City Council Meeting Minutes--March 24, 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, MARCH 24, 2025

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

            Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, March 24, 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, Kristy Berg, Ryan Machota, Matthew McKee, Terry Tipler, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Attorney Phil Lading, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.

            ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE:  Alderman David Dias.

            NOT ATTENDING:  Police Chief Jeff Doerr.

   IV.    CONSENT AGENDA

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

Minutes 

           Regular Meeting – 03/10/2025

Collector’s Report

                        Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$300.00

                        Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$5.00

                        State of Illinois (Business District Tax)--$32,958.75

                        State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$73,782.86

                        State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$12,137.93

                        State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$4,023.15

                        State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$48,410.41

                        State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$681.83

                        State of Illinois (State Use Tax)--$20,478.87

                        Southwestern Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$1,293.51

Applications

Brett Cannon (Public Works Department)

Brennan Hartnett (Public Works Department)

Tim Johnson (Public Works Department)

Jacob Maupin (Public Works Department)

Charles Newby (Public Works Department)

Bruce Cozart (Public Works Department)

            Claims

                         March 24, 2025

Business Licenses Issued

                         Macoupin County Patriots Friends of NRA (Raffle License)

                         Zion Lutheran PTL (Raffle License)

            Roll Call Vote

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

            NAYS:   None.

            ABSENT:  None.

            Motion declared carried.

V.        GUESTS

            Mayor Neuhaus presented retiring Water Treatment Plant Operator Laurie May with a congratulatory plaque.  Laurie has worked as an operator for 11 years with the City of Staunton and she will be greatly missed.  Congratulations and many happy years of retirement to Laurie and her husband, Norm!

VI.      CORRESPONDENCE

Received a Retirement Letter from Water Treatment Plant Operator Laurie May, dated March 10, 2025.  Laurie’s last day with the City will be Friday, March 21, 2025.  Happy retirement, Laurie!

Received an email from Julie Jarman, representing the Staunton Lions Club, requesting to use the Fireman’s Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025 for their annual Easter Egg Hunt.  They would be using the park from 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and they are asking to have the park rental fee waived.

Received an email from Zion Lutheran School requesting permission to close Henry Street between Wood and Elm Street and Hoxsey Street between Henry and Panhorst Street on May 7, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. for a Touch-A Truck Event.  They are also asking for barricades to block the streets.

Received a letter from Madison Communications notifying the City of their success in exceeding customer protection requirements for the 2024 year.   A copy of the letter and report is included with the agenda packet.

VII.     TREASURER’S REPORT

Certificates of Deposit recently matured and cashed in at Bank of Hillsboro:

            Civic Improvement Fund -- $250,000.00 plus $3,926.15 interest

            Infrastructure Fund -- $350,000.00 plus $5,496.60 interest

            Reserve Fund -- $200,000.00 plus $3,140.93 interest

            Telecommunications Fund -- $100,000.00 plus $1,570.46 interest

            Water Fund -- $100,000.00 plus $1,570.46 interest

Certificate of Deposit recently purchased at Bank of Springfield for 9 months at 4.10%:

Business District Fund --  $250,000.00

Certificate of Deposit recently purchased at Bank of Hillsboro for 5 months at 4.20%:

Business District Fund -- $150,000.00

Civic Improvement Fund -- $250,000.00

Infrastructure Fund -- $350,000.00

Reserve Fund -- $200,000.00

Telecommunications Fund -- $100,000.00

Water Fund -- $100,000.00

VIII.   CITY CLERK’S REPORT

            Nothing to report.

IX.      COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY  -

Motion by Manning, seconded by Machota granting request from Zion Lutheran School to close Henry Street between Wood and Elm Street and Hoxsey Street between Henry and Panhorst Street on May 7, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. for a Family Touch-A-Truck Event.  They are also requesting to use barricades to block the streets.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried.

            PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Motion by Tipler, seconded by McKee to grant request from the Staunton Lions Club to use the Fireman’s Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025 for their annual Easter Egg Hunt, with the park rental fee being waived.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried.

FINANCE–

Nothing to report.

WATER-.

Motion by Berg, seconded by Tipler to pay Invoice #9936 from PSC Engineering for Resident Inspection on the Ward 3 Water System Improvements Project in the amount of $22,440.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried.   

STREET / SEWER

Motion by Machota, seconded by McKee to pay Invoice #129191 to Fehr Graham Engineering & Envinronmental For Design, Bidding and Construction Services rendered on the North Street Lift Station & Force Main Project in the amount of $26,000.00.  This will be paid from Budget Line Item 52.43.898.0.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Machota, seconded by Tipler to approve Invoice #87180 from Coe Equipment, Inc. for 2012 Sewer Vactor Cleaner in the amount of $170,600.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None. Motion carried.   Mayor Neuhaus and Public Works Director Kuethe were present for a demonstration on the new vactor truck and they both feel that it will be very beneficial and efficient to use for our City employees. 

            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 Dias to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #2281 An Ordinance Declaring Real Property Known As 317 East Fifth Street As Surplus Property And Authorizing Its Sale.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve Ordinance #2281 An Ordinance Declaring Real Property Known As 317 East Fifth Street As Surplus Property And Authorizing Its Sale.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

1st reading of Ordinance #2282 An Ordinance Approving A Pre-Annexation Agreement With Sievers Truck Services, Inc., Mark Sievers, President, Regarding Property Located At 20586 Old Route 66, Staunton, IL But Not Physically Annexing The Property To The City’s Corporate Boundaries At This Time

Motion by Manning, seconded by McKee to approve Resolution #2025-05 Approving A Balloon Glow AgreementAnd Hot Air Balloon Tether Agreement With Winddancer Balloon Promotions, LLC.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  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 Manning to adjourn at 7:11 P.M.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.   Motion carried. 

                                                                        Prepared by:

                                                                        Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk