By Jason Crane
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, and the City Council, honored an Aurora high school marching band that represented the City on the international stage, performing in Rome, Italy’s New Year’s Day Parade.
The Waubonsie Valley High School Marching Warriors embarked on a Rome New Year’s Tour from December 28, 2025, to January 4, 2026. The Tour culminated in a live performance as part of Rome’s New Year’s Day Parade at 3:30 p.m. January 1.
“This is such an impressive accomplishment for Waubonsie Valley High School, Indian Prairie School District 204, and the City of Aurora,” mayor John Laesch said. “You proudly represented our City at the international level, and I appreciate your talent and hard work.”
146 band members made the trip to Rome. Section leaders Lucas Adeli, Yarely Miranda, Emma Steinbauer, Alyssa Torres, Alyssa Tukker, and Bergen Wilzbach led the ensemble, along with faculty members Mark Duker, Chris Dandeles, and James Hairston.
“It was very exciting for our students to play in front of an international crowd,” Duker said. “We feel very fortunate to live in a community where families, students, and the City recognize the importance of this amazing international experience.”
Millions of spectators lined the parade route, while tens of millions of viewers watched the broadcast on linear television and streaming providers across the world.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the reappointment of Zayra Chavez and Rafael Martinez to the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board (AHHAB).
Chavez is a Ward 6 resident, and Martinez is a Ward 3 resident.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the reappointment of Zachary Bishop and Frederick Yanos to the Aurora LGBTQ Advisory Board.
Bishop is a Ward 9 resident, and Yanos is a Ward 1 resident.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the appointment of Ella Fahlstrom to the African American Heritage Advisory Board.
The nomination represents a new candidate, Ella Fahlstrom, a Ward 3 resident.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing an advance of $80,000 to OnLight Aurora for operational support. City officials aren’t sure at this time if the money will be a loan or a grant.
City government of Aurora documents show OnLight Aurora plays a critical role in managing and operating the city’s fiber network infrastructure for use by governmental, institutional, and commercial users. At this time, there are less than 20 customers.
Due to recent business challenges, OnLight is facing cash flow difficulties that threaten its ability to meet immediate financial obligations.
The proposed advance of $80,000 would be used to address outstanding liabilities and certain near-term operating costs, including vendor invoices and legal fees that are essential to OnLight’s continued functionality. This support is intended as a short-term measure to allow OnLight to remain operational while longer-term business strategies are developed.
Providing this funding will help OnLight Aurora avoid service disruptions, maintain vendor relationships, and continue delivering critical network services through the end of March 2026. In addition, it will provide the necessary time to explore sustainable funding and operational models for the future.
•Approval was given to a Resolution approving the appointment of Lukasz Tatara as superintendent of facilities maintenance.
•Approval was given to an Ordinance Amending Sec 25-267, Regarding Applications and Fees for Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishments.
Requesting approval of an ordinance amendment to Sec. 25-267 concerning the licensing requirements for Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishments to remove an obsolete County Health Department inspection requirement.
The purpose of the proposed amendment to Section 25-267(g) is necessary to align the City Code with the actual regulatory framework governing tattoo and body piercing establishments in Kane County. This change will remove an obsolete and impossible-to-meet requirement for applicants to provide “a certificate of compliance with or inspection by the county health department.” Since local health departments do not regulate these parlors, this amendment streamlines the licensing process, reduces staff time spent seeking non-existent documentation, and ensures the City’s requirements are accurate and enforceable.
The need for this amendment originates from the discovery that the Kane County Health Department does not regulate, inspect, or issue compliance certificates for tattoo and body piercing parlors. As a result, the requirement in Sec. 25-267 has been unenforceable. To maintain necessary public health oversight, City staff have already been requesting and accepting proof of a certificate from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), which is the actual regulatory authority. This ordinance amendment formalizes and corrects the City Code to reflect this necessary procedural change.
This amendment ensures that the city’s licensing requirements are clear and efficient for business owners, while maintaining the required standard of public health and safety through documentation of IDPH certification. This amendment has no direct financial cost to the City. The removal of the defunct requirement will slightly reduce administrative effort by eliminating the need for staff to address confusion and follow up on the missing County certification.
The City Clerk’s Office and the Legal Department will need to update the municipal code records and licensing forms to reflect the removal of Sec. 25-267. Staffing and procedures will be slightly simplified.