City Council Meeting Minutes--March 13, 2017

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STAUNTON CITY COUNCIL, HELD IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, 914 NORTH EASTON ST., STAUNTON, ILLINOIS ON MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, March 13, 2017

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus led the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.

III. ROLL CALL:

City Clerk Stiegemeier called roll with the following persons

PRESENT: Councilmembers Maria Bodner, Rich Garde, Chris Birdsell, Herb Sievers, John Kolkovich, Chad Plenske, Ryan Pritchett, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Kathy Legendre, City Attorney Phil Lading, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe and Police Chief Jeff Doerr.

EXCUSED: Alderman Jeff Scanzoni.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Bodner moved, seconded by Pritchett to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:

Minutes

Regular Meeting – 02/27/2017

Collector’s Report

Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$400.00

Southwestern Electric (Utility Tax)--$908.77

State of Illinois (MFT Tax)--$11,049.39

State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$44,188.87

State of Illinois (Personal Property Replacement Tax)--$1,733.19

State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$50,094.84

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (FTA Warrant Fee)--$113.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (DUI Fund)--$76.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Court Fine Disbursement)--$800.44

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Restitution)--$10.00

Music Performance Trust (Municipal Band Wages)--$504.00

Applications

Darion West (Police Officer)

Eric Streeb (Park & Recreation Department)

Kurt Kozak (Full Time Police Officer)

Clyde Bradford (Park & Recreation Department)

Justin Marquis (Park & Recreation Department)

Daniel Odorizzi (Park & Recreation Department)

Claims

March 13, 2017

Business Licenses Issued

VFW Post 1241 (Raffle License)

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Garde, Birdsell, Sievers, Kolkovich, Plenske, Pritchett, Bodner.

NAYS: None.

ABSENT: Scanzoni.

Motion declared carried.

V. GUESTS

Buzzie Bertagnolli from Macoupin County Animal Control was present to praise the local Fire Department and Police Department for a recent incident that she was called to town for which required their assistance. On a Sunday afternoon, two weeks ago, Buzzie received a call to come rescue a dog that had climbed out of a window and was on the roof of a house. The local Police Deparment and Fire Department responded to her aid helping with the rescue of the dog. She thanked Josh Bruhn, the officer on duty, Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Maedge and three volunteer firemen for coming to her aid. Buzzie stated that Chief Doerr is “amazing” and she thanked the City of Staunton and the local police and fire departments for all of their cooperation during her time of service. She stated that she doesn’t get that same cooperation in all other towns in the county. The Council thanked Buzzie for coming. It is good to hear positive about our first responders.

Scout Leader Carol Bond and several of her Girl Scouts were present to ask Mayor Neuhaus to sign the Proclamation for Girl Scout Week, which is March 13-18, 2017. Some of the Scouts along with Mrs. Bond read the Proclamation, which Mayor Neuhaus will be signing and it will be displayed on the bulletin board at City Hall. This is the 105th anniversary of the Girl Scouts.

Several Girl Scouts and their leaders were present from Troop 145 to address the Council regarding a project that they are wanting to do at the Jr. Service Park. The girls would be cleaning and re-painting the pavilion and some of the playground equipment at the park as well as doing some landscaping and adding mulch. This work would be done to help the girls achieve their Bronze Award from the Girl Scouts. All work will be done by the scouts themselves and their leaders.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE

Received an e-mail from Zion Lutheran Church requesting to use the Fireman’s Park on Sunday, June 11, 2017 for their annual church picnic. They are also asking to have the park rental fee waived.

Received a letter from Girl Scout Troop 145 requesting a meeting to talk about the troop doing a clean-up project at the Jr. Service and Fireman’s Park

Received a letter from the Staunton Lions Club requesting to use the Fireman’s Park for their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 15, 2017 from 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. They are also asking to have the park rental fee waived.

Received a letter from Southwestern Electric Cooperative informing the City of Staunton that the cost for street lighting through the Cooperative will increase 50% on January 1, 2018. According to their records, this will increase the cost $78.50 per month or $942.00 annually.

VII. TREASURER’S REPORT

VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -

Nothing to report.

PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Motion by Garde, seconded by Pritchett to grant request from Zion Lutheran Church,

allowing them to use the Fireman’s Park on Sunday, June 11, 2017 for their annual

church picnic, with the park rental fee being waived. Ayes: Birdsell, Sievers,

Plenske, Pritchett, Bodner, Garde. Nayes: Kolkovich. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion

carried 6 Ayes; 1 Naye.

Motion by Garde, seconded by Bodner to grant request from the Staunton Lions Club,

allowing them to use the Fireman’s Park on Saturday, April 15, 2017, from 8:00 A.M.

to 1:00 P.M. for their annual Easter Egg Hunt. They are also requesting to have the

park rental fee waived. Ayes: Sievers, Plenske, Pritchett, Bodner, Garde, Birdsell.

Nayes: Kolkovich. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried 6 Ayes; 1 Naye.

Motion by Garde, seconded by Bodner allowing Girl Scout Troop 145 to do a

cleaning and painting project at the Jr. Service Park. Ayes: Kolkovich, Plenske,

Pritchett, Bodner, Garde, Birdsell, Sievers. Nayes: None. Absent: Scanzoni.

Motion carried.

Motion by Garde seconded by Bodner to pay Invoice #17-1967 to Illinois Codification Services for updates to the City code book in the amount of $720.00. Ayes: Plenske, Pritchett, Bodner, Garde, Birdsell, Sievers, Kolkovich. Nayes: None.

Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried.

Motion by Garde, seconded by Kolkovich to approve purchase of Kubota T2080 mower with 42” deck from Sievers Equipment Co., and trading a Kubota T1770 at a trade in cost of $3,100.00. Ayes: Pritchett, Bodner, Garde, Birdsell, Sievers, Kolkovich, Plenske. Nayes: None. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried.

FINANCE–

Motion by Pritchett, seconded by Plenske to approve Estimate #203 from Auto Sound and Security for new phone system at the Police Department and City Hall for a cost of $4,085.00. This will be paid from the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Budget. Ayes: Bodner, Birdsell, Sievers, Kolkovich, Plenske, Pritchett. Nayes: None. Abstain: Garde. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried 6 Ayes; 1 Abstain.

UTILITIES-

Nothing to report.

STREET-

Nothing to report.

PUBLIC GROUNDS-

Nothing to report.

TOURISM –

Nothing to report.

PERSONNEL –

Nothing to report.

ANNEXATION –

Nothing to report.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

Nothing to report.

JUDICIARY—

Motion by Birdsell, seconded by Plenske to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #1887 Denying A Zoning Variance For Property Located At 903 West Seventh Street, Staunton, Illinois And Granting A Temporary Use Permit. Ayes: Bodner, Garde, Birdsell, Sievers, Plenske, Pritchett. Nayes: Kolkovich. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried 6 Ayes; 1 Naye.

Motion by Birdsell, seconded by Plenske to approve Ordinance #1887 Denying A Zoning Variance For Property Located At 903 West Seventh Street, Staunton, Illinois And Granting A Temporary Use Permit. Ayes: Bodner, Garde, Birdsell, Sievers, Kolkovich, Plenske, Pritchett. Nayes: None. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried.

X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

Nothing to report.

XI. NEW BUSINESS-

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Plenske authorizing Mayor Neuhaus to sign Proclamation declaring “Girl Scout Week” March 13-18, 2017. Ayes: Birdsell, Sievers, Kolkovich, Plenske, Pritchett, Bodner, Garde. Nayes: None. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried.

XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION—

Motion by Plenske, seconded by Bodner to go in to Executive Session at 7:21 P.M.

to discuss Personnel and Litigation. Ayes: Sievers, Kolkovich, Plenske, Pritchett, Bodner, Garde, Birdsell, Sievers. Nayes: None. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried.

Motion by Garde, seconded by Bodner to return to regular order of business at 7:39

P.M. Ayes: Bodner, Garde, Birdsell, Sievers, Kolkovich, Plenske, Pritchett. Nayes:

None. Absent: Scanzoni. Motion carried.

XIII. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION –

.

No motions were made from Executive Session.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Plenske, seconded by Councilmember Bodner to adjourn at 7:40 P.M. All present voting aye, motion carried.

Prepared by:

Dennis K. Stiegemeier City Clerk