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VILLAGE OF 1 2 3 KENILWORTH, IL 4 5 Village Board of Trustees 6 Meeting 7 August 17, 2026 8 9 Call to Order 10 11 President Kaz called to order the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Kenilworth at 7:00 p.m. on 12 August 17, 2026. 13 14 Roll Call 15 16 President Kaz requested a roll call, and the results were as follows: 17 18 Trustees: 19 Trustee Tim Ransford Present 20 Trustee Christopher Ottsen Present 21 Trustee Amy Hannus Present 22 Trustee John Gottschall Present 23 Trustee Matthew Lojkovic Present (Remote, Voting*) 24 Trustee Joseph Vitu Present 25 President Cecily Kaz Present 26 27 *President Kaz indicated that she was in receipt of a request from Trustee Lojkovic to attend the meeting 28 electronically in accordance with the Electronic Meeting Attendance Policy. As a quorum is physically present, 29 the Trustee will be authorized to attend electronically unless a motion is made and passed by a two-thirds 30 majority of those physically present to deny the request. Hearing no such motion, President Kaz deemed the 31 Trustee Present as a voting member. 32 33 A quorum was present in person. 34 35 Others Recorded as in Attendance: 36 37 Village Officials and Staff: 38 Michael Gagnon Village Clerk 39 Kathy Thake Village Manager 40 Heather McFarland Assistant to the Village Manager 41 Greg Jones Village Attorney 42 Donicio Silva Village Police Chief 43 V V I L L A G E O F V I L L A G E O F l l a g e o f Jordan Schmidt Management Analyst 1 Molly Burns Management Analyst 2 Donald Leicht Superintendent of Public Works 3 4 Others, signing in as displayed in Participant List: 5 Paul Ardizzoni 6 Garner Duncan 7 8 Approval of Minutes 9 10 President Kaz asked if there any questions or comments regarding the following minutes: 11 12 A. Village Board – July 20, 2026 13 B. Committee of the Whole – July 28, 2026 14 15 Hearing none, President Kaz then asked for a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Trustee Ottsen so 16 moved, and Trustee Gottschall seconded the motion. 17 18 A roll call vote was taken as follows: 19 20 For: Ransford, Ottsen, Hannus, Gottschall, Lojkovic, Vitu 21 22 Opposed: None 23 24 The roll call tally was six votes in favor, and none opposed. President Kaz declared the minutes approved. 25 26 Village President’s Report 27 28 President Kaz began her report by announcing two updates to ongoing projects: 29 30 A. Beach Improvement Project Update 31 To report on the status of the Beach Improvement Project, President Kaz invited Mr. Paul Ardizzoni of Bulley 32 & Andrews LLC, acting as project manager, to report to the Board. Mr. Ardizzoni presented photographic 33 slides of various aspects of the project that have been completed including an overview of access ramps and 34 of landscaping. He highlighted remaining work as “punch list” items including gating on Kenilworth Avenue, 35 guardrails on Devonshire Lane, and the cleaning and polishing of upper landing guardrails. He discussed 36 timing for completing the remaining work over the coming weeks. Trustees clarified the status of readiness 37 for public use, the date for final completion, the impact of construction disruption on the sale of beach 38 passes, the functionality of evening lighting, and the plans for celebrating the completion of the project. 39 Hearing no further questions from the Board, President Kaz thanked Mr. Ardizzoni for his presentation. Mr. 40 Ardizzoni thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve the Village. 41 42 President Kaz then asked management analyst Molly Burns to report on the upcoming completion of the FY 43 2026 beach season. Ms. Burns recited the expected schedule for ending the beach season officially, the status 44 of beach personnel employment, she described resident use of the facilities during the official season as well 45 as expectations for use and staffing during the early fall, recited a calendar of special events to take place, and 46 announced that preparations have begun for FY 2027 beach season. Trustees clarified the level of police 47 surveillance of the beach during the fall season. Hearing no further comments from the Board, President Kaz 1 Ms. Burns for her report. 2 3 (President Kaz inadvertently moved to Approval of Warrant List at this time. It was decided that this approval 4 would proceed and then the meeting would revert back to unaddressed agenda items under the Presidents 5 Report) 6 7 Approval of Warrant List 8 9 President Kaz then asked Trustee Gottschall to report on the Warrant List. Trustee Gottschall highlighted 10 Class B payments to be ratified as payroll related, and Class A warrant payments to be approved highlighting 11 payments to Bulley & Andrews for work on the Beach Improvement Project, to the Village of Glenview for 12 Police Department dispatch services, and to the Village of Wilmette for water supply. Trustees clarified the 13 status of final payments to Bulley and Andrews, payments to Ciorba Group Inc for work related to the Green 14 Bay Road Corridor, and for design work related to road improvements on Oxford Road. 15 16 Hearing no further comments from the Board, President Kaz asked for a motion to approve the warrants as 17 presented. Trustee Ransford so moved, and Trustee Vitu seconded the motion to approve the Class A 18 warrants in the amount of $1,333,882.33 and to ratify the Class B warrants in the amount of $152,183.44. 19 20 A roll call vote was taken as follows: 21 22 For: Ransford, Ottsen, Hannus, Gottschall, Lojkovic, Vitu 23 24 Opposed: None 25 26 The roll call tally was six votes in favor, and none opposed. President Kaz declared the warrants approved and 27 ratified. 28 29 (President Kaz then returned to agenda items under the Presidents report.) 30 31 President Kaz then asked Trustee Hannus as chair of the Zoning Code Update Working Group to update the 32 Board on its progress. 33 34 B. Zoning Code Update 35 36 Chair Hannus related the status of updating the zoning code with regard to residential matters as having 37 reached consensus among the working group while updates regarding commercial zoning matters were still 38 being discussed. Preparations are being made to bring updates regarding residential matters to the Board for 39 approval while discussions regarding commercial updates will continue into FY 2027. 40 41 Hearing no further discussion from the Board, President Kaz turned to Regular Scheduled Business and recited 42 the Items for Consideration by Omnibus Vote aloud. 43 44 Regular Scheduled Business 45 A. Items for Consideration by Omnibus Vote 46 47 2. Ordinance Authorizing the Participation in the Suburban Tree Consortium 1 2 3. Resolution Approving Change Order #1 with Testing Service Corporation for Material 3 Testing Services as Part of the Beach Improvement Project by Increasing the Contract 4 Amount Price by $26,911 for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $56,911 5 6 She then asked whether any member of Board would like to exclude any items from omnibus vote. 7 Trustee Gottschall requested that agenda item A.1. be excluded from omnibus vote and be 8 considered by individual vote. President Kaz honored that request and then asked whether there 9 were any questions from the Board regarding items A.2&3 before she requests a motion to approve 10 by omnibus vote. Trustees clarified the impetus for the change order by Testing Service Corporation. 11 Village Manager Thake addressed this matter to the Board’s satisfaction. 12 13 Hearing no further comments from the Board, President Kaz requested a motion to approve agenda 14 items A.2&3 by omnibus vote. Trustee Ottsen so moved, and Trustee Ransford seconded the 15 motion. 16 17 A roll call vote was taken as follows: 18 19 For: Ransford, Ottsen, Hannus, Gottschall, Lojkovic, Vitu 20 21 Opposed: None 22 23 The roll call tally was six votes in favor, and none opposed. President Kaz declared the ordinance authorized 24 and the resolution approved. 25 26 President Kaz then turned the Board’s attention to Items for Consideration by Individual Vote beginning with 27 what was agenda item A.1. and now listed as item B.1. 28 29 B. Items for Consideration by Individual Vote 30 31 1. Resolution Authorizing the Village Manager to Execute a Right-of-Way License 32 Agreement with Ezee Fiber Texas, LLC, of Houston, Texas for Residential Fiber 33 Installation 34 35 President Kaz invited Trustee Gottschall, as Chair of the Board of Trustees Finance Committee to present on 36 this item. Chair Gottschall recounted the Village’s introduction to representatives of EZEE Fiber Texas, LLC 37 (Ezee Fiber) in April of FY 2026. He described the intention of EZEE Fiber to install fiber optic cable throughout 38 the Village to offer internet connection services. The employment of fiber optic technology should promise 39 faster, more efficient internet connection services at competitive prices compared to present-day providers 40 with alternative telecom technology. 41 42 He went on to offer personal research he conducted around the telecom industry and the development, 43 employment, and installation of telecom technology. He described business strategies announced publicly by 44 EZEE Fiber involving communities around the City of Chicago, characterized the level of difficulty EZEE Fiber 1 has faced in pursuit of those strategies due to the intrusive nature of its installation procedures, suggested 2 that the problems other local communities have faced would be magnified by the Village’s efforts to bury as 3 much utility infrastructure underground as possible, and offered the possibility that emerging wireless 4 technology could develop sufficiently to compete with fiber optic effectiveness in the foreseeable future 5 hence obviating the need for intrusive installation of fiber optic cable. He then asked Village Attorney Jones 6 to present on the legal status of EZEE Fiber’s request for access to the Village parkway property to install its 7 fiber optic cable. 8 9 Attorney Jones recounted the history of Illinois legislation known as the Cable and Video Competition Law of 10 2007 which requires municipalities in the State of Illinois to grant access to telecom providers when 11 requested. He presented two options to the Board to address this reality. It could direct EZEE Fiber to 12 prepare permit applications in a piecemeal fashion guided by the specific location for installation throughout 13 the Village, hence resulting in multiple applications demanding time and attention from staff to execute. Or it 14 could pass the resolution under discussion presently to provide a more consistent, considerate approach to 15 permitting, allowing for better resident notice, the establishment of security funds to protect the Village 16 against damage, and the ability to impose a licensing fee. Trustees clarified whether this legal requirement 17 violates any existing Village codes or requirements, how this agreement compares with the treatment of 18 other utilities by the Village, the specific nature of the service EZEE Fiber will perform, the possibility of 19 opening the agreement to an RFP (Request for Proposals) process, the history of any comparable utility and 20 fiber optic installations, and the likelihood of successful installation given the extensive tree canopy and the 21 presence of sprinkler and pet protection systems. 22 23 President Kaz then asked Mr. Garner Duncan, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for EZEE Fiber 24 Texas LLC. to address some of the concerns expressed by the Board. He began by describing the methods to 25 be used to install the fiber optic cable while avoiding other underground utilities, the appearance of access 26 panels, the multi-step process followed to enhance precision of installation, and the high level of community 27 approval EZEE Fiber has enjoyed and continues to expect. Trustees clarified the location and size of access 28 portals, the likely phasing of installation in the Village, the identities of surrounding communities that have 29 approved a similar agreement, compared aspects of approved agreements to the proposal for Kenilworth, 30 confirmed that all companies properly seeking access to the Village parkway must have it granted, probed 31 EZEE Fiber’s experience with older communities possessing an extensive tree canopy, discussed the balance of 32 benefits and costs of postponing the decision, underscored the need to protect the tree canopy, urged staff to 33 engage any competitors with an eye toward cooperative and hence less disruptive, installation. 34 35 Village Jones suggested that, due to the provisions of the 2007 legislation, conducting an RFP is an option 36 available to the Board but would not likely accomplish its intended goal of maximizing the value of the 37 agreement for the Village, that there are provisions in the agreement to address the event failure to complete 38 the agreed services by EZEE Fiber, and that the Board has no recourse but to comply with the 2007 legislation 39 40 Village Manager Thake supported the agreement for its ease of execution and added protection for the 41 Village, did not support using an RFP process, and reiterated staff understanding of its duty to protect the tree 42 canopy. 43 44 President Kaz then asked Mr. Duncan to describe what next steps would be taken by EZEE Fiber should the 1 agreement be approved. Mr. Duncan took time to describe the history of high quality performance indicators 2 EZEE Fiber has achieved. He then described aspects of the installation process that will guide the timing and 3 location of installation. For competitive reasons he was unwilling to go on public record with specifics, but 4 suggested installation would begin in less than a year. Trustees discussed the placement and sightliness of 5 the access caps, the level of service improvement fiber optic will provide, the contrast between providing 6 internet service, like EZEE Fiber, and providing internet content, like NetFlix, and the pricing model EZEE will 7 employ. 8 9 Hearing no further discussion, President Kaz requested a motion to approve the item as presented. Trustees 10 asked to delay approval until greater due diligence around EZEE Fiber’s performance could be conducted and 11 resident feedback regarding the decision could be collected, discussed with staff as to how it should be done, 12 and offered research elements that could be important to stakeholders. 13 14 President Kaz then requested a motion to continue consideration of the agenda item until the September 21st 15 Board of Trustees meeting. Trustee Ottsen so moved, and Trustee Hannus seconded the motion. 16 17 A roll call vote was taken as follows: 18 19 For: Ransford, Ottsen, Hannus, Gottschall, Lojkovic, Vitu 20 21 Opposed: None 22 23 The roll call tally was six votes in favor, and none opposed. President Kaz declared the continuation of 24 consideration approved. 25 26 President Kaz then turned to agenda item B.4. and asked Superintendent of Public Works Leicht to present. 27 Superintendent Leicht described the benefits of pursuing a joint bid to the Board’s satisfaction. 28 29 4. Resolution Authorizing the Use of the Joint Bid Issued by the Village of Northfield 30 Pursuant to the Government Joint Purchasing Act, 30 ILCS 525/0.01, et. seq., with 31 Schroeder Asphalt Service, Inc of Marengo, IL, in the Amount Not to Exceed 32 $104,000 33 34 Superintendent Leicht described the benefits of pursuing a joint bid to the Board’s satisfaction. 35 36 President Kaz then requested a motion to approve the item as presented. Trustee Ottsen so moved, and 37 Trustee Ransford seconded the motion. 38 39 A roll call vote was taken as follows: 40 41 For: Ransford, Ottsen, Hannus, Gottschall, Lojkovic, Vitu 42 43 Opposed: None 44 45 The roll call tally was six votes in favor, and none opposed. President Kaz declared the resolution authorized. 46 Report from Staff 1 A. Community Development 2 B. Finance 3 C. Police 4 Police Chief began his report reviewing Metra commuter safety efforts, coordination and training on new 5 Tablets provided by the County Sheriff’s department, and traffic safety initiatives provided by the Illinois 6 Association of Chiefs of Police. He reported on crimes committed in the Village in July highlighting 7 consequences of adolescent children playing a game know as “Ding Dong Ditch”. He expressed concern that 8 its occurrence in the Village was escalating and needed to be addressed. Before asking Commander Ryan 9 Glew to address the Board regarding this escalation, Chief Silva recounted a meeting with the manager of 10 Plaza del Lago in Wilmette regarding traffic difficulties related to plaza merchandise and service deliveries and 11 their impact on residents of nearby Tudor Place in Kenilworth. He discussed resolutions to be pursued by the 12 Plaza del Lago management that should address resident concerns. 13 14 Commander Glew described the mechanics of “Ding Dong Ditch” as knocking on a door or ringing a doorbell 15 to elicit a response that is met with perpetrators disappearing before contact can be made by the target 16 causing confusion and, at times, a reaction of irritation. Receiving this response is the object of the activity 17 and once a reaction is demonstrated, it can lead to repeated attempts to solicit it and potentially record it for 18 social media content. While pursuit of the initial elements of the activity is not technically illegal, it can 19 escalate into acts that are illegal such as disorderly conduct, trespassing, criminally negligent property damage 20 and possibly unlawful chase and seizure of an individual. His recommendation is to report these incidents to 21 police, do not engage with these individuals, and do not detain these individuals against their will. He opined 22 that Illinois law is very favorable to juvenile perpetrators and taking matters into one’s own hands as an adult 23 can be risky. He supported the effectiveness of public education and engagement over ticketing and 24 enforcement. He concluded his report by asking if there were any questions from the Board. There were 25 none. 26 D. Public Works 27 Superintendent Leicht reported on the shortage of salt for clearing roads during the winter months. He 28 recounted his efforts to successfully find new suppliers but warned the Board that the cost for salt this year 29 will be higher. He turned his attention to summer storm damage of the tree canopy in the Village which he 30 characterized as minimal due to the ongoing policy of engaging in tree trimming of the canopy in the winter 31 months. He praised his staff for hard work addressing what damage occurred and urged the Board to 32 continue funding winter tree trimming going forward. 33 E. Legal Counsel 34 No Report 35 F. Village Manager 36 No Report 37 38 Business from the Public 39 40 President Kaz asked if there was any Business from the Public not listed on the agenda. There was none. 41 42 She then announced that the meeting would enter executive session, after which the meeting would be 43 adjourned. She then requested a motion to enter executive session. 44 1 Executive Session 2 1. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) – The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, 3 performance, or dismissal of specific employee 4 5 Trustee Ransford moved that the Board enter executive session to consider the appointment, employment, 6 compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee. Trustee Ottsen seconded the 7 motion. 8 9 A roll call vote was taken as follows: 10 11 For: Ransford, Ottsen, Hannus, Gottschall, Lojkovic, Vitu 12 13 Opposed: None 14 15 The roll call tally was six votes in favor, and none opposed. President Kaz declared the meeting would enter 16 executive session at 8:52 p.m. 17 18 Adjourn 19 20 President Kaz asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Vitu so moved. Trustee Ottsen seconded 21 the motion. 22 23 A roll call vote was taken as follows: 24 25 For: Ransford, Ottsen, Hannus, Gottschall, Lojkovic, Vitu 26 27 Opposed: None 28 29 The roll call tally was six votes in favor, and none opposed. President Kaz declared the meeting adjourned at 30 9:30 p.m. 31