City Council Meeting Minutes--February 23, 2026
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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, FEBRUARY 23, 2026
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, February 23, 2026.
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, Ben Frank, Kristy Berg, Ryan Machota, Anthony Bagaglio, Matthew McKee, Terry Tipler, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe and Police Chief Jeff Doerr.
ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: City Attorney Phil Lading.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Manning moved, seconded by McKee to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:
Minutes
Regular Meeting – 02/09/2026
Collector’s Report
State of Illinois (State Use Tax)--$2,975.22
State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$77,049.77
State of Illinois (Business District Tax)--$30,412.75
State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$84,249.23
State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$3,990.42
State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$609.56
State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$14,210.60
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$1,031.73
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$524.00
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E-Citation Fee)--$26.60
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (DUI Fund)--$6.16
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehicle Fund)--$2.00
Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$31,287.17
Southwestern Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$1,177.33
Macoupin County Treasurer (Real Estate Taxes – Final Distribution)--$28,364.78
Macoupin County Treasurer (Main Street TIF Tax – Final Distribution)--$8,249.96
Macoupin County Treasurer (Interstate TIF Tax – Final Distribution)--$1,769.71
Macoupin County Treasurer (Real Estate Taxes/Library – Final Distribution)--$3,319.74
Boeing Bicycle Club (Tourism Donation)--$4,000.00
Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$9.50
Grapperhaus Metal Company, Inc. (Scrap/Recycle from Street Dept.)--$14,381.82
Applications
Valeria Cazares (Police Dispatcher)
Ellen Price (Police Dispatcher)
Susan Cange (Police Dispatcher)
Kendra Miller (Police Dispatcher)
Jered Busch (Public Works Department)
Claims
February 23, 2026
Business Licenses Issued
Meyer Oil Co. (Video Gaming License)
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Motion declared carried.
V. GUESTS
No guests were present to speak.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Received a letter from the Boeing Bicycle Club thanking the City of Staunton for their support and sponsorship of the annual Tour de Donut. They have also sent a $4,000.00 donation to the City in appreciation for their efforts. A copy of the letter is attached to the agenda packet.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -
Motion by Frank, seconded by Tipler to approve Quote #1135 from Auto Sound & Security for surveillance cameras and installation in the amount of $2,850.00. This will be paid from budget line item 01.21.831.2. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –
Motion by Berg, seconded by Manning to approve Quote #4620 from Hawkeye Steel Sales for metal to replace the roof on a storage shed at the Jr. Service Park in the amount of $2,629.42. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Berg, seconded by Manning to approve Quote #4621 from Hawkeye Steel Sales for metal to replace the roof on the concession stand at the baseball fields in the amount of $7,283.75. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
FINANCE–
Motion by Tipler, seconded by McKee to spend up to $138,758.94 for improvements to the Creekside Park improvement project (a/k/a Mother Road Route 66 Park). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Tipler, seconded by McKee to spend up to $180,000.00 for replacement street lighting fixtures for Main Street, Pearl Street and side streets in between Main and Pearl. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
WATER-.
Nothing to report.
STREET / SEWER
Nothing to report.
PUBLIC GROUNDS-
Nothing to report.
TOURISM –
Motion by Berg, seconded by McKee to spend up to $10,000.00 for upcoming Balloon Glow expenses (August 15, 2026). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Berg, seconded by Frank to spend up to $10,000.00 for upcoming Ribfest Expenses (August 22, 2026). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
PERSONNEL –
Nothing to report.
ANNEXATION –
Nothing to report.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES –
Economic / TIF
Motion by Tipler, seconded by McKee to spend up to $26,000.00 for new lighting poles for Main Street, Pearl Street and side streets in between Main and Pearl. This will be paid from budget line item 18.71.890.0. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
JUDICIARY—
1st reading of Ordinance #2327 An Ordinance Approving A Pre-Annexation
Agreement With Donald & Donna Sievers Regarding Property Located At 202
Bentrup Road, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The
City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time
1st reading of Ordinance #2328 An Ordinance Approving A Pre-Annexation
Agreement With Howard And Lori Zenner Regarding Property Located At 77
Bentrup Road, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The
City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time
1st reading of Ordinance #2329 An Ordinance Approving A Pre-Annexation
Agreement With Ivan Isenberg Regarding Property Located At 195 Bentrup
Road, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The City’s
Corporate Boundaries At This Time
1st reading of Ordinance #2330 An Ordinance Approving A Pre-Annexation
Agreement With Cory And Jaclyn Rodriguez Regarding Property Located At
163 Bentrup Road, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To
The City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time
Motion by Frank, seconded by Manning to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #2331 An Ordinance Amending Previously Adopted Ordinance #2270 Authorizing The City Of Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois To Borrow Funds From The Water Pollution Control Loan Program. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Frank, seconded by Tipler to approve Ordinance #2331 An Ordinance Amending Previously Adopted Ordinance #2270 Authorizing The City Of Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois To Borrow Funds From The Water Pollution Control Loan Program. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—
Public Works Director Mike Kuethe gave a quick update on the progress of the Main
Street project, which started today. He stated that the first day of the project went
very well and the contractors made great progress. The first phase will involve the
replacement of curbs and sidewalks and then work will begin on street replacement.
Work is expected to resume next week on the North Street Bridge project with short
walls and sidewalks being installed with fence to be installed towards the end of the
project.
XI. NEW BUSINESS-
Nothing to report.
XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION—
No Executive Session was held.
XIII. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION –
.
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Tipler, seconded by Councilmember Manning to adjourn at 7:10 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio,McKee, Tipler. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Prepared by:
Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk