UNOFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE NEWTON CITY COUNCIL
1. CALL TO ORDER: Mark Bolander, Mayor
Mayor Mark Bolander called the meeting to order.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman David Brown.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman David Brown.
3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta York, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown, Larry Brooks, Robert Riesner, Eric
Blake (arrived at 6:14 PM) and Marlene Harris
Also present: Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Clerk Rosetta York
Absent: Attorney William Heap
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Add Andre and Debra Leachman and add Sarah Kinkade to
#6, delete #7C and #8B
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of September 15, 2020.
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Glumac, to approve the minutes of the
September 15, 2020 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Newton Water Department, Sarah Kinkade and
Andre/Debra Leachman
Newton Water Department:
Sarah Kinkade: The JC Chamber is going to have the “Scare on the Square” on October
24, 2020 between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. They would like W. Washington St. from S. Van
Buren to S. Jackson St. closed at 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM to allow set up and tear down of
events.
Eric Blake arrived 6:14 PM.
Andre and Debra Leachman are wanting to begin the Christmas lights and displays this
year. It was decided to call a joint Committee meeting of Electric, Park and ERTC next
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 6:00 PM.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on approving the 2019/2020 fiscal year audit.
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Harris, to approve and accept the
2019/2020 fiscal year audit.
Ayes: Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on approving the 2019/2020 TIF fiscal year audit.
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Harris, to approve and accept the
2019/2020 TIF fiscal year audit.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on Five Aprils Lottery results and contracts.
D. Consider and act on bids received for the “SBLHS Sewer Main Relocation” project.
Bid tally:
Maulding Excavating: $30,781.10
Kieffer Construction: $46,284.00
Dashiell Contracting $47,691.60
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to award and authorize the
bid to Maulding Excavating for the “SBLHS Sewer Main Relocation” project for
the City of Newton at a cost of $30,781.10.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner
Nays: None
8. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on approving Halloween Trick or Treat Night for October 30, 2020
between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, with a bad weather date of October 31, 2020. (Please
follow IDPH guidelines for COVID-19 Halloween festivities. If there are questions call
783-4436)
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Harris, to approve and authorize
Halloween Trick or Treat Night for October 30, 2020 between 5:00 PM and 7:00
PM, with a bad weather date of October 31, 2020. (Please follow IDPH guidelines
for COVID-19 Halloween festivities. If there are questions call 783-4436)
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on Amber Volk to attend the virtual NREDA (National Rural
Economic Development Association) Conference November 4-6, 2020 for a
$300.00 fee.
C. Consider and act on Real Estate Purchase Contract with the Estate of Anthony F.
Griffith to purchase Lot 21 in Five April Crossing Subdivision at a total of $5,000.
Motion was made by Riesner, seconded by Brown, to authorize Real Estate
Purchase Contract with the Estate of Anthony F. Griffith to purchase Lot 21 in
Five April Crossing Subdivision at a total of $5,000.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Harris
Nays: Blake
D. Consider and act on closing W. Washington St. from S. Van Buren St to S. Jackson St.
for the Chamber’s “Scare on the Square” event.
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to authorize the closing W.
Washington St. from S. Van Buren St. to S. Jackson St. between 12 noon and 5:00
PM for the Chamber’s “Scare on the Square” event Saturday, October 24, 2020
starting at 2:00 PM and ending at 4:00 PM.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: Finance Committee
October 5, 2020 and JEDI October 2, 2020
Harris-Finance:
• Anne Marie Hopkins from Kemper’s CPA addressed the council and went over the fiscal year and
TIF audits for 2019-20.
• Discussed salaries of elected and zoning members. It will be brought up on the Oct 20th agenda.
• Melissa Brooks addressed other matters on bills that needed paid before the approval of prepaids
are approved. Adjourned at 6:45
Harris-JEDI:
1. Monthly Updates
a. Amber Volk, Executive Director
i. Website update: The JEDI website is now complete. It will be live this week.
1. Job Listing: there is now an option to have JC businesses add their job listings. Click
HERE to go to the Google Form to add your listing.
ii. ITIA Conference update: attended the ITIA virtual conference. There is a possibility of more
virtual conferences in the future.
iii. Rotary $750 grant winners: Wad It Up Transport, Mirror Magic, Secondhand Dans, MBT’s This
N That Shop.
1. Question asked by Amber Volk: Would JEDI like to contribute a matching grant for
this Friday’s porkburger sales like Peoples State Bank did a previous week?
2. Treasurers report presented by Brett Lessley.
3. Motion to provide an up to $1,000 matching grant to the Newton Rotary group for
the October 9th, 2020 porkburger sales made by Louis Ochs, second by Andy
Johnson. Motion passed.
b. Mark Bolander, Mayor of Newton
i. Senior Apartments are moving forward. They will be building the Robinson Senior Apartments
at the same time.
ii. New Sarah Busch Lincoln Clinic had issues with the storm main and sewer main. This will be
fixed and the project is moving forward.
iii. The River Walk won’t get started until Spring at the earliest.
iv. The City has received the First National Bank of Olney’s building plans.
v. GSI looks like they will be starting their outside work.
vi. No takers for the Five Aprils Subdivision free lots. A $30,000 value. Could possibly be due to
cost of building materials.
c. Ron Heltsley, Jasper County Board Chairman
i. Next County Board meeting is October 15th at 7pm. Will be finalizing budget and receiving jail
project update.
ii. Vote early at the County Clerk Office.
iii. Due to updated ADA laws, there is currently work being done to sidewalks around the Court
House.
d. Andy Johnson, Superintendent of Jasper County Unit #1.
i. 6-7 weeks into the school year. 10% of students are remote learning. 40 students on
quarantine and temporarily remote learning. We are having a problem with remote students
completing their work.
ii. Looking to purchase property to expand with the 1% tax. Our goal is to get all kids in one town.
We received $500,000 for the 1st year. The projected amount was $800,000.
e. Sarah Kinkade, Chamber of Commerce Director
i. No Fall Festival this year but already planning for 2021.
ii. Scare on the Square is approved and will be on October 24th from 2-4pm. Contact the Chamber
by Oct. 16th if you are a business wanting to reserve a spot to participate.
iii. Shoptober is underway. Spend $50 at JC businesses, give the Chamber receipts and get
entered for a chance to win Chamber Bucks. Flyer with more information attached to email.
f. Amber Wakefield, Marketing Director
i. Enews is going well. Have 90 new signups.
ii. Jeep Run this past Saturday made $570 towards the marketing fund.
2. Comments from those attending the meeting.
a. Doug Weddell: West End Receptions and Events outside is 95% complete. Will be starting drywall
soon. December 1st is the projected completion date.
10. STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: No comment
Brown: No comment
Brooks: Congratulations to Water Department
Reisner: There is a 2 feet in diameter concrete storm water line which has failed and must be
replaced before the SBLHS project can continue. It drains Route 33. A consensus by the
council was given to do the replacement. It will be formally authorized at the next meeting.
Maulding Excavating is on site. Their quote is $44,447.50.
Blake: No comment
Harris: The courthouse sidewalks look nice.
City Treasurer: No comment
City Clerk: No comment
Mayor: The “Welcome to Newton” signs are partially complete. The vinyl is on two of them.
Looks good.
11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Insurance 10-13 at 5:30, Water 10-14 at 5:30,
Electric, Park and ERTC 10-14 AT 6:00 and EMA 10-15 at 6:00.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation, sale of real estate and purchase 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, sale of real estate and purchase
of real estate pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to
those areas of discussion.
Ayes: Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 7:02 PM
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to go out of closed session and
back into open session.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 7:20 PM.
Mayor Bolander announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation,
potential litigation, sale of real estate and purchase of real estate.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:29 PM.
Submitted by Rosetta M. York
