City Council Meeting Minutes--November 25, 2024

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 25, 2024

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

            Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, November 25, 2024.

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

            ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE:  City Attorney Phil Lading.

   IV.    CONSENT AGENDA

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

Minutes 

           Regular Meeting – 11/12/2024

Collector’s Report

                                Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)$400.00

                                Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$5.00

                                M.J.M Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$235.04

                                Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$17,403.69

                                Staunton Public Library (Insurance Reimbursement)--$969.00

                                State of Illinois (State Use Tax)--$14,154.28

                                State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$56,701.97

                                State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$3,863.13

                                State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$621.24

                                State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)—10,691.95

Applications

Jontayvion McCroy-Brown (Police Officer)

Robert Bittle (Police Officer)

Alexander Rettig (Police Officer)

Shailen Conlee (Police Officer)

            Claims

November 25, 2024

Business Licenses Issued

                         None                                     

            Roll Call Vote

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

            NAYS:   None.

            ABSENT:  None.

            Motion declared carried.

V.        GUESTS

            No guests were present to speak.

VI.      CORRESPONDENCE

Received an email from the Staunton Chamber of Commerce outlining the series of events taking place at the Staunton Seasonal Spectacular, which will be held the weekend of December 6th, 7th and 8th.  A copy of the email is attached to the agenda packet.

I received an email from the Staunton Chamber of Commerce informing the City about the Parade of Lighted Side by Sides.  The event will be held the evening of December 6th and plans are to start the parade at 7:45 from St. Michael’s Church parking lot.  However, due to a popular response, they are possibly requesting to move the event to the Fireman’s Park for parking and staging.  In case that happens, the parade would begin at the Fireman’s Park and head west to Easton Street, go south on Easton to Main Street, then west on Main and end at Edwardsville Street.

VII.     TREASURER’S REPORT

Certificates of Deposit recently cashed in at Bank of Hillsboro:

Civic Improvement Fund -- $250,000.00 plus $5,166.30 interest

Infrastructure Fund -- $350,000.00 plus $7,232.80 interest

Reserve Fund -- $200,000.00 plus $4,133.02 interest

Telecommunications Fund -- $100,000.00 plus $2,066.53 interest

Water Fund -- $100,000.00 plus $2,066.53 interest

Certificates of Deposit recently purchased at Bank of Hillsboro for 4 months at 4.85%:

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

The City Clerk’s Office will be closed on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Public works employees will be off those days as well, except for one water treatment plant operator.

IX.      COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY  -

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to pay Invoice #884834 to Sandberg Phoenix for Professional Services Rendered regarding Staunton v. Leonard Rankin in the amount of $2,147.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried.

            PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Nothing to report.

FINANCE–

Nothing to report.

WATER-.

Motion by Berg, seconded by McKee to pay Invoice #S1221864.002 to Schulte Supply for stock Radio Read Water Meters in the amount of $2,052.00.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  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 Dias to approve Ordinance #2261 Amending Chapter 38 Of The Revised Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Staunton, Illinois.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by Tipler to approve Ordinance #2263 Granting A Zoning Amendment For Real Property Located At 410 East 9th Street, Staunton, Illinois.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried.   

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve Ordinance #2264 Granting A Zoning Amendment For Real Property Located At 1229 West Pearl Street, Staunton, Illinois.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve Ordinancee #2265 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, 2024 And Ending April 30, 2025.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Dias, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by Tipler to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #2266 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Staunton High School FFA At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 (December 7, 2024).  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.   Motion carried. 

Motion by Manning, seconded by Dias to approve Ordinance #2266 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Staunton High School FFA At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 (December 7, 2024).  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:   Dias, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  None.  Motion carried. 

1st reading of Ordinance #2267 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 503 South Hackman Street, Staunton, Illinois

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 7:07 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