UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. Van Buren St
Newton, IL 62448
December 3, 2019
1. CALL TO ORDER: Mark Bolander, Mayor
Mayor Mark Bolander called the meeting to order.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Robert Reisner.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Robert Reisner.
3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta York, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown, Larry Brooks, Robert Riesner, Eric Blake and Marlene Harris
Absent: None
Also present: Attorney Max Tedford, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Clerk Rosetta York
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of November 19, 2019:
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Brooks, to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2019 meeting of the Newton
City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Jeff Fleming and Lee Beckman
Jeff Fleming— Jeff announced his candidacy for State Senate 55th District.
Lee Beckman— Gave an update on Eagle Trail Riverwalk and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on Ordinance 19-14 Annual Tax Levy.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to pass Ordinance 19-14 Annual Tax Levy.
Ayes: Brooks, Reisner, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: Blake
B. Consider and act on q the Abatement Certificate for Aquatic Facility.
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Reisner, to authorize the Abatement Certificate for Aquatic Facility.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on 19-15 Ordinance to Amend the Newton City Code Prohibiting Cannabis Business Establishments.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Brooks, to pass 19-15 Ordinance to Amend the Newton City Code Prohibiting
Cannabis Business Establishments.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner
Nays: None
8. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on authorize the purchase of computers for Newton Police Department. (An accurate quote will be available
at the meeting, with a upper limit of $4,000.)
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Harris, to authorize the purchase of computers for Newton Police
Department, for $3466.97 quote from Dell.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: JEDI 12-3-19
Harris— JEDI: Minutes by Amber Volk
1. Monthly Updates
a. Amber Volk, Executive Director
i. Attended the National Rural Economic Development Association Conference
1. Virtual Reality videos are becoming a big tool in site selections for companies. With our resources, this is
something we could do ourselves and even use the technology to market our community. Here is an
example of a VR video: https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/placevr
2. Profession based learning in high school is on the rise. Junior and seniors are able to choose to enroll in
bioscience, business, technology & media, engineering, human services, and medicine & healthcare. For
more information visit www.bvcaps.org
3. Better marketing of our community.
ii. Christmas Cards will be sent out soon along with our new stickers.
b. Mark Bolander, Mayor of Newton
i. The discussion of opting out or not from the selling of cannabis in Newton is on the agenda for the City Council
meeting tonight, December 3rd.
ii. GSI in Flora, IL will be ceasing all production on or after January 31, 2020 and will be consolidating with their Newton
and Assumption locations. There may be employment opportunities for the Flora employees at these other
locations. 89 jobs will be affected.
c. Ron Heltsley, Jasper County Board Chairman
i. Thursday, December 12th will be the next County Board meeting.
1. Voting on the Marijuana Act of whether or not to opt out.
2. The approval of the levy.
ii. Jason Warfel
1. A Mapping Meeting will be taking place on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 1:15pm at the Chamber. Anyone
is welcome to come.
d. Andy Johnson, Superintendent of Jasper County Unit #1.
i. The state of Illinois has issued emergency rules and regulations due to the recent video of different schools abusing
emergency isolation rooms for behavioral special need students. For questions, please contact Andy Johnson.
ii. Beth Probst:
1. The High School band traveled to Florida to Disney. The children were very well behaved and everyone had
a great time.
2. The Elementary Christmas program is tonight, December 3rd at 7pm at the High School.
3. 3 weeks till Christmas break.
4. The High School is doing a Coat Drive along with Shoebox gifts. There are 161 Jasper County families in
need of Christmas presents for their children.
e. Sarah Kinkade, Chamber of Commerce Director
i. Holly Jolly starts Friday December 6th and will continue Saturday the 14th and the next two Fridays. Info can be found
at https://www.facebook.com/hollyjollyjaspercountychristmas/
ii. The Chamber has approved their 2020 event list.
iii. We are currently creating our website.
10. STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: No Comment
Brown: Thanked Jane Jones and Greg Parrot for the Christmas decorations on the square.
Brooks: All of the Christmas decoration in town look great.
Reisner: The leaf vacuuming was extended a week to December 6.
Blake: No comment
Harris: Commended the Street Department employees for doing such a good job with the leaf pick up.
City Attorney: No comment
City Treasurer: No Comment
City Clerk: No Comment
Mayor:
• Mayor read part of a part of a letter from NewWave announcing they have launched Gig Speed Internet Service in Newton.
• Sarah Kinkade asked for help for tomorrow morning to help place the Holly Jolly Christmas ornaments on the square.
• He announce the 2020 JEDI Meeting schedule is available.
11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Water Committee Meeting 12-9-19 at 5:30 PM and Insurance Committee Meeting 12-9-
19 at 6:00 PM
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation, personnel and sale of real estate,
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to go out of open session and into closed session to discuss litigation,
potential litigation, sale of real estate and personnel pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining
to those areas of discussion.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 6:28 PM
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to go out of closed session and back into open session.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 7:07 PM.
Mayor Bolander announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation, potential litigation, sale of real estate and
personnel
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:08 PM.
Submitted by Rosetta M. York
