City Council Minutes - March 24, 2008
By Marilyn A. Herbeck
Apr 16, 2008, 21:01

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STAUNTON CITY COUNCIL, HELD IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, 920 N. EASTON, STAUNTON, ILLINOIS ON MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008.

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Fred Stein called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, March 24, 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, Treasurer Erin Cavanaugh, City Attorney Philip Lading, Chief Robert Mertz and Public Works Director Hank Fey were noted as being present.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA:

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

Minutes
Regular Meeting – March 10, 2008
Executive Session - None
Receipts
MFT Allotment (February) $10,819.38
Personal Property Replacement Tax $1,203.24
Sales Tax (January) $45,865.82
Telecommunications Tax (January) $13,472.40
County Fines $6,345.97
County Fines - DUI Equipment Fines $221.80
County Fines – Vehicle Fund $80.00
Applications
Elizabeth VanDeHey, Staunton - Park
Claims
March 24, 2008
Business Licenses
Union Street Bar & Grill, Inc., 201 S. Union

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

V. GUESTS

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

Dawn Kieffer stated that she is not in favor of modifying the existing burning ordinance to allow more burning. She feels that allowing burning on two days a week is adequate and should not be expanded to allow more burning.

David & Kelly Kirby also expressed opposition to modification of the burning ordinance. Last year they obtained over 400 signatures on petitions against burning and hoped that the Council was moving forward with the franchising of waste hauling and the complete elimination of burning. They questioned if the current burning ordinance was really being enforced as they observe burning on other days than Friday and Saturday which they have reported to the police department, but it continues. They also pointed out that residents are burning more than just yard waste. They also expressed concern for the health of residents who are exposed to the smoke from burning.

Dan Russell reported that since the sidewalk has been disturbed for the new water service line, the basement of his furniture store on Main Street has been flooding. He explained that he has approximately 45 dinning sets in the basement area and is concerned of the damage that could occur. It was indicated that several other business owners are experiencing the same problem. Utility/Street Committees will work with these businesses to come to a resolution. He also reported a dangerous sidewalk at the intersection of Wood and Pearl where he saw a wheelchair get stuck. Hank Fey was directed to investigate the condition of the sidewalk and make appropriate repairs.

Tracy Kelsey informed that the contractor for the Sixth Street Watermain Replacement Project has indicated that he will make roadway repairs as soon as weather permits and he is able to obtain the material from the batch plant. A list is being compiled of the residences where sinking is occurring from the installation of new water lines.

Tracy Kelsey requested permission from the Council to proceed with the pre-application for the State Loan which has a deadline of March 31st. Council directed Tracy to proceed with pre-application.

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

VI. CORRESPONDENCE:

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Schwandner to accept resignation of Rose Mary Schultze from Historic Preservation Committee. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.

Councilmember Yakos moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to notify AmerenIP that the City will assume financial responsibility of billing effective March 31st for the street light located at 1112 W. Henry as requested by Donald Bloemker since it provides illumination for the intersection of Henry & Quarry Streets. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.
VII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT (7:10-7:12)

Nothing to report.

VIII. TREASURER’S REPORT (7:12-7:14)

Nothing to report.

IX. ATTORNEY’S REPORT (7:14 - 7:16)

Nothing to report.

X. COMMITTEE REPORTS

UTILITIES/SUBDIVISION (LOTTER) -

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown to approve payment of Milcic Plumbing Invoice in the amount of $5,038.58 for North Laurel Sewer Main Repair.

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

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Yakos to authorize payment of L & L Excavating and Trucking Invoice in the amount of $12,900.00 (less 10% retainage) for installation of Main Street Water Meter Services.

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

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Yakos to approve addition to construction permit for East Main Extension to upgrade existing waterline for future use.

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

Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Schwandner to accept low bid from Crawford in the amount of $1.15 per foot for televising, cleaning & root cutting for sewer maintenance.

Roll Call Vote-
AYES: Prante, Schwandner, Lotter, Yakos, Brown, Neuhaus, Sloan, Grman
NAYS: None
Motion declared carried.
Hank Fey informed contractors that they need to keep up with the maintenance of the pavement on Main Street and the sidewalk repairs during the construction process.

Councilmember Grman informed that the Tour de Donut Committee is concerned about the condition of Main Street for this year’s Tour de Donut. Council concurred that it would probably be best for everyone if they could use an alternate route this year due to the construction process.

STREET (YAKOS) –

Councilmember Yakos moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to authorize Clerk Herbeck to sign documents to accept low bids for Annual M.F.T. Maintenance by Mike Maedge Trucking, Coady Supply, Beelman Logistics and Polo Trucking.

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

FINANCE (BROWN) -

Councilmember Grman reminded that 2009 will mark Staunton’s 150th Anniversary and expenditures should be considered in this year’s budget process. A town haul meeting will be scheduled to determine if there is interest.

PARK/CIVIC IMPROVEMENT (SCHWANDNER) –


Councilmember Schwandner moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown to grant permission to Girl Scout Troop 330 to hang banners, solicit donations and for the City to sponsor a banner in the amount of $250.

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

Councilmember Schwandner moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown to approve purchase of Sixth Street Playground Equipment in the amount of $24,104 and authorize payment of ½ of the cost up front.

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

Councilmember Schwandner moved, seconded by Councilmember Grman to hire Larry Favre and David Straub as Part Time Seasonal Park Employees.



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

Councilmember Schwandner moved, seconded by Councilmember Grman to authorize purchase of Fencing Material for Field #4 Backstop in the amount of $4,450.25 (previous $200 invoice subtracted).

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

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY (SLOAN) -

Committee reviewed and recommended proceeding with placement of stop sign at intersection of Sixth and Union Streets. Ordinance will be presented in Judiciary Report.

Councilmember Sloan moved, seconded by Councilmember Schwandner to authorize purchase of Village Police 4.0 Program @ $4,500 w/$450 per year maintenance agreement.

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

Councilmember Sloan moved, seconded by Councilmember Yakos to purchase (3) Radar Guns @ $1,605 (2-DUI Fund / 1-Police Equipment Fund).

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

Committee decided not to apply for the State Patrolling Program which would pay overtime pay and provide radar guns to the City for officers to run radar on State roadways that go through Staunton.

Chairman Sloan reported that they are still waiting on the final PTSI Siren Proposal. Additional information will be presented once it is received.

The City currently has an ordinance that designates the speed limit to be 30 mph unless posted otherwise. Several speeding tickets have not held up in court due to the lack of signs at the entrances to the City. Six signs have been ordered and will be placed at the entrances in order for the speed limit to be enforced.



TOURISM (GRMAN) -

Councilmember Grman questioned the role of the Annexation Committee in the process of annexation which erupted in a dispute regarding the role of committees in the past. It was finally agreed that in the event of the possibility of an annexation, the Mayor and Council should all be informed so that they can make the best decisions.

PUBLIC GROUNDS (NEUHAUS) -

Councilmember Neuhaus requested Executive Session to discuss contract issue.

JUDICIARY (PRANTE) -

Councilmember Prante moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to table Ordinance #1449 Modifying Leaf Burning Ordinance until September 8, 2008.

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

Councilmember Prante moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to adopt Ordinance #1450 Modifying Curfew Ordinance.

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

1st Reading - Ordinance #1431 Placement of a Stop Sign at Union and Sixth Streets

1st Reading - Ordinance #1451 Cemetery Maintenance

1st Reading - Ordinance #1452 VFW Poppy Days May 2 & 3, 2008


Councilmember Prante moved, seconded by Councilmember Yakos to adopt Resolution 2008-05 Executing Security Bond to obtain Durapatcher Title.

Councilmember Lotter spoke against providing the security bond for the Durapatcher. He indicated that this item got placed on the agenda in the past by Lori who went directly to the Attorney to have the Resolution prepared without the Council knowing anything about it. He reminded that it was not acted upon at that meeting and now it has gotten placed on the agenda again. The City never received a title when the equipment was purchased. The dealer offered to sell the City a new piece of equipment and take the “untitled” piece of equipment back as a trade in. He does not feel that it is the City’s responsibility to provide a security bond for the equipment that was purchased from this dealer in the first place.


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

Clerk Herbeck asked for clarification of the procedure for placement of items on the agenda. She indicated that she has always felt that it is better to have an item on the agenda, even if it does not receive action, than to not be able to take action on an item because it was not placed on the agenda. After discussion the Council concurred that Clerk Herbeck can place all items which are presented to her on the agenda and the Council will determine if they wish to take action.

XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Councilmember Brown moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to authorize Ducks Unlimited to conduct the Lake Clean Up on April 12th with April 26th designated as the Rain Date. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.

Clerk Herbeck presented Tourism Chairman Grman with a copy of the Tourism Committee Minutes dated 2/7/06 and a copy of the Historical Brochures (designed by the Main Street Organization) which were attached to the minutes in an effort to clear the confusion over which brochures were approved for re-printing. Councilmember Grman indicated that he was under the impression that the Tourism Committee was granted permission to expend up to $1,500 for reprinting of 3 brochures and he believed that the 3rd brochure was the City Map Brochure. Clerk Herbeck replied that he must have confused the map brochure with the 3rd brochure which was a Dining Brochure the Committee agreed not to reprint. The original printing of the City Map was split between the City and the Chamber and they were designed by a Chamber Committee consisting of Chamber Members.

Clerk Herbeck questioned if any information had been obtained regarding the issuance of 9-1-1 Addresses in the City Limits. Attorney Lading indicated that he had not checked into the matter. Councilmember Yakos informed that Lori Grandone has been issuing addresses and that she could continue to do it. The City Council appointed Clerk Herbeck as the Local Addressing Coordinator in 1996 when the Macoupin County Emergency Telephone System went into effect. Herbeck suggested that the Council take formal action on the transfer of duties if the duties are to be done by someone else. Attorney Lading will investigate the legality of duties and appointment procedures.

XII. NEW BUSINESS:

Treasurer Cavanaugh informed that all investments are up to date.

Councilmember Lotter explained the procedure for hiring of Police Officers due to a recent letter to the editor alleging nepotism in the hiring of the Chief of Police’s brother. When the City exceeded the 5,000 population threshold, they were mandated to form a Police Commission of appointed individuals from the community. The Police Commission is responsible for hiring an independent consultant to conduct testing of applicants. The applicants are then ranked by their test score and placed on a list. When a vacancy occurs, the next person on the list is recommended to the City Council to fill the vacancy. These procedures are set out by law with the intention of avoiding nepotism and to promote the hiring of the most qualified candidate.
XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Councilmember Brown moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter, to go into Executive Session to discuss Contracts as requested by Councilmember Neuhaus and
Personnel as requested by Mayor Stein & Councilmember Schwandner.

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

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

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

XIV. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Councilmember Schwandner moved, seconded by Councilmember Yakos to pay part-time seasonal park employees at the rate of $9.25 per hour.

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

Councilmember Neuhaus moved, seconded by Councilmember Lotter to give Public Grounds & Buildings Committee power to negotiate Cemetery Maintenance Contract.

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

XV. ADJOURNMENT:

With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Lotter moved, seconded by Councilmember Yakos to adjourn at 9:30 P.M. All present voting aye, motion declared carried.

Prepared by:



Marilyn A. Herbeck
City Clerk





© Copyright 2005 Office of the City Clerk - Staunton, Illinois