UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. Van Buren St
Newton, IL 62448
March 15, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER: Joshua J. Kuhl, Mayor
Mayor Kuhl called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Eric Blake.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Eric Blake.
3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta M. York, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown (arrived at 6:31 PM), RJ
Lindemann, Eric Blake and Marlene Harris
Also present: Attorney William Heap, Treasurer Melissa Brooks, and Clerk Rosetta
M. York
Absent: Larry Brooks
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Add Susan Iffert Lindley to item # 7
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to adopt the amended
agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Lindemann, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of March 1, 2022:
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Lindemann, to approve the minutes of
the March 1, 2022 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Alderman Lindemann reviewed the pre-paids in the amount of $167,158.54 and the
bills and accounts payable earlier today and made a motion to approve the pre-
paids and authorize payment of the bills and accounts payable in the amount of
$102,888.40. Harris seconded the motion.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Lindemann
Nays: None
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Susan Iffert Lindley
Susan Iffert Lindley: “Back on September the 10th of 2012, me and my husband decided to
purchase a lot down in April’s Crossing. Lot number 19 (Corrected to Lot 20.), we turned in a
$1,000 escrow account money, which was a check made out to Personal Service. And we then
decided that we were not going to build there. We went over to the office today and I dug all this
up. Personal Service issued a check, number 9321, to the City of Newton on October the 4th of
2012 for $1000. Now, I brought this up one time, and I’m getting a little bit upset because I was
told I couldn’t have my money back. And in that length of time, the City has voted and pay and
reimburse Tony Griffin’s estate for a lot that he had in Five April’s Crossings. Now, I understand
that Lot 19 is selling again from somebody who had purchased it but did not build. Covenants
on those lots out there specifically states that if you do not build within a year or you do not have
your premises three fourths of the way done, your lot goes back to the city. So, I’ve watched
twice now the first time you paid for a lot that had never had anything done to it and had sit there
for years with nothing done to it. Now I understand that a guy who bought Lot 19 has bought a
different place, but now he’s sold lot 19 to somebody else, so he’s going to get his money back.
I’m a little bit perturbed, so I don’t understand why the rules are different.”
“I have a little bit of an issue here and don’t understand why some people get paid back their
money and some people didn’t. I have the documentation of where this money went to, and I
kind of like to have an explanation. I mean, I’ve brought this up several times and I just get
dismissed and I’m not going to be dismissed. So, this needs to be taken care of. What’s fair for
one is fair for another. I mean, it’s not like, am I holding my tongue wrong? Is it because I don’t
have the right last name? I mean, I hate to bring that up, but it really needs to be resolved.”
“So, the next thing that I have a problem with is we also have a city ordinance that states that if
you have a pool, you will have a fence erected around your pool. That does not mean you put a
rope around it. It means you have a fence erected all the way around the pool. There are people
who have not done this and that ordinance has not been enforced. So once again, I have a pool.
I went out, measure my fence before I came here this evening. I have a five-foot fence where I’m
supposed to have a five foot fence. So once again, what’s good for one should be good for
everybody else. So, these things need to be enforced. Or maybe I can take my fence down in
two places that I don’t have to have it.”
“And another thing, there’s been a dead skunk lying in front of my property for about two months
now, month maybe. Cannot somebody from the city, is that not their job to come and pick that
up and discard that?”
Council:
1. Information is going to be gathered on the earnest money paid.
2. The dead skunk is on State Route 130. Citizens are to call IDOT about carcasses on the
State roads.
3. Mayor read and referred Mrs. Lindley to the Zoning Board:
Excerpt from Newton Code, Chapter 40
40-5 9 SWIMMING POOLS.
(A)Every in-ground swimming pool, whether public or private, shall be enclosed by a wall
or fence at least four (4) feet in height and shall have a gate that shall be locked when the pool is
not in use. An above the ground pool, four (4) feet or higher, need not have a fence with a gate,
so long as the ladder is removed when not in use.
(B)No private swimming pool shall be located in any front yard or closer than ten (10) feet
to any side or rear lot line.
(C)All lights used to illuminate any swimming pool shall be arranged or shielded so as to
confine direct light rays within the lot lines to the greatest extent possible.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
Brown–Park, Cemetery and Pool Committee Monday, March 7, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Discussed the following:
1. Brad informed the Committee that in two years he would be retiring. Also, he is going
to be off for a surgery this year. Both park employees will probably be retired in the next
couple of years. Need to hire a Parks’ employee.
2. Pool is to be painted this year. Brad will reach out to multiple painting companies.
3. Courts will be painted and crack repair this year.
4. Brad is still waiting on one bid for Ives Mausoleum repair.
5. No repair/maintenance needed at batting cages or miniature golf.
6. Wages for 2022 Aquatic Center are as follows:
• Manager $16.50/hr
• Asst. Manager 14.00/hr
• Lifeguard 13.00/hr
• Concessions 12.00/hr
7. As of Jan. 1st 2022, the minimum wage increased to $12.00 per hour, hence the
changes.
8. When discussed, the committee agreed that advertising for full-time Parks’ employee
and Aquatic Center wage changes should be on the next meeting agenda.
Lindemann–Building and Grounds Committee with the Finance Committee
Monday, March 7, 2022 at about 6:30 PM
• Police department beautification was discussed
• City hall beautification was discussed
• Desk upgrades for office workers were discussed
• New paint, flooring, desks, and other minor renovations all came out to cost
around $60,000. In order to appropriately handle the cost, it was decided
unanimously by the committee to split the project into three roughly equal parts of
around $20,000 each to be completed over the next three years.
• Upgrades to the utility billing software were discussed
• The committee was made aware of the city’s yearly loan payment on the recently
purchased Griffith ground.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Brown–Police and Building Permit Committee on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 6:30
PM
Mike and Bill Heap are going to be working on the Illinois Property Maintenance
Code Thursday.
Mike’s last day in office is April 29th. Committee recommends advertising for NPD
Chief’s position ASAP.
Mike recommends that the Neighborhood Vehicle fees increase to $65.00.
Ordinance will need to be changed.
City wide cleanup will be May 21st.
Committee discussed residential demolitions. Also funding discussed.
Discussed budget items such as mobile computers, camera system and home
demolition.
The committee directed Chief to look into the cost of repairing rusted spots on City
Hall building.
Meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM
Harris– Street and Alley Committee Meeting on Monday, March 14, 2022 at 5:45 PM
• Ochs Street project was discussed.
• MFT funds may be used quote for project is $151,861.65. Project will start approximately
late summer or fall
• This will go out for bids in May.
• Edge of street is higher in some places and will need to be leveled before project starts
along with drainage in ditches.
• Project needs to be put on agenda in April for approval so it can be submit to state.
• Revamping of sidewalk repair work will be put on budget.
• Adjourned at 5:56
Water and Waste Water Committee Meeting Monday, March 14, 2022 at 6:15 PM
Called to order at 6:15 pm
• Discussed meters at 104 and 105 W Jourdan St. Mrs. Westdorp addressed council
stating that she was getting 2 minimum billings for her business. She would like to
know what she can do to only have to pay one bill.
• It was discussed that she could have one water meter shut off, but leave on the
electric for the whole building.
• She will notify city hall to let them know what she has decided to do.
• Went into executive session at 6:29 to discuss potential litigation.
• Went out of executive session at 7:11 discussed Potential litigation.
• Connor and Connor is to work up estimates for a main replacement and repair.
• South Central will be notified to see if there are any grants out there for the project.
• Energy efficient grant for the Sewer department, State’s regulations need an energy
efficient study done. The U of I is going to do a study for free.
• It was noted that they would also do one for the water plant if we wanted. It was
agreed that they do one for Water plant also.
Adjourned at 7:25
David Brown arrived at 6:31 PM
9. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Consider and act on appointing Matt Tarr Electric Department Head.
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to authorize the appointment
of Matt Tarr as Electric Department Head.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Lindemann
Nays: Blake
b. Consider and act on raising Aquatic Center employee wages. (As of January 1, 2022,
minimum wage increased to $12.00 per hour.)
• Manager $16.50/hr
• Asst. Manager 14.00/hr
• Lifeguard 13.00/hr
• Concessions 12.00/hr
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Brown, to authorize raising
Aquatic Center employee wages to the above list.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Lindemann, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
c. Consider and act on authorizing up to $30,000.00 of expenses for improvements to
City Hall in the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Lindemann, to authorize up to
$30,000.00 of expenses for improvements to City Hall in the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Ayes: Brown, Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
d. Discuss the beautification budget line item concerning funding for demolition of
residential properties.
Mayor: “Essentially, this has been a discussion right at almost a year or so as we’re
going into budget time, looking at cleanup of uninhabitable homes. At the same time, one
of the residents passed away. The next of kin have washed their hands of it. And here
we sit tied with those things. How can we as a city start to help out? And some of those
we already have the dumpster reimbursement program. This is more geared towards
helping the removal. So the idea would be is two residences a year. The problem is
obviously if that home or residence would have asbestos and or lead paint, we run into a
larger cost of demolition and removal. So, it could be an instance that we only get one
property done. And that said, you’re good to go. Obviously, it was discussed legal fees,
which you already have a budget, you know, a line in our budget for Mr. Heap and his
team that if we would have to essentially seize the property like we have done a few in
the past, which obviously drags some things out, but if the next kin is not interested in
property. But this is a program that essentially would also be geared towards current
residential areas.”
“Someone has bought the piece of property that needs a little financial help getting it tore
down to possibly do something with that lot. I will say that on my point, my
recommendations, I have very little want to do a lot and we rack up a large amount of
money in it and then we try to turn around and sell that lot. On the average, the most we
would get on the high end would be $1,000. Most of the time those fluctuate somewhere
between $250 and $500 we get back. It’s terrible investment. But at the same time, we
know that we’re doing a good service mainly. So, the gaming funds, obviously we’ve
talked about utilizing some of that money for this project. We could also pull from our
beautification funds where we could switch the money around to that we haven’t been
using essentially. So, this would change some budgets up, but at the same time it would
be my recommendation to utilize our local money from our citizens on projects like this for
vehicles, equipment and buildings.”
The discussion continued at the Council table among members.
The Mayor asked the Council to think about the amount of money to budget for 2
properties cleaned up and be prepared by next Council Meeting.
e. Discuss and review the City utility rates.
Mayor: “This is a discussion on city utility rates. So, as you know, that’s something else
that we need to move forward on as we look at budgets. I’ve been in discussions with a
few of you regarding that. So last year, if you remember, the automatic 5% was supposed
to go into effect. You guys voted to not do that and you increased the electric rates by one
and a half per cent. Water and sewer were not touched. As you look at current budgets,
as they’ve been turned in here this year, it has been with the recommendation of people
that have honestly spent their career looking at those budgets that as of right now we’re
setting OK. But as you look down the road further, there will need to be an increase as
we move forward. A lot of that comes back to and you can blame continuously blame
COVID or whatever it is, but it’s not just the effects of the city of Newton, it’s every aspect
of anything with the cost of materials and other things that have went up. So, the point of
this discussion is, is that what I don’t want to do is, is I don’t want your recommendations
and you guys to vote that you don’t want to increase utility rates. But then a year down
the road, you take them up 5%. If it’s the majority to sit here and say we do a slow
increment raise. Our citizens can handle that a lot easier versus a large amount at one time. So, looking forward, over the next five years, it was discussed between water and
sewer that a 5% increase would essentially be needed over that before that time frame.
Now I’ve given you like through voice that the way that the budgets have been prepared
at this time we’re setting Ok obviously that’s not putting into any consideration into a what
if there’s a little bit of what if built into there but not a lot which most of the time are what
ifs then involve grants that we’re going after anyways because there’s not a huge pile of
money to get through every order. What’s your thought? You guys got to talk on this?”
Lindemann: :”Well, I think that one thing that might help utilities overall, I think we should
abolish the Marshall Plan (This is a nickname for Chapter 10, The Capital Development
Fund). That’s my thing. Other than that, I think 5% over five years is a pretty okay way to
raise rates.”
Mayor: “I would have needed you to bring that up in discussion a few months ago. Now, I
know, and I appreciate that. And I couldn’t sit here and say that I disagree with you. But
the other aspect of that is, we still have day to day operations to run and other things that
are or will be needed. We’re going to have a major need on the electrical side. That’s
good. It’s going to sneak up here sooner than later. And we’ve talked about this as you
look at things that are happening within the city, it’s going west and we don’t have the
data. But what we’re getting pretty tight on the amount of power that we can push to that
side of town. So, there would be some upgrades that are needed for that. You guys have
voted to approve the digging of a water well. Based on the fact that we have one go
down. Who’s to say that next year, another one goes down. We’ve had some other
issues, some other things. So, if you have to think long term, what I’m asking you guys to
not just think about today, you have to think about 2023 and 24 and 25 and 26. I’ll do
everything in my power to not let you guys make a large rate increase in one year. But at
the same time, I would stand behind if you choose not to raise rates this year as well.
City Collector: The Illinois Power Marketing price that we currently have, expires 2024.
Our current rates could go up.
Mayor: The committee chairs will need to hold a committee meeting where their budgets
can be discussed. The committee chairman will come out of that meeting with a
consensus that would then be added to a city council agenda, and then that would be
what would happen. I mean, obviously whatever is decided will then be what’s put in
motion for the next fiscal year.
10.NEW BUSINESS:
a. Consider and act on approving opening the yard waste facility, the first and third
Saturdays from 8:00 AM to noon beginning Saturday April 2, 2022 to October 15,
2022 and every Saturday in November under the landscape waste collection site
rules.
Motion was made by Blake, seconded by Glumac, to authorize opening the
yard waste facility, the first and third Saturdays from 8:00 AM to noon
beginning Saturday April 2, 2022 to October 15, 2022 and every Saturday in
November under the landscape waste collection site rules
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
b. Consider and act on authorizing the City Wide Clean Up on May 20-21, 2022.
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Harris, to authorize the City
Wide Clean Up on May 20-21, 2022.
Ayes: Blake Harris, Glumac, Brown,
Lindemann
Nays: None
11.STATEMENTS BY:
Glumac: The Boys and Girls are starting to run after
school Monday thru Thursday until 5:00 PM. Please
be careful driving.
Brown: Police Committee Monday, March 21, 2022
at 6:00 PM
Lindemann: Explained to the council that he has
reviewed and approved the billing adjustment report.
Blake: Personnel Meeting on Tuesday, March 29,
2022 at 6:30 PM to begin to negotiate with Laborers’
Local 1197.
Harris: No comments
City Attorney: No comments
City Treasurer: No comments
City Clerk: Park Department PO for Newton Aquatic Center (This is pool maintenance
done every 2-5 years.)
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Lindemann, to authorize the payment
quote of Dryer Painting for $18,400 to paint the pool.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
Statement of Economic interest forms handed out.
Mayor:
“First and foremost, obviously, I hope everybody participates in the May 20th and 21st citywide
cleanup. If you don’t have means to participate, please reach out to either Chief Swick or City
Hall, who then can reach out to me. And we’ll find some people that are willing to help remove
items from your property and get them to the appropriate location. I make a recommendation to
the council, anybody that is part of committees that deals with a budget. Please take the time to
sit down with that department head and yourself. Go over your budgets, make sure that there
are things in there that are warranted and virtually just understand, of course, what’s being
asked over the next year before we lay them all on the table one evening and you guys get
about 2 minutes to decide. Prep work is worth every minute that you spend doing that. So it’s my
recommendation and I will be sitting down with each department head personally and going over
those budgets as well. So if you want to set a time that we both can go with, I am completely fine
with that as well. Other than that, obviously the weather is quickly changing. Like Gayle said, I’ll
obviously echo that a lot more people are going to be out and about walking, running, doing
those things. So, keep your eyes open. My other recommendation is one thing that we’re going
to put on our radar moving forward into this next fiscal year for the city is sidewalk repair. So, if
you know of areas, I’m not saying that all of them can be replaced, but areas that are warranted.
Please send those to either a council member or myself so we can put it on our radar.”
12.NEXT REGULAR MEETING: April 5, 2022 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Police Committee Monday, March 21, 2022 at
6:00 PM
Personnel Committee Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 6:30 PM
13.EXECUTIVE SESSION: Sale of real estate, purchase of real estate and personnel
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to go out of open session and
into closed session to sale of real estate, purchase of real estate and personnel
pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those
areas of discussion.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Lindemann, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 7:12 PM
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Brown, to go out of closed session and
back into open session.
Ayes: Brown, Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 8:17 PM.
Josh Kuhl announced that during closed session the council discussed sale of real estate,
purchase of real estate and personnel.
14.ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM.
Submitted by Rosetta M. York
