1/27/2026 - Empire Village | Regular Meeting Minutes

Summary

The Empire Village Council held a regular meeting on January 27, 2026, where several important decisions regarding water management, personnel, and community events were made. Key outcomes included the approval of the Water Master Plan update, staffing recommendations, and the organization of Winterfest.

Public comments

No public comments were made regarding agenda items, although Clay McNitt later raised concerns about the liability of developing property jointly owned by the Township and the Village and supported retaining the softball fields.

Parks and recreation matters

The council discussed the results of the Shalda Park open house. There was a debate over whether to remove one ball field and the need for additional public input on the proposed improvements. The council ultimately decided to table the Shalda Park plan, with the Parks Committee tasked to develop a strategy for gathering more public input.

Infrastructure projects

The council approved a motion to update the Water Master Plan by Gosling/Czubak for $16,200. Additionally, a motion was passed to amend the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to prioritize the purchase of the SCADA system this year.

Other Business

The meeting included additional agenda items such as approving the use of village property for Winterfest and an advertising budget for the DPW superintendent position. The Mayor also reappointed members to the Planning Commission, and discussions around employee health insurance occurred.

Financial Summary

The council approved payments totaling $8,188.23 in bills. The proposal for the Water Master Plan will have a financial implication of $16,200. It was also mentioned that further financial implications regarding health insurance and personnel wages would be discussed at the Budget Public Hearing.

Action Items

1. The Parks Committee will create a plan to gather more public input on Shalda Park improvements. 2. The Water Committee is to provide a rate schedule for the proposed 5% increase in water rates at the next public hearing. 3. Final rates for employee health insurance options will be discussed at the Budget Public Hearing. 4. Advertising for the DPW Superintendent position will utilize a budget of up to $500.