Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Lansing Journal Publisher Melanie Jongsma joins reporter Paul Czapkowicz to introduce this video of the January 20, 2026, Lansing Village Board meetings. Paul became the default reporter at these meetings while Melanie was covering Thornton Township. With a new township meeting schedule, and new roles for other Journal staff, Lansing videos may become a regular part of the Journal's YouTube channel diet.
As Paul explains, the Committee of the Whole meeting included discussion of a proposed ordinance banning taco trucks and other pop-up food vendors. The example shown during the discussion is a popular taco truck commonly parked on Burnham Avenue.
Paul will be submitting a story about the discussion soon. In the meantime, the full meeting (both the regular meeting and the Committee of the Whole) is included in this annotated video.
0:00 - Introduction
5:27 - Village Board Regular Meeting
8:10 - Trustee Micaela Smith, liaison for the Finance Department and the Human Relations Commission, presents bills and payroll for approval
10:13 - Finance Director Brian Hanigan presents the Finance Department report
14:29 - Trustee Leo Valencia, liaison for the airport and insurance, requests approval for the Transportation Improvement Program
15:32 - Airport Manager Tom Gorski presents the airport report
17:18 - Trustee Saad Abbasy, liaison for the Fire and Economic Development Departments, presents ordinances related to Melt N Dip Dessert Cafe and a property at 1650 Thornton Lansing Road
19:50 - Fire Chief Chad Kooyenga presents the Fire Department report
23:00 - Village Administrator Dan Podgorski presents the Economic Development Department report
24:59 - Trustee Jerry Zeldenrust, liaison for the Police Department and Public Works, presents an ordinance regarding Lewisville Hotel Partners
26:06 - Police Chief Al Phillips presents the Police Department report
27:52 - Public Works Superintendent Earl O'Neal presents the Public Works report
30:33 - Trustee Ernst Lamothe, liaison for the Building Department, IT, LNN, and Marketing, invites department heads to share their reports
30:45 - Building Commissioner Zoran Savic presents the Building Department report
31:57 - Fabian Newman presents the IT and LNN reports
37:30 - Trustee Amy Nommensen, liaison for the Youth Center and Venue Operations, invites department heads to share their reports
37:42 - Director Aneisha Titsworth shares the Youth Center report
39:51 - Ken Reynolds shares the Venue Operations report
42:35 - Public Comment — Carla Yuknis of Carla's Supper Club speaks
47:41 - Trustee Micaela Smith mentions an item of old business before the meeting adjourns
49:14 - Village Board Committee of the Whole meeting
49:42 - Mayor's Report, including appointments to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
54:24 - Village Administrator report, including discussion of peddlers and itinerant merchants (such as the Taco Truck)
1:07:50 - Proposed contract renewal with Cornerstone Government Affairs
1:17:32 - Surplus Equipment Request
1:25:19 - Proposed contract renewal with Heaven On Green Landscaping
1:36:30 - Adjournment to Executive Session
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Make sure you receive all the local news The Lansing Journal publishes, not just the videos! Subscribe to The Lansing Journal's Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
=========
The Lansing Journal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, and we depend on support from our viewers and readers in order to provide the journalism our community deserves. Visit the Donate page on our website to make a tax-deductible donation: thelansingjournal.org/donate
Every dollar goes directly into the journalism and helps support this local newspaper as we serve our community.
MISSION
The Lansing Journal is the only newspaper in Lansing, Illinois. Our mission is Building Community, and we fulfill that mission by keeping our diverse community informed and connected through local independent news that is freely accessible.
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
Lansing Journal Publisher Melanie Jongsma joins reporter Paul Czapkowicz to introduce this video of the January 20, 2026, Lansing Village Board meetings. Paul became the default reporter at these meetings while Melanie was covering Thornton Township. With a new township meeting schedule, and new roles for other Journal staff, Lansing videos may become a regular part of the Journal's YouTube channel diet.
As Paul explains, the Committee of the Whole meeting included discussion of a proposed ordinance banning taco trucks and other pop-up food vendors. The example shown during the discussion is a popular taco truck commonly parked on Burnham Avenue.
Paul will be submitting a story about the discussion soon. In the meantime, the full meeting (both the regular meeting and the Committee of the Whole) is included in this annotated video.
0:00 - Introduction
5:27 - Village Board Regular Meeting
8:10 - Trustee Micaela Smith, liaison for the Finance Department and the Human Relations Commission, presents bills and payroll for approval
10:13 - Finance Director Brian Hanigan presents the Finance Department report
14:29 - Trustee Leo Valencia, liaison for the airport and insurance, requests approval for the Transportation Improvement Program
15:32 - Airport Manager Tom Gorski presents the airport report
17:18 - Trustee Saad Abbasy, liaison for the Fire and Economic Development Departments, presents ordinances related to Melt N Dip Dessert Cafe and a property at 1650 Thornton Lansing Road
19:50 - Fire Chief Chad Kooyenga presents the Fire Department report
23:00 - Village Administrator Dan Podgorski presents the Economic Development Department report
24:59 - Trustee Jerry Zeldenrust, liaison for the Police Department and Public Works, presents an ordinance regarding Lewisville Hotel Partners
26:06 - Police Chief Al Phillips presents the Police Department report
27:52 - Public Works Superintendent Earl O'Neal presents the Public Works report
30:33 - Trustee Ernst Lamothe, liaison for the Building Department, IT, LNN, and Marketing, invites department heads to share their reports
30:45 - Building Commissioner Zoran Savic presents the Building Department report
31:57 - Fabian Newman presents the IT and LNN reports
37:30 - Trustee Amy Nommensen, liaison for the Youth Center and Venue Operations, invites department heads to share their reports
37:42 - Director Aneisha Titsworth shares the Youth Center report
39:51 - Ken Reynolds shares the Venue Operations report
42:35 - Public Comment — Carla Yuknis of Carla's Supper Club speaks
47:41 - Trustee Micaela Smith mentions an item of old business before the meeting adjourns
49:14 - Village Board Committee of the Whole meeting
49:42 - Mayor's Report, including appointments to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
54:24 - Village Administrator report, including discussion of peddlers and itinerant merchants (such as the Taco Truck)
1:07:50 - Proposed contract renewal with Cornerstone Government Affairs
1:17:32 - Surplus Equipment Request
1:25:19 - Proposed contract renewal with Heaven On Green Landscaping
1:36:30 - Adjournment to Executive Session
=========
Make sure you receive all the local news The Lansing Journal publishes, not just the videos! Subscribe to The Lansing Journal's Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
=========
The Lansing Journal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, and we depend on support from our viewers and readers in order to provide the journalism our community deserves. Visit the Donate page on our website to make a tax-deductible donation: thelansingjournal.org/donate
Every dollar goes directly into the journalism and helps support this local newspaper as we serve our community.
MISSION
The Lansing Journal is the only newspaper in Lansing, Illinois. Our mission is Building Community, and we fulfill that mission by keeping our diverse community informed and connected through local independent news that is freely accessible.
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
