Newton City Council Unofficial Minutes from October 5

UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL

108 N. Van Buren St
Newton, IL 62448
October 5, 2021

1. CALL TO ORDER: Josh Kuhl, Mayor
Mayor Josh Kuhl called the meeting to order.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman RJ Lindemann.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman RJ Lindemann.
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, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Clerk Rosetta York
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Add Sarah Kinkade to Item #6
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 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES of September 21, 2021.
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Harris, to approve the minutes of the
September 21, 2021 of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Sarah Kinkade
Sarah Kinkade:
Discussed the electronic sign on the Square is broken and waiting on parts.
Discussed Randy Brooks would like to purchase a mural for the area in the alley on the
south side of the Square on one of the buildings.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: Electric and
Park/Cemetery/Pool Committee Meeting Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 6:00 PM, Building
and Grounds Committee Meeting October 4, 2021 at 6:00 PM and Water/Wastewater
Committee Meeting October 4, 2021 at 6:30 PM.
Electric and Park/Cemetery/Pool Committee Meeting September 30, 2021
Glumac:
• Discuss the Christmas Lights in the Park
• With the number of displays doubling this year we talked about different ways to get
power out with as little disturbance to the trees and playground area as possible.
• Boring electrical lines, Nordic Box pad for transformer, underground box,
temporary power distribution box cord and reels.
• The decision was made to put a line item in the budget for next year.
• The Electric department also has been going around checking on Entrance wire down to
the meter on the house with several homes having issues. It is for the safety of our
residents that we check to make sure homes are safe.
• There was also a discussion about hand held meters when they become obsolete.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM.
Building and Grounds Committee Meeting October 4, 2021
1. Quotes for window replacement at City Hall were discussed. 3B General Contracting will send a quote in
time for the Council meeting, as they were unsure what the City wanted. Raymond Kocher’s quote was
$2465.00 for 2 crank-out, tempered low E2 bronze tint with argon windows.
2. The Committee recommends Muska Cleaning for City Hall Cleaning. The quote for cleaning was
$16,200.00/year.
3. City Hall walls need painted, and the flooring will need addressed at a later date.
4. Adjourned at 6:30 PM
Water/Wastewater Committee Meeting October 4, 2021
1. Brent Benefiel told us the building site for the sludge building was approved by Shannon
Woodard.
2. Brent Benefiel also told us about a break in a sewer main on S Walnut. The sewer line is 12
feet deep, so B&T Drainage will bring an excavator at an estimate of $2,500.00 to dig the
sewer line up. The Sewer Department will finish the job.
3. A new vacuum truck was discussed. A lease plan was discussed. A new truck with trade in
would be $54,640.00/year for 5 years. A maintenance plan is included in the price. This will be
shared with the Water Department. Another meeting will be needed.
4. Tyler Weber talked about new EPA regulations.
5. New handheld mobile meter readers were discussed.
6. Tyler Weber said the filters for the Water Plant needed to be inspected. Water Surplus would
do this inspection at a cost of $4,015.00 for two vessels.
7. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.

8. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on 21-XX Ordinance Approving The 2021 Amendment to the Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Plan and Project for Redevelopment Project
Area No. 1.
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to continue tabling 21-XX
Ordinance Approving The 2021 Amendment to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Redevelopment Plan and Project for Redevelopment Project Area No. 1 to be voted
on at the November 2, 2021 City Council Meeting.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on cleaning services quotes to clean City Hall.
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Lindemann, to authorize
Muska cleaning service’s quote for $16,200.00 to clean City Hall.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on the quotes to repair and/or replace windows on west side of City Hall.
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Lindemann, to authorize Ramon Kocher
Construction quote to repair and replace windows on west side of City Hall for
$2,465.00, option # 1.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
9. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on approving Halloween Trick or Treat Night for Sunday, October 31,
2021 between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, with a bad weather date of November 1, 2021. (If
there are questions call 783-4436.)
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to authorize Halloween Trick or
Treat Night for Sunday, October 31, 2021 between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, with a bad
weather date of November 1, 2021. (If there are questions call 783-8478.)
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on a $10,000 payment to the Jedi organization for the city’s part of
economic development.
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to authorize $10,000
payment to the Jedi organization for the city’s part of economic development.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on Special Event Application from Westside Lounge to benefit the Pub on
October 9, 2021 between 1:00 PM to 2:40 PM.
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to authorize Special Event
Application from Westside Lounge to benefit the Pub on October 9, 2021 between
1:00 PM to 2:40 PM.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
D. Consider and act on Special Event Application for the Chamber’s “Scare on the Square”
event which requests closing W. Washington St. from S. Van Buren St to S. Jackson St on
October 23 between 2-4 PM.
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Brooks, to authorize Special Event
Application for the Chamber’s “Scare on the Square” event which requests closing
W. Washington St. from S. Van Buren St to S. Jackson St on October 23 between 2-4
PM.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
10. STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: Thanked all of the City employees for their work. She has been receiving a lot of
compliments.
Brown: No Comment
Brooks: No Comment
Lindemann: No Comment
Blake: No Comment

Harris: The Street Department will be doing sidewalk work on W. Washington St. after this
weekend.
City Attorney: No Comment
City Treasurer:
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Brooks to make the following
appropriation change of $10,000 from General Fund Contingency Fund to General
Fund Membership Dues.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
City Clerk: Water Department PO # 6524
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Harris, to authorize Water Department
purchase order #6524 for $4,015.00 to Water Surplus.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
Mayor:

1. CEO Fall Social

2. There is a Railroad right of way that is for sale which the City maybe interested in
purchasing. City Attorney is going to investigate.
11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Finance October 11, 2021 at 6:00 PM
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:07 PM.
Submitted by Rosetta M. York