City Council Meeting Minutes--November 25, 2019

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STAUNTON CITY COUNCIL, HELD IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, 914 NORTH EASTON ST., STAUNTON, ILLINOIS ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2019

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, November 25, 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, Ailee Taylor, Jeff Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Attorney Phil Lading, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, Police Chief Jeff Doerr and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe. Alderman Chad Plenske arrived at 7:03 P.M.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Johnson moved, seconded by Taylor to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:

Minutes

Regular Meeting – 11/12/2019

Collector’s Report

Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$19,045.18

MJM Electric (Utility Tax)--$189.36

State of Illinois (MFT Tax Fund Allotment)--$10,092.27

State of Illinois (MFT Renewal Fund Allotment)--$6,939.83

State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$35,606.17

State of Illinois (Use Tax)--$13,429.53

State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$6,104.19

State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$6,342.75

Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$300.00

Macoupin County Treasurer (Real Estate Tax Distribution)--$12,813.01

Macoupin County Treasurer (Real Estate Tax Distribution – Library)--$1,549.96

Macoupin County Treasurer (Interstate TIF Distribution)--$5.75

Macoupin County Treasurer (Main Street TIF Distribution)--$41.59

TDS Transport (Police Department Donation)--$500.00

Staunton Area Ambulance Service (November Dispatch Fee)--$500.00

Village of Livingston (Water Leak Repair Reimbursement)--$693.00

Applications

Claims

November 25, 2019

Business Licenses Issued

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner.

NAYS: None.

ABSENT: Plenske.

Motion declared carried.

V. GUESTS

VI. CORRESPONDENCE

VII. TREASURER’S REPORT

VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT

City Hall will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 28th and 29th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. All public works employees, except one water treatment plant employee, will be off those days as well.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -

Alderman Plenske arrived to the meeting at 7:03 P.M.

Motion by Taylor, seconded by Scanzoni to pay Invoice #3168 to Auto Sound and Security for labor and materials used in outfitting the new Dodge Durango police vehicle in the amount of $3,305.00. Approximately half of the cost is for labor and the other half is for additional supplies for the vehicle. Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Motion by Scanzoni, seconded by Hanks to pay Invoice #9087 from Hap Industries, Inc. (Christmas Décor Systems) for Main Street Christmas decorations in the amount of $3,472.00. This is the first payment of a three year agreement that was approved at the June 10th City Council Meeting. Ayes: Hanks, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

FINANCE–

Motion by Taylor, seconded by Bodner to approve change orders regarding asbestos abatement at the property at 129 East Main Street in the amount of $6,400.00, Ayes: Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Taylor, seconded by Plenske to approve Cost Estimate from John H. Crawford & Associates for Resident Engineering on the El Indio sanitary sewer main extension project in the amount of $28,000.00. Ayes: Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Plenske. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

WATER-

Motion by Hanks, seconded by Plenske to pay Invoice #15443 to Warning Lites of Southern Illinois for safety supplies in the amount of $2,625.90. This will be paid from the 2019 Illinois Public Risk Fund Safety Grant Award. Ayes: Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Taylor. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

STREET / SEWER

Nothing to report.

PUBLIC GROUNDS-

Motion by Plenske, seconded by Johnson to approve Temporary Construction Easement with Ameren Illinois for natural gas pipeline replacement on City property Parcel #01-000-349-00. Ameren Illinois will be paying the City of Staunton $20,360.00 for the Easement. Attorney Lading has reviewed the Easements and he is good with them. Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Plenske, seconded by Johnson to approve Permanent Easement with Ameren Illinois for natural gas pipeline replacement on City property Parcel #01-000-350-00. Ameren Illinois will be paying the City of Staunton $11,960.00 for the Easement. Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

TOURISM –

Nothing to report.

PERSONNEL –

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Plenske to approve Christmas bonuses to City Employees as follows:

$250.00 to Department Heads

$150.00 to Full Time Employees

$100.00 to Part Time Employees with more than 250 hours per year

Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None.

Absent: None. Motion carried.

ANNEXATION –

Nothing to report.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

Nothing to report.

JUDICIARY—

Motion by Wallace, seconded by Taylor to approve Ordinance #2036 Enacting A Policy Statement Expressing A Commitment To Encourage The Development Of Business Entities And The Hiring Of Individuals Defined As Minorities, Women And Persons With Disabilities Within The Macoupin County Enterprise Zone. Ayes: Hanks, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes; None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Wallace, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2037 Establishing An Enterprise Zone Within The City Of Carlinville, The City Of Gillespie, The City Of Bunker Hill, The City Of Staunton, The Village Of Royal Lakes And Macoupin County, Illinois Subject To The Enterprise Zone Act Of The State Of Illinois-Macoupin County Enterprise Zone And Authorizing Entering Into An Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement. Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

1st reading of Ordinance #2038 Authorizing The Levy And Collection Of Taxes

For The Corporate And Municipal Purposes Of The City Of Staunton , Macoupin

County, Illinois For The Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2019 And Ending April

30, 2020

1st reading of Ordinance #2039 Approving An Annexation Agreement With

David & Kristie Rucker To Annex Property Located At 952 Rucker Lane,

Staunton, IL To The City Of Staunton, Illinois

1st reading of Ordinance #2040 Approving An Annexation Agreement With

JICTB, Inc. by Roy Burch, Manager To Annex Property Located At 2312 Route

4, Staunton, IL To The City Of Staunton, Illinois

Prior to any motions being made regarding Ordinance #2041, Alderman Bodner

expressed several concerns regarding the passing of the Ordinance. Bodner stated

a committee meeting was held on August 5 and some business owners were present

at the meeting to show their concerns regarding a noise ordinance. A committee

meeting was held on September 3, but no minutes have been sent from that meeting

to show if a discussion was held regarding the issue. Bodner stated that she has

issues with waiving the 1st reading of the Ordinance tonight and then passing the

same. Alderman Taylor stated that there was no communication since the August

committee meeting, and that she too was concerned with the Ordinance being placed

on tonight’s agenda for approval. Taylor stated that she is not opposed to creating a

Noise Ordinance, but opposed to the way that this has been handled. Alderman

Johnson spoke up and said that he did not feel that this Ordinance was drafted in

secrecy and that Mayor Neuhaus had asked for an Ordinance to be created at the

August committee meeting. Alderman Wallace asked what the problems were with

the Ordinance, and what needs to be modified. Taylor felt that the Ordinance should

be created with a comparison made to a municipality near Staunton. Alderman

Wallace stated that a comparison was made using an Ordinance in place in Glen

Carbon. After discussion, it was decided to have the 1st reading of Ordinance #2041

at tonight’s City Council Meeting, and them have the approval on the agenda for the

December 9th meeting to allow more time for further discussion.

1st reading of Ordinance #2041 An Ordinance Adding Chapter 25, Article IV To The City Code Prohibiting Noise Nuisances Within The City. Ayes:

Motion by Wallace, seconded by Johnson to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #2042 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Salvation Army At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union (December 14 and 21, 2019). Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: Hanks. Absent: None. Motion carried 6 Ayes; 1 Naye.

Motion by Wallace, seconded by Bodner to approve Ordinance #2042 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Salvation Army At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union (December 14 and 21, 2019). Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

Alderman Taylor asked if everyone was in agreement to send the Staunton School

Board the red line version of the School Resource Officer document. Since Dan Cox,

Superintendent, is resigning, Alderman Wallace thought it may be best to make sure

that his replacement would still be on board with the hiring of the SRO. Taylor stated

that several school board members have just returned from a conference in Chicago,

this was a topic that was discussed at the meeting, so she felt the board may want to

move regarding the issue. Mayor Neuhaus will reach out to the School Board

President and report back to the City Council.

XI. NEW BUSINESS-

Alderman Taylor asked where the money should be deposited from the Ameren Easements. Attorney Lading suggested someplace in the General Fund, but the exact

place will be determined.

XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION—

No Executive Session was held.

XIII. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION –

.

No motions were made from Executive Session.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Bodner seconded by Councilmember Wallace to adjourn at 7:30 P.M. All present voting aye, motion carried.

Prepared by:

Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk