UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
108 N. Van Buren St
Newton, IL 62448
March 3, 2020
1. CALL TO ORDER: Mark Bolander, Mayor
Mayor Mark Bolander called the meeting to order.
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 York, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown, Robert Riesner, Eric Blake and
Marlene Harris
Absent: Larry Brooks
Also present: Attorney Steve Green, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Clerk Rosetta York
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Add Lee Beckman to #6 and add Finance Committee to #9
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of February 18, 2020.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to approve the minutes of the
February 18, 2020 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Lee Beckman was added to #6.
Lee Beckmann: After 18 months to two years the environmental review by DNR for IDOT
he thinks is very close to being approved for the Eagle Trail Phase IV—Riverwalk with
the environmental impact on the sand darter small. But, DNR has not signed off on the
study and there will be conditions that have to be met to do the Riverwalk. The debris
from the old railroad trestle and the old wooden damn may need to be cleaned out of the
river totally or partially. It was thought that the City could do the river clean out work,
but this would require another environmental study which could take 1 to 2 years more.
The council wanted to know if some engineering and preliminary work could start soon.
Beckman said that since DNR has not signed off yet, he would not recommend taking
that risk for the City. If everything goes well, IDOT will have a fall 2020 bid letting.
7. BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on the Mayor’s appointment of committees and their chairpersons,
effective May 1, 2020.
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Reisner, to approve the Mayor’s appointment
of committees and their chairpersons, effective May 1, 2020.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on the Mayor’s appointment of Discussed the Welcome signs at the city entrances.
• Monthly maintenance on the City Hall server was discussed to do monthly updates.
• Discussed how housing rehab is going on with the 2 homes which are being worked on now.
• Discussed which account the Embarrass River Basin Watershed pledge was to be paid. Adjourned
at 8:15 PM.
10. STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: No comment
Brown: No comment
Reisner: No comment
Blake: “Spring Forward,” time change this weekend
Harris: A citizen has requested the City put “Pickle Ball” lines on one of the Peterson Park
tennis courts.
City Attorney (Steve Green): No comment
City Treasurer: No comment
City Clerk: Electric Department PO # 223274 and Collection and Billing Department PO
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to authorize Electric Department
purchase order #223274 for $7,600.00.00 for 8 transformers from Dakota Diamond
Transformers.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner
Nays: None
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to authorize Collection and Billing
Department purchase order for $120.00/hour rate to perform updates and maintenance
to the computer server monthly.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
Mayor:
1. Adrian Guzman, Virtual Reality Videos, is a big opportunity for the City of Newton to
have videos made. He ask Alderwoman Glumac to call an Advertising and Marketing
Committee Meeting and invite Adrian.
2. The Jasper County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet is March 16, 2020 please
RSVP as soon as possible
3. John Stone has found there are CDBG grants available to do Wastewater infrastructure
of $550,000. He also reminded him that several years ago there were several
wastewater projects identified that could not be done because of a lack of funds. These
grant are 100% with a $2,500 filing fee. The City of Newton has been identified as an
Opportunity Zone, which means that no survey has to be done.
11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Dues and Donations Committee Monday, March
16, 2020 at 6:00 PM and EMA, Health and Sanitation Committee Meeting Tuesday, March
17, 2020 at 4:00 PM.
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 of real estate
pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those areas
of discussion.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Brown
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 6:49 PM
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Blake, to go out of closed session and back
into open session.
Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Brown, Glumac
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 7:07 PM.
Mayor Bolander announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation,
potential litigation, personnel and sale of real estate
• A discussion of the possible ways the City could help the Unit #1 district with the TIF.Department Heads, effective May 1, 2020.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Reisner, to approve the Mayor’s appointment
of Department Heads, effective May 1, 2020.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on Ordinance 20-03 Amending Section 38-1-14(A) Connection Permits Fees.
(Commonly called the water tap on fee to $750 for a standard 3⁄4 inch connection.)
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Brown, to pass Ordinance 20-03 Amending
Section 38-1-14(A) Connection Permits Fees. (Commonly called the water tap on fee to
$750 for a standard 3⁄4 inch connection.)
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
D. Consider and act on Ordinance 20-04 Amend Chapter 38 -1-7 Multiple Unit Rate. (A flat rate of
water and wastewater per 1,000 gallons of metered water for multiple users on one main meter
in multiunit complex.)
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to pass Ordinance 20-04 Amend
Chapter 38 -1-7 Multiple Unit Rate. (A flat rate of water and wastewater per 1,000 gallons
of metered water for multiple users on one main meter in a multiunit complex.)
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
8. 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 4, 2019 to October 17, 2020 and every Saturday in
November under the landscape waste collection site rules.Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to authorize opening the yard waste
facility the first and third Saturdays from 8:00 AM to noon beginning Saturday April 4,
2020 to October 17, 2020 and every Saturday in November under the landscape waste
collection site rules.
Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on authorizing the Mayor and the Economic Development Director to attend
the ITIA Spring Conference April 15-17, 2020 with $325 fee per 2 persons from one
membership plus allowable expenses.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to authorize the Mayor and the
Economic Development Director to attend the ITIA Spring Conference April 15-17, 2020
with $325 fee per 2 persons from one membership plus allowable expenses.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
Harris—JEDI: Excerpts from Amber Volk’s JEDI Minutes for the March 3, 2020 Meeting
Adrian Guzman will be presenting on Virtual Reality Videos; a huge marketing opportunity for Jasper
County! Adrian Guzman’s contact information: Cell: 618-839-1323, Personal Email:
aguzman0523@gmail.com and School Email: aguzman@jccu1.org
Monthly Updates
Amber Volk, Executive Director
1. 2020 Census: https://www.illinoiscensus2020.com/
2. April 1st, 2020. Groups historically undercounted: Veterans, minority communities, college
students, foreign born Illinois residents (documented & undocumented), retirees spending
summer in Illinois & winter in warmer climates, farm families residing in rural counties, persons
living in large housing units or apartment complexes, children under age 5, homeless.
3. Undocumented individual equals loss in funds/grants for schools, roads, services,
improvements.
4. Info is kept confidential by the U.S. Census Bureau.
5. Will be available online, phone, & mail. I will send more information when it becomes available
how to complete the Census online.
6. Connect Illinois: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/ConnectIllinois/Pages/default.aspx
7. Governor Pritzker recently launched a statewide initiative, Connect Illinois, to expand broadband
access across the entire state. Connect Illinois includes a capital investment from Rebuild
Illinois, the creation of a Broadband Advisory Council and Broadband Office, and a new program
that will provide all Illinois public K-12 students access to high- speed broadband at no charge.
The initiative also includes a $400 million broadband grant program and a $20 million capital
program for the Illinois Century Network, a high-speed broadband network serving K-12 and
higher education institutions, among others.
Mark Bolander, Mayor of Newton
1. Lottery for 5 free lots in Five Aprils subdivision. May 5th, 2020.
2. Lots are valued at $30,000
3. Spread the word!
Jason Warfel, Jasper County Board
1. County Board meeting is next Thursday.
2. Jail project is moving forward.
Andy Johnson, Superintendent of Jasper County Unit #1.
1. Regarding the VR technology, we are currently talking about what is the best way to have these
services for the entities and how to go about with payment. This technology is visionary and the
newest and greatest best thing for our kids to be learning.
2. We will be working on a video of the school board members speaking about the upcoming
school building project.
Sarah Kinkade, Chamber of Commerce Director
1. Chamber Banquet is March 16th. Free for Chamber Members, $10 for others. The Island Grove
Men’s Choir will be the entertainment.
2. Nominations for Citizen of the Year end March 9th. Contact the Chamber if you would like to
nominate someone.
3. The monthly Chamber meeting will be the second Monday of this month at Irene’s Vineyard at
6pm.
4. Jasper Together is going great. There is retention of numbers and people of all ages attending.
Comments from those attending the meeting.
Harris—Finance Committee:
• Discussed TIF agreement for Jasper County Community Unit #1 Schools for construction on the
high school and grade schools.
• Andy Johnson, Jason Kuhl and Beth Probst spoke on: Bonds they currently have, several
renovations and expansions the TIF would help finance.
They gave examples of money projected from the 1% tax and the amount needed to do the projects.
Governor Pritzker has announced there will be 50-50 grants (50% from the State and
50% from School District) available to school districts using the revenue from cannabis
sales.
• Creating a new class of liquor license for the new event center was discussed.
• There has been 2 quotes for new “Welcome to Newton” signs received. The City
Treasurer ask which budget line item is to be used to pay for them. Nothing was
decided at this time.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Harris, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Brown, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM.
Submitted by Rosetta M. York
