The Village of Industry has a new trustee: Sidney Hood. The village trustees voted unanimously last month to approve her request to fill an open seat.
Both Hood and Beverly Stuckwisch applied for the position after Tressa Wheeler resigned due to becoming deputy clerk. The village’s attorney had said serving on the board while also being paid as a village employee would be a conflict of interest for Wheeler.
At the board’s January meeting, Hood and Stuckwisch addressed trustees and explained why they thought they would be good candidates for the open position. Hood cited her experience as co-president of the Pinhook Committee, treasurer as a fire department trustee, and member of the township election committee. “I just want to help out the community any way I can,” she said. “I feel like I can bring a young perspective. I hope to be here for many years (and) raise kids here.”
Stuckwisch, who served on the board from 2017 until last year, mentioned projects she was involved with as a trustee and how much she learned as a result.
After the board voted, Trustee Tom Thompson addressed Stuckwisch and said his vote wasn’t against her—he just likes seeing younger people get involved with the board. He thanked Stuckwisch for her past service. President Staci Danner also thanked Stuckwisch.
Besides approving Hood, the board focused on the village’s various water infrastructure projects underway. Troy Rhoads of Benton Engineering, which is serving as the village’s project manager on engineering work, requested and received unanimous approval to bill the village $9,367.95 for more infrastructure work on the village’s water mains. This work will involve making a connection and adding some fittings and two valves, which Rhoads said would cause the water to flow “quicker and easier, with less disruption” when the board eventually tackles Phase II of its water project, which will involve replacing many of the village’s water mains. The board hasn’t yet received funding for Phase II but expects to have an update on that later this year. Phase I involved construction of the village’s new water tower.
The village superintendent, Keith Gorsuch, said he agreed with the timing of the work that Rhoads was proposing for the $9,367.95. “I really think it would be smart to do it now instead of later,” he said. He added that holding off on these repairs until Phase II construction is underway will result in more disruptions to residents’ water service.
Rhoads presented the expense as overall a net positive financially for the board, citing a recent change order that saved the board $25,000.
In addition, Rhoads requested and received board approval to bill the village for $20,000 in extra expenses. Rhoads said Phase II originally was expected to involve replacement of just over 3,000 feet of water mains, but now the firm is recommending replacement of more than twice that—around 6,700 feet. He said the result would be a better system that’s longer lasting.
Of the $20,000, $12,000 of that will go toward “engineering design services,” mostly survey work. The other $8,000 will go toward “loan-application assistance” as the firm pursues government funding for the project.
Rhoads said his goal is to have the paperwork and permitting for Phase II finalized by the end of March in order for the board to be eligible for funds.
In other business, the board unanimously agreed to install a drop box at the village hall that residents can use to make water payments. The drop box wasn’t necessary earlier when State Bank of Industry was processing water payments for the village, and residents were able to drop off payments there.
Now that Wheeler is fully transitioned into her new role as deputy clerk, she’s planning to hold regular office hours at the village hall. She previously had been working out of her home.
Since taking on the water department billing just under a year ago, she has been learning new software, processing payments, and fielding phone calls from residents. The board recently awarded her a $12,400 bonus for her work. This was beyond the $2,300 per month salary she’s also receiving.
Finally, the village’s attorney, Erin Wilson Laegeler, announced that she’ll be going on maternity leave this spring. A regular attendee at board meetings, she said she’ll work remotely for the board while on leave.
