UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
January 7, 2025
- 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 Eric Blake.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Eric Blake. - ROLL CALL: Maggie McDonald, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, RJ Lindemann, Eric Blake
and Mike Swick
Also present: Attorney William Heap, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and City
Clerk Maggie McDonald
Absent: Alderman Larry Brooks - ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to adopt the
proposed agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None - APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of December 17, 2024.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to approve
the minutes of the December 17, 2024 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Wright, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None - PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
- COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
- Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at
6:00 PM. (Waiting on minutes) - Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Thursday, January 2, 2025
immediately following the Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting.
Finance/Audit Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 2, 2025 7:35 PM – 8:42 PM
Meeting called to order at 7:35 PM. - TIF Application for Wad It Up Transport was discussed. More research is going to be done by the
mayor. - Demolition reimbursement for Jared Wagner was discussed once again. The council will be
taking up a vote at the next council meeting. - TIF Application for Taylor Kerner was discussed. Up to $158,907.60 was the recommended
amount to be awarded by the committee. - Changes to the Demolition Reimbursement Application were discussed. They will be discussed
in future meetings.
Meeting adjourned at 8:42 PM.
Those in attendance: RJ Lindemann – Chairman, Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Joshua Kuhl, Mike
Swick, Maggie McDonald, Melissa Brooks, Eric Blake, Doug Weddell and Jared Wagner
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
January 7, 2025
- Electric Committee Meeting on Monday, January 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
RESCHEDULED – January 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
- OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on authorizing the TIF Application submitted for 1107 S Van
Buren St.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to table
authorizing the TIF Application submitted for 1107 S Van Buren St. to the
January 21, 2025 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on authorizing the TIF Application submitted for 105 Marshall
Dr.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to
authorize the TIF Application submitted for 105 Marshall Dr. for 15% of
the total project cost up to the amount of $158,907.60, to be reimbursed
yearly based on the incremental tax increase after completion of the
project, as recommended by the Finance and Audit Committee.
Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Lindemann
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on authorizing the Demolition Reimbursement Application
resubmitted for 801 W. Jourdan St.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to
authorize the Demolition Reimbursement Application resubmitted for 801
W. Jourdan St.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac
Nays: Wright, Lindemann, Blake
D. Consider and act on authorizing the appointment of the Chief of Police.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to
authorize the appointment of James Riddle as the Newton Chief of
Police.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Lindemann, Swick
Nays: Blake
E. Consider and act on authorizing a one-year contract agreement with the Chief
of Police.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to
authorize a one-year contract agreement with the Newton Chief of Police.
Ayes: Wright, Lindemann, Swick, Glumac
Nays: Blake
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
January 7, 2025
- NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on authorizing Adam Bridges Letter of Resignation.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to
authorize Adam Bridges Letter of Resignation with last working day on
January 10, 2025.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on authorizing a one-year membership with Illinois
Municipal Utilities Association for a total cost of $3,956.83.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to
authorize a one-year membership with Illinois Municipal Utilities
Association for a total cost of $3,956.83.
Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Lindemann
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on authorizing a Grant Writing Agreement with South
Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission for an
Officer Recruitment and Retention Grant.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to
authorize a Grant Writing Agreement with South Central Illinois
Regional Planning and Development Commission for an Officer
Recruitment and Retention Grant.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
D. Consider and act on authorizing one employee from the Police Department to
attend the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System Conference in Springfield,
Illinois on March 30, 2025 – April 1, 2025. Conference fee is $200 plus hotel
and allowable expenses.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to
authorize one employee from the Police Department to attend the Illinois
Law Enforcement Alarm System Conference in Springfield, Illinois on
March 30, 2025 – April 1, 2025. Conference fee is $200 plus hotel and
allowable expenses.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None
E. Consider and act on authorizing two employees from the Police Department
to attend the Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Summit on February 26 and
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
January 7, 2025
27, 2025, in Effingham, Illinois. Total summit cost is $85.00 per person plus
milage expense.
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Mike Swick, to
authorize two employees from the Police Department to attend the
Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Summit on February 26 and 27, 2025,
in Effingham, Illinois. Total summit cost is $85.00 per person plus
milage expense.
Ayes: Wright, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
10.STATEMENTS BY:
Glumac: Big thank you to Gaspare with Joe’s Italian Foods for providing lunch, and all
the other businesses that provided drinks for our guy’s cleaning snow. Thank you to our
city guys for all their hard work put in keeping our roads cleared.
Wright: Thank you to the city guys for clearing the roads and keeping them clear.
Many other towns were not near as clear as Newton.
Lindemann: Big thank you to all the city employees who worked effortlessly and from a
very early point in the morning. Other towns could not say, after that storm, they would
have been able to go to work Monday morning if they wanted to. I think it’s awesome
we have that in Newton. Also, feels the Capital Development Fund should be
abolished.
Blake: Thank you, Adam Bridges, for his time served with the City Police Department
and wish you well on future endeavors. Thanked all involved with the snow removal.
Swick: Thank you to all departments involved in the snow removal, very great job. Our
residents are lucky compared to other towns; I can vouch for that.
City Attorney: When coming to work this morning, I was sure glad when I crossed the
county line. Much better roads here than where I came from.
City Treasurer: Thanks to the guys keeping our sidewalks and everything here at city
hall clear for us as well. They do an awesome job and we really appreciate them.
City Clerk: No comments.
Mayor: Thank you, Officer Bridges, to your years of service and dedication to the city,
the council and members of this community. Wish you well in your next role. Thank
you to all city crews for working tirelessly on the snow removal. Thank you to our city
residents for keeping vehicles and such off the road so our guys could get the job done
and keep our roads cleared. JJI is wanting to meet with the mayor and one other
council member. We will continue to support a meeting with all city council members
and JJI members present.
11.NEXT REGULAR MEETING: January 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
January 7, 2025
- Electric Committee Meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
- Water and Wastewater Committee Meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:00
PM. - Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025
immediately following the Water and Wastewater Committee Meeting.
12.ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to adjourn
the meeting.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 6:19 PM.
Submitted by:
Maggie McDonald, City Clerk
