motion including Trustee Kalas.
Trustee Kalas indicated to her that the intent of the motion was to discount the evaluations of the structural engineer and just proceed with Paschen. However, the motion was vague and made no mention of terminating the findings of the structural engineer. Speaking with the other Trustees, she concluded they were not of the same opinion and the majority thought the WJE findings would not be discharged. Given their previous approval of WJE, they anticipated their findings/recommendations would be included.
She added, when a scope of work is going to be developed it must take into consideration the findings from the structural engineer. In an effort to clarify, Supervisor Meyers informed Mr. Bell that the Board had previously instructed her to get a proposal from Paschen to just replace the Football Tower windows. That April 24th email referred to in the October motion by Trustee Kalas was actually an email from the Supervisor to the Township Board reporting to them that during the site evaluation Paschen pointed out that the problems at the tower were not limited to the windows.
Paschen and the subcontractor discovered multiple sources of water intrusion and informed Supervisor Meyers that they were not comfortable just replacing the windows because it would not resolve the issues. The Board then authorized another site visit with Paschen to conduct a fuller investigation. Given the complexity and complications with water seepage at that time, it was Paschen who recommended a consultation with a structural engineer for a more definitive and detailed report. Currently the Township is attempting to schedule a meeting with Paschen and the structural engineers so a scope of work can be developed. This meeting never the less is now delayed because of the holidays and the early onset of winter.
Supervisor Meyers reiterated to Mr. Bell that the other Trustees indicated that they did not misunderstand the motion and were clear that the Structural Engineers findings and guidance would not be omitted from the scope of work but rather a necessary asset to resolve the issues presented by the football tower.
Mr. Bell also questioned as to why/and what grounds justified the denial of the FOIA request presented by Dan Hagan on behalf of the Homer Stallions pertaining to the Football Tower/water issues repairs and estimates.
Supervisor Meyers answered that the information was created in preparation of a bid and/or the awarding of a contract and therefore, will not be released to the public until a final award has been made. B. Dan Hagan: Mr. Hagan stated July of 2017 is when he first came to the Board with issues of dry rot in the football Tower. In the fall of 2018 a window blew out and was left open for a couple weeks. When this was repaired it was repaired from the inside in which it sat for an entire winter. Once plexi-glass was put in to seal the opening, which is still there, gaps were left which facilitate water infiltration.
Previously, he presented to the Board an estimate to replace all windows for 12,000 dollars from a contractor he solicited. He noted that the Township spent 8700 dollars on a structural engineer. Throughout this time frame, Mr. Hagan contends that two sets of windows have been replaced in other buildings with no need of a structural engineer. He is confused as to why a structural engineer is still being utilized given the October motion made by Trustee Kalas approving getting a proposal from Paschen. He recommends we simply show the engineering report to Paschen and proceed from there.
Supervisor Meyers answered that the difficulty of water infiltration in the Football Tower historically has been an issue longer than what Mr. Hagan is now reporting. Various Boards have attempted to rectify issues by replacing the roof and other remedies. At one point the issues were remanded to Committee to explore and it was tabled for Page 3 of 7 two years. She confirmed she did receive the proposal to replace windows brought forth by Mr. Hagan which was for standard windows and standard installation. It however failed to address the other necessary repairs or resolve other sources of water infiltration. She is uncertain if the company was a prevailing wage company or met the various requirements of doing business with a governmental agency as she did not contact them for the proposal.
She contends a comprehensive scope of work is necessary to resolve “all” water related issues and stop the damage to the building. In regard to the use of a structural engineer she relayed that question has already been answered to Mr. Bell (see Mr. Tom Bell’s commentary above).
C. Jennifer Consolino: Mrs. Consolino wanted to know if a discussion will be held regarding the May 13th, 2019 Executive minutes on this Agenda to be voted on to restrict or release with the public. Supervisor Meyers answered that while she cannot speak on behalf of the Board, when that portion of the Agenda is reached during this meeting she will receive her answer.
D. Steve Balich. Mr. Balich stated the Catholic Church is in the process of making a deal with 33c to purchase the Gooding’s School with the intent of building a preschool. He contends they will allow civic functions to occur there which in his opinion refutes the need for a multipurpose building being explored by the Open Space Committee. He added he voted for a multipurpose center in 2001 for the senior housing so the seniors would have a place to go. He believes there are lots of places for people to go in 2019 and a multipurpose center is not needed. He is against any monies being spent for a Multipurpose Center. Supervisor Meyers answered that she would challenge Mr. Balich to show proof of the Open Space Committee spending thousands and thousands of dollars which he claims. Mr. Balich retorted well your talking about it. Supervisor Meyers stated a committee can discuss all kinds of options. That the purpose of committee is to explore and research. She voiced her disdain for anyone who obstructs a committee from fulfilling its purpose.
Mr. Balich stated Mr. Hagan pointed out to him that he goes to the tower in the spring and all the windows in the Tower were left open. He concluded that’s where your water damage is coming from with all this rain. Supervisor Meyers added that if the windows are left open then it’s the sports groups leaving them open. The Township goes in at the end of the season to close the building for the Season. Furthermore, the contractors/ structural engineers have never indicated the windows being left open as a source of the water infiltration problems.
