City Council Meeting Minutes for March 5, 2024

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UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL

108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
March 5, 2024

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Joshua J. Kuhl, Mayor
    Mayor Joshua Kuhl called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.
  2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Eric Blake.
    Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Eric Blake.
  3. ROLL CALL: Maggie McDonald, City Clerk
    Physically present: RJ Lindemann, Eric Blake and Mike Swick
    Also present: Treasurer Melissa Brooks and City Clerk Maggie McDonald
    Absent: Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks and Attorney William Heap
  4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:
    Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to adopt the
    proposed agenda.
    Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Kuhl
    Nays: None
  5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of February 20, 2024.
    Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Eric Blake, to approve the
    minutes of the February 20, 2024 meeting of the Newton City Council.
    Ayes: Blake, Swick, Kuhl, Lindemann
    Nays: None
  6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: None
  7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
    • Street and Alley Committee Meeting, Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 6:00
    PM.

Street and Alley Committee Meeting, Meeting Minutes, Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:20 PM
Present: Eric Blake, Joshua Kuhl, Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Melissa Brooks, RJ Lindemann, Mike Swick, Amy Tarr,
Tyler Weber, Dominic Ginder, Taylor Kerner, Donna Kuhl, Keith Kocher, Mike Schackmann, Josh Ochs, and John
Stone
Meeting began at 6:00 PM.

• Drainage at South Van Buren St. and Marshall Dr. were discussed.
• A gate at the end of Davis St. along with lighting and sign options were discussed.
• The committee spoke about storm sewer repair behind the Jasper County Annex Building.
• Josh Ochs presented backhoe quotes for outright purchase or lease. More numbers and
warranty information were requested by the committee.

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 PM
Eric Blake, Chairman

• Personnel Committee Meeting Tuesday, February 27, 2024 immediately
following the Street and Alley Committee Meeting.

(Waiting on Minutes)

• Lights in the Park Committee Meeting Monday, March 4, 2024 at 5:00 PM.
Lights in the Park Committee Meeting Minutes, Monday, March 4, 2024, 5:04 PM – 5:44 PM
Present: Gayle Glumac, Joshua Kuhl, Mike Swick, Maggie McDonald, Tyler Weber, Michael
Schackmann, Mindy Hartke, Matt Tarr, Amy Tarr and Melissa Brooks

Meeting was called to order at 5:04 PM.
• Start date for display setup will be the weekend of October 26 and 27, with a rain date of
November 2 and 3.
• Plan to have the opening for Lights in the Park the week of Thanksgiving and run until after the
first of the new year.
• Predicting to have room for 10 new displays. Advertisement for donation of display will start in
June. There will be a small application completed upon donation.
• Volunteers will work the donation shed on the weekends.
• Tear down and storage of displays will be targeted for January 6.
• The park will remain open during these months.
Meeting adjourned at 5:44 PM.
Submitted by:
Gayle Glumac – Chairman

• Electric Committee Meeting Monday, March 4, 2024 immediately following
the Lights in the Park Committee Meeting.

Electric Committee Meeting Minutes, Monday, March 4, 2024, 5:49 PM – 7:10 PM
Present: Gayle Glumac, Joshua Kuhl, Maggie McDonald, Mike Swick, Amy Tarr, Tyler Weber, Melissa
Brooks and Matt Tarr
Meeting was called to order at 5:49 PM.
• The city is looking into having a rate study done. Most municipalities have these done every 3 to
5 years. The benefits of having it conducted now or later was discussed.
• The Electric Departments current 1997 bucket truck is starting to compile more issues. Diesel
leak, oil leak and hydraulic hoses are wearing. There was discussion of seeking bids for a new
truck. Wait time for a new truck to come in could be up to 3 years.

• Still currently waiting on getting real time metering for substations. This will give us a minute-by-
minute power usage reading. Should be up and running by the end of April.

Meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.
Submitted by:
Gayle Glumac – Chairman

  1. OLD BUSINESS:
    A. Consider and act on authorizing the City Attorney to move forward with a city limit
    property disconnection at 8665 N. St. Hwy 130 and 8679 N. St. Hwy 130.
    Motion dies for lack of second motion.
    B. Consider and act on authorizing the disbursement of funds to Jed Earnest for
    Demolition Reimbursement Application for 702 Foster St.
    Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize
    tabling the disbursement of funds to Jed Earnest for Demolition
    Reimbursement Application for 702 Foster St. to the March 19, 2024 City
    Council Meeting.
    Ayes: Swick, Kuhl, Lindemann, Blake
    Nays: None
    C. Consider and act on authorizing the disbursement of funds to Jed Earnest for
    Demolition Reimbursement Application for 504 Curtis St.
  2. Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Eric Blake, to authorize tabling
  3. the disbursement of funds to Jed Earnest for Demolition Reimbursement
  4. Application for 504 Curtis St. to the March 19, 2024 City Council Meeting.
  5. Ayes: Kuhl, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
  6. Nays: None
  7. D. Consider and act on authorizing the disbursement of funds to Jed Earnest for
  8. Demolition Reimbursement Application for 503 Barton St.
  9. Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Eric Blake, to authorize tabling
  10. the disbursement of funds to Jed Earnest for Demolition Reimbursement
  11. Application for 503 Barton St. to the March 19, 2024 City Council Meeting.
  12. Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Kuhl
  13. Nays: None
  14. E. Consider and act on authorizing the hiring of two additional summer time employees.
  15. Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Eric Blake, to authorize the
  16. hiring of two additional summer time employees.
  17. Ayes: Blake, Swick, Kuhl, Lindemann
  18. Nays: None
  19. F. Consider and act on authorizing the transfer of a Sewer Department employee to the
  20. Park Department effective May 1, 2024.
  21. Motion was made by Eric Blake, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize the
  22. transfer of a Sewer Department employee to the Park Department effective May
  23. 1, 2024.
  24. Ayes: Swick, Kuhl, Lindemann, Blake
  25. Nays: None
  26. G. Consider and act on beginning the hiring process for employment in the Water
  27. Department.
  28. Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to begin the
  29. hiring process for adding an employee in the Water Department.
  30. Ayes: Kuhl, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
  31. Nays: None
  32. H. Consider and act on authorizing the Newton Aquatic Center wage increase.
  33. Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize the
  34. Newton Aquatic Center wage increase.
  35. Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Kuhl
  36. Nays: None
  37. I. Consider and act on passing Ordinance 24-04, A Sublease Agreement with St.
  38. Thomas Parish Increasing Payments for Water Wells.
  39. Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to pass
  40. Ordinance 24-04, A Sublease Agreement with St. Thomas Parish Increasing
  41. Payments for Water Wells.
  42. Ayes: Blake, Swick, Kuhl, Lindemann
  43. Nays: None

  1. NEW BUSINESS:
    A. Consider and act on authorizing a Grant Writing Services Agreement with South
    Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development for the Energy Transition
    Community Grant FY – 2024 funding.
    Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Eric Blake, to authorize a
    Grant Writing Services Agreement with South Central Illinois Regional
    Planning and Development for the Energy Transition Community Grant FY –
    2024 funding.
    Ayes: Swick, Kuhl, Lindemann, Blake
    Nays: None
    B. Consider and act on authorizing the opening of the yard waste facility the first and
    third Saturdays, beginning Saturday, April 6, 2024 – Saturday, October 19, 2024 and
    every Saturday in November, from 8:00 AM – Noon, under the landscape waste
    collection site rules.
    Motion was made by Eric Blake, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize the
    opening of the yard waste facility the first and third Saturdays, beginning
    Saturday, April 6, 2024 – Saturday, October 19, 2024 and every Saturday in
    November, from 8:00 AM – Noon, under the landscape waste collection site
    rules.
    Ayes: Kuhl, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
    Nays: None
    C. Consider and act on authorizing the Special Event Application to Newton Jr.
    Women’s Club for a 5K fun run/walk at Peterson Park on May 18, 2024 from 7:30
    AM – 10:00 AM.
    Motion was made by Eric Blake, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize the
    Special Event Application to Newton Jr. Women’s Club for a 5K fun run/walk at
    Peterson Park on May 18, 2024 from 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM.
    Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Kuhl
    Nays: None
    D. Consider and act on authorizing the Special Event Application to Rauch’s Jewelry
    and Gift Shoppe for a Pre-Eclipse Party in front of Rauch’s Jewelry on April 5, 2024
    from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
    Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize the

Special Event Application to Rauch’s Jewelry and Gift Shoppe for a Pre-
Eclipse Party in front of Rauch’s Jewelry on April 5, 2024 from 4:00 PM – 7:00

PM.
Ayes: Blake, Swick, Kuhl, Lindemann
Nays: None

  1. STATEMENTS BY:
    Lindemann: Voice opposition to the Capital Development Fund.
    Blake: No Comments.
    Swick: We will be aggressively going after nuisance violators. Called a Police and Building
    Permit Committee Meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 5:30 PM.
    City Treasurer: The following appropriation changes:

  1. Electric Fund: To move $1,000 from Contingency Fund (9000-30) to Building Repair
    Fund (5630-30).
    Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to make the
    appropriation change in the Electric Fund. Moving $1,000 from Contingency Fund
    (9000-30) to Building Repair Fund (5630-30).
    Ayes: Kuhl, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
    Nays: None
  2. Wastewater Fund: To move $500.00 from Contingency Fund (9000-43) to Uniform
    Expense (5440-43).
    Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to make the
    following appropriation change in the Wastewater Fund. Move $500.00 from
    Contingency Fund (9000-43) to Uniform Expense (5440-43).
    Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Kuhl
    Nays: None
    City Clerk: A Newton resident came in last week to give recognition and thanks to our Electric
    Department. We have some very good electricians.
    Mayor: Called a Water and Wastewater Meeting for Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 6:00 PM.
    Budgets are in full swing. We will be meeting with Department Heads the last two weeks of
    March. Be sure to monitor the current Illinois Legislation changes. The weather is changing as
    Spring is upon us. Keep your eyes and ears open as more people will be out and about. Time
    change is this coming weekend so don’t forget to Spring forward. Happy March!
  3. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: March 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM
    SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
    • Water and Wastewater Committee Meeting Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 6:00
    PM.
    • Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting Thursday, March 21, 2024 at
    5:30 PM.
  4. ADJOURNMENT:
    Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to adjourn the
    meeting.
    Ayes: Blake, Swick, Kuhl, Lindemann
    Nays: None
    Meeting adjourned at 6:34 PM.
    Submitted by:
    Maggie E. McDonald, City Clerk