UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
1. CALL TO ORDER: Mark Bolander, Mayor
Mayor Mark Bolander called the meeting to order.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Eric Blake.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Eric Blake.
3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta York, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown, Robert Reisner, Eric Blake and Marlene Harris
Absent: Larry Brooks
Also present: Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Clerk Rosetta York
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Item #7A add Resolution 21-03 and item # 12 replace personnel with purchase of real estate
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Reisner, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of February 23, 2021
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to approve the minutes of the February 23, 2021 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: None
7. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on authorizing Resolution 21-03 for City of Newton to acquire a loan to purchase 4 tracts (parcels) approximately 62 acres, from the Estate of Anthony F. Griffith.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to table # 7A. Resolution 21-03 until after the executive session.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on Ordinance 21-01 Approving Annexation Agreement with Tony W. Haney.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to authorize Ordinance 21- 01 Approving Annexation Agreement with Tony W. Haney.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner
Nays: None
8. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on purchase of half ton 4×4 pickup for Water Department in next year’s budget.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to table # 8A until after the Council hears from Department Head.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
Harris— JEDI 3-2-21: Excepts from Amber Volk’s Minutes
1. Monthly Updates
a. Amber Volk, Executive Director
i. JEDI Celebration Summary: Over 35 individuals attended. The JEDItalks can be found on our
website: https://jaspercountyillinois.org/jeditalks
ii. 360 Videos: After speaking with Adrian Guzman, a simple video with no talking would be $100-
$150 and one with a voiceover will be $250-$300 per business. It would take him 24-48hours to
finish a video. JEDI has 20 brick-and-mortar businesses members and 2-3 other. If we look to do
a 360 video for all the brick-and-mortar businesses on the high end would be $6,000 and for
the others doing a regular video high end $450 totaling around $6,450. JEDI has recently
received $11,500 in Enterprise Zone Fees due to two new projects. We also have 3 more new
businesses that will be looking to implement the Enterprise Zone this year.
1. Motion to approve $6,450 for the business videos made by Andy Johnson, second by Mark Bolander. Roll call was taken: Yes: Frank Dhom, Marlene Harris, Tom Brown, Louis Ochs, Mindy Hartke, Andy Johnson, Mark Bolander. No: Jason Warfel, Ron Heltsley, Doug Weddell, Ben Bollman, Sarah Kinkade. Motion passed.
After discussion it was decided to have the Chamber be the first 360 video.
iii. JEDItalks: We will start doing more JEDItalks. There is current discussion on if we should do them during a different time than our monthly meetings via Zoom and invite the public or keep them at the first Tuesday of the month.
iv. I am currently working on closing out the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Grant. There will be a public hearing on March 16th at 5:30pm at the Newton City Hall.
v. We will be meeting in person starting April 6th at 10:30am at the Chamber building with the
option of Zoom.
b. Mark Bolander, Mayor of Newton:
i. First National Bank of Olney, Sarah Bush Lincoln Clinic, Senior Living Complex, and Agri-Tek Enterprise LLC/Agri-Systems Solutions are all busy with building and remodeling. The Senior Living Complex ended up having to redo some drainage.
c. Jason Warfel, Jasper County Board Chairman:
i. January opted for bids for the jail project.
ii. The consolidated election is April 6th but early voting is going on now.
1. The proposition on the ballot is not a new tax and that money helps with county roads.
d. Andy Johnson, Superintendent of Jasper County Unit #1: none
e. Sarah Kinkade, Chamber of Commerce Director:
i. There will be ribbon cutting ceremonies for:
1. Prehab – March 18th @ 3:30pm
2. Miss Bradlie Mercantile Co – March 12th @ 5pm
3. West End Receptions and Events – March 29th @ 5pm.
f. Amber Wakefield, Marketing Director: None
10.STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: No comment
Brown: No comment
Reisner:
• He told Peter Ray with INRR that the City was not interested in closing another RR crossing. Bob asked about the Van Buren crossing repair. There is a problem with the 11% grade. This needs to be corrected to a 3% grade. This will delay the Van Buren crossing repair until 2022-23.
• He told David the Hickory Dr. leak was found and repaired. The street will need to settle. It will be blacktopped. The Street Department is watching it.
• The City’s snowplow is very old (1985) and the transmission is going out. A new transmission for the City’s snowplow would cost more than it is worth. The Street Department was price checking used snow plows, because a new two-ton snowplow is about $140,000. Higgs Welding in Dieterich had a like new 2005 International Model 7400 snow plow for $38,800.00 with a trade-in value of the City’s $5,500 making the total cost to the City $33,633.00. After the City Treasurer said there is enough money, the councilman agreed the Street Department should buy it. This will be on the March 16, 2021 agenda.
Blake: No comment
Harris: No comment
City Attorney: No comment
City Treasurer: No comment
City Clerk: No comment
Mayor:
The 2020-21 fiscal year’s Sale Tax revenue collected for the ten months of this year is $630,481.09. If this pace continues, the total Sale Tax revenue for the fiscal year will be about $756,000. Last fiscal year’s total was close to $733,000.
11.NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Water, Wastewater and Electric
Committee Meeting March 8, 2021 at 5:30 PM.
12.EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation, personnel sale of real estate and
purchase 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 purchase of real estate pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those areas of discussion.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 6:26 PM.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to go out of closed session
and back into open session.
Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 6:40 PM.
Mayor Bolander announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation, potential litigation, sale of real estate and purchase of real estate
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris to pass Resolution 21-03 for the City of Newton to acquire a loan to purchase 4 tracts (parcels) approximately 62 acres, from the Estate of Anthony F. Griffith.
Ayes: Reisner, Harris, Glumac, Bolander
Nays: Blake, Brown
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Harris, to authorize purchase of half ton 4×4 pickup for Water Department in next year’s budget.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner
Nays: Blake
13.ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Glumac, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Glumac
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM.
Submitted by Rosetta M. York
