MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STAUNTON CITY COUNCIL, HELD IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, 914 NORTH EASTON ST., STAUNTON, ILLINOIS ON MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Pro-Tem Maria Bodner called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, April 13, 2020
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Pro-Tem Maria Bodner led the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.
III. ROLL CALL:
City Clerk Stiegemeier called roll with the following persons:
ATTENDING: City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.
ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: Aldermen Maria Bodner, Brooke Wallace, Rick Johnson, Randy Hanks, Ryan Machota, Chad Plenske, Ailee Taylor, Jeff Scanzoni, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading and Police Chief Jeff Doerr.
NOT ATTENDING: Mayor Craig Neuhaus.
The Open Meetings Act requires that a quorum of members of the public body by physically present at the meeting location and allows for limited circumstances in which remote access is acceptable. However, Executive Order 2020-07, issued by Governor Pritzker on March 16, 2020, suspends the in-person presence requirements at this time, due to the COVID-19 Virus outbreak, and eliminates the limitation on remote access at this time.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Johnson moved, seconded by Bodner to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:
Minutes
Regular Meeting – 03/23/2020
Collector’s Report
MJM Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$208.49
Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$1,235.48
Illinois Public Risk Fund (Workers Comp. Payroll Audit Return Premium)--$1,806.00
Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$100.00
Applications
Monthly Reports
Distributed by Office Manager
Claims
April 13, 2020
Business Licenses Issued
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Motion declared carried.
V. GUESTS
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Received a letter and an information packet from the Macoupin County Public Health Department regarding the implementation of the State Tobacco 21 Law. Part of MCPHD’s plan to support the Tobacco 21 Law was to attend a City Council Meeting to address the entire Council in regard to Tobacco 21. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the department will not be attending a meeting, but they have provided copies for everyone to review. The American Lung Association gave the State of Illinois an overall “A” grade with relation to Tobacco 21. A copy of the information is provided with the agenda packets.
Received a letter from Madison Communications reporting their success in exceeding
requirements regarding complaint reporting to the Illinois Commerce Commission. A copy of the letter and their report is attached to the agenda packet.
Received a letter of resignation from part time Park & Recreation employee Brent Schmollinger, dated April 6, 2020.
Received a letter of resignation from part time Police Dispatcher Kathleen Fite, dated March 31, 2020, with the effective resignation date being April 12, 2020.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT
Investments recently cashed in at Bank of Springfield, CDARS Program:
IMRF Fund--$30,000.00 plus $127.15 interest
Insurance Fund--$20,000.00 plus $84.77 interest
Telecommunications Fund--$200,000.00 plus $847.67 interest
VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -
Nothing to report.
PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –
Nothing to report.
FINANCE–
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Hank to transfer $50,000.00 from the Telecommunications Fund to the Park and Recreation Fund, as budgeted. Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Hanks to transfer $200,000.00 from the Infrastructure Fund to the Storm Water Funds, as budgeted. Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Hanks to transfer $44,500.00 from the Infrastructure Fund to the Sewer Fund, as budgeted. Ayes: Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
WATER-
Nothing to report.
STREET / SEWER
Nothing to report.
PUBLIC GROUNDS-
Nothing to report.
TOURISM –
Nothing to report.
PERSONNEL –
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Scanzoni to advertise for part time Park & Recreation employees. Ayes: Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
ANNEXATION –
Nothing to report.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES –
Nothing to report.
JUDICIARY—
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Wallace to table Ordinance #2054 Authorizing An Agreement For The Purchase Of Certain Property Located At 114 South Elm Street. Ayes: Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
1st reading of Ordinance #2057 An Ordinance Making Appropriations For The Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2020 And Ending April 30, 2021
1st reading of Ordinance #2058 An Ordinance Adopting The City’s Updated Zoning Map And Authorizing Its Publication
1st reading of Ordinance #2059 Adopting Recommendations And Findings Of Fact Of The Zoning Hearing Officer And Granting A Special Use Permit For Properties Located At 200, 201, 202, 204, 206, 208, 211, 212 and 214 West Main Street, Staunton, Illinois
1st reading of Ordinance #2060 Adopting Recommendations And Findings Of Fact Of The Zoning Hearing Officer And Granting A Special Use Permit For Property Located At 222 East Macoupin Street, Staunton, Illinois
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Resolution #2020-12 City Of Staunton Resolution Of Support – Skeeter’s Pub, Inc. (Community Development Block Grant Program). Ayes: Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Resolution #2020-13 City Of Staunton Resolution Of Support – Russell’s Furniture, Inc. (Community Development Block Grant Program). Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—
Alderman Johnson informed the Council that he has received two bids for a survey
to be done on property near the interstate. Carl Nail bid $1,400.00 and John H.
Crawford & Associates bid $1,500.00. All Council Members agreed to pursue the.
lower bid.
Alderman Taylor stated that she would like to get the budget finalized in the very near
future, and is asking everyone to please look over the budget and see if they feel any
changes need to be made and let her know tomorrow. Taylor did say that due to a
$60,000.00 decrease in the Tax Levy, she will be working with Lori Grandone to do
some trimming on the budget.
Alderman Taylor would also like to keep things moving regarding the revisions to the
Chapter 40 Zoning Code. She recently had copies made for everyone to look at to
compare these proposed changes with the current Zoning Code that is on line. Taylor
would like to get the Public Hearing scheduled for the end of April, and then proceed
with the 1st reading of the Ordinance on the May 11th agenda. Aldermen Bodner
and Johnson both stated they had questions regarding the revisions, and will be
contacting Alderman Taylor.
XI. NEW BUSINESS-
Aldermen Taylor and Bodner discussed park usage by the Staunton Baseball/Softball League and the Staunton Soccer Club. Due to the current social distancing order in place, this would limit the number of people being on the fields for practices or games. Alderman Taylor thought that Mayor Neuhaus had possibly been in contact with someone from the Baseball/Softball League, so Alderman Scanzoni will talk with the Mayor and see if he has talked with a league representative.
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 Scanzoni seconded by Councilmember Plenske to adjourn at 7:28 P.M. All present voting aye, motion carried.
Prepared by:
Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk