City Council Meeting Minutes--September 28, 2026
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 28, 2026
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 28, 2026.
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, Ben Frank, Kristy Berg, Ryan Machota, Anthony Bagaglio, Matthew McKee, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe and Police Chief Jeff Doerr.
ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: Alderman Terry Tipler and City Attorney Phil Lading.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Manning moved, seconded by McKee to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:
Minutes
Regular Meeting – 09/14/2026
Collector’s Report
Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$21,542.28
Southwestern Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$1,203.07
Macoupin County Collector (Property Taxes – 2nd Installment)--$70,858.44
Macoupin County Collector (Property Taxes – 2nd Installment/Library)--$8,037.32
Macoupin County Collector (Downtown TIF Taxes – 2nd Installment)--$21,523.39
Macoupin County Collector (Interstate TIF Taxes – 2nd Installment)--$55,937.34
Staunton Police Department (Finger Printing)--$10.00
Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$5.00
Staunton Area Ambulance Service (Dispatch Fee)--$500.00
Applications
Manuel Espinoza III (Police Chief)
Richard Emerson (Police Chief)
Dasean Quinn (Police Chief)
Jacob Shain (Police Chief)
Elias Voulgaris (Police Chief)
Earin Land (Police Chief)
Jack Wofford III (Police Chief)
Kevin Thebeau (Police Chief)
David Matevey (Police Chief)
Carter Burford (Police Chief)
Claims
September 28, 2026
Business Licenses Issued
Jett Property Repair Services
Staunton Accounting Services, LLC
Staunton Jr. High Baseball (Raffle License)
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Berg, Machota, Bagaglio,McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Motion declared carried.
V. GUESTS
No guests were present to speak to the City Council.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Received an email from the Staunton Fire Department notifying the City that their 2027 Homecoming Celebration will be on June 24th, 25th and 26th. The parade is tentatively set for June 26th.
Received an email from the Staunton Lions Club regarding the upcoming Halloween Parade. Plans are to have the parade on Friday, October 30th at 6:00 P.M. The parade will begin at the City Hall complex and proceed east on Main Street to Laurel Street and then south on Laurel Street to Henry Street, ending at the VFW Hall. They are asking the Staunton Police Department to secure the parade route.
Received a Letter of Resignation from Code Enforcement Officer/Zoning Administrator Matt DalPozzo, effective December 31, 2026.
VII. TREASURER’S REPORT
Certificates of Deposit recently purchased at Bank of Springfield for 12 months at 4.25%:
Civic Improvement Fund - $250,000.00
Civic Improvement Fund - $250,000.00
Reserve Fund - $250,000.00
Reserve Fund - $250,000.00
Laddered Certificates of Deposit recently purchased at LPL Financial:
Business District Fund - $250,000.00 for 12 months at 4.2%
Business District Fund - $250,000.00 for 24 months at 4.4%
Business District Fund - $250,000.00 for 36 months at 4.7%
Business District Fund - $250,000.00 for 48 months at 4.7%
General Fund - $250,000.00 for 12 months at 4.25%
General Fund - $250,000.00 for 24 months at 4.55%
General Fund - $250,000.00 for 36 months at 4.75%
General Fund - $250,000.00 for 48 months at 4.8%
Sewer Fund - $250,000.00 for 12 months at 4.2%
Sewer Fund - $250,000.00 for 24 months at 4.5%
Money Market Accounts recently opened at Bank of Springfield earning 3.75% interest:
Business District Fund - $100,000.00
Civic Improvement Fund - $500,000.00
General Fund - $500,000.00
Infrastructure Fund - $1,000,000.00
Sewer Fund - $100,000.00
VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY -
Motion by Frank, seconded by Manning to pay Invoice #1220 from Cal’s Powertrain for labor and materials used in setting up the Virtual Patrol Trailer in the amount of $11,535.42. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –
Motion by Berg, seconded by McKee authorizing Mayor Neuhaus to sign amended Three Year Agreement with Christmas Décor System for Main Street Christmas lighting at a cost of $4,060.00 per year. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
FINANCE–
Motion by Frank, seconded by Berg to pay Final Pay Estimate No. 5 to Stutz Excavating, Inc. for work completed on the Main Street Improvements Project in the amount of $167,102.74. This will be paid from budget line item 56.45.860.2. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Frank, seconded by McKee to pay Invoice #10614 from Potts, Smoot & Crawford Civil Engineering for Inspection / Resident Engineering on the Main Street Improvements Project in the amount of $22,960.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Frank, seconded by McKee to pay Invoice #10616 from Potts, Smoot & Crawford Civil Engineering for Stakeout and Layout on the Main Street Improvements Project in the amount of $14,225.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Frank, seconded by Manning to approve Estimate #581 from Page Painting for labor and materials to paint Main Street light poles in the amount of $11,850.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
WATER-.
Nothing to report.
STREET / SEWER
Nothing to report.
PUBLIC GROUNDS-
Motion by Machota, seconded by Manning to accept bid from Fenton Brothers Construction for Library Roof Replacement in the amount of $33,180.00. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler. 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 Frank, seconded by Manning to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #2363 An Ordinance Approving A Minor Subdivision Of 18074 West Oxford Road, Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Frank, seconded by McKee to approve Ordinance #2363 An Ordinance Approving A Minor Subdivision Of 18074 West Oxford Road, Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Frank, seconded by Manning to waive 1st reading of Ordinance #2364 An Ordinance Approving A Minor Subdivision Of 725 Myrtle Street, Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Frank, seconded by McKee to approve Ordinance #2364 An Ordinance Approving A Minor Subdivision Of 725 Myrtle Street, Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Frank, seconded by McKee to approve Resolution #2026-27 A Resolution Authorizing The Execution Of A Redevelopment Agreement With Poonam Jain. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Frank, Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—
Nothing to report.
XI. NEW BUSINESS-
The City will be seeking applications for a full time Police Officer and the Code
Enforcement Officer / Zoning Administrator in the very near future.
XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION—
No Executive Session was held.
XIII. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION –
.
No motions were made.
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Manning, seconded by Councilmember Berg to adjourn at 7:10 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Berg, Machota, Bagaglio, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Prepared by:
Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk