Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Township for January 13, 2026

Manhattan Township Meeting | January 13, 2026

The Manhattan Township Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening to review administrative transitions, process grant paperwork, and approve monthly financial obligations. The meeting, which ran for an hour and 25 minutes, was overseen by Supervisor James F. Walsh, alongside Trustees Paul Woodcock, Bill McGrath, and Mark Yunker. Trustee Eileen Fitzer was absent from the proceedings. The board unanimously approved both the Supervisor’s expenses and the Highway Commissioner’s expenses, ensuring all township bills will be paid. Highway Commissioner Jim Baltas had no formal report for the evening. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 8:25 p.m. following a motion by Trustee Woodcock.

Township Awaits $30,000 State Grant Reimbursement for Front Loader
Clerk Kelly Baltas delivered an update regarding a $30,000 grant the township was awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Baltas reported that the first Periodic Financial Report and Periodic Performance Report (PPR and PFR) were due by December 31, 2025. The grant funds are structured as a reimbursement for a heavy-duty front loader the township purchased in the summer of 2025. Because this is a direct reimbursement, Baltas noted the township will only be required to submit one set of reports before receiving the money. Once the reports are approved, the township expects to receive the $30,000 funding within three to four weeks, after which a final close-out report will be filed.

Assessor Transition Minimizes Departmental Expenses
During the finance report, the board reviewed the expenditures for the Assessor’s Office. It was noted in the minutes that due to the ongoing transition from outgoing Assessor Oldani to incoming Assessor Kristen Blaser, the department’s expenses for the period were minimal. The only expenditures reported for the Assessor’s Office were the standard salaries for Assessor Oldani and staff member Amy Spesia.

Economic Interest Statements and Newsletter Deadlines
Clerk Kelly Baltas reminded the board of several upcoming administrative deadlines. The list of Township Statement of Economic Interest filers must be submitted to Will County by February 1, 2026; Baltas noted that newly installed Assessor Blaser was the only update to the township’s list this year. Additionally, the deadline to submit articles for the Village newsletter is set for February 12. This upcoming edition of the newsletter will cover the months of April, May, and June.