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 27, 2020
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, April 27, 2020
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: Alderman Ailee Taylor, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, 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 and Jeff Scanzoni. Also attending electronically were City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading and Police Chief Doerr.
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
Bodner moved, seconded by Johnson to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:
Minutes
Regular Meeting – 04/13/2020
Collector’s Report
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$565.34
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$96.00
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E-Citation Fee)--$6.00
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehicle Fund)--$.50
Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$100.00
Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$5.00
State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$49,584.17
State of Illinois (MFT Tax)--$9,899.40
State of Illinois (MFT Renewal Fund)--$6,470.94
State of Illinois (Personal Property Replacement Tax)--$3,912.59
State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$6,460.01
State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$5,929.19
State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$479.87
State of Illinois (Use Tax)--$14,699.97
State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$52,918.13
Staunton Area Ambulance Service (Dispatching Fee)--$500.00
Ill. Counties Risk Management (City Hall Roof Insurance Claim)--$41,705.45
MJM Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$199.58
Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$24,145.95
Staunton Township (Parking Expansion for Ball Fields)--$6,000.00
Applications
Richard Brown (Park & Recreation Department)
Claims
April 27, 2020
Business Licenses Issued
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Plenske, Machota, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Motion declared carried.
V. GUESTS
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Received a letter and a copy of a Resolution approved by the Staunton Township stating that the Township has approved $6,000.00 towards the parking lot expansion at the Staunton Ball Fields. The check was included with the letter and Resolution.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -
Nothing to report.
PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –
Motion by Bodner, seconded by Plenske to accept bid from McGhee Heating & Air for furnace and air conditioner replacement at City Hall office in the amount of $6,596.00. Other bids received were as follows:
Scott’s Service Center - $6,681.00
Neuhaus Heating & Air Conditioning - $8,434.00
Neuhaus Heating & Air Conditioning - $10,684.00
At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni,
Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Scanzoni, seconded by Johnson to pay Invoice #8099 to John H. Crawford & Associates for Zoning Map Update in the amount of $702.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
FINANCE–
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Plenske to transfer the following vehicles and equipment to their respective departments:
2006 Mini Excavator from Street Department to Storm Water Department
2008 White Ford F450 Truck from Street Department to Storm Water Department
1992 International Dump Truck from Street Department to Storm Water
Department
2009 Grey Ford F150 Truck from Water Department to Park & Rec Department
2013 Dodge Charger from Police Department to Civic Improvement Department
(to be used by Code Ordinance Official)
At Roll Call Vote – 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 approve a 10% pay raise to City Collector Dennis Stiegemeier, effective May 1, 2020. Prior to the vote, some concerns were expressed regarding the lost revenue that the City isn’t receiving from the State of Illinois due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No one objected to giving the raises to non-union employees, but felt that it might be in the best interest of the City to wait until possibly the end of May, and then make the raises retroactive to May 1st. After a brief discussion the vote was taken. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Johnson, Machota. Nayes: Wallace, Hanks (both expressed that their reason for the no vote was to wait until the end of the month due to the concerns with the State fundings). Absent: None. Motion carried 6 Ayes; 2 Nayes.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Taylor to approve a 2.5% pay raise for all non- union employees, effective May 1, 2020, except City Collector Dennis Stiegemeier. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Johnson, Machota, Plenske. Nayes: Wallace, Hanks. Absent: None. Motion carried 6 Ayes; 2 Nayes.
ANNEXATION –
Nothing to report.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES –
Nothing to report.
JUDICIARY—
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Ordinance #2054 Authorizing An Agreement For The Purchase Of Certain Property Located At 114 South Elm Street. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Ordinance #2057 An Ordinance Making Appropriations For The Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2020 And Ending April 30, 2021. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Bodner to approve Ordinance #2058 An Ordinance Adopting The City’s Updated Zoning Map And Authorizing Its Publication. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Hanks to approve 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. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Wallace to approve 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. Discussion was held regarding the merging of the two properties that are involved. The properties can’t be combined in to one Parcel Number until the Ordinance is approved. A building permit for the said project will not be issued until the properties have been merged. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Taylor , Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Taylor, seconded by Johnson to approve Resolution #2020-05 Approving Bid For Purchase Of Real Property Commonly Known As 222 East Macoupin Street And Authorizing Its Sale. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Taylor, Scanzoni. Nayes: Plenske (felt that the minimum bid should be enough to cover attorney fees). Absent: None. Motion carried.
X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—
Nothing to report.
XI. NEW BUSINESS-
Mayor Neuhaus has been in contact with representative from the Staunton Baseball/Softball League, and the League has decided to follow the recommendations from the Macoupin County Health Department, and they will be cancelling the 2020 Summer Season. The League will be refunding any monies that have been paid for registration. Since the ball season has been cancelled, a discussion was held regarding the purchase of security cameras for the parks. A recommendation was made to possibly hold off the purchase until next year. However, if the cameras were to be purchased and installed, it would help in solving the vandalism problems that are happening at the parks. The security camera purchase will be revisited later in the summer. Alderman Bodner made mention that as of this time, the SWIBL has not cancelled their upcoming 2020 season. A decision will be made around June 1st.
There were also concerns expressed regarding loose bricks that may be loose and could fall from the building at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets. The questions was raised as to if there would be liability on the City’s part, should someone get hurt. Attorney Lading said the liability would fall back on the property owner. Public Works Director Kuethe will inspect to make sure the barricades are sufficient to protect the property.
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 Taylor seconded by Councilmember Bodner to adjourn at 7:32 P.M. All present voting aye, motion carried.
Prepared by:
Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk