City Council Meeting Minutes--November 13, 2023

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, NOVEMBER 13, 2023

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

            Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, November 13, 2023.

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 and Terry Tipler, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe and Police Chief Jeff Doerr. 

            NOT ATTENDING:  Alderman Matthew McKee.

   IV.    CONSENT AGENDA

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

Minutes  

           Regular Meeting – 10/23/2023

           Special Meeting – 11/06/2023

Collector’s Report

                                Madison Communications (Franchise Fee)--$2,764.60

                                Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$600.00

                                Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$25.00

                                Southwestern Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$911.18

                                Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$20,567.15

                                Staunton Area Ambulance Service (September & October Dispatch Fees)--$1,000.00

                                State of Illinois (MFT Tax)--$9,180.56

                                State of Illinois (MFT Renewal Fund)--$8,672.64

                                State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$70,975.49

                                State of Illinois (Business District Tax)--$25,217.87

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$833.50

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$167.00

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E-Citation Fee)--$10.00

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (FTA Warrant Fee)--$16.00

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehicle Fund)--$.50

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Restitution)--$25.00

Applications

                        Sarah Williams (Police Dispatcher)

            Monthly Reports

                        Distributed by City Clerk’s Office

            Claims

                        November 13, 2023

Business Licenses Issued 

                         None

            Roll Call Vote

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

            NAYS:   None.

            ABSENT:  McKee.

            Motion declared carried.

V.        GUESTS

            No guests were present to speak.

VI.      CORRESPONDENCE

Received a letter of resignation from part time custodian Lauri Ebersohl.  The letter is dated November 9, 2023 and her last day of employment with the City will be November 22, 2023.

VII.     TREASURER’S REPORT

Certificates of Deposit recently purchased at Bank of Springfield for 9 months at 5.15%:

Band Fund - $15,000.00

Depreciation Fund - $75,000.00

General Fund - $150,000.00

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

Civic Improvement Fund--$250,000.00 plus $4,273.09 interest

Infrastructure Fund--$350,000.00 plus $5,982.33 interest

Reserve Rund--$200,000.00 plus $3,418.48 interest

Telecommunications Fund--$100,000.00 plus $1,709.24 interest

Water Fund--$100,000.00 plus $1,709.24 interest

VIII.   CITY CLERK’S REPORT

The City Clerk’s Office will be closed on November 23rd and 24th for the Thanksgiving holiday.  All public works employees, except for one water treatment plant employee, will be off those days as well.  Please send me all agenda items for the November 27th meeting by Wednesday, November 22nd at 3:00.

IX.      COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY  -

Nothing to report.

PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to pay Invoice #412 to Christmas Décor Systems for Main Street Christmas decorations in the amount of $3,500.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

FINANCE–

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to pay Invoice #220460 from C.J. Schlosser & Co., LLC for payment in preparation of the City’s audit for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2023 in the amount of $9,385.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to approve Contract Change Order #1 from Kamadulski Excavating & Grading for additional pipe needed on the Route 4 – Alco Sanitary Sewer Extension Project in the amount of $1,398.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Manning to pay Final Pay Estimate #2 from Kamadulski Excavating & Grading Co. for work completed on the Route 4 – Alco Sanitary Sewer Installation in the amount of $4,723.50.  This will be paid from Budget Line Item 37.71.852.0.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to accept Bid from J. P. Burns Excavating for the Main Street Sanitary Sewer Extension Project in the amount of $152,714.30.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias authorizing Mayor Neuhaus to sign the Notice of Award to J.P. Burns Excavating for the Main Street Sanitary Sewer Extension.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to approve Renewal Quote with Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust for the City’s Municipal Insurance for the year December 1, 2023 through December 1, 2024, in the amount of $122,417.00.  The Staunton Public Library will be reimbursing the City $969.00 for their portion of the premium.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to pay Invoice #117994 from Fehr Graham for for Professional Services rendered regarding the North Street Lift Station and Force Main Project in the amount of  $4,400.00, to be paid from Budget Line Item 56.45.865.0.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Dias, Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias to accept Bid from Gelly Excavating & Grading for the West Frontage Road Sanitary Sewer Extension Project in the amount of $293,943.23.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Dias authorizing Mayor Neuhaus to sign the Notice of Award to Gelly Excavating & Grading for the West Frontage Road Sanitary Sewer Extension Project.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

WATER-

Motion by Berg, seconded by Dias to approve Renewal Quote with Hach Co. for annual maintenance at the water treatment plant in the amount of $12,819.00.  Starting date is January 1, 2024 and end date is December 31, 2024.  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 –

Motion by Dias, seconded by Manning to approve Christmas bonuses to City Employees as follows:

            $250.00 to Department Heads

            $150.00 to Full Time Employees

            $100.00 to Part Time Employees with more than 250 hours per year.

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

            Absent:  McKee.  Motion carried. 

ANNEXATION –

Nothing to report.

 SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

 Nothing to report.

 JUDICIARY—

1st reading of Ordinance #2222 An Ordinance Authorizing The Levy And

Collection Of Taxes For The Corporate And Municipal Purposes Of The City

Of Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois, For The Fiscal Year Beginning May 1,

2023 And Ending April 30, 2024

1st reading of Ordinance #2223 Annexing Certain Territory To The City Of

Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois (1037 N. Easton St.; PIN #01-000-355-00)

X.      UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

        Alderman Tipler gave an update to the Council on the new pickleball courts.  The

           concrete is now finished, the net is up and temporary striping has been done.  The

           final striping of the courts will be done in the spring.  A port-a-pot will be delivered

     to the South Water Tower Park, and will stay for the next couple of months since the                

     park bathrooms have already been winterized.

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 Machota, seconded by Councilmember Tipler 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