Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Township Annual Town Meeting for April 14, 2026

Frankfort Township Annual Town Meeting | April 14, 2026

Overall Meeting Summary

The Frankfort Township Annual Town Meeting convened at 7 p.m. April 14, 2026, at Frankfort Town Hall, with Town Clerk Nella Piccolin calling the meeting to order and the Pledge of Allegiance led by E.J. Dal Bello of Frankfort. The roughly half-hour session was a routine annual meeting: the electorate selected a moderator, approved the prior year’s minutes, delegated property authority to the Township Board, and received and approved the supervisor’s, assessor’s, and highway commissioner’s reports before a public input period dominated by praise for the township and discussion of senior housing. The meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.

Two items from the session are covered in standalone stories: the delegation of authority to the board to buy, sell, or lease township property at Lighthouse Pointe, and the unaudited Supervisor’s Annual Report and its fund balances. The remaining business is summarized below.

Moderator Selected and Sworn for Annual Meeting

The electorate selected David Smith as moderator of the 2026 Annual Town Meeting on a motion by Joe Kral, seconded by Nick George, with no further nominations and a unanimous aye vote. Nick George then entertained a motion to set the moderator’s fee at $150, which Hugh Stipan seconded; that motion also passed unanimously. Smith took the Oath of Office as moderator, administered by Clerk Nella Piccolin, before presiding over the remainder of the meeting. The selection and swearing of a moderator is a standard opening step at Illinois township annual meetings, which are run by the assembled electorate rather than by the board.

2025 Annual Meeting Minutes Approved

The electorate approved the minutes of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting, held April 8, 2025, on a motion by Jessica Kot and a second by Tom Kennedy. All members present voted aye, with no nays. The approval was routine and drew no recorded discussion.

Assessor’s Report Details 23,698 Parcels and Rising Count

A report on the township’s 2025 assessment totals was delivered, putting Frankfort Township’s parcel count at 23,698. The report listed residential property assessed at $3,160,957,124 (a market value of $9,482,871,372), farm property assessed at $11,373,269, commercial property assessed at $337,155,671, and industrial property assessed at $151,735,102, for a total assessed value of $3,661,221,168 and a market value of $10,983,663,504. The office handled 190 soft appeals in 2025, and the report projected that lot splits this year will push the parcel count past 24,000. Hugh Stipan moved and Jim Moustis seconded approval of the report, which passed unanimously. (See Editorial Flags regarding who delivered this report.)

Highway Commissioner Reports 130 Lane Miles, Outlines 2026 Projects

Highway Commissioner Bill Carlson reported that the 2026 inventory of all machinery and tools had been updated and filed with the Road District Clerk. Carlson said the Road District is responsible for maintaining approximately 130 lane miles of road and outlined planned and in-progress 2026 work, including roadway improvements, sidewalk and curb removals and replacements, ditching and culvert upgrades, and continued branch, leaf pickup, and mulch programs. Nick George moved and Jim Moustis seconded approval of the report, which passed unanimously.

Public Input Praises Township, Pushes for More Senior Housing

During public input, several residents praised the township’s operations. Ted Westerberg said he is happy to live in Frankfort Township and that things are going well from his perspective. Peter Czernik, a senior housing resident, praised the winter snow removal. Hugh Stipan said the township “does a wonderful job, and it goes unsung,” suggesting the township needs professional public-relations help to spread the word. Elisabeth Pardo, who lives in township senior housing at Lighthouse Pointe, praised the maintenance department’s work, promptness, and friendly demeanor, and volunteered to write an article the township could use for promotion. Jim Moustis urged the board to study expanding senior housing through a possible survey, referendum, and financing workshop.

Next Annual Meeting Set

The board noted that the next Annual Meeting of the Town Board will be held Tuesday, April 13, 2027.