The following are the unofficial minutes of the Newton City Council meeting for May 16, 2023.
- 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, Deputy Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann,
Eric Blake and Mike Swick
Also present: Attorney William Heap, Treasurer Melissa Brooks, Clerk Rosetta
York, and Deputy Clerk Maggie McDonald - ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Item #7 add The Millers and John Stone. Item #13 add
Executive Session: Litigation and potential litigation.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to adopt the
amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None - APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of May 2, 2023.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to approve the
minutes of the May 2, 2023 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None - APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Alderman Lindemann reviewed the pre-paids in the amount of $175,732.52 and the
bills and accounts payable earlier today and made a motion to approve the pre-
paids and authorize payment of the bills and accounts payable in the amount of
$79,305.66. Larry Brooks seconded the motion.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
- PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS:
The Millers (24:00 minutes) came to discuss the property line issue of their lot in
Five Aprils Subdivision. This matter will continue to be further looked into by the
Mayor and council before a final decision is made.
John Stone reported the results of the bid opening held on May 12, 2023 at
Newton City Hall. It will be voted on at June 6, 2023 City Council Meeting.
Concrete sidewalk structure on the south side of the square was also discussed. - COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
Water/Wastewater Committee Meeting on Monday, May 8, 2023 at 6:00 PM.
City of Newton Water/Wastewater Meeting May 8, 2023
Attendees: Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks, Brent Benefiel, Tyler Weber, Joshua Kuhl,
Rosetta M. York, Gayle Glumac, Mike Swick, R.J. Lindemann, Blake and Kayla Clark
and Melissa Brooks
Called to order at 6:00 pm
Water
• Discuss compact tractor
John Deere 3 series 39 horse with front end skid steer attachment. Current
equipment will work with this unit and the skid steer attachment. Total:
$38,265.06 with a 3-year lease to own; $6,400 per department per year.
Renting the same model currently and has exceeded expectations. This
equipment would be utilized by all departments and an overall benefit to the city.
Council agreed to send it to the agenda
• Discuss 300 N Hickory, Clark’s fence building enquiry
Service line runs adjacent to fence and was likely there before house was built.
Tyler feels it would be less than $2000 to bore a new service line when another
boring job is in town. To avoid future discrepancy, it was agreed the city would
move the line at the soonest possible date.
Service line being redirecting ASAP
• Discuss new telephone system
The current emergency telephone system will not work should the power be out
in the event of an emergency, this is due to it running on a land line. The
proposed upgrade will give this system its own sim card, keeping the system
operable even when power is out. The proposed upgrade is approximately
$4,100 with a $500 per year ($30-50 per month) fee for service.
This measure was tabled until June
• Discuss creating an ordinance that sets imminent domain with water lines
It was discussed that the city will need to explore an ordinance to establish
imminent domain over city water and sewer lines. The ordinance may also
contain easement and setbacks. Mayor Kuhl advised the committee draft a letter
to our legal consult Bill Heap to explore what can be done by the city. The
committee will draft an email to Mr. Bill Heap. Further discussion will be had after
his advisement
Wastewater
• Discuss an update on operations of the plant. 110 tons of sludge accumulated at
the plant. 22 tons of sludge were shipped to Bergbower Farms, saving the city
approximately $65,000 in disposal fees.
• Discuss the Air line replacement. Shannon Woodard is planning the replacement
of the air line under the Sewer plant parking lot. The pipe is 12-15 inches, the
entire pipe will be replaced. The concrete parking lot will be impacted and torn up
to replace the current pipe. Replacement of the concrete should be minimal.
With the current pipe being fractured Brent has been forced to run 2 pumps to
maintain the same amount of pressure. The repair of the fractured line will cut
electricity usage immediately.
• Discuss Waste Water personnel licensing: For future documentation employees
will be required to give written proof of internet to take required testing and the
date of test. The change will help both the city and employee as tutoring can be
provided closer to the testing time.
Meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM
Kaleb Wright, Chairman
- OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on accepting the Intergovernmental Agreement for General
Maintenance Work Amongst Wade Township Road District and The City of Newton.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the
Intergovernmental Agreement for General Maintenance Work Amongst Wade
Township Road District and The City of Newton.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on purchasing a compact tractor for the Water and Wastewater
Departments.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize the
purchase of a compact tractor for the Water and Wastewater Departments in the
amount of $39,001.00 to be divided over three (3) years in a municipal lease
program.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: Blake
C. Consider and act on agreeing to accept the return of Lot 10 in Five Aprils.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize
accepting the return of Lot 10 in Five Aprils.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None - NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on Clint Crossen’s compensation request to raise base pay from $200
weekly to $275 weekly.
Motion was made by Mike Swick to raise Clint Crossen’s base pay from $200 to
$275 weekly. Motion failed for lack of second motion.
B. Consider and act on Special Event Application for Troy Huddleston Memorial Cruise
Night, Truck Show and Concert.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, authorizing the
Special Event Application for Troy Huddleston Memorial Cruise Night, Truck Show
and Concert.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on sending one employee from the City Clerk’s Office to the Central
Illinois Municipal Clerks Organization “Back to Basics” Training in Peoria, IL on Thursday
June 15, and Friday June 16. Seminar fee of $75 per person plus allowable expenses.
Motion was made by Eric Blake, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize sending
one employee from the City Clerk’s Office to the Central Illinois Municipal Clerks
Organization “Back to Basics” Training in Peoria, IL on Thursday June 15, and
Friday June 16. Seminar fee of $75 per person plus allowable expenses.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
D. Consider and act on the Park Department’s request to solicit bids for a new one-ton cab
and chassis truck.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the
Park Department to solicit bids for a new one-ton cab and chassis truck.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
E. Consider and act on renewing the Planned Maintenance Agreement with Cummins
Sales and Service.
Motion was made by Larry Brooks, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize
renewing the three (3) year Planned Maintenance Agreement with Cummins Sales
and Service, for $4,416.46 per year with a 3-year total of $13,249.38.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
F. Consider and act on awarding the energy transition grant money for ball park projects.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize
awarding the energy transition grant money for ball park projects.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: Blake
Present: Swick
- STATEMENTS BY:
Glumac: I’d like to thank everyone that came out and helped with the Strong Boys and
Strong Girls. We had 90 runners. Thank you to the fire department for bringing the truck
every year; the kids love that. If you are ever upset with how things are running, you
need to come out and watch the kids because that is a day you can not complain about
anything. We watch these kids set a goal and work to reach it. So I commend all the
children for doing that.
I also gave you all a sheet of paper, thank you, Amy, for typing up a summary of the
seminar we attended on Friday. I’d like to make sure next year we invite Brian Muska
and any other board members to go with us. We heard a lot of useful information. We
are still reviewing and absorbing.
Wright: No comments
Brooks: I’d like to commend Gayle. I know she’s put a lot of work into Strong Boys and
Strong Girls. I think she’s worked real hard at it.
Lindemann: Explained to the council that he has reviewed and approved the billing
adjustment report. It’s been a quiet month. If you have any questions about the
adjustment let me know.
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
May 16, 2023
Blake: I just want to make it clear to the public I don’t have any problem with the ball
park, I just think that the grant money should have been split up in other ways. I wish the
ball park luck.
Swick: I have a sheet here from chief about some of the ordinance violations if anyone
wants a copy. Thank you, Gayle, for a nice job with the Strong Boys and Strong Girls. I
had never been to that event. The whole thing was great. It was a big deal. Also, last but
not least, it is National Police Week. I want to give a big thank you to the guys and gals
next door that take care of us every day and the county officers also.
City Attorney: No comments
City Treasurer: Thank you Gayle. We watched the kids run the other day. I thought
was awesome. I appreciate all your work in that.
Deputy Clerk: 3 POs: Electric Department PO # 16-30, Water Department and
Wastewater Department
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the
Electric Department purchase order # 00016-30 to Invizion, Inc. for annual oil
testing in the amount of $6,495.00.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize
Wastewater PO to Cummins Sales and Services for a fuel tank in the amount of
$7,197.33.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize Water
PO #6533 to Alliance Tractor for a compact tractor in the amount of $39,001.00.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
Mayor:
• First, I’d like to thank Gayle and all the other volunteers with the Strong Boys and
Strong Girls. Thank you for allowing me to be the official starter again this year.
• City Wide Cleanup is this weekend, May 19 and May 20. Make sure that is on the
public’s radar.
• Congratulations to the Strong Boys and Strong Girls. It was a good event that
couldn’t happen without the volunteers. Like Gayle said, it’s a very supported
event, not only for the day they do their run, but for the entire thing. It’s more than
just young men and young women running a 5k. It’s learning life lessons, it’s
teaching respect and being able to congratulate and say kind words to each
other. It’s nice to see.
• Newton youth are accomplishing huge sports things this spring. Our high school
baseball team was conference champs. Our high school softball team was
conference champs. We currently qualified a ton of kids for the public school
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
May 16, 2023
junior high state track meet which is this Saturday. St. Thomas had an excellent
showing at their state track meet this last weekend, with one individual breaking
a current state record and then their team as a whole 7th grade finishing second.
We will be hanging some new signs as you come into town. The high school
sectional will be hosted here tomorrow night. That will be the third sectional that
we’ve hosted on our local track this year. That has been huge. If you weren’t in
town on Saturday, it was packed. This next one will be on Wednesday evening,
so tomorrow night the town will be packed. They have been averaging between
20 and 30 schools that are there at these meets. Bringing in a lot of people.
• Today was the last day of school. I want to congratulate our students and staff on
another successful school year. Enjoy your summer. To our residents, continue
to keep your eyes and ears open as we will have more people traveling to and
from the city pool, parks, gas stations, etc. Kids will be out and about.
• Lastly, the pool opening date will be next Friday, May 26.
- NEXT REGULAR MEETING: June 6, 2023 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: NONE - EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation and potential litigation
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to go out of open
session and into closed session to discuss litigation and potential litigation,
pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those
areas of discussion.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 7:29 PM.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to go out of closed
session and back into open session.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 8:24 PM.
Josh Kuhl announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation and
potential litigation. - ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adjourn the
meeting.
Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Submitted by Maggie McDonald, Deputy Clerk
