MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STAUNTON CITY COUNCIL, HELD IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, 914 NORTH EASTON ST., STAUNTON, ILLINOIS ON MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2019
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, August 12, 2019
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
ATTENDING: Councilmembers Maria Bodner, Brooke Wallace, Rick Johnson, Randy Hanks, Chad Plenske, Anthony Schrauth, Jeff Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe and Police Chief Jeff Doerr.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Scanzoni moved, seconded by Bodner to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:
Minutes
Regular Meeting – 07/22/2019
Collector’s Report
MJM Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$221.97
State of Illinois Forfeited Funds (Drug Forfeiture)--$1,823.26
State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$55,307.90
State of Illinois (Personal Property Replacement Tax)--$323.53
Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$2,731.37
Madison Communications (Franchise Fee)--$4,233.78
Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$10.00
Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$200.00
Staunton Area Ambulance Service (Dispatch Fees)--$500.00
Music Performance Trust Fund (Band Reimbursement)--$1,890.00
R.P. Lumber (Drainage Pipe Reimbursement at Stone Creek)--$3,769.92
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Restitution)--$100.00
Applications
Monthly Reports
Distributed by Office Manager
Claims
August 12, 2019
Business Licenses Issued
St. Michael Parish Octoberfest (Liquor License)
Staunton Volunteer Fire Dept. (Liquor License for Balloon Glow)
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Schrauth, Scanzoni, Bodner.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Motion declared carried.
V. GUESTS
Connie Frey-Spurlock, Director of the SIU-E Successful Communities Collaborative addressed the Council on how the Collaboration Agreement works. The program began back in 2017 and partnered with the City of Highland. They presented an awareness and educational program to prevent opioid abuse in high schools. The next year they partnered with the City of Godfrey and the public health students intereacted with residents while promoting a city-wide recycling program. Last year they partnered with the City of Alton and produced a marketing strategy to attract tourism and economic development as well as developing traffic and transportation recommendations for residential neighborhoods. They will be kicking off a program with the City of Edwardsville this fall evaluating parking solutions for downtown, providing data and suggestions for the new ice rink and teen center and contributing to the Earth Edwardsville plan to protect and preserve areas of historical and environmental issues. When the Collaborative started, they initially had 30 students involved in the program. By the time they partnered with Alton, 100 students were involved. The program in Edwardsville this year will involve nearly 300 students. Connie stated that the goals in the program are to provide rich meaningful experiences for the students to apply when they are out of college. The hope is to get the students excited about the communities they are working in with the hopes of keeping them in those communities. The Council thanked Dr. Frey-Spurlock for her presentation, and in turn she offered her business cards to everyone and encouraged phone calls to her at any time.
Joseph Cisler, of Scout Troop 34, addressed the Council regarding his upcoming Eagle Scout Project. His plans are to re-do the decals on the clock at City Hall, upgrade the lighting to LED lighting and replace the landscaping around the clock. He also plans to refurbish the working mechanism of the clock. The cost of the project is approximately $6,000.00. To fund the project, he will be selling the remaining bricks around the base of the clock at a cost of $100.00 per brick, and the bricks will be engraved. It will cost $15.00 to engrave each brick, so the $85.00 profit from each brick will go toward the cost of the project. The area around the clock will be closed when the work begins. The Dworzynskis from Carlinville will be the company doing the engraving and Eberhart Lighting from Edwardsville will be assisting in the lighting upgrade. Ray Duda is Joseph’s mentor for the project, and he is looking forward to starting this very soon. The Council thanked Joseph for his interest in preserving the clock, and everyone felt that it was a great idea.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Received a letter of resignation from part time police officer Lewis Haines III. The letter was dated July 15, 2019 and his resignation was effective immediately.
Received a letter of resignation from Zoning Administrator Michelle Heim-Streeb, effective September 16, 2019.
Received a letter of resignation from Ward 4 Alderman Ryan Pritchett. The letter was brought to City Hall on August 8, 2019.
The Staunton Police Department received a thank you note from “Mary” thanking the officers for everything that they do. A copy of the note is attached to the agenda packet.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT
Investments recently cashed in at Bank of Springfield CDARS Program:
Water Fund--$50,000.00 plus $897.53 interest
Civic Improvement Fund--$75,000.00 plus $1,346.31 interest
Sewer Fund--$50,000.00 plus $897.53 interest
VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS