South Central Reporter

City of Staunton City Council met Sept. 28.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 28, 2020

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Mayor Craig Neuhaus led the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.

III. ROLL CALL:

Prior to roll call being taken, City Clerk Stiegemeier announced that tonight’s City Council Meeting was being conducted remotely and was being recorded due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

City Clerk Stiegemeier called roll with the following persons:

ATTENDING: Aldermen Maria Bodner, Rick Johnson, Randy Hanks, Ryan Machota, Chad Plenske, John Moore, Jeff, Scanzoni, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading, Police Chief Jeff Doerr and Public Works Director Mike Kuethe.

ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE: Alderman Brooke Wallace.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Bodner moved, seconded by Johnson to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:

Minutes

Regular Meeting – 09/14/2020

Executive Session – 09/14/2020

Collector’s Report

Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$600.00

Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$10.00

Staunton Area Ambulance Service (September Dispatching)--$500.00

Bank of Hillsboro (Scoreboard at Soccer Field)--$8,282.75

Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$21,798.34

MJM Electric Cooperative (Utility Tax)--$281.53

State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$9,452.17

State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$387.53

State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$5,905.48

State of Illinois (Use Tax)--$19,314.82

State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$39,479.26

Applications

None

Claims

September 28 , 2020

Business Licenses Issued

Staunton Sportsman Club (Raffle License)

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner.

NAYS: None.

ABSENT: None.

Motion declared carried.

V. GUESTS

Jack Pritchett was attending to present his Eagle Scout Project to the City Council. His plan is to do a World War I and World War II Memorial and Historic Canon Site Restoration at the City Hall property. Jack will be mounting plaques on the wall of the City Hall building, installing a concrete walkway to view the plaque and canon,do some repairs to the canon and add a historical marker, and landscape the entire area, which will include some solar lighting and new pavers. He is expecting the cost of the project to be between $500.00 and $1,000.00. Due to the current pandemic, he is not planning to ask any businesses for donations. He is hoping to seek private donations, and if need be, he will host some fund raising events. His target completion date is May 31, 2021. The Council agreed to allow Mr. Pritchett to proceed with his project. A copy of Jack’s handout will be included with the meeting minutes.

Ron Turnbough, Brian Rigsby and Randy Porter addressed the Council regarding their concerns with the re-zoning of the North Street property from residential to commercial, to accommodate the request from Bank of Hillsboro. The bank is planning to use this particular parcel to put in a parking lot and put up a fence. The neighbors expressed concerns with increased traffic on North Street, stating that there are several children in the neighborhood, and this was of concern to them. Mr. Turnbough asked if a plan had been presented for the proposal. Misty Borrowman, CEO of the Bank of Hillsboro, was present and stated that the plan was presented at the Public Zoning Hearing on September 10th. Ms. Borrowman stated that they are presently under contract with both the North Street property and the Main Street property, which is right next to their current temporary location. She stated that the North Street property will be strictly used for an overflow parking lot, and would be available for use by the City as well. The lot will be lighted, however, the lots will be mounted at the top of the fence and will shine into the parking lot, not on neighboring properties. She did state that their original plan was to build out east of town near the Caldieraro Dental building, however, several of their customers have asked that they build downtown, as this would be much more convenient to access the bank. Ms. Borrowman stated that the bank is making a $1.5 million dollar investment in the project. Concerns were expressed regarding some drainage issues on the North Street side of the project, and she assured everyone that they have hired an engineering firm, as the bank is already aware of the drainage issues in the area.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE

Received a letter from Ron and Lisa Turnbough, expressing their concerns with the proposed re-zoning of property on East North Street. They are asking that the property not be re-zoned. A copy of the Turnbough’s letter is attached to the agenda packet.

VII. TREASURER’S REPORT

Nothing to report.

VIII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT

Petitions packets can now be picked up at the City Clerk’s Office for the upcoming Consolidated Election, which will be held on April 6, 2021. Petition circulation began on September 22nd and the filing dates will be from December 14th through December 21st.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY - Nothing to report.

PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT – Motion by Scanzoni, seconded by Moore to pay Invoice #266075 to Robert Sanders Waste System for dumpster service used to demolish buildings at 801 E. Mill Street in the amount of $4,150.00. This was approved for $4,000.00 at the July 27, 2020 City Council Meeting, but due to overage in weight, the amount was exceeded (to be paid from line item #35.61.916.0). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

FINANCE– Nothing to report.

WATER- Nothing to report.

STREET / SEWER

Nothing to report.

PUBLIC GROUNDS- Motion by Machota, seconded by Scanzoni to approve request from Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan, allowing a pop up tent to be set up at the Ralph & Josephine Oltmann Community Center parking lot on Sunday, October 25th, 2020 from 3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. for people to drop off their vote by mail ballots. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

TOURISM – Nothing to report.

PERSONNEL – Nothing to report.

ANNEXATION – Nothing to report.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES – Nothing to report.

JUDICIARY— Ordinance #2082 Annexing Certain Territory To The City Of Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois Illinois Department Of Natural Resources Staunton, IL 62088 PIN #01-000-374-01 was skipped over and no action will be taken regarding this Ordinance 1st reading of Ordinance #2083 Approving An Annexation And Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement Between The City Of Staunton, Illinois And The Illinois Department Of Natural Resources Motion by Bodner, seconded by Plenske to approve Ordinance #2084 Approving A Charity Roadblock By The Staunton Knights Of Columbus To Conduct Their Annual Tootsie Roll Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union (October 3, 2020 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2085 Adopting Recommendations And Findings Of Fact Of The Zoning Hearing Officer And Granting A Special Use Permit For Property Located At 2666 Rock Crusher Road, Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2086 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 528 East Mill Street, Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Johnson to approve Ordinance #2087 An Ordinance To Install Stop Signs On East Henry Street And East Mill Street At Their Intersection With South Irene Street. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Moore to approve of Ordinance #2088 Amending Chapter 33, Article II Of The City Code Adding Regulations Regarding Grass Mowing Between Property Lines And Adjoining Street Surfaces Within The City. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Johnson, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: Wallace, Hanks. Absent: None. Motion carried 6 Ayes; 2 Nayes.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Plenske to approve Ordinance #2089 Approving A Charity Roadblock By Elbon Shrine Club To Conduct Their Newspaper Drive At The Intersection Of Main And Route 4 And Main And Union. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

1st reading of Ordinance #2090 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 425 West 6th Street, Staunton, Illinois

1st reading of Ordinance #2091 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 800 College Street, Staunton, Illinois

1st reading of Ordinance #2092 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 310 East North Street, Staunton, Illinois

1st reading of Ordinance #2093 Denying A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 1390 South Hackman Street, Staunton, Illinois Motion by Bodner, seconded by Hanks to approve Resolution #2020-35 Declaring Trick-Or-Treat Days And Hours In Staunton, Illinois. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Bodner, seconded by Plenske to approve Resolution #2020-36 Re-Appointing Morrie Fraser To The Staunton Board Of Police Commissioners (2 year term). At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner, Wallace, Johnson. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS— Alderman Johnson reported that the microphones he ordered for recording the City Council meeetings are still on backorder. He has possibly found another company that may be able to fill the order.

XI. NEW BUSINESS- Nothing to report.

XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION— Motion by Johnson seconded by Bodner to go into Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1) – Personnel Issue at 7:32 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Bodner, Wallace, Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

Motion by Hanks, seconded by Bodner to return to regular order of business at 7:54 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

XIII. MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION – No motions were made from Executive Session.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Plenske seconded by Councilmember Hanks to adjourn at 7:55 P.M. At Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Johnson, Hanks, Machota, Plenske, Moore, Scanzoni, Bodner. Nayes: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.

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