City Council Meeting Minutes--January 24, 2022

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 24, 2022

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, January 24, 2022.

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, Rick Johnson, Randy Hanks, Ryan Machota, Jeff Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.

ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: Aldermen John Moore 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 – 01/10/2022

Collector’s Report

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$1,007.30

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$104.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehicle Fund)--$20.50

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E-Citation Fee)--$8.00

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (FTA Warrant Fee)--$280.00

Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$15.00

Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$400.00

State of Illinois (Personal Property Replacement Tax)--$6,027.87

State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$68,861.81

State of Illinois (Use Tax)--$15,437.40

State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$12,953.47

State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$714.20

State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$5,259.41

State of Illinois (MFT Tax)--$11,373.07

State of Illinois (MFT Renewal Fund)--$7,737.15

Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$1,552.91

Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$25,018.39

Applications

Dustin Petroline (Any Department)

Wyman Markle (Police Dispatcher)

Eugene Brackman (Water Operator)

James Graves (Water Operator)

Lesa Prusacki (Water Operator)

Claims

January 24, 2022 (Expenditures - $42,664.65 / Payroll - $57,953.67/ Manual Checks - $605,000.00)

Business Licenses Issued

Waste Management (Trash Hauling License)

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Dias, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning.

NAYS: None.

ABSENT: None.

Motion declared carried.

V. GUESTS

Alderman Rick Johnson introduced Lindsey Minor and Ellise Schoen, representatives from Safe Passages. This is a program that is available to people with substance, alcohol and medication addiction and abuse as well as individuals with mental health issues. There are several resources for assistance, and they are more than willing to offer the help. They offer individual counseling and group counseling. They would like to work with all police departments in the area, as they feel they can be a real asset by reaching out to the troubled individuals. The hopes of the program is to build better communities by reducing drug related crime and making them a better place to live for everyone. Safe Passages has been able to help 129 people between Montgomery and Macoupin Counties. The Council thanked the ladies for their presentation and hope that they will be building a relationship with the local police department.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE

Received a letter of resignation from full time water treatment plant employee Brandon Lesemann. The letter is dated January 10, 2022, with his last date of employment being January 21, 2022.

VII. TREASURER’S REPORT

Certificates of Deposit recently purchased at Bank of Springfield:

General Fund - $150,000.00 for 12 months at 0.31%

Band Fund - $15,000.00 for 12 month at 0.31

DUI Fund - $15,000.00 for 12 months at 0.31%

Depreciation Fund - $75,000.00 for 12 months at 0.31%

Bond/Interest Fund - $150,000.00 for 18 months at 0.41%

Reserve Fund - $200,000.00 for 18 months at 0.41%

VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT

Waste Management has renewed their trash hauling license, so they will also be providing trash service to the residents of the City of Staunton. A copy of the 2022 rate schedule is attached to the agenda for all four licensed trash haulers.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to purchase a 2022 Dodge Durango police vehicle from Staunton Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram at a cost of $39,000.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Dias. Nayes: Hanks. Absent: None. Motion carried 7 Ayes; 1 Naye.

PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Nothing to report.

FINANCE–

Nothing to report.

WATER-

Nothing to report.

STREET / SEWER

Motion by Machota, seconded by Scanzoni to have Ameren Illinois install a street light on the pole at 1100 South Union Street. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Dias, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Machota, seconded by Scanzoni to have Ameren Illinois install a pole and light at the dead end of East Eight Street to provide additional lighting to the South Water Tower Park. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Dias, Johnson, Hanks. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

PUBLIC GROUNDS-

Nothing to report.

TOURISM –

Nothing to report.

PERSONNEL –

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Dias to hire Wyman Markle as part time police dispatcher. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Dias, Johnson, Hanks, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

ANNEXATION –

Nothing to report.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

Nothing to report.

JUDICIARY—

Motion by Manning, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2152 Approving A Pre-Annexation Agreement With Ryan & Maria Gusewelle Regarding Property Located At 1425 W. Sixth Street, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time (PIN #01-003-305-00). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Dias, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Manning, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2153 Approving A Pre-Annexation Agreement With Jeffrey M. Banks & Eileen Snow Regarding Property Located At 20267 Tall Timber Road, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time (PIN #01-000-099-01). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Manning, Dias, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Manning, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2154 Approving A Pre-Annexation Agreement With James & Sharon Trettenero Regarding Property Located At 9450 Schaefer Road, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time (PIN #12-1-04-01-00-000-022.001). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Manning, Dias, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Manning, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2155 Approving A Pre-Annexation Agreement With James & Sandra Baker Regarding Property Located At 9426 Schaefer Road, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time (PIN #12-1-04-01-00-000-021). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Dias, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve Ordinance #2156 Approving A Pre-Annexation Agreement With Dave Delaurent & Adrianne Karl Regarding Property Located At 9337 Schaefer Road, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time (PIN #12-1-04-01-00-000-011). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Dias. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

Nothing to report.

XI. NEW BUSINESS-

Mayor Neuhaus informed the Council that Tonya Whaley started working today in the City Clerk’s Office, and Ailee Taylor has offered to come in and help Tonya get started with the basics relating to the Zoning Adminstrator position.

Alderman Johnson is working with Illini Tech and Madison Communications to get the internet upgraded at the Public Works Building.

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 Dias to adjourn at 7:24 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Dias, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Prepared by:

Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk