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 27, 2021
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 27, 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, Jeff Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.
ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: City Attorney Phil Lading and Police Chief Jeff Doerr.
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 – 09/13/2021
Executive Session – 09/13/2021
Special Meeting – 9/15/2021
Special Meeting – 9/16/2021
Collector’s Report
Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$300.00
Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$15.00
State of Illinois (American Rescue Plan Act – 1st Installment)--$336,733.81
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E-Citation Fee)--$4.00
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$419.99
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$10.00
Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehicle Fund)--$.50
MJM Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$311.74
Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$21,300.51
Staunton Area Ambulance Service (Dispatch Fee)--$500.00
State of Illinois (Use Tax)--$16,285.45
State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$40,361.63
State of Illinois (MFT Tax)--$10,887.09
State of Illinois (MFT Renewal Fund)--$7,655.43
State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$64,857.54
State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$5,635.02
State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$639.21
State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$11,736.93
Music Performance Trust Fund (Band Reimbursement)--$3,150.00
Applications
Robin Simpson (Police Officer)
Roxanne Marra (Clerk’s Office Administrative Assistant)
Claims
August 23, 2021 (Expenditures - $105,229.69 / Payroll - $62,483.26 / Manual
Checks - $57,820.90)
Business Licenses Issued
Staunton FFA Alumni (Raffle License)
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Hanks, Plenske.
Motion declared carried.
V. GUESTS
Don Mitchelar thanked the City Council for all of their time, efforts and accomplishments that have happened since he has been attending City Council Meetings over the last year. He told the Council that he really appreciates everything being done and he wishes more local residents could see all of the good things happening with the Council.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Received a letter of resignation on September 13, 2021 from full time Police Officer Christopher Barnes, effective September 18, 2021. He is asking to stay on as a part time officer for the department.
Received a letter of resignation from part time janitor Evelyn Gusewelle on September 15, 2021.
Received an email from Colin Pruitt of Congressman Rodney Davis’ office requesting to use the conference room at the Ralph and Josephine Oltmann Community Center on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. This will be to set up for in person meetings with citizens wishing to address any issues they may be having.
Received a letter from Net Community Church asking to use the city’s trailer of tables on October 13, 2021 and March 23, 2022. They will be hosting a testing site for Staunton High School Seniors to take their SAT test. Net Community Church will provide workers to unload and reload the tables into the City trailer.
Received an email from Staunton High School Principal Vince Hughes, informing the City that the Staunton High School Homecoming Parade will be held on Friday, October 1, 2021. Parade participants will be gathering in St. Michael’s parking lot at 12:30 P.M. and parade will start at 1:15. The parade route will go west on Main Street to Route 4, north on Route 4 to Lafayette Street, west on Lafayette to Deneen Street and north on Deneen and end at the north end of the school. The school is asking for the police department to lead the parade.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
Lori and I both participated in the Symposium sponsored by Civic Systems on Thursday and Friday, September 16 and 17. The computer training sessions this year were all conducted remotely, so we were both able to participate and still be in the office.
IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -
Motion by Manning, seconded by Johnson to approve Estimate #21188 from Illini Tech Services for 3 new Dell Optiplex 3000 Series Desktop Computers and 3 new Dell Inspiron 3000 Series Laptop Computers at a cost of $5,397.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.
Motion by Manning, seconded by Johnson to purchase a new Dodge Charger police cruiser from Staunton Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram at a cost not to exceed $28,500.00, when it becomes available. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.
PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –
Nothing to report.
FINANCE–
Nothing to report.
WATER-
Motion by Moore, seconded by Manning to pay Invoice #2034639 from Midwest Municipal Supply for stock setters, meter tiles and covers in the amount of $2,024.00. 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 Scanzoni to approve request from Net Community Church to use the City’s table trailer on October 13, 2021 and on March 23, 2022 for Staunton High School Seniors to take their SAT test. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.
TOURISM –
Motion by Scanzoni, seconded by Moore to pay Concordia Hall, Inc. $811.16 for their portion of the proceeds from the beer tent sales from the Balloon Glow and Ribfest. This arrangement was approved at the July 6, 2021 Tourism Committee Meeting. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.
PERSONNEL –
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Manning to advertise hiring for part time janitorial position at City owned buildings. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Manning, Johnson, Machota, Moore. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.
ANNEXATION –
Nothing to report.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES –
Nothing to report.
JUDICIARY—
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Moore to TABLE Ordinance #2136 Vacating Portion Of City Alleyway, Declaring It Surplus Real Property And Authorizing Its Sale. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Manning, Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Scanzoni to approve Ordinance #2138 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 510 East Macoupin Street, Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Machota, Moore, Scanzoni, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: Hanks, Plenske. Motion carried.
1st reading of Ordinance #2139 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Lions Club To Conduct Their Annual Candy Day Sale Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union (October 16, 2021)
X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—
Nothing to report.
XI. NEW BUSINESS-
Meals on Wheels in Staunton is in need of volunteer drivers to deliver meals throughout Staunton. Currently drivers are needed for Tuesdays but anyone who can volunteer for any weekday would be greatly appreciated. There are 22 to 27 meals delivered to our elderly every day in Staunton alone. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Meals on Wheels are prepared in the Benld Senior Center for southern Macoupin County. An average of 120 meals a day are prepared and delivered Monday through Friday. Volunteers for Mondays and Tuesdays are needed in the Benld Center to help package the meals for delivery.
To volunteer for either, please call the local coordinator, Lydia Johnson, at 618-315-1725.
City Clerk Stiegemeier report that a trash hauler came in today to purchase a trash hauling license for the remainder of the calendar year. The name of the company is DC Waste & Recycling, and they have submitted all of the required information and documents with their application. A Trash Hauling License will be issued very soon.
Mayor Neuhaus stated that we will need to be advertising for a yard waste attendant and crossing guard. Anyone that would be interested in the position should come to the City Clerk’s Office and pick up an application.
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 Scanzoni seconded by Councilmember Moore to adjourn at 7:11 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