UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. Van Buren St
Newton, IL 62448
July 6, 2021
1. CALL TO ORDER: Josh Kuhl, Mayor
Mayor Josh Kuhl called the meeting to order.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Larry Brooks.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Larry Brooks.
3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta York, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown, Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann, Eric
Blake and Marlene Harris
Also present: Attorney William Heap, and Clerk Rosetta York
Absent: Treasurer Melissa Brooks
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Delete #8B, add to #11 Electric Committee and Public Hearing
on Appropriations
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of June 15, 2021
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Lindemann, to approve the minutes of the
June 15, 2021 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS:
Charles Albert: He had received a letter from Chief Swick and the Building Inspector listing
some of the repairs that were needed on his home. No citations have been issued. Chief
Swick assured Mr. Albert the City is not going to evict him, but there are code violations that
need to be repaired on his property. Mr. Albert had an estimate for some of the code
violations. He also had a letter from his doctor that he will be having 2 surgeries in the near
future. He was concerned that he could not afford the repairs and the surgeries at the same
time.
The Mayor said that his health, safety and wellbeing are the top concern. He asked Mr. Albert
if he would work with the Chief on a plan to remedy his situation with the code violations. Mr.
Albert agreed to work with the Chief on a plan.
Several suggestions were made.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: Police and Building
Permit Committee 6-23 and Finance and Audit Committee 6-30
BROWN–Police and Building Permit Committee 6-23
• Amber Volk addressed the Council about her proposed business. The current ordinance
regarding tattoo establishments needs to be looked at regarding cosmetic tattooing. Permit
fees which are currently $500 are to be dropped to $250 per unanimous committee decision for
cosmetic tattooing and traditional tattooing.
• Nuisance/building code update was discussed next. Revising the ordinance regarding burning
in city limits was specifically discussed.
• Chief and Bill Heap discussed raising ordinance violations from $75 to $100 per violation.
• The Building Code Official’s liability insurance cost was discussed. A possible increase in fees
will be discussed under personnel during closed session at next city council meeting.
• The City’s contract with mowing was discussed. Additional properties being mowed was
discussed. City’s contract with mowers was discussed at length.
• The nuisance property on North Goble was discussed. The feral cat situation at that residence
is reported to be better. Loose, blowing trash going into neighbor’s yard seems to be
improved.
• Meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM
LINDEMANN—Finance and Audit Committee 6-30-21
• 2021-2022 appropriations were discussed.
• Elizabeth and Kenneth Belcher asked questions regarding their TIF grant, and which expenses might
fall under its intended use.
• They also asked about potentially being reimbursed for dumpster/dump truck expenses for a project
they are undertaking on Foster Street.
• A material sale for an accident that occurred on Reynolds Street was discussed.
• The meeting was adjourned at 6:35.
8. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on authorizing the executing the Mowing Agreement with Backwoods
Lawn Service which was approved January 21, 2020. (This was a miss on my part,
Rosetta M. York)
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Glumac, to authorize executing the
Mowing Agreement with Backwoods Lawn Service which was approved January 21,
2020.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on authorizing a 20% depreciation insurance proposal for materials billed
in the amount of $74.90 on Material Sale # 2288. (NOTE: The material sale is a result of
an accident that damaged an electric utility pole within city limits.)
8C was tabled until after the Executive Session.
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Blake, to table 8C until after the Executive
Session.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on amending the Independent Contractor Agreement with Clint Crossen
d/b/a Crossen Inspection Services.
Motion was made by ______, seconded by ________, to authorize the amended
Independent Contractor Agreement with Clint Crossen d/b/a Crossen Inspection
Services.
Ayes:
Nays:
D. Discussion on Eagle Trail project
Brown read an email from Dr. Scott Bloomberg:
From: Scott Bloomberg
To: electedofficials@cityofnewtonil.com
Subject: Eagle Trails
Mr. Mayor,
I would like to express my support for the Eagle trails project. I have looked over the survey as distributed and it
appears to have some significant confirmation bias. It suggests that the city will be on the hook for upwards of
several hundreds of thousands of dollars or more for this project. I know that with the “Marshall Plan” money
from the electric department and the grant from the state will help to offset the impact to the citizens of our great city.
As a former alderman I know the great burden it is to be a good custodian for the public’s money but at the same time I think leveraging grant money and the generous donations from citizens for the Eagle Trails that this project can still reach completion.
As one of the original developers for the Eagle Trails several years ago, I take great pride in seeing its current
use and at times find it hard to find a parking place at the trailhead from the people enjoying the outdoors.
Quality of life factors like our Aquatic Center and the current phase of the Eagle trails project help to attract a
dynamic community.
I would suggest before a final determination for this project that you ask for a coalition of citizens to take an
objective look at the facts for funding and completion and I would volunteer myself to serve on that committee.
Thank you all for your willingness to serve and represent our community.
Scott Bloomberg
Brooks read his text from Mark Bolander:
Forwarded to City Clerk from Alderman Brooks: “Larry, this is Mark. Can’t the river walk be redesigned to get
closer to the original estimate? 8-foot-wide concrete instead of 10? Or, eliminate or cheapen the granite feature?
Please don’t just kill the project. We would be leaving over a million dollars on the table. I thought we wanted
people to move to newton. Give them another reason by improving our quality of life.”
Mayor: He made it clear that the City’s funds for the Riverwalk are not real estate taxes or sales taxes. The
City’s share will be from donations, pledges and The Capital Development Fund. (NOTE: The Capital
Development Fund is explained in Chapter 10 of the City’s Codebook. This fund is 3% of the gross operating
revenue of the electric utility.)
The council continued to discuss Riverwalk.
Mayor: He asked the council to continue talking with the community. We are not making a decision tonight. He
is concerned the City’s cost will be triple the original estimated cost, because of the increase in the cost of building materials. The Eagle Trail Riverwalk has been on the agenda for two months. If the community wants
the Riverwalk, no one is showing up at the council meetings to support it. A few emails are not support.
City Clerk: From my experiences over the past eight years, citizens only show up at a council meeting if they are
angry about an issue.
Alderwoman Harris talked with several citizens that did want the Riverwalk project. The Mayor asked her if she
would try to organize a group of citizens to investigate if the community supports continuing with the Riverwalk.
9. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on advertising a “Notice of Sale” for the parcel adjoining south of Lot 22
and Lot 23 in Five Aprils Crossing Subdivision, containing .28 acres, more or less.
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to authorize advertising a
“Notice of Sale” for the parcel adjoining Lot 22 and Lot 23 on south side in Five
Aprils Crossing Subdivision, containing .28 acres, more or less.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Lindeman
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on a Newton Police employee attending the 27th Annual Medicolegal
Death and Homicide Investigation Conference on August 3-5, 2021, the fee is $450.00 per
person plus allowable expenses.
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Lindemann, to authorize a Newton Police
employee attending the 27th Annual Medicolegal Death and Homicide Investigation
Conference on August 3-5, 2021, the fee is $450.00 per person plus allowable
expenses.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Lindeman, Blake
Nays: None
10. STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: She enjoyed the flags the City put up for July Fourth.
Brown: He seconded the flags.
Brooks: The flags were really nice.
Lindemann: No Comment
Blake: No Comment
Harris: The Street Department has done a good job sanding the tar weeping out of the
streets, which is caused by the heat.
City Attorney: No Comment
City Clerk: Street Department will be chipping and tarring street at the end of July.
Mayor:
1. On June 23 he attended “Reversing the Exodus, Strategies for retaining and attracting
young adults to your community.” The speaker was Pamela S. Schallhorn, Extension
Specialist, Community and Economic Development from University of Illinois. The biggest
attraction is fiber optics, because of people working from home or remote working. There is
rural grant money available to do fiber, which we will be looking to do. Ms. Schallhorn’s
organization will be doing a statewide survey of what the younger generation wants in their
community. This survey will take a year. The data will be available to all Illinois counties.
2. The Liberty St. water main project is about half way complete. Tyler Weber reported 1.
That all the new mains have been chlorinated pressure tested, 2. They will start putting
services in around the 19th, 3. Next is tying in service lines and 4. The final action is to
abandon old lines.
3. The town looked great for the July 4th.
4. Remember school is starting soon. Newton Police Department is prepared for school
beginning.
11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
Electric Committee Meeting Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 6:00 PM
NOTICE: 5:45 PM, on July 20 before next Council Meeting there is a public hearing re:
Appropriations
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation, personnel and sale of real estate
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to go out of open session and into
closed session to discuss litigation, potential litigation, personnel and sale
