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 14, 2020
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 14, 2020
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus led the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.
III. ROLL CALL:
Prior to roll call being taken, City Clerk Stiegemeier announced that tonight’s City Council Meeting was being conducted remotely and was being recorded due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
City Clerk Stiegemeier called roll with the following persons:
ATTENDING: Aldermen Maria Bodner, Brooke Wallace, Rick Johnson, Randy Hanks, Ryan Machota, Chad Plenske, John Moore and Jeff Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading, Police Chief Jeff Doerr and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Johnson moved, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:
Minutes
Regular Meeting – 08/24/2020
Executive Session – 08/24/2020
Collector’s Report
Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$5.00
Staunton Police Department (Finger Printing)--$5.00
Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$200.00
Staunton Super 8 Motel (Hotel/Motel Tax)--$1,202.03
Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$21,958.57
Macoupin County Collector (Real Estate Taxes)--$84,568.84
Macoupin County Collector (Real Estate Taxes – Library)--$10,358.74
Macoupin County Collector (Downtown TIF Tax)--$4,131.69
Macoupin County Collector (Interstate TIF Tax)--$1,173.28
State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$59,242.44
State of Illinois (MFT Tax)--$10,507.05
State of Illinois (MFT Renewal Fund)--$7,223.02
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$539.26
Applications
Jeffrey Settles (Police Officer)
Thomas Williams (Police Officer)
Monthly Reports
Distributed by Bookkeeper
Claims
September 14, 2020
Business Licenses Issued
CDS Shooting Supplies (Business License)
Macoupin County Patriots Friends of NRA (Raffle License)
Staunton High School Volleyball (Raffle License)
George Oehler American Legion Post #362 (Raffle License)
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Motion declared carried.
V. GUESTS
No guests were present to speak.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Received a letter from Net Community Church asking to use the city’s trailer of tables from October 13th through October 15th, and from October 28th to 30th. Net Community will be hosting a testing site for Staunton High School Seniors to take their SAT test. The school has asked to make a special testing site available, which would allow for social distancing during the current pandemic. Net Community will provide workers to unload and reload the tables into the City trailer.
Received a letter from Charla Windau, Girl Scout Troop 945 Leader, asking to use the Fireman’s Park on Sunday, September 20th and Sunday, October 18th from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. for Girl Scout meetings. They are requesting to have the park rental fee waived.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
All duck blinds have been registered prior to the September 1, 2020 deadline
Petition packets have been received for the upcoming Consolidated Election, which will be held on April 6, 2021. Candidates can start circulating petitions on September 22nd, with the filing period being from December 14th through December 21st. Petition packets are available at the City Clerk’s Office.
IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -
Nothing to report.
PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –
Motion by Scanzoni, seconded by Plenske to grant request to Charla Windau, Girl Scout Troop 945 Leader, to use Fireman’s Park on Sunday, September 20th and Sunday, October 18th from 2:00 to 6:00 P.M. for Girl Scout meetings, with the park rental fee being waived. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
FINANCE–
Motion by Moore, seconded by Wallace to reimburse 75% of the completed Phase 3 expenses to JK Redevelopment Properties as outlined in the Redevelopment Agreement, for a total of $9,036.75 (75% of $12,049.00). Prior to the roll call vote, Alderman Johnson made the following statement:
I would like to acknowledge and commend both Jeff and Megan Crotty for the work they have done improving Main Street.
However, it is important to remember the City does not control the TIF program. The State of Illinois sets the standards via Illinois State Statutes. Yes, we can set our guidelines within the scope of what the State Laws set, but going outside the State regulations can have serious and irrefutable harm to the City’s TIF programs. It is also important to remember the State audits the TIF programs every year for compliance.
I called Mr. Bruckert our TIF attorney to get his take on the JK issue brought up. He said yes, we can accept any kind of invoice we decide is appropriate and correct if the applicant affirms and guarantees the accuracy of same under oath and the work being reimbursed for is actually completed and verified. In the case where the work on the application is going to be changed, the applicant must simply apply to have the original agreement amended to reflect such changes and approved by the Council.
It is not that they would have to complete the work they described in the original application, but merely submit an amendment to the contract to be approved by the City.
It matters not who made a mistake or how it happened, but it is critical mistakes be corrected properly and within the guidelines and applicable laws set by the State of Illinois.
The requirements for TIF reports include:
• Amendments to a redevelopment plan • Audited financial statements • Executive and legal statements certifying compliance with state TIF law • Description of property purchased • Itemized list of all expenditures • List of intergovernmental agreements • Information regarding contracts with third parties
As I see it there are three options available to the Crotty’s:
Complete the work as described in the original agreement.
Provide all original invoices for supplies and materials, any third party agreements and contracts for work completed showing the original estimates are far lower than the actual costs.
Submit an amendment removing whole building from phase 2 original plan to be accepted and approved by the Council.
Until one of the three options is satisfied, I must vote No on the final reimbursement payment.
At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes:
Johnson, Hanks, Plenske. Absent: None. Motion carried 5 Ayes; 3 Nayes.
Motion by Moore, seconded by Bodner to approve renewal of City of Staunton Employee Dental, Life, Vision and AD&D Insurance from CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services of Illinois effective November 1, 2020, at a renewal rate of $51.34 per employee, per month (Principal Insurance Co.). There is no increase in premium from last year. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
WATER-
Motion by Hanks, seconded by Johnson to proceed with permitting and engineering on Caldwell Street water main project. An estimate for the project is on file. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
STREET / SEWER
Motion by Machota, seconded by Scanzoni to purchase concrete breaker for backhoe from Erb Equipment, through Sourcewell Purchasing, at a cost of $13,690.00. This will be paid from line item 01.41.840.0. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
PUBLIC GROUNDS-
Motion by Machota, seconded by Hanks to approve request from Net Community Church to use the City’s table trailer from October 13th through October 15th and again on October 28th to October 30th for Staunton High School Seniors to take their SAT test. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
TOURISM –
Nothing to report.
PERSONNEL –
Nothing to report.
ANNEXATION –
Nothing to report.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES –
Nothing to report.
JUDICIARY—
Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2080 Approving A Charity Roadblock By Adopt A Pet To Conduct Their Macoupin County Wide Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union (October 10, 2020 from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Bodner, seconded by Wallace to approve Ordinance #2081 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 1115 East North Street, Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Wallace, seconded by Hanks to table the 1st reading of Ordinance #2082 Annexing Certain Territory To The City Of Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois Illinois Department Of Natural Resources Staunton, IL 62088 PIN #01-000-374-01. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Wallace, seconded by Hanks to table 1st reading of Ordinance #2083 Approving An Annexation And Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement Between The City Of Staunton, Illinois And The Illinois Department Of Natural Resources. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
1st reading of Ordinance #2084 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Staunton Knights Of Columbus To Conduct Their Annual Tootsie Roll Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union (October 3, 2020 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.)
1st reading of Ordinance #2085 Adopting Recommendations And Findings Of Fact Of The Zoning Hearing Officer And Granting A Special Use Permit For Property Located At 2666 Rock Crusher Road, Staunton, Illinois
1st reading of Ordinance #2086 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 528 East Mill Street, Staunton, Illinois
1st reading of Ordinance #2087 An Ordinance To Install Stop Signs On East Henry Street And East Mill Street At Their Intersection With South Irene Street
1st reading of Ordinance #2088 Amending Chapter 33, Article II Of The City Code Adding Regulations Regarding Grass Mowing Between Property Lines And Adjoining Street Surfaces Within The City
1st reading of Ordinance #2089 Approving A Charity Roadblock By Elbon Shrine Club To Conduct Their Newspaper Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union
Motion by Bodner, seconded by Wallace to approve Resolution #2020-33 Re-Appointing Randy Williams Trustee Of The Staunton Police Pension Board. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Bodner, seconded by Hanks to approve Resolution #2020-34 A Resolution Declaring Surplus Property And Authorizing Its Disposition. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—
Nothing to report.
XI. NEW BUSINESS-
A discussion was held regarding Trick-Or-Treating for Halloween, 2020. It was
decided to keep Trick-Or Treating as it has been in the past, which will allow two
nights, which those nights this year will be Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October
31st. Groups will need to be smaller than 10 and Trick-Or Treaters should only go to
houses with porch lights turned on. A Resolution will be on the September 28th
agenda for the approval. Due to the current pandemic, that annual Trunk or Treat that
has been held that last few years, has been cancelled for this year.
XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION—
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Bodner to go in to Executive Session at 7:21 to
discuss Potential Real Estate Acquisition – Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (5). At Roll
Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Bodner, seconded by Wallace to return to regular order of business at
7:28 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
XIII. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION –
.
No motions were made from Executive Session.
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Plenske, seconded by Councilmember Machota to adjourn at 7:29 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Prepared by:
Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk