City Council Meeting Minutes--April 12, 2021

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STAUNTON CITY COUNCIL, HELD IN THE RALPH & JOSEPHINE OLTMANN COMMUNITY CENTER, 101 W. PEARL ST., STAUNTON, ILLINOIS ON MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, April 12, 2021

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus led the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.

III. ROLL CALL:

Prior to roll call being taken, City Clerk Stiegemeier announced that tonight’s City Council Meeting was being conducted remotely and was being recorded due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

City Clerk Stiegemeier called roll with the following persons:

ATTENDING: Aldermen Maria Bodner, Brooke Wallace, Rick Johnson, Ryan Machota, John Moore and Jeff Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading, Police Chief Jeff Doerr and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.

ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: Alderman Randy Hanks.

NOT ATTENDING: Alderman Chad Plenske.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

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

Minutes

Regular Meeting – 03/22/2021

Collector’s Report

Staunton Police Department (Witness/Deposition Fee)--$20.00

Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$10.00

Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$300.00

Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$1109.30

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$1,024.41

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$81.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E-Citation Fee)--$6.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehicle Fund)--$20.50

State of Illinois (Rebuild Illinois Bond Grant Installment #3)--$56,446.72

Applications

None

Monthly Reports

Distributed by Bookkeeper

Claims

April 12, 2021

Business Licenses Issued

Masks by Maris

Staunton High School Girls Soccer (Raffle License)

Concordia Hall, Inc. (Raffle License)

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner.

NAYS: None.

ABSENT: Plenske.

Motion declared carried.

V. GUESTS

Lily Dothager, speaking for Girl Scout Troop #6145, addressed the City Council regarding the project that the girls are working on to achieve their Girl Scout Silver Award Project. The girls are wanting to have a designated “city tree” for the City of Staunton and they are going to pick four or five trees and have the elementary students at Staunton Elementary School and Zion Lutheran School narrow the choice down to one tree. Lily was wanting to get approval from the Council, and after the tree has been chosen, she would like for the Council to proclaim the children’s choice as the City tree. The trees will be given to the children to take and have planted at their own personal properties, but before any trees would be planted on City property, approval would need to be given by the Council. It was also suggested to have clearance with the City making sure that the tree of choice wouldn’t be a “nuisance tree”. The girls will be contacting the City once a tree has been chosen.

Local resident Karen Fajardo was present to address concerns regarding internet service from Madison Communications. Ms. Fajardo has done some research with neighboring towns regarding their internet service/provider, and she has found that several of these towns are being offered faster internet service at a much lesser price than Staunton residents are paying. A copy of Ms. Fajardo’s spread sheet is attached with the minutes showing the results of her research. She is planning to talk with Madison to see if anything can be done to increase internet speed and service, but she wanted to bring her concerns to the City Council’s attention. Several Council Members thanked Karen for all of her work done to create the spread sheet, and everyone hopes she has success in her contact with Madison.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE

Received a letter from Vicki Renner of Pearl Essence Studio requesting to close North Wood Street from Main Street to the alley (Duda Drive) on May 8, 2021, from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. for Pearl Essence Studio’s Annual Street Party. A copy of the letter is attached to the agenda packet.

VII. TREASURER’S REPORT

Nothing to report.

VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT

It is time once again to complete Economic Interest Statements. Please complete the forms and return them to me by the April 26th City Council Meeting. Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan is asking for all Statements be returned to his office by April 30, 2021.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Scanzoni to close Wood Street from Main Street going north to Duda Drive on Saturday, May 8, 2021 for the Pearl Essence Studio’s Annual Street Party from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and also allow them to use the City tables and chairs for the event. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried. After the approval, it was highly recommened that Pearl Essence clean and disinfect all of the tables and chairs before putting them back in the table trailer.

PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Nothing to report.

FINANCE–

Motion by Moore, seconded by Machota to accept interim construction loan financing proposal from CNB Bank & Trust for temporary financing of the Ginseng Creek Culvert Project at interest rate of 1% and retention of Paul Marengo / Schiff Hardin, LLP to provide required interim loan documentation related to bond issuance. Prior to the roll call vote, Alderman Johnson made the following statement:

Before voting on this measure, it is necessary to point out all who are in favor of the Ginsent Creek Project as it stands; voting no will add an additional quarter of a percent to interest rates for the construction period of the loan adding approximately $9,000 to the interest costs of this project.

At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: Hanks, Wallace, Johnson. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried 4 Ayes; 3 Nayes.

WATER-

Nothing to report.

STREET / SEWER

Motion by Machota, seconded by Scanzoni to pay Invoice #5503800 to Vandevanter Engineering for Annual Maintenance Service Contract for Small Flygt Lift Stations in the amount of $3,282.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks. Nayes: None. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried.

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 Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2111 To Designate Handicapped Parking At The Ralph And Josephine Oltmann Community Center. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2112 Adopting The City’s Updated Zoning Map And Authorizing Its Publication. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried.

1st reading of Ordinance #2113 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Lions Club To Conduct Their Tootsie Pop Sale Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union

1st reading of Ordinance #2114 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 201 South Union Street, Staunton, Illinois

1st reading of Ordinance #2115 An Ordinance Making Appropriations For The Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2021 And Ending April 30, 2022

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Resolution #2021-08 Accepting Bid For Surplus Real Estate Located At 729 West Seventh Street, Staunton, Illinois And Authorizing Its Sale. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Moore. Nayes: None. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Resolution #2021-09 Accepting Bid For Surplus Real Estate Located At 313 East Seventh Street, Staunton, Illinois And Authorizing Its Sale. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Moore to approve Resolution #2021-10 Appointing Members To The Plan Commission For The City Of Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Moore to approve Resolutiion #2021-11 Authorizing And Providing For The Incurrence Of Indebtedness For The Purpose Of Providing A Portion Of The Cost Of Acquiring, Constructing, Enlarging, Improving, And/Or Extending Its Gensing Creek Box Culvert Facility To Serve An Area Lawfully Within Its Jurisdiction To Serve. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: Johnson, Hanks, Wallace. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried 4 Ayes; 3 Nayes.

X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

A discussion was held regarding curbside pick-ups for local businesses using cones to

block parking spaces. Several aldermen have been contacted by local residents asking

the cones be removed as to not take up parking spaces on Main Street. Since

businesses have opened back up, it was suggested that any cones and signs be

removed when those particular businesses aren’t open as to not hinder parking for

businesses that are open. Mayor Neuhaus will visit businesses using the cones and

ask them to have them in place only during business hours.

A discussion was held regarding the City parks and if they are currently open. The

parks are open but not all rest rooms are operational at this time. Signs will be hung

on rest rooms that are not in service. Playground equipment had been closed with

caution tape, however, most of that tape has been torn down. City Clerk Stiegemeier

stated that several parks have been rented in the upcoming months but people will still

be encouraged to social distance and wear masks.

Alderman Johnson stated that he has been in contact with Illini Tech regarding the

additional equipment that has been ordered for the remote meeting attendance. There

is a back order issue with some of the equipment. Johnson will be contacting Illini

Tech tomorrow to check on the back order as well as discuss with them the problems

that we are having with the current microphones.

XI. NEW BUSINESS-

Discussion was held regarding the rental of the Ralph & Josephine Oltmann

Community Center. It was decided that the center could be rented, but limiting

events to 50% capacity, which would be approximately 30 people. Additional

cleaning will need to be done after these events, and our current janitor will be

asked to do cleaning and sanitizing after events are held.

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 Bodner to adjourn at 7:38 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: Plenske. Motion carried.

Prepared by:

Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk