June 6 Unofficial Minutes of the Newton City Council

Water/Wastewater Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 5:30 PM Finance/Audit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 5:45 PM 

1. CALL TO ORDER: Joshua J. Kuhl, Mayor 

Mayor Joshua Kuhl called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.  

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Gayle Glumac. 

Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Gayle Glumac. 3. 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  

4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Item #6 add Amber Lindemann. Item #11 add a Zoning  Board of Appeals Meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 6:00 PM and an Electric  Committee Meeting on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 6:00 PM. 

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adopt the  amended agenda. 

Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick 

Nays: None 

5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of May 16, 2023. 

Motion was made by Larry Brooks, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to approve the  minutes of the May 16, 2023 meeting of the Newton City Council. 

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac 

Nays: None 

6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Amber Lindemann spoke to the council  voicing her concerns regarding electrical outages.  

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:  Police/Building Permits Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 5:30 PM.  Building and Grounds Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM.  Water/Wastewater Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 5:30 PM.  Finance/Audit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 5:45 PM. 

Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 30, 2023 5:30 PM – 6:33 PM 

Present: Michael Swick, Rosie York, Larry Brooks, Kaleb Wright, Melissa Brooks, RJ Lindemann, Gayle  Glumac, Tyler Weber, Chief Riley Britton, and Maggie McDonald 

• Discussed Clint Crossen, Building Code Official, request to raise base pay from $200 weekly to  $275 weekly. Increase in living expenses, fuel, maintenance and insurance, was all taken into  consideration; as well as Clint’s expertise and relationships with contractors. His journal and  invoices will be included in the second meeting packet mailing for review going forward.  

• Went over a list of dilapidated houses and buildings. The City will recommend they be inspected  and then proceed to initiate court order of demolition and removal of debris from the property.  • Reviewed the state statute defining litter. The police department supplied a spreadsheet of  ordinance enforcement in the month of May.  

• Chief Britton discussed the purchase of eight (8) new Axon tasers and body camaras for the  police department. Eight new tasers totaling $33,288.60, which will be split over a course of five  years, equaling $6,657.69 per year. The body camaras totaling $16,898.00. These expenditures  were already discussed to be in the budget.  

Meeting adjourned at 6:33 PM 

Michael Swick, Chairman  

Building and Grounds Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 30, 2023 6:34 PM – 6:45 PM 

Present: Michael Swick, Rosie York, Larry Brooks, Kaleb Wright, Melissa Brooks, RJ Lindemann, Gayle  Glumac, Tyler Weber, Chief Riley Britton, and Maggie McDonald 

• Discussed maintenance of City Hall building: parking lot repairs, rear steps, awning over rear  entrance, dent in facia on front of building, and painting the building in 2024. 

 • The leak in the women’s restroom has been repaired.  

• Melissa Brooks is to contact Raymond Kocher about other repairs to be made. 

Meeting adjourned at 6:45 PM 

Michael Swick, Chairman  

Water/Wastewater Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 5:30 PM Consensus was given to attorney to write the ordinance to amend the dumping of  wastewater in chapter 38-1-4 C. (Waiting for meeting minutes from committee chairman  Kaleb Wright). 

Water Wastewater Committee Meeting, June 6th, 2023. Meeting began at 5:30 pm Attendees: Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks, Melissa Brooks, Amy Tarr, Brent Benefiel, Tyler Weber,  Maggie McDonald, Mike Swick, Eric Blake, Gayle Glumac, RJ Lindemann, Rosie York, Joshua  Kuhl. 

1. Wastewater 

a. Ordinance about waste dumping 

i. Brent and Amy set about updating our ordinance with dumping adding a flat  

rate, Bill Heap will go about rewriting the ordinance to be presented to the council  at a later date. 

2. Water 

a. Water related matters 

i. The Water Department is looking at replacing the roof on the plant. The 

committee advised Tyler to get in touch with the general contractor to find the  

roofing subcontractor for warranty information. $20,000 is currently within the  

budget for a roof replacement. 

ii. Scott Avenue update: Tyler has been advised that the service line feeding 

Scott Ave Church needs to be replaced with a larger pipe (from 4” to 8”) to be  

compliant with current laws. The committee has advised Tyler to get quotes and  plan the upcoming project. 

Finance/Audit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 5:45 PM 

Discussed TIF application for Borgic Designs in reimbursement amount of $5,000.00.  (Waiting for meeting minutes from committee chairman RJ Lindemann). 

Meeting called to order at 5:49 pm  

• A TIF application was discussed for Borgic Designs. It was recommended to award them $5,000  

Meeting ended at 6:00 pm  

Those in attendance:  

Mike Swick  Eric Blake  Gayle Glumac  Caleb Wright Larry Brooks  Joshua Kuhl  RJ Lindemann – Chairman  Rosie York  Maggie McDonald  Melissa Brooks  Amy Tarr  Brent Benefield  Tyler Weber 

8. OLD BUSINESS: 

A. Consider and act on accepting 2023 bids for the annual MFT Street and Maintenance Program (Bid letting was May 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Newton City Hall). Bids were  awarded to Lee Kintner for BIT Materials and MC-30 prime in the amount of $80,896.60.  Heuerman Bros. for seal coat aggregate, CA-16 CR Stone and CA-7 CR Stone in the  amount of $19,553.85. Lastly, to Compass Minerals for salt in the amount of $5,718.50.  Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize  awarding the 2023 MFT Street and Maintenance Program Bids to Lee Kintner for BIT  Materials and MC-30 prime in the amount of $80,896.60, Heuerman Bros. for seal  coat aggregate, CA-16 CR Stone and CA-7 CR Stone in the amount of $19,553.85,  and to Compass Minerals for salt in the amount of $5,718.50.  

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright  

Nays: None 

B. Consider and act on authorizing the application form for Demolition Reimbursement of Dangerous and Dilapidated Buildings.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the  application form for Demolition Reimbursement of Dangerous and Dilapidated  Buildings.  

Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks 

Nays: None 

C. Consider and act on passing Ordinance 23-07 Demolition Reimbursement of Dangerous  and Dilapidated Buildings.  

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to pass  Ordinance 23-07 Demolition Reimbursement of Dangerous and Dilapidated  Buildings.  

Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann  

Nays: None 

D. 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, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize Clint  Crossen’s compensation request to raise base pay from $200 weekly to $275  weekly.  

Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake 

Nays: None 

E. Consider and act on 23-XX Ordinance approving the 2022 Amendment to the Tax  Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Plan and Project for Redevelopment Project  Area No. 1.  

The purpose of tabling the ordinance is to extend the deadline. 

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize  tabling 23-XX Ordinance approving the 2022 Amendment to the Tax Increment  Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Plan and Project for Redevelopment Project Area  No. 1 to be voted on at the December 5, 2023 City Council Meeting. Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick 

Nays: None 

F. Consider and act on TIF application for Borgic Designs in the reimbursement amount of  $5,000.00 

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize  awarding the TIF application for Borgic Designs in the reimbursement amount of  $5,000.00.  

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac 

Nays: None 

9. NEW BUSINESS:  

A. Consider and act on purchasing eight (8) new Axon Tasers for the Police Department.  Total purchase being $33,288.60. Split over five years, totaling $6,657.69 per year. Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize the  purchase of eight (8) new Axon Tasers for the Police Department. Total purchase  being $33,288.60. Split over five years, totaling $6,657.69 per year.  Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright 

Nays: None 

B. Consider and act on sending one employee from the City Clerk’s office to the Illinois  Rural Water Association Administrate Conference in Bloomington, Illinois, on Thursday,  July 13 and Friday July 14. Seminar fee (before June 30) of $165.00 plus allowable  expenses. 

Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize  sending one employee from the City Clerk’s office to the Illinois Rural Water  Association Administrate Conference in Bloomington, Illinois, on Thursday, July  13 and Friday July 14. Seminar fee (before June 30) of $165.00 plus allowable  expenses. 

Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks 

Nays: None 

10. STATEMENTS BY:  

Glumac: No comments

Wright: No comments  

Brooks: No comments 

Lindemann: I’m excited for the new Demolition Reimbursement of Dangerous and  Dilapidated Buildings program and strongly encourage citizens to take advantage of this  new program. Also, Amber Lindemann approached me wanting to state how lucky the  City of Newton is to be represented by Mike Swick. He is kind and fair.  Blake: Called a Street and Alley Committee meeting on June 19, 2023 at 7:00 PM. Swick: No comments 

City Attorney: No comments 

City Treasurer: Auditors were here last week. They will be working diligently on our  audit. Everything went well. Hope to have the report in September.  

Deputy Clerk: PO# 20230530 for the Police Department to purchase new body  cameras from Midwest Public Safety in the amount of $16,898.00. 

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize the  Police Department purchase order # 20230530 to Midwest Public Safety for body  cameras in the amount of $16,898.00. 

Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann 

Nays: None 

Mayor: There have been a lot of people in Newton and Jasper County the last couple  weekends to attend the truck show and concert, baseball tournaments and hog show.  People have come from all over the United States to attend these events. I applaud everyone involved in organizing these events and making this possible in our  community.  

I commend our city employees as they worked diligently at the City-Wide Cleanup and  on other projects.  

Finally, Summer is here, so please keep an eye out for children.  

11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: June 20, 2023 at 6:00 PM  

SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting on  Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Electric Committee Meeting on Monday, June 

19, 2023 at 6:00 PM, and Street and Alleys Committee Meeting on Monday, June  19, 2023 at 7:00 PM.  

12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation, personnel and sale of real estate Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Eric Blake, to go out of open  session and into closed session to discuss litigation, potential litigation, 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 6:38 PM. 

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to go out of  closed session and back into open session. 

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright 

Nays: None 

Open session resumed at 7:25 PM. 

City Clerk Rosetta York announced that during closed session the council discussed  litigation, potential litigation, personnel and sale of real estate. 

Consensus of the council was given to Melissa Brooks, Josh Ochs and Mike Swick, with  the advice of John Stone, to proceed with the Illinois Basin Funding Grant application. 

13. ADJOURNMENT:

UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL 108 N. VAN BUREN St. 

NEWTON, IL 62448 

June 6, 2023  

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adjourn the  meeting. 

Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks 

Nays: None 

Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM. 

Submitted by Maggie McDonald, Deputy Clerk