UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. VAN BUREN St.
NEWTON, IL 62448
December 5, 2023
WATER/WASTEWATER COMMITTEE MEETING WAS HELD AT 5:45 PM FOR THE
OPENING OF SEALED BIDS FOR ROOF AT NEWTON WATER PLANT.
- 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 Kaleb Wright.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Kaleb Wright. - ROLL CALL: Maggie McDonald, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann,
Eric Blake and Mike Swick
Also present: Attorney William Heap and City Clerk Maggie McDonald
Absent: Treasurer Melissa Brooks - ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to adopt the
amended agenda.
Litigation and Municipal Power was added to Executive Session.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None - APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of November 21, 2023.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to approve the
minutes of the November 21, 2023 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None - PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: None
- COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
• Electric Committee Meeting Monday, November 27, 2023 at 6:00 PM.
Electric Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, November 27, 2023, 6:00 PM – 8:31 PM
Present: Gayle Glumac, Joshua Kuhl, Matt Tarr, Amy Tarr, Brenda Phillips, Jeff Vance, William Heap,
Maggie McDonald, Larry Brooks, Eric Blake, Mike Swick, Jeff Vance
Meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM
• The Electric Committee went into Executive Session to discuss municipal power.
Electric Committee came out of Executive Session at 8:07 PM
• Future power proposals were discussed.
• Electric Committee went back into Executive Session at 8:25 PM to evaluate other related
electric matters.
Electric Committee came out of Executive Session at 8:30 PM.
Meeting adjourned at 8:31 PM.
Gayle Glumac – Chairman
• Water/Wastewater Committee Meeting Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 5:45 PM.
Waiting on minutes. - OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on awarding bid for new roof at Newton Water Plant.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to award bid
for new roof at the Newton Water Plant to 3B General Contracting in the
amount of $44,745.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on passing Ordinance 23-XX approving the 2022 Amendment to
the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Plan and Project for
Redevelopment Project Area No. 1.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to pass
Ordinance 23-XX approving the 2022 Amendment to the Tax Increment
Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Plan and Project for Redevelopment Project
Area No. 1.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on passing Ordinance No. 23-16 Annual Tax Levy.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to pass
Ordinance No. 23-16 Annual Tax Levy.
Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to resend line
item 8B., passing Ordinance 23-XX approving the 2022 Amendment to the Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Plan and Project for Redevelopment
Project Area No. 1.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick to table line item
8B., passing Ordinance 23-XX approving the 2022 Amendment to the Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Plan and Project for Redevelopment
Project Area No.1 to the June 4, 2024 city council meeting.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None
D. Consider and act on authorizing the Abatement Certificate for Aquatic Facility.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize
the Abatement Certificate for Aquatic Facility.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
E. Consider and act on authorizing the proposal for the City of Newton annual audit and
annual TIF audit.
Motion was made by Larry Brooks, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize
seeking bid proposals for the City of Newton annual audit and annual TIF
audit.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
F. Consider and act on utilizing the alley between Grace Methodist Church and the
County Office Building for a beautification project.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to utilize the
alley between Grace Methodist Church and the County Office Building for a
beautification project contingent upon approval and involvement from Grace
Methodist Church and the County of Jasper.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
- NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on Symetra insurance rates for 2024.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize
Symetra insurance rates for 2024.
Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund) contribution rate of
6.16% for 2024.
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize
IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund) contribution rate of 6.16% for 2024.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
Nays: None
C. Discuss property at 805 Fairground.
The property at 805 Fairground had a fire in January 2023. There has been no
response from the home owners in regards to any reconstruction or clean up.
Further action was discussed. A letter is being sent to home owners.
D. Consider and act on Special Event Application from the Jasper County Chamber to
host Christmas on the Square on Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 12:00 PM – 8:00
PM.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize
Special Event Application from the Jasper County Chamber to host Christmas
on the Square on Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None - STATEMENTS BY:
Glumac: Thanked the Leachman’s, the Electric Department, and all volunteers who have
stepped up and contributed to making the Lights in the Park successful. All the lights on the
square and throughout the City of Newton look very nice and festive.
Wright: No comments
Brooks: All the lights in town look great.
Lindemann: Merry Christmas. Voiced opinion on abolishing the Capital Development Fund.
Blake: No comments
Swick: All the lights look really good. It continues to get better each year.
City Attorney: No comments
City Clerk:
Electric Dept. PO#22-30 for the purchase of 30 new utility poles from Bridgewell Resources in
the total amount of $22,295.00.
Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize the Electric
Dept. PO#22-30 for the purchase of 30 new utility poles from Bridgewell Resources in the
total amount of $22,295.00.
Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick
Nays: None
Mayor: Thank you to Rachel McVicar and Donna Watkins for all their extra work helping out in
the Treasurers Office. The Old Mill Bridge looks amazing as always, thanks to Lanette
Huddleston and her crew. Voiced appreciation to Lights in the Park and all involved in making
the City of Newton look merry and bright. Everyone needs to get out and enjoy all the wonderful
activities that are planned for the community this holiday season.
- NEXT REGULAR MEETING: December 19, 2023 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Finance/Audit Committee Meeting
December 19, 2023 at 5:30 PM. - EXECUTIVE SESSION: Personnel, Litigation and Municipal Power
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to go out of open
session and into closed session to discuss personnel, litigation and municipal
power pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to
those areas of discussion.
Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 6:33 PM.
Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to go out of closed session
and back into open session.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 7:44 PM.
Mayor Kuhl announced that during closed session the council discussed personnel, litigation
and municipal power. - ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adjourn the
meeting. - Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks
- Nays: None
- Meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM.
- Submitted by:
- Maggie E. McDonald, City Clerk
