City Council Meeting Minutes--December 14, 2020

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, DECEMBER 14, 2020

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, December 14, 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, Rick Johnson, Ryan Machota, John Moore and Jeff Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.

ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: Aldermen Brooke Wallace, Randy Hanks and Chad Plenske, Police Chief Jeff Doerr and Attorney John Gilbert.

NOT ATTENDING: City Attorney Phil Lading.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

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

Minutes

Regular Meeting – 11/23/2020

Collector’s Report

Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$1,404.69

Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$5.00

Staunton Police Department (Finger Printing)--$10.00

Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$100.00

State of Illinois (Downstate Small Business Stabilization Grant)--$12,500.00

State of Illinois (Downstate Small Business Stabilization Grant)--$18,750.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$919.60

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$94.00

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

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (DUI Fund)--$200.00

Illinois Public Risk Fund (2020 Safety Grant)--$3,420.00

Applications

None

Monthly Reports

Distributed by Bookkeeper

Claims

December 14, 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

No guests were present to speak.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE

Nothing to report.

VII. TREASURER’S REPORT

Nothing to report.

VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT

The filing dates for petitions for the upcoming Consolidated Election on April 6, 2021 are now through Monday, December 21, 2020. The Clerk’s Office will be open on the final day until 5:00 P.M. All petitions must be filed by that time.

The City Clerk’s Office will be closed on December 24th and December 25th for the Christmas Holiday and January 1st, 2021 for the New Year’s Holiday. All public works employees, except for one water treatment plant employee, will be off those days as well.

All employees of the City of Staunton are to complete the mandatory annual sexual

harassment training required by the State of Illinois. This training is mandated to occur annually and must be completed by the end of the calendar year. This training applies to elected officials as well. Please return your Certificates of Participation to me at the City Clerk’s office as soon as possible.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -

Nothing to report.

PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Motion by Scanzoni, seconded by Bodner to pay Invoice to Sandberg Phoenix for Professional Services rendered regarding condemnation proceedings on property at 729 W. 7th Street in the amount of $1,572.09. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

FINANCE–

Motion by Moore, seconded by Bodner to pay Invoice #746120 from Kerber, Eck & Braeckel, LLP for the final installment for preparation of the City’s audit for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2020 in the amount of $9,950.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Moore, seconded by Bodner to pay Invoice #8374 to John H. Crawford & Associates for Basic Engineering Design on the Gensing Creek drainage project in the amount of $74,255.50. This will be paid from line item 36.72.532.0, Storm Water Fund-Engineering. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Hanks. Nayes: Johnson. Absent: None. Motion carried 7 Ayes; 1 Naye.

WATER-

Motion by Hanks, seconded by Bodner to pay Invoices #2024193 ($1,131.01) and 2024246 ($600.00) to Midwest Municipal Supply for additional materials needed on the Hibbard/Henry water main project in the total amount of $1,731.01. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Hanks, seconded by Wallace to pay Invoice #2024346 to Midwest Municipal Supply for materials used on the VFW water main upgrades in the amount of $1,139.46. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

STREET / SEWER

Nothing to report.

PUBLIC GROUNDS-

Nothing to report.

TOURISM –

Nothing to report.

PERSONNEL –

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Bodner to approve Christmas bonuses to City Employees as follows:

$250.00 to Department Heads

$150.00 to Full Time Employees

$100.00 to Part Time Employees with more than 250 hours per year

At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota,

Plenske, Moore. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

ANNEXATION –

Nothing to report.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

ECONOMIC / TIF

No discussion was held or action was taken regarding the payment to Joe & Jennifer Pratte for 50% of their TIF reimbursement grant in the amount of $10,454.13.

JUDICIARY—

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Moore to approve Ordinance #2098 An Ordinance Vacating Portion Of Walnut Street, Declaring It Surplus Property And Authorizing Its Sale. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Machota to approve Ordinance #2099 Authorizing The Levy And Collection Of Taxes For The Corporate And Municipal Purposes Of The City Of Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois, For The Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2020 And Ending April 30, 2021. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

1st reading Ordinance #2100 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 622 Bell Street, Staunton, Illinois.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Resolution #2020-42 Authorizing Execution Of An Agreement With American Legal Publishing Corporation To Perform Codification Services For The City Of Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

Nothing to report.

XI. NEW BUSINESS-

The regularly scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on December 28, 2020 at

7:00 P.M.

XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION—

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Bodner to go in to Executive Session at 7:13 P.M. to discuss Potential Sale of City Real Property – Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (6). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to return to regular order of business at 7:22 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

XIII. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION –

.

No motions were made from Executive Session.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Bodner, seconded by Councilmember Scanzoni to adjourn at 7:23 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None.. Motion carried.

Prepared by:

Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk