UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
February 4, 2025
• Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
• City Insurance Meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 immediately following the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER: Attorney William Heap
Attorney William Heap 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, 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: Mayor Joshua Kuhl and Alderman Larry Brooks
4. Attorney William Heap asks for a motion to appoint Alderman Mike Swick as Mayor Pro Tem
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to appoint Alderman Mike Swick as Mayor Pro Tem.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
5. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: (Add Skylar Lindemann to Public Comments and remove line items 9A., 9B. and 9C.)
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Wright, Lindemann, Blake, Glumac
Nays: None
6. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of January 21, 2025.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2025 meeting of the Newton City Council. Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
• Sarah Diel Kinkade with the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce: Congratulated Gayle Glumac on her Eagle Award and thanked everyone again for their attendance to the Chamber Banquet.
Last year the Chamber celebrated leap year by having an extra day to spread kindness. Next week is random act of kindness week, as well as Valentines Day on Friday. Be sure to watch their Facebook page for all the events they have planned and they hope everyone will celebrate by giving random acts of kindness. Friday is also National Book Day. The Newton Public Library will have an imagination library setup with a Dolly Parton cutout at Flo’s Coffee Bar. If you give $14 it will pay for books for a Jasper County child for one year.
The Chamber would like to collaborate with Brian Brummer and have a little public library cabinet set up on the West side of the square on Washington St. between the County Annex building and the Grace United Methodist Church. The city council gave their consensus to allow the Chamber to place this on their property.
• Skylar Lindemann: Wanted to inform the council about an incident that occurred last month where the Newton Police Department was called. He felt the officers did not conduct themselves professionally. He was not allowed to give a statement. This has caused hardships for Skylar. He does not want to cause any trouble. He has voiced his opinions and concerns on the matter to the Chief of Police and the States Attorney.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: • Water and Wastewater Committee Meeting on Monday, February 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
Water and Waste Water Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, February 3, 2025 6:00 PM – 7:31 PM Attendees: Gayle Glumac, Mike Swick, Joshua Kuhl, Eric Blake, Maggie McDonald, Melissa Brooks, Amy Tarr, Tyler Weber, Kenneth Belcher and Elizabeth Belcher
Meeting began at 6:00 PM.
• The city has decided to not commit to Viking Industrial Paintings water tower maintenance program at this time. We will be putting together our own in-house, five-year maintenance plan. Inspections, repairs, cleaning and painting will be done as needed. Tyler will be planning these costs into his yearly budget. Painting the West water tower is planned for this year.
• The waiver of the water and sewer connection fees within the Enterprise Zone were discussed. The new Enterprise Zone incentives that were passed on September 18, 2024 waive water and sewer connection fees. The cost to get from the city’s water main to the owner’s water meter is the cost that will be waived. The cost from the meter to the owner’s residence or building is the responsibility of the owner. The city will still require at $250 reimbursable deposit for the sewer connection. This ensures the city receives connection sign off from a licensed plumber and our Sewer Department inspects all connections. There are a few water connections that came right
before the Enterprise Zone incentives were passed through state approval. The council is still deciding how to proceed.
• Kenneth and Elizabeth Belcher voiced displeasure with incentives that did not apply to their build in Five Aprils Subdivision. They felt the process was drawn out and uninviting.
• Facility charge fees are still in the works. May be considered again next fiscal year. • Our Itron meter reading system will be unsupported after 2028. The Water Department will be looking into other possible systems. The committee would like to explore getting on a joint meter reading system with our Electric Department.
Meeting adjourned at 7:31 PM.
Submitted by:
Mike Swick – Chairman
• Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
Finance/Audit Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 4, 2025 5:30 PM – 5:40 PM Present: RJ Lindemann, Melissa Brooks, Eric Blake, Kaleb Wright, Gayle Glumac, Mike Swick, Maggie McDonald and Tyler Weber
Meeting called to order at 5:30 PM.
• Dumpster reimbursement application for BM Enterprise was discussed. It was recommended to award $1,269.75 for the trailer removal.
• TIF application for Brian Brummer was discussed. It was recommended to award $6,993.35, 15% of the project cost.
Meeting adjourned at 5:40 PM.
Submitted by:
RJ Lindemann – Chairman
• City Insurance Committee Meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 immediately following the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting.
City Insurance Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 4, 2025 5:41 PM – 5:47 PM Meeting was called to order at 5:41 PM.
• Cobra rates for 2025 were discussed and presented to the committee. The committee decided to recommend approval of the rates.
Meeting adjourned at 5:47 PM.
Those in attendance were: RJ Lindemann – Chairman, Eric Blake, Kaleb Wright, Gayle Glumac, Mike Swick, Melissa Brooks and Maggie McDonald
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
February 4, 2025
9. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on authorizing a material sale water connection fee reimbursement to 403 Woods Farm Ln. in the amount of $1,087.08, added as an Enterprise Zone incentive that was passed on September 18, 2024.
B. Consider and act on authorizing a material sale water connection fee reimbursement to 303 Woods Farm Ln. in the amount of $1,087.08, added as an Enterprise Zone incentive that was passed September 18, 2024.
C. Consider and act on authorizing a material sale water connection fee reimbursement to 500 Woods Farm Ln. in the amount of $1,084.50, added as an Enterprise Zone incentive that was passed September 18, 2024.
D. Consider and act on authorizing the TIF Application submitted for 103 S. Jackson St.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize the TIF Application submitted for 103 S. Jackson St. for 15% of the total project cost in the amount of $6993.35 as recommended by the Finance and Audit Committee.
Ayes: Blake, Glumac, Wright, Lindemann
Nays: None
E. Consider and act on authorizing Cobra/IMRF’s continuation of rates effective March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize Cobra/IMRF’s continuation of rates effective March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
10.NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on authorizing two city employees to attend Illinois Rural Water Association’s 43rd Annual Technical Conference on February 18-20, 2025 in Effingham, IL. Total cost is $380.00 plus milage expense. Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize two city employees to attend Illinois Rural Water
Association’s 43rd Annual Technical Conference on February 18-20, 2025 in Effingham, IL. Total cost is $380.00 plus milage expense. Ayes: Wright, Lindemann, Blake, Glumac
Nays: None
11.STATEMENTS BY:
Glumac: No comments.
Wright: Happy Valentine’s Day.
Lindemann: Would like to get the information on the ground we are mowing out at the Industrial Park to pass along to JJI. Voiced opposition to Capital Development Fund. Blake: No comments.
Swick: For those who didn’t know, Happy Belated Birthday to Jim Riddle. The Christmas party last Friday was a great time. Thank you to all that had a part in putting that together.
City Attorney: No comments.
City Treasurer: Presented appropriation changes:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to make the eight (8) following appropriation changes:
General Fund:
1. Park to move $8,000 from Contingency Fund (9000-25) to Supplies (5200- 25).
2. General Administration to move $1,000 from Contingency Fund (9000-27) to Elected Officials Expense (5465-27).
3. General Administration to move $3,000 from Contingency Fund (900-27) to Miscellaneous Expense (7000-27).
Insurance:
4. Insurance to move $100 from the Contingency Fund (9000-60) to Miscellaneous Expense (7000-60).
Specials:
5. Social Security to move $43,000 from the Contingency Fund (9000-50) to Social Security Expense (8000-50)
6. Social Security to move $10,000 from the Contingency Fund (9000-50) to Medicare Expense (8010-50).
7. IMRF to move $26,000 from the Contingency Fund (9000-51) to IL Municipal Retirement Expense (8000-51).
8. EMA to move $300 from the EMA Contingency Fund (9000-52) to the EMA Miscellaneous Expense (7000-52).
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
City Clerk: No comments.
12.NEXT REGULAR MEETING: February 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
• Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
• Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 13.ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Blake, Glumac, Wright, Lindemann
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 6:22 PM.
Submitted by:
Maggie McDonald, City Clerk
