Winfield trustees explore lifting restrictions

A policy that limits interaction between developers and village trustees in Winfield could be on its way out.

During the first meeting that included three newly elected trustees and one appointed just last month, trustees Jay Olson and newly elected Tim Allen said they would like the board to consider a change in order to allow a more personal touch for prospective developers.

“It limits officials that are key to the process in terms of developers trying to understand what direction the board would go,” Olson said. “I think we should tackle that sooner rather than later.”

The comments followed what appeared to be a civics lesson for the new trustees during which village attorney Kathy Elliott reviewed several ethics-related policies in the village’s code, among them interaction between developers and trustees, conflicts of interest, and official misconduct.

Elliott told trustees that the rule limiting access from developers helps avoid confusion as to who is authorized to speak on the village’s behalf.

“The village does not want mixed messages going out or confusion with who does what in this area,” she said.

The policy outlines a process trustees must follow to notify village Manager Curt Barrett and village President Deb Birutis if a developer contacts them.

“I am going to work to change it,” Allen said of the policy.

The meeting also addressed the village’s ongoing struggle to pay for road repairs, with trustees taking turns bringing up ideas that included special service areas and new technologies.

Village Engineer Dan Watson said the roads remain a priority but, with two failed road referendums behind it, the village’s options were limited.

“It’d be nice if the village had enough money to rejuvenate the roads on a 20-year cycle, do crack sealing ... but there is a certain limited budget I have been given to deal with,” he said.

Earlier in the meeting, outgoing trustee Cliff Mortenson praised the new trustees, Allen, Tony Reyes and Jim Hughes, and indicated that the voters had made the right choice.

“I think (the voters) made the right decision for Winfield,” he said. “If they want change, I’m sure they are going to get it but change is not always bad. Maybe we need a little change in this town.”