City Council Meeting Minutes--January 13, 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, JANUARY 13, 2025

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

            Mayor Craig Neuahus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, January 13, 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,  Terry Tipler, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, Police Chief Jeff Doerr and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.

            ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE:  City Attorney Phil Lading. 

            NOT ATTENDING:  Alderman Matthew McKee.

   IV.    CONSENT AGENDA

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

Minutes 

           Regular Meeting – 12/23//2024

Collector’s Report

                                Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)---$600.00

                                Staunton Police Department (Finger Printing)--$10.00

                                Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$10.00

                                Prairietown Feed Service (Sievers Farm Income)--$7,864.97

                                Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$1,738.12

                                Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$17,218.52

                                Southwestern Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$724.17

                                State of Illinois (Business District Tax)--$34,030.40

                                State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$68,010.87

Applications

                        None

            Monthly Reports

                        Distributed by City Clerk’s Office

            Claims

                        January 13, 2025

Business Licenses Issued 

                        Republic Services (Trash Collector License)

                        DC Waste & Recycling (Trash Collector License)

            Roll Call Vote

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

            NAYS:   None.

            ABSENT:  McKee.

            Motion declared carried.

V.        GUESTS

      Mayor Neuhaus presented recently retired Street Department Employee Chris Pingolt with a Certificate of Recognition for his years of service to the City of Staunton.  Chris was hired as a part time employee in August of 1997 and retired as a full time employee on December 31, 2024. 

VI.      CORRESPONDENCE

Received an email from Tim Seelbach, on behalf of the Zion Lutheran Church’s Men’s Club, requesting to make the following streets one way on February 2, 2025 from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. for their annual Sausage Supper:

Wood Street from Henry to Spring Street

Union Street from Henry to Spring Street

Hoxsey Street from Spring to Panhorst

And to close Henry Street from Wood to Union Street

I received a letter of resignation/retirement from full time Street Department Employee Chris Pingolt on January 7, 2025.  In the letter, Chris stated his retirement date was December 31, 2024.

VII.     TREASURER’S REPORT

Nothing to report.

VIII.   CITY CLERK’S REPORT

Republic Services and DC Waste & Recycling have both renewed their trash hauling licenses for the calendar year 2025.  They are the only two licensed haulers at this time for the City of Staunton.

IX.      COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY  -

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve request from Zion Lutheran Church’s Men’s Club to make the following streets one way for their annual Sausage Supper on February 2, 2025 from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.:

Wood Street froom Henry to Spring Street

Union Street from Henry to Spring Street

Hoxsey Street from Spring to Panhorst Street

And to close Henry Street from Wood to Union.

At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.

Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

            PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Manning to pay outstanding Real Estate Taxes on property located at 317 E. Fifth Street, Staunton, IL, in the amount of $1,208.58.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to pay Invoice #891690 to Sandberg Phoenix for Profession Services Rendered regarding condemnation proceedings on property at 420 East 9th Street in the amount of $2,016.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried.

FINANCE–

Nothing to report.

WATER-

Motion by Berg, seconded by Dias to pay Invoice #M240024 to Madison Communications for Damage Billing on the Albrecht Road water main extension in the amount of $1,288.05.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Berg, seconded by Tipler to pay Partial Pay Estimate #1 from Haier Plumbing for Ward 3 Water System Improvements Project in the amount of $326,547.32.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Berg, seconded by Dias  to pay Invoice for Payment #1 to PSC Engineering for Resident Engineering on the Ward 3 Water System Improvements Project in the amount of $17,500.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried.

Motion by Berg, seconded by Tipler to pay Invoice #2491 to A&A Drilling, Inc. for directional bores on the Herman Road and Albrecht Road water main extension projects in the amount of $6,480.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

STREET / SEWER

Nothing to report.

            PUBLIC GROUNDS-

Nothing to report.

            TOURISM –

Nothing to report.

PERSONNEL –

            Nothing to report.

ANNEXATION –

            Nothing to report.

            SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

            Nothing to report.

            JUDICIARY—

Motion by Manning, seconded by Tipler to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #2268 An Ordinance Vacating An Alley.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by Tipler to approve Ordinance #2268 An Ordinance Vacating An Alley.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #2269 An Ordinance Authorizing For The Purchase Of Certain Property.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried.

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve Ordinance #2269 An Ordinance Authorizing For The Purchase Of Certain Property.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried.

Motion by Manning, seconded by Tipler to approve Resolution #2025-01 Approving Renewal Of Cable Television Franchise Agreement With Madison Communications.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  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 Dias to adjourn at 7:09 P.M.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried.

                                                                        Prepared by:

                                                                        Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk