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, JANUARY 11, 2021
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, January 11, 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 Rick Johnson, Randy Hanks, 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 Maria Bodner, Brooke Wallace, and Chad Plenske, 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 – 12/28/2020
Collector’s Report
Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$1,028.48
Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$10.00
Mullins Salvage (Scrap from Street Dept.)--$241.50
Macoupin County Treasurer (Real Estate Taxes)--$60,844.38
Macoupin County Treasurer (Real Estate Taxes / Library)--$7,520.43
Macoupin County Treasurer (Main Street TIF Taxes)--$5,816.76
Macoupin County Treasurer (Interstate TIF Taxes)--$3,672.23
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$413.28
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$48.00
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (DUI Fund)--$1.17
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E-Citation Fee)--$4.00
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehicle Fund)--$20.50
State of Illinois (Unemployment Benefits Reimbursement due to COVID)--$1,379.89
Applications
Drew Sloan (Part Time Police Officer)
Jacob Morgan (Part Time Police Officer)
Mitchell Brown (Police Dispatcher)
Tammy Hopkins (Police Dispatcher)
Monthly Reports
Distributed by Bookkeeper
Claims
January 11, 2021
Business Licenses Issued
Robert Sanders Waste Systems (Trash Hauling License)
Waste Management of Illinois (Trash Hauling License)
Flowers Sanitation (Trash Hauling License)
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
Received a letter of resignation from part time police dispatcher Mindy Beisner. The letter was dated December 29, 2020 and her resignation was effective that day.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
As of this time, the City has three licensed trash haulers. They are Robert “Bob” Sanders Waste System, Waste Management and Flowers Sanitation. Republic Services (Allied Waste) has not re-newed their license at this time.
IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -
Nothing to report.
PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –
Motion by Scanzoni, seconded by Johnson to pay Invoice #577784 to Sandberg Phoenix for Profession Services Rendered regarding condemnation proceedings at 729 W. 7th Street in the amount of $2,438.41. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
FINANCE–
Nothing to report.
WATER-
Motion by Hanks, seconded by Wallace to renew Maintenance Quote from Esri, Inc. for software maintenance in the amount of $400.00, with a start date of March 1, 2021 and an end date of February 28, 2022. This will be split evenly between street, sewer and water. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanks, seconded by Machota to accept low materials bid from Midwest Municipal Supply for the East Macoupin to East Pearl Street water main project in the amount of $71,262.56. The only other bid received was from IMCO Utility Supply, with their bid amount being $74,240.20. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
STREET / SEWER
Nothing to report.
PUBLIC GROUNDS-
Nothing to report.
TOURISM –
Nothing to report.
PERSONNEL –
Per the Personnel Committee Meeting on Monday, January 4, 2021, the Christmas Holiday schedule for City employees for 2021 will be as follows:
Employees will be off on Friday, December 24, 2021 and Monday, December 27, 2021. A copy of the 2021 Holiday Schedule is attached to the agenda packet.
ANNEXATION –
Nothing to report.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES –
Nothing to report.
JUDICIARY—
Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to table 1st reading of Ordinance #2101
Denying A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 901 East Henry Street,
Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner,
Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Resolution #2021-01
Establishing The Zoning Hearing Meeting Location Schedule For The City Of
Staunton, Illinois For The Calendar Year 2021. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore,
Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske. Nayes: None.
Absent: None. Motion carried.
X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—
Concerns were raised by several Council Members regarding the City Ordinances and
their enforcement. Two local neighboring residents have an ongoing private battle,
one of the residents has made numerous phone calls to several aldermen complaining
about his neighbor. Zoning Administrator Taylor stated that she too has had many
phone calls with this individual and she feels that this individual is calling and playing
the aldermen against each other. One of the complaints is regarding a vehicle with
expired plates. Alderman Johnson stated that per the Governor’s Executive order,
nothing can be done until 30 days after the order ends, and it was just extended again
until February 6, 2021. Alderman Johnson quoted the following State Statute:
THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, and pursuant to Sections 7(1), 7(8), and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, I hereby order the following:
Section 1. During the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation and for a period of thirty days following its termination, the following statutory provisions are suspended: (1) provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5, providing for the expiration of vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses, permits, and parking decals issued by the Secretary of State; (2) provisions of the Illinois Identification Card Act, 15 ILCS 335, providing for the expiration of temporary and standard identification cards issued by the Secretary of State; and (3) hearings conducted by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/2-118, and the Secretary of State Merit Employment Code, 15 ILCS 310/9.
The one party also has a vehicle that is covered, but Zoning Administrator Taylor said that she has visited that property owner and he has not raised the appropriate cover on the covered vehicle, so the plates are not exposed, as of this date, January 11, 2021. After some discussion, Attorney Lading stated that if the City felt there were violations taking place, tickets could be written, but it would be up to the Court System as to how charges would be filed at this time due to the pandemic.
XI. NEW BUSINESS-
Mayor Neuhaus stated that he has been working with Zoning Administrator Taylor on
Grant money that would be available for homeowners to do home repairs. The Grants
are Federal money that would be managed by the State. Alderman Johnson has
registered for a webinar that will be held soon regarding the Grants.
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 Johnson to adjourn at 7:18 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore. Nayes: None. Absent: None.. Motion carried.
Prepared by:
Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk