City Council Meeting Minutes--April 14, 2025

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 14, 2025

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

            Mayor Craig Neuahus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, April 14, 2025.

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:  Aldermen David Manning, David Dias, Kristy Berg, Ryan Machota,  Matthew McKee, Terry Tipler, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Attorney Phil Lading,  City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe and Police Chief Jeff Doerr.

   IV.    CONSENT AGENDA

Tipler moved, seconded by Dias to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:

Minutes 

           Regular Meeting – 03/24//2025

Collector’s Report

                       Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)-- $800.00

                       Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$15.00

                       Staunton Area Ambulance Service (Dispatch Fees-February & March)-- $1,000.00 

                       Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$1,534.39

                       State of Illinois (MFT Renewal Fund)--$8,671.04      

                       State of Illinois (MFT Tax)--$8,656.61

State of Illinois (Personal Property Replacement Tax)--$1,448.09

State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$88,646.42

State of Illinois (State Use Tax)--$2,506.19

State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$12,580.11

State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$630.08

State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$3,850.94

State of Illinois (Business District Tax)--$27,568.93

State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$69,988.81

Montgomery County Circuit Clerk (FTA Warrant Fee)--$33.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$2,870.20

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E- Citation Fee)--$10.20

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$212.50

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehicle Fund)--$2.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (DUI Fund)--$350.00

Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$28,782.46

State of Illinois (#7 Mine Ln/Herman Rd. Water Grant)--$262,435.50

Applications

                        Robert Primas (Public Works Department)

                        Matthew Batson (Public Works Department)

                        Dustin Estrada (Public Works Department)

                        John Mitchelar (Public Works Department)

                        William Whitfield (Public Works Department)

                        Donald Settles (Any Department)

            Monthly Reports

                        Distributed by City Clerk’s Office

            Claims

                        April 14, 2025

Business Licenses Issued 

                        Giaudrone’s Bang Bang Roofing

            Roll Call Vote

            AYES:   Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning.

            NAYS:   None.

            ABSENT:  None.

            Motion declared carried.

V.        GUESTS

            No guests attending requested to speak.

VI.      CORRESPONDENCE

Received an email request from Zion Lutheran School requesting to change the date of their annual Bike Day Event from June 13, 2025 to June 6, 2025.  The event was approved at the March 10th, 2025 meeting and this is just a request to change the date.

Received an email from Krystle Morgan, Girl Scout Troop 6390 Troop Leader, requesting to use the South Water Tower Park on April 18th, April 21st and April 22nd, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. for a Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt, with the park rental fee being waived.

Received a letter of resignation from Full Time Police Officer Xavier Zaragoza, dated April 10, 2025.  Xavier’s last date of employment with the City of Staunton Police Department will be April 24, 2025.

VII.     TREASURER’S REPORT

Certificate of Deposit recently purchased at Bank of Hillsboro for 5 months at 4.20%:

Interstate TIF Fund --  $50,000.00

VIII.   CITY CLERK’S REPORT

Economic Interest Statements for the 2025 calendar year are due to Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan by May 1st, 2025.  I have put copies of the forms in your mailboxes, however, these can be completed and submitted on line as well.  If you decide to complete the printable form, please return them to me prior to May 1st and I’ll send them all to the County Clerk at one time.

IX.      COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY  -

Motion by Manning, seconded by McKee to pay Invoice #INUS195591 to Axon Enterprise, Inc. for payment on Axon Body Cameras in the amount of $1,790.47.  This will be paid from budget line item 01.21.471.1.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by McKee to grant request from Zion Lutheran School to change the date of their annual Bike Day Event from June 13, 2025 to June 6, 2025.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

            PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Manning to grant request from Girl Scout Troop 6390 to use the South Water Tower Park on April 18th, April 21st and April 22nd from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. for a Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt, with the park rental fee being waived.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:   McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Alderman Tipler made special mention that the Eagle Scout Project being completed by Eli Henke at Duda Garden has been finished.  Eli installed new benches at the park and they look fantastic!

Several years ago, one of the Girl Scout Troops made the Eastern Red Bud as the City Tree in Staunton.  One of the trees was planted on the west side of the Zion Lutheran School Gymnasium, and Mayor Neuhaus stated that this is the first year that the tree has bloomed. 

FINANCE–

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to pay Invoice #912520 to Sandberg Phoenix for Professional Services Rendered regarding Special Projects in the amount of $1,155.43.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried.

WATER-

Motion by Berg, seconded by McKee to pay Invoice #9888 from PSC Engineering for engineering completed on the Herman Road Water Main Extension Project in the amount of $37,913.00.  This will be paid from budget line item 51.42.865.0.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried.

Motion by Berg, seconded by McKee to pay Invoice #2495 to A&A Drilling, Inc. for directional bore on the Herman Road water main extension projects in the amount of $6,480.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

STREET / SEWER

Nothing to report.

            PUBLIC GROUNDS-

Nothing to report.

            TOURISM –

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to pay Staunton Fire Department $2,250.00 for their Dueling Pianos event that will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at the Homecoming Celebration.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by McKee to approve spending $56,000.00 for expenses to be incurred at the Route 66 Park.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

PERSONNEL –

Motion by Dias, seconded by McKee to approve hiring Sean Shive as a Full Time Police Dispatcher.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Dias, seconded by McKee to approve hiring Bailey Moore, Dana Rigor and Stacy Klobnak as Part Time Police Dispatchers.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

ANNEXATION –

            Nothing to report.

            SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

             Nothing to report.

            JUDICIARY—

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve Ordinance #2282 An Ordinance Approving A Pre-Annexation Agreement With Sievers Truck Services, Inc., Mark Sievers, President, Regarding Property Located At 20586 Old Route 66, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

1st reading of Ordinance #2283 Amending Chapter 6, To Include Article VI Of The City Code Establishing Minimum Size Requirement For New Houses Within The City Of Staunton

1st reading of Ordinance #2284 Granting A Zoning Amendment For Real Property Located At 507 East 7th Street And 503 East 7th Street, Staunton, Illinois

Motion by Manning, seconded by Tipler to waive 1st reading or Ordinance #2285 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Lion’s Club To Conduct Their Annual Tootsie Pop Day Sale Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by McKee to approve Ordinance #2285 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Lion’s Club To Conduct Their Annual Tootsie Pop Day Sale Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

1st reading of Ordinance #2286 An Ordinance Making Appropriations For The Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2025 And Ending April 30, 2026

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve Resolution #2025-06 A Resolution Approving An Asset Purchase Agreement With Carol Young.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by McKee to approve Resolution #2025-07 A Resolution Approving The Use Of Funds Received From The Illinois Energy Transition Community Grant Program For A New City Park On East Mill Street “Wally’s Park”.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

X.      UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

          Nothing to report.

XI.     NEW BUSINESS-

           Nothing to report.

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 Tipler, seconded by Councilmember Manning to adjourn at 7:11 P.M.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried.

                                                                        Prepared by:

                                                                        Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk