UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
October 7, 2025
- Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 5:30
PM.
- CALL TO ORDER: Joshua J. Kuhl, Mayor
Mayor Joshua Kuhl called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. - PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Mike Swick
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Mike Swick - ROLL CALL: Maggie McDonald, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks, RJ
Lindemann, Eric Blake and Mike Swick
Also present: Attorney William Heap, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Deputy
City Clerk Amy Tarr
Absent: City Clerk Maggie McDonald - ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to adopt the
proposed agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None - APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of September 16, 2025.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to approve
the minutes of the September 16, 2025 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None - PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
- COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
- Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
Finance and Audit Committee Meeting Minutes
October 7, 2025
5:30 PM – 5:58 PM
Present: RJ Lindemann, Mike Swick, Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks, Melissa Brooks,
Joshua Kuhl, Amy Tarr
Bill Heap and Eric Blake arrived at 5:50 PM.
- TIF application for 8787 Commercial Ave was discussed. It was recommended to
approve the application for $68,354.85, 15% of the total cost of the project. - Dumpster reimbursement application for 801 W Jourdan St was discussed. It was
recommended to award $2500. - Demolition reimbursement application for 501 West End Ave was discussed. It
was recommended to reimburse $6682. - It was recommended to approve a $1000 donation for a mural on the West side of
the Farley Building. This donation would come from the Beautification fund. - Sewer line fees for 1007 S Van Buren St were discussed. More information is
needed. It was tabled until the next council meeting. - It was recommended that the Earnests be given a 1-year extension on their
construction plans at Five Aprils lot.
- Compensation for Harley Gray filling in as Street Department head was discussed.
A one-time stipend was recommended. This will be on the October 21, 2025
agenda. - The furnace at City Hall is 14 years old. During annual maintenance, a hole was
detected in the primary heat exchanger. The furnace is under warranty, and will be
repaired; however, it was recommended that the City start budgeting for a furnace
replacement over the next 2 – 3 years. A quote of $5,338 will be used for
budgeting purposes only. - It was recommended to install carbon monoxide monitors and smoke detectors at
City Hall. - When Alderman Blake arrived, he suggested asking businesses around the
Square to donate to the Eagle mural, reducing the amount the City would pay.
Adjourned at 5:58 PM
Submitted by RJ Lindemann – Chairman
- OLD BUSINESS:
A. Review and discuss quotes from City Engineer for construction project at the
Retention Pond in Five Aprils Subdivision.
a. Quotes were received from T Miller Excavating and Frohning Brothers
Inc.
B. Consider and act on awarding quote for construction project at the Retention
Pond in Five Aprils Subdivision.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to award
the quote for the construction project at the Retention Pond in Five
Aprils subdivision to Frohning Brothers Inc in the amount of $11,720.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on authorizing the use of TIF funds for the construction
project at the Retention Pond in Five Aprils Subdivision, as recommended by
the Street and Alley Committee.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to
authorize the use of TIF funds for the construction project at the
Retention Pond in Five Aprils Subdivision, as recommended by the
Street and Alley Committee.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
D. Consider and act on authorizing the City of Newton to seek bids online at
govdeals.com for a 2012 Dodge Charger.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Eric Blake, to
authorize the City of Newton to seek bids online at govdeals.com for a
2012 Dodge Charger.
This will run for 14 days, closing October 22, 2025. The City is putting a
$2500 reserve on the car.
Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
E. Consider and act on authorizing quote to move gas line on the East side of
City Hall.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to
authorize the quote to bury the gas line on the East side of City Hall to
Merz in the amount of $2985.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
F. Consider and act on authorizing the disbursement of funds to Dennis Einhorn
in the amount of $6,682 for the Demolition Reimbursement Application
submitted for 501 West End Ave.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Eric Blake, to authorize
the disbursement of funds to Dennis Einhorn in the amount of $6,682 for
the Demolition Reimbursement Application submitted for 501 West End
Ave.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None
- NEW BUSINESS:
A. Discuss new route for water service line at City Hall.
There’s a significant water leak at City Hall. It is located outside the building
under the concrete parking spaces on the west side of the building. The line
will be re-routed along the sidewalk and into the garage along the north side of
the building and the first bay area. That area was already budgeted for
concrete work this fiscal year. Work will be done in-house.
B. Consider and act on authorizing the TIF Application submitted for 8787
Commercial Ave.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to
authorize the TIF Application submitted for 8787 Commercial Ave. for
15% of the total project cost, up to the amount of $68,354.85, to be
reimbursed yearly based on the incremental tax increase after
completion of the project.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on authorizing the Dumpster Reimbursement Application
submitted for 801 W. Jourdan St.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to
authorize the Dumpster Reimbursement Application submitted for 801 W.
Jourdan St. in the amount of $2,500.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
D. Consider and act on authorizing the waiver of the sewer connection fee for
1007 S. Van Buren St., under incentives of the Enterprise Zone.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Larry Brooks, to table
the motion to waive the sewer connection fee for 1007 S. Van Buren St.,
under incentives of the Enterprise Zone until the October 21, 2025 City
Council meeting. More information is needed on this topic.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
E. Consider and act on authorizing a one time donation of $1,000 for an Eagle
Mural to be painted by Stang Arts on the West side of the Farley Insurance
Building.
This item died for lack of motion.
F. Consider and act on authorizing the City Attorney to proceed with a Joint Pole
Use Agreement between the City of Newton and Frontier.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to
authorize the City Attorney to proceed with a Joint Pole Use Agreement
between the City of Newton and Frontier.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
G. Consider and act on authorizing the quote to Nussmeyer Tree Service, LLC in
the amount of $11,500 for the removal of two trees in the open alley running
North and South behind 405 S. Walnut St. and 407 S. Walnut St., as
recommended by the Electric Committee.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to
authorize the quote to Nussmeyer Tree Service, LLC in the amount of
$11,500 for the removal of two trees in the open alley running North and
South behind 405 S. Walnut St. and 407 S. Walnut St., as recommended
by the Electric Committee.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None
H. Consider and act on authorizing a one-year extension request to begin new
construction on Lot 4 in Five Aprils Subdivision.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to
authorize a one-year extension request to begin October 1, 2025 to
September 30, 2026 for new construction on Lot 4 in Five Aprils
Subdivision.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
I. Consider and act on authorizing SCIRPDC to assist with an Illinois Department
of Natural Resources Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to
authorize SCIRPDC to assist with an Illinois Department of Natural
Resources Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
J. Consider and act on authorizing the Special Event Application submitted by
the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce for Scare on the Square Trick-or-
Treat Event to be held on the Newton Square Saturday, October 18, 2025
from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Motion was made by Larry Brooks, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to
authorize the Special Event Application submitted by the Jasper County
Chamber of Commerce for Scare on the Square Trick-or-Treat Event to
be held on the Newton Square Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 1:00 PM –
5:00 PM.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
K. Consider and act on authorizing the Special Event Application submitted by
First Baptist Church for a Trunk-or-Treat Event to be held at the First Baptist
Church with the South Alley and West Alley closed from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
on Friday, October 31, 2025.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to
authorize the Special Event Application submitted by First Baptist
Church for a Trunk-or-Treat Event to be held at the First Baptist Church
with the South Alley and West Alley closed from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM on
Friday, October 31, 2025.
Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
10.STATEMENTS BY:
Glumac: I encourage everyone to attend Scare on the Square. This is another well
planned, nice event put on by the Chamber of Commerce. Take your kids and go enjoy
the day.
Wright: Police applicants will have their power tests Saturday, October 11. Once we
have those results, we will schedule another Police Committee meeting to decide who
will be sent to the next level of tests.
Brooks: No comment.
Lindemann: I apologize to the City of Newton for not being at the police interviews.
This is important to the City, and I regret not being there.
It is my opinion the Capital Development Fund should be abolished and lower
property taxes.
Blake: No comment.
Swick: No comment.
City Attorney: No comment.
City Treasurer: No comment.
Deputy City Clerk: The PO for the Park Department was not entertained because we
did not have an exact amount for the purchase order. More information will be obtained
and this will appear as an action item on the October 21, 2025 agenda.
The TIF funded water main replacement project on E Reynolds St is going out for
bids. Bids need to be submitted to City Hall at 108 N Van Buren by 8 AM, Thursday,
October 30, 2025 because the bid opening will be at 9 AM, Thursday, October 30, 2025
at City Hall. This will be an action item on the October 21, 2025 agenda. We didn’t learn
about it until 3 PM Friday, October 3, 2025 and it was too late to include it on tonight’s
agenda.
Mayor: I want to give a shout out to Newton Police Officer Mike Hall, Police Chief
Riddle and Cobblestone Hotel staff for the largest ever drug bust here in the City of
Newton. I also appreciate the Jasper County State’s Attorney’s office and Jasper
County Sheriff’s Department with their assistance. Thank you. Well done. I have no
doubt lives have been saved because these drugs are off the streets.
The 2025 Homecoming parade is Friday, October 10 at 2:30 PM. I want to
welcome the 50-Year Class Reunion back and hope everyone has a good time
reconnecting.
We have received a little rainfall, but it is still extremely dry. There isn’t a burn
ban in place right now, but I’d ask residents to use caution and be smart if they have to
burn anything.
Leaf pick up will begin November 3. If you have leaves raked that need
vacuumed, call City Hall and we will be around to get them all throughout the month of
November. Watch Facebook for additional details on that program. The brush dump is
also open. Please remember trash bags are not allowed. If you take leaves there, dump
them out of the bag.
Finally, thank you to the community for participating in the Fall Clean Up. Both
dumpsters – at Dufrain Park and behind City Hall – were completely full. It was nice to
see junk being thrown away.
11.NEXT REGULAR MEETING: October 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: No committee meetings are scheduled
at this time.
12.EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to go out
of open session and into closed session to discuss personnel and sale of
real estate pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act
pertaining to those areas of discussion.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 6:40 PM.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to go out of
closed session and back into open session.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 7:40 PM.
Mayor Kuhl announced that during closed session the council discussed personnel and
sale of real estate.
13.ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adjourn
the meeting.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:41 PM.
Submitted by:
Amy J. Tarr, Deputy City Clerk
