UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. Van Buren St
Newton, IL 62448
February 23, 2021
PLEASE BRING YOUR MASKS
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: Amy Tarr, Deputy Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown, Robert Reisner, Eric Blake and
Marlene Harris
Absent: Larry Brooks
Also present: Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Deputy Clerk Amy Tarr
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Delete 8b TIF agreement with 108 S. Van Buren St., Brooke
Hill.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of February 2, 2021:
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Glumac to approve the minutes of the
February 2, 2021 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Alderman Harris reviewed the pre-paids in the amount of $170,667.36 and the bills and
accounts payable earlier today and make a motion to approve the pre-paids and
authorize payment of the bills and accounts payable in the amount of $208,554.14.
Reisner seconded the motion.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS:
Michael Tappendorf with Milano & Grunloh gave an update on the Riverwalk. COVID, as
well as the study of sand darts and soft shell turtles, has slowed the progress of this
project. Michael thanked the Mayor for his push along the way with IDOT & IDNR to help
speed the process. Currently ideas are all there for the projected path alignment.
Michael expects Army Corp of Engineers permits to be ready in the next few weeks,
followed by IDOT approval in another 3 weeks or so with bid letting expected to be early
Summer 2021.
8. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Consider and act on authorizing Cobra/IMRF’s
continuation of rates effective March 1, 2021 to
February 28, 2022.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac,
to authorize Cobra/IMRF’s continuation of rates
effective March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner
Nays: None
b. Consider and act on TIF agreement with 108 S. Van Buren St., Brooke Hill.
Motion was made by _______, seconded by _______, to authorize TIF agreement with
108 S. Van Buren St., Brooke Hill, for the reimbursement amount of $ _____________.
Ayes:
Nays: None
9. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Consider and act on passing Resolution 21-01 concerning Closed Session Minutes.
b. Consider and act on passing Resolution 21-02 Authorizing the Destruction of Closed
Meetings Sessions tapes between 2/5/2019 to 7/16/2019.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Brown, to table (9a.) Resolution 21-01 and
(9b.) Resolution 21-02 until after the executive session.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. Van Buren St
Newton, IL 62448
February 23, 2021
c. Consider and act on contract for professional services between the City of Newton and
PGAV Planners, LLC.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Reisner, to authorize the contract for
professional services between the City of Newton and PGAV Planners, LLC for
$31,500.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Harris
Nays: Blake
d. Consider and act on a Newton Police employee attending Southern Illinois Criminal
Justice Training Program at on March 12, 2021 for allowable expenses. (There are no
fees to attend training.)
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Reisner, to authorize a Newton Police
employee to attend Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Training Program on March
12, 2021 for allowable expenses. (There are no fees to attend training.)
Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: Insurance
Committee on February 9, 2021 and Finance Committee on February 22, 2021
Harris—Insurance 2-9-2021:
• Jason Booth from Snedeker Risk Management discussed new rates for COBRA/IMRF effective March 1,
2021 through February 1, 2022. This will be on next Council meeting agenda.
• There needs to be another Insurance Committee meeting setup to discuss the possible medical health
insurance option for 2022. Meeting adjourned at 6:14 PM.
Harris—Finance 2-22-21:
• Mike Weber, with PGAV, was on a conference call to discuss professional services between the City of
Newton and PGAV Planners, LLC. This was in reference to the proposed TIF 2 Redevelopment Project
Area. He advised the 2022 cash flow will be strong.
• Discussed a possible purchase order for a new truck for the Water Department before April 1.
11. STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: No Comments
Brown: No Comments
Reisner: Water and Wastewater have rescheduled the March 1 committee meeting to
March 8, 2021 to discuss their 5-year plans and other Water and Wastewater items
Blake: Read the Animal Control report for December 2020.
Harris:
1. Congratulated the street department and all the other city departments who
assisted in a great job with snow removal.
2. Reviewed the Billing and Payment Adjustments
City Attorney: Absent
City Treasurer: No Comments
Deputy City Clerk: No Comments
Mayor:
1. Thanked the Street & other City Departments on snow removal efforts
2. Connor & Connor should soon be able to go out for bids for the CDBG Public
Infrastructure Grant, Liberty Street water main replacement.
3. We received a thank you from the US Department of Commerce for our
Regions involvement in the 2020 Census. Our Region exceeded the National
Self-Response Rate of 67%, and had the highest self-response rate among all
Regions, of 69.8%.
12. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: March 2, 2021 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Water and Wastewater March 8, 2021 at 5:30 PM
13. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation, sale of real estate, purchase of real
estate, personnel and closed session minutes
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, purchase of
real estate pursuant and closed session minutes to the exceptions section of the Open
Meetings Act pertaining to those areas of discussion.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. Van Buren St
Newton, IL 62448
February 23, 2021
Open session suspended at 6:35 PM
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to go out of closed session and back
into open session.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 6:55 PM.
Mayor Bolander announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation,
potential litigation, sale of real estate, purchase of real estate and closed session minutes.
(9a) Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to pass Resolution 20-01 Closed
Session Minutes.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
(9b) Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to pass Resolution 20-02
Authorizing the Destruction of Closed Meetings Sessions Audio Recording.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
14. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 6:57 PM.
Submitted by Amy Tarr
