City Council Minutes - February 11, 2008
By Marilyn A. Herbeck
Feb 28, 2008, 15:46

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STAUNTON CITY COUNCIL, HELD IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, 920 N. EASTON, STAUNTON, ILLINOIS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2008.

I. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Fred Stein called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, February 11, 2008.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Stein led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

III. ROLL CALL:
Clerk Herbeck called roll with the following persons
PRESENT: Councilmembers Bart Yakos, Randy Brown, Craig Neuhaus, James Sloan, Nelson Grman, Linda Prante, Robert Schwandner and Fred Lotter. Mayor Fred Stein, City Clerk Marilyn Herbeck, City Attorney Philip Lading, Chief Robert Mertz and Public Works Director Hank Fey and were noted as being present.
ABSENT: City Treasurer Erin Cavanaugh

IV. CONSENT AGENDA:

Councilmember Brown moved, seconded by Councilmember Schwandner to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:

Minutes
Regular Meeting - January 28, 2008
Executive Session - January 28, 2008
Revenues
AmerenIP Utility Tax $26,568.84
Income Tax (November) $25,542.47
MJM Utility Tax (January) $13.90
Southwestern Electric Utility Tax (December) $429.55
Use Tax (November) $5,806.17
Madison 2007 Franchise Fee $25,402.50
IL Counties Risk Management – Dividend $3,864.00
Applications
Edward Reiter – Water Department
Cedrick Favre – Water Department
Alvin Gehm – Part Time
Michael Wiggins – Water Department
Lee Struebig – Water Operator
Rick Kilduff – Water Operator
Don Best – Water Operator




Monthly Report
January 31, 2008
Claims
February 11, 2008
Business Licenses Issued
Destiny’s Family Restaurant (formerly Sister’s)
Staunton Family Restaurant (formerly Joey’s)
American Family Fred Brauer Insurance Agency (location change)

Roll Call Vote -
AYES: Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

V. GUESTS

Councilmember Schwandner moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown to suspend regular order of business to hear from Guests. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.

Rich Henry informed that he has been experiencing problems with deliveries to his 1107 Historic Route 66 address because there is a similar address of 1107 E. Henry located just down the street on what is also known as Historic Route 66. He asked if the 1107 E. Henry address could possibly be changed. Clerk Herbeck indicated that she would check with Macoupin County 911 to determine what can be done to resolve the issue.

Rich Henry also indicated that the contact link on the stauntonil.com website is not functioning properly and questioned who is responsible. He was informed that the website is in need of maintenance and that the Civic Improvement Committee will be addressing the problem.

Rich Henry offered to participate in the Rt. 66 car cruise by holding an Ice Cream Social and wondered if there would be Tourism funding for the activity. Grman requested Henry to submit a proposal of the costs and he will present it to the Tourism Committee for review.

On a final note, Rich Henry requested the Public Works Department to grind off the wrong middle initial in his name that is on the Public Works Building Plaque.




Cindy, Mark & Gene Feldman were present to obtain answers about the purchase of their properties on Main Street. They indicated that they were told the City was going to buy their property and Gene Feldman purchased another property to relocate his Floral Business. Now they have been informed that the properties are not going to be purchased. They expressed the difficulties they are having in obtaining accurate information and feel that they need some sound information in order to operate their businesses. Mayor Stein stated that the confusion is related to poor communication from the Engineers. IDOT has taken the Main Street resurfacing project out of the ’08 Budget and pushed it back to ’09. The earliest the bid letting can take place would be September with construction over the winter and into next year. The culvert project may not happen for another year. He informed that the culvert project will happen but he does not know exactly when it will take place. He told the Feldman’s that he will keep the property owners & business owners informed. The City has a meeting scheduled with IDOT for February 20, 2008.

Councilmember Brown moved, seconded by Councilmember Schwandner to return to the regular order of business. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE:

Madison County Transit sent notification that they have awarded the Contract for construction of the Worden to Staunton Bike Trail. Clerk Herbeck noted that the bid amount exceeds the amounts originally designated by grants and questioned where the extra funding would come from. Attorney Lading will verify the City’s responsibility.

VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS:

UTILITIES (LOTTER) -

Councilmember Lotter requested Executive Session to discuss hiring of part-time water operators.

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Schwandner to Award Low Bid for Repair Clamps to Midwest Municipal in the amount of $2,306.70.

Roll Call Vote –
AYES: Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.


Councilmember Lotter presented a comparison of water testing at the water plant versus the pilot plant. He informed that the pilot plant is using fewer chemicals and making the same amount of water. The pilot plant is also checking for aluminum which will be a future regulation by EPA.

STREET (YAKOS) –

Councilmember Yakos moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to approve payment of L & L Excavating Invoice in the amount of $3,000 for Snow Removal.

Roll Call Vote-
AYES: Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos, Brown
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

FINANCE (BROWN) -

Chairman Brown informed that budget meetings will be scheduled with individual departments.

PARK/CIVIC IMPROVEMENT (SCHWANDNER) –

Councilmember Schwandner moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to grant authorization to advertise for Part-Time Seasonal Park Employees. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.

Chairman Schwandner provided photos of vandalism at the Jr. Service Pavilion and Playground Equipment. Police Department is investigating.

Park & Civic Improvement Committee is working on the placement of playground equipment and bathroom facilities at the South Water Tower property which will serve as a trailhead for the Worden to Staunton Bike Trail.

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY (SLOAN) -

Nothing to report.

TOURISM (GRMAN) -

Councilmember Grman moved, seconded by Councilmember Yakos to approve up to $1,500 for the purchase of fans to advertise the Tour de Donut.



Roll Call Vote –
AYES: Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

No action was taken on continuing the effort for Tour de Donut Trademark.

PUBLIC GROUNDS (NEUHAUS) -

Councilmember Neuhaus moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to grant approval to advertise for Grass Cutting of Cemetery. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.

Councilmember Neuhaus moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown to accept Bid from Bucher Glass for replacement of City Hall East Hallway Doors in the amount of $2,236. ($2,042.97 - 01.46.511.0 / Charge Balance to 35.61.511.0)

Roll Call Vote –
AYES: Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

JUDICIARY (PRANTE) -

Councilmember Prante moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to adopt Resolution #2008-02 Abating Tax Levy in the amount of $178,035.

Roll Call Vote –
AYES: Prante, Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

Councilmember Prante moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown to adopt Resolution #2008-03 Abating Tax Levy in the amount of $184,950.

Roll Call Vote –
AYES: Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman, Prante
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

Councilmember Prante moved, seconded by Councilmember Schwandner to adopt Resolution #2008-04 Abating Tax Levy in the amount of $171,968.


Roll Call Vote –
AYES: Lotter, Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

Councilmember Prante moved to adopt Resolution #2008-05 Executing Security Bond to obtain Durapatcher Title. Motion died for lack of second. Attorney Lading will investigate why the City has to provide the bond when they never received a title in the first place and the original seller has taken back the equipment as a trade in.

Councilmember Prante moved, seconded by Councilmember Grman to adopt Resolution #2008-06 Appointing Bill Napper to Zoning Board of Appeals.

Roll Call Vote –
AYES: Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

First Reading – Ordinance #1447 Dustin & Tracy Favre Pre-Annexation Agreement
(Public Hearing scheduled for February 25, 2008)

First Reading – Ordinance #1448 Amending Park Rental Procedures

VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

No Unfinished Business to discuss.

IX. NEW BUSINESS:

No New Business to discuss.

X. EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown, to go into Executive Session to discuss Personnel as requested by Councilmember Lotter.

Roll Call Vote -
AYES: Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown, to return to the Regular Order of Business.

Roll Call Vote -
AYES: Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

XI. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Grman to hire Don Best & Eric Klawinski as part time water plant operators at probationary hourly wage of 85% for 1st 6 months, 90% for the next 6 months and full scale at completion of one year of employment.

Roll Call Vote-
AYES: Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman, Prante, Schwandner, Lotter
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.

XII. ADJOURNMENT:

With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Yakos to adjourn at 8:10 P.M. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.

Prepared by:



Marilyn A. Herbeck
City Clerk





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