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, AUGUST 24, 2020
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, August 24, 2020
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, Randy Hanks, Ryan Machota, Chad Plenske, John Moore, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.
ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: Alderman Jeff Scanzoni, Police Chief Jeff Doerr and City Attorney Phil Lading.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Johnson moved, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:
Minutes
Regular Meeting – 08/10/2020
Executive Session – 08/10/2020
Collector’s Report
Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$200.00
Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$5.00
State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$57,169.64
State of Illinois (Personal Property Replacement Tax)--$1,920.49
State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$69,675.84
State of Illinois (Use Tax)--$19,131.81
State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$5,777.22
State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$285.96
State of Illinois (MFT Tax)--$8,835.71
State of Illinois (MFT Renewal Fund)--$6,358.40
Staunton Area Ambulance Service (August Dispatch Fee)--$500.00
MJM Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$318.99
Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$21,958.57
Applications
None
Claims
August 24 , 2020
Business Licenses Issued
None
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Motion declared carried.
V. GUESTS
Tracy Favre, Joe Favre, Josh Thorn and Robin Stranimeier, representatives from the Staunton Lions Club, were present to talk to the City Council about their upcoming Halloween Parade and Secret Santa Program. Mrs. Stranimeier, Lions Club President, was asking for the Council’s opinion regarding both of their events. The Council felt that the Halloween Parade would be at greater risk right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but everyone agreed to wait until a closer date to make a decision on the parade. Robin stated that due to needed planning time, a decision would need to be made much sooner for the Secret Santa Program. She stated that at least 2 months would be necessary to get all donations in place and sorted out for the pick up date. Robin said that the day of the event, only 4 or 5 people are allowed to come in at a time to pick up gifts. They would require everyone to wear masks and would have hand sanitizer available for everyone’s use upon entrance and leaving. The Council felt that they should go ahead and plan for the event.
Bernie Hannig thanked the City workers for fixing a drainage culvert out near his house. He also asked about having a silt fence put up to keep mud from draining into his pond. Public Works Director Kuethe stated that he has talked with Jim Sievers, since it is his property, and Sievers said that he may possibly look in to terrace and tiling in the area that drains in to Hannig’s pond.
Mr. Hannig also asked why the City workers put up the fence around the construction areas on Main Street where the buildings were recently demolished. Public Works Director Kuethe explained that to reduce costs of the project, he was able to use some scrap fence that the City already had on hand, and the City workers installed the fence to again save costs from the demolition crew.
Lastly, Mr. Hannig asked why Public Works Director Kuethe and Police Chief Doerr were taking City vehicles home, as this was using taxpayer money. Kuethe explained that there are many times that he gets called out on evenings and weekends, and when he does this would be the time that he would use the City vehicle to get to job sites. Chief Doerr lives approximately 17 miles from Staunton, and he too gets several call outs, and this allows him to respond to the calls with an emergency vehicle. Alderman Plenske stated that Chief Doerr’s car is the oldest in the fleet of police cars with the least amount of miles.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Received an email from the FFA Alumni Association requesting to use the Fireman’s Park on Monday, September 14, 2020 for their annual meeting. They are requesting to have the park rental fee waived.
Received an email from Girl Scout Troop 98 Troop Leader Carol Bond requesting to use Duda Garden on Wednesday, August 28, 2020 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. for a Scout Meeting. They are requesting to have the park rental fee waived.
Received a letter from Vicki Renner of Pearl Essence Studio requesting to close North Wood Street from Main Street going north to the dead end on Saturday, October 10, 2020 from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. for the Pearl Essence Studio’s Fall Festival – Kickoff to the Holidays. The east/west alley between North Wood and North Elm Streets will remain open.
Copies of all three requests are attached to the agenda packets. COVID-19 restrictions and regulations must be adhered to by all organizations.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT