City Council Meeting Minutes--September 13, 2021

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, SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 13, 2021

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, Rick Johnson, Ryan Machota, John Moore and Jeff Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.

ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: Police Chief Jeff Doer.

NOT ATTENDING: Aldermen Randy Hanks and Chad Plenske.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Johnson moved, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:

Minutes

Regular Meeting – 08/23/2021

Collector’s Report

Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$20.00

Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$300.00

Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$2,808.97

Macoupin County Treasurer (Real Estate Taxes-1st Distribution)--$145,660.61

Macoupin County Treasurer (Real Estate Taxes/Library-1st Distribution)--$12,602.09

Applications

Heather Turner (Police Dispatcher)

Monthly Reports

Distributed by Bookkeeper

Claims

September 13, 2021

(Expenditures - $45,213.72, Payroll - $59,892.40, Manual Checks –

$3,730.77)

Business Licenses Issued

Staunton Sportsman Club (Raffle License)

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning.

NAYS: None.

ABSENT: Hanks, Plenske.

Motion declared carried.

V. GUESTS

No guests were present to speak.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE

Received a letter of retirement from part time police officer Tim Gruhlke, dated August 23, 2021. His last day of employment will be August 29th, 2021.

Received a letter from Vicki Renner of Pearl Essence Studio requesting to close North Wood Street from Main Street going north to Duda Drive on Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. for the Pearl Essence Studio’s Bi-Annual Street Party. Duda Drive between North Wood and North Elm Streets will remain open.

Received a letter of resignation from part time City Clerk’s Office Assistant Natalie Floyd, dated September 7, 2021. Natalie’s last day of employment will be September 30, 2021.

Received a letter of resignation from full time police officer Caden Anderson. The letter is dated September 1, 2021 and she is giving her two week notice.

VII. TREASURER’S REPORT

Nothing to report.

VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT

All duck blinds have been signed and registered for prior to the September 1st deadline.

I will be attending the Annual Fall Conference of the Illinois Municipal League on September 24, 2021. The conference will be held in Chicago. Attorney Phil Lading will be attending the conference as well.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -

Motion by Manning, seconded by Johnson to grant request from Pearl Essence Studio to close North Wood Street from Main Street going north to Duda Drive on Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. for Pearl Essence Studio’s Bi-Annual Street Party. Duda Drive between North Wood and North Elm Streets will remain open. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Nothing to report.

FINANCE–

Motion by Moore, seconded by Scanzoni to pay Invoice #619708 to Sandberg Phoenix for Professional Services Rendered regarding the Gensing Creek Drainage Project in the amount of $4,292.45. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: Johnson. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried 4 Ayes; 1 Naye. Mayor Neuhaus announced that the Gensing Creek Drainage Project is now out for bids.

WATER-

Motion by Moore, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Bid #5008181 from Midwest Municipal Supply for materials for the Timberview water main loop project in the amount of $2,393.89. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

STREET / SEWER

Nothing to report.

PUBLIC GROUNDS-

Motion by Machota, seconded by Moore to approve acquisition of Real Property Parcel ID 01-000-670-01 from County Tax Sale at a price not to exceed $1,000.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

TOURISM –

Nothing to report.

PERSONNEL –

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

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Scanzoni to hire Kerri Cloud, Heather Turner, Mitchell Brown and Charles Popham as part time police dispatchers. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson, Machota, Moore. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Moore to advertise hiring for part time Office

Administrative Assistant at the City Clerk’s Office. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:

Manning, Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks,

Plenske. Motion carried.

ANNEXATION –

Nothing to report.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

Nothing to report.

JUDICIARY—

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Scanzoni to TABLE Ordinance #2136 Vacating Portion Of City Alleyway, Declaring It Surplus Real Property And Authorizing Its Sale. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Machota to approve Ordinance #2137 Changing The Address Of 1600 North LPT Road To 1 Pine Tree Lane. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

1st reading of Ordinance #2138 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 510 East Macoupin Street, Staunton, Illinois

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Moore to approve Resolution #2021-33 Making Legislative Findings And Declaring The Ward 1 Aldermanic Seat Of Alderman Brooke Wallace Vacant. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Moore to approve Resolution #2021-34 Declaring Trick-Or-Treat Days And Hours In Staunton, Illinois (October 30 and October 31, 2021 from dusk to 9:00 P.M.). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Manning, Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

Prior to the next motion, Mayor Neuhaus stated that the following Resolution is a Resolution of Financial Commitment by the City to put in sidewalks creating a safe route to school along North Deneen Street and West North Street.

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Moore to approve Resolution #2021-35 A Resolution Of Financial Commitment From The City Of Staunton For The Safe Route To School Program. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

Nothing to report.

XI. NEW BUSINESS-

Mayor Neuhaus stated that he has been working with Public Works Director Kuethe

and Engineer Rodney Potts, seeking Grants from the State of Illinois for different

projects going on with the City of Staunton.

Mayor Neuhaus also addressed the email that was sent by Julie Jarman, Director of the

Staunton Public Library. The library is receiving a State Humanities Grant for $5,000

and they are planning to complete the Story Book Walk that was started last year by

Tori Hester for her Girl Scout Project. This project will be set up at the South Water

Tower Park. Ms. Jarman is just asking the City to allow the Staunton Public Library

to continue with the project that has already begun.

Lastly, Mayor Neuhaus has been contacted by a local resident who would like to

donate a soapstone sculpture to the City of Staunton. The statue is currently being

housed at a retreat down in Golconda, IL. The retreat has been sold and the new

owners would like to have the statue removed. The resident is willing to pay all

costs incurred regarding the moving of the statue. All Council Members were on

board with the relaction of the statues to the City of Staunton. It will need to be

placed indoors, but an exact location hasn’t been determined.

XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION—

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Scanzoni to go into Executive Session at 7:14 P.M. to discuss Open Meetings Act Exception for Property Acquisition Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (5). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske.

Motion by Manning, seconded by Johnson to return to regular order of business at 7:32 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

XIII. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION –

.

No motions were made from Executive Session.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Manning, seconded by Councilmember Scanzoni to adjourn at 7:33 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.

Prepared by:

Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk