Hampshire grows to need police pension fund, panel

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Updated: March 6, 2012 8:15AM

HAMPSHIRE — The village is moving ahead with creation of a police pension fund and board to administer it in the wake of census data showing its population has risen to more than 5,000 residents.

Village President Jeffrey Magnussen has appointed Hampshire residents Christopher Hessenflow, a certified financial planner, and Chris Speicher, of Fifth Third Bank, to serve on the newly created board. The village board approved the appointments Thursday night.

Their terms will begin in May. Hessenflow’s term will expire in April 2013. Speicher’s term will end in April 2014.

According to Illinois law, a police pension fund and board should be established when the population of a municipality exceeds 5,000. The 2010 census confirmed the village’s population at 5,563.

The village board approved an ordinance establishing both the police pension fund and pension board of trustees. According to Village Administrator Doug Maxeiner, the ordinance also addresses the powers and duties of the pension board and requires that the pension fund be segregated from all other municipal funds.

The five members of the police pension board are to include two appointed by the village president and approved by the village board; two elected from the active, sworn members of the village police department; and one elected by the retired participants of the police pension fund.

The board will temporarily operate with four members because there are currently no retired participants of the pension plan, Maxeiner said.

Power program

In other business, the village board approved an agreement with Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative Inc. for a consultant and brokerage services if voters approve seeking a new electric power provider.

“The village board decided to put the question of an ‘opt-out’ electrical aggregation program on the March 20, 2012, ballot for the residents of the village,” Maxeiner said. “To adequately address resident education before and after the referendum, conduct the bidding process for electrical aggregation, and coordinate the transition process, village staff proposes to use the services of a consultant specializing in the electric utility market.”

David Hoover started NIMEC and has been a utility consultant to local governments for more than 20 years. Pingree Grove, Gilberts, Sycamore and South Elgin are using NIMEC for their March referendums, Maxeiner said. Elburn and North Aurora used NIMEC last year.

NIMEC will not charge a fee directly to the village but would receive a flat rate per kilowatt from the eventual supplier.

“Even with the rate provided to the consultant, residents will likely see a significant savings over their current supplier and may see a savings on the supply portion of the electrical bill of 20 to 25 percent,” Maxeiner said.

GIS System

Trustee George Brust thanked Village Clerk Linda Vasquez for her help with the village’s GIS (geographic information system) program.

Brust said the GIS program is an integral part of the 911 program. When a person calls 911, satellite information can provide addresses for emergency personnel. However, after Brust looked at the village’s program, he noticed that a number of village properties had only a property identification number but no physical address. Vasquez was able to provide all addresses in the village that have water services.

“I had a meeting with Kane County GIS Technologies yesterday,” Brust said. “Now nobody will have a question about an address in Hampshire when a call to 911 is made.”