South Central Reporter

City of Assumption City Council met Nov. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Bromwell Lodge by Mayor Derek Page who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call was answered by Alderpersons Gary Nelsen, Kim Porter, Selena Reed, Kandy Smith, Travis Sullivan and Donny Walden. Also, present were Attorney Stephen Hedinger, Treasurer Angel Palmer and City Clerk Janet Waller.

Present in the audience were Engineer Ron Legner from Chastain’s & Associates, Marilyn Ashinhurst, Donna Ohl, Janis Herbord, Bill Herbord, Donnie Moore, Chuck Burton, Barbara Burton, Joyce Throneburg, Dan Davis, Julie Holthaus, Curt Corzine, Seath Hubbs and Engineer Mark Bingham from Bingham Professional Services.

Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve the minutes of October 2, 2024 City Council Meeting. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Reed, Porter and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

Approval of Bills:

Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Porter, made a motion to approve the payment of the bills as they appear on the Warrant Sheets. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Porter, Reed, Smith, Sullivan and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

Public Comments

A member of the public is concerned about the change allowing solar farms within a half mile of the City instead of the 1 1.2 miles and how it effects local farms.

The public inquired on payment of bills and an issue concerning their bill. Another member of the public commented on supporting local businesses. Communications from the Mayor:

Mayor Page thanked all the Veterans.

November 29 will be the Christmas lighting. Please note this will be on a Friday.

Issues at Lucky D’s, the grocery stores and Bond will need to be addressed in the near future after the house on Sarah Street.

Communications from the City Attorney:

Attorney Hedinger reviewed EPA Violations and noted the City has been put on a restricted status for a time period of 4 quarters.

US EPA is stepping in and taking review of local operational value notice and requiring additional testing by January.

The EPA was on site and did an inspection in October and no major deficiencies found but will need to address issues that were found.

There was an issue with the bidding for the Water Plant and 3 necessary words were left out that needed to be in compliance for the paperwork.

The mailings to an owner for a house on Sarah Street have returned. Attorney Hedinger will try to find another address.

Communications from the Treasurer:

Nothing to report.

Communications from the Alderpersons:

No comments.

Under New Business:

Engineer Ron Legner from Chastain & Associates gave an update. Pavement patching will be done and the Sewer Project is 66% complete.

Motion to approve invoice for Sewer:

Petersburg Pay Request $278,603.57 Chastain Invoice 6886-59 $8,781.49 Total $287,385.06

Council Member Smith, seconded by Walden, made a motion to approve the Petersburg Pay request for $278,603.57 and Chastain pay request for $8,781.49 for a total of $287,385.06. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Walden, Smith, Nelsen, Sullivan and Porter voting aye and 0 nays.

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Porter, made a motion to approve the Sewer project change order CO 5 for $10,534.03. Motion carried with Alderpersons Sullivan, Nelsen, Smith, Porter, Reed, and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

The Watermain Project is also doing pavement patching and is 70% complete. They are also capping some pipes that are being abandoned.

Motion to approve invoice for Watermain Project

Petersburg Pay Request $92,430.47 Chastain Invoice 7644.01-26 & 27 $8,770.38 Total $101,200.85

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve payment of a total of $101,200.85 for Petersburg Plumbing pay request of $92,430.47 and a Chastain invoice $8,770.38. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Walden, Sullivan, Reed, Nelsen and Porter voting aye and 0 nays.

The Lead Service Project is about 51% complete and all lead should be replaced by December 31, 2024.

Motion to approve invoice for Lead Service Line Replacement Project Petersburg Plumbing Disbursement $82,182.57

Council Member Reed, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to approve Petersburg Plumbing Disbursement for $82,182.57. Motion carried with Alderpersons Porter, Reed, Nelsen, Sullivan, Smith and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

The Christmas Lighting will be held on Friday, November 29, 2024. Chestnut Street will need to be closed for the evening for the lighting event. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to approve the closing of Chestnut Street for Friday evening, November 29, 2024 for the Christmas Lighting event. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Smith, Porter, Sullivan, Nelsen and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

The date for the Assumption Festival 2025 will be May 22 – May 24, 2025. The carnival will be returning from last year. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made the motion to approve the date of the Assumption Fest May 22-24, 2025. Motion carried with Alderpersons Sullivan, Nelsen, Smith, Porter, Reed and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

The Village of Moweaqua has approved the use of their Police Chief for interim Police Chief Services for 3 months while the police chief position is vacant. The cost is $1,000.00 and will be paid to the Village of Moweaqua. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Reed, made the motion to approve the Village of Moweaqua Police

Chief with a $1,000.00 to be paid to the Village of Moweaqua for 3 months during the police chief vacancy. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Reed, Porter, Sullivan, Smith and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

The preliminary ordinance on shipping containers was reviewed. The council discussed changing the wording to from Zoning Administrators to City. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to approve the change to the wording to City instead of Zoning Administrator for Ordinance 826. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Porter, Nelsen, Reed, Sullivan and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

After discussion on amending the Ordinance 826, the council agreed to approve the ordinance. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Walden, made a motion to approve the amended Ordinance 826. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Reed, Smith, Nelsen, Porter and Sullivan voting aye and 0 nays.

Mold was found on the ceiling inside City Hall due to the leaky old roof. The roof was replaced and Servpro was called to remedy the mold. The cost of Servpro was $1,000.00. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve payment of $1,000.00 to Servpro for mold removal. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Reed, Smith, Nelsen, Porter and Sullivan voting aye and 0 nays.

The cost to remove and replace the ceiling tiles at City Hall will be $1,600 plus the cost of the ceiling tiles. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Reed, made the motion to approve the replacement of the ceiling tiles $1,600 plus the cost of the ceiling tiles. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Porter and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

The matching grant for the tasers will need a payment of $9,411.60. The payment will be used from the ARPA funds. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve a payment of $9,411.60 from the ARPA fund for the tasers. Motion carried with Alderpersons Sullivan, Nelsen, Smith, Porter, Reed and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

A preliminary ordinance was presented for the continuance of a 1% sales tax. The 1% sales tax on groceries was discontinued by Governor Pritzker starting in January 2026. Each municipality could choose to continue the tax if they felt necessary. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made the motion to approve Ordinance 827 to continue the 1% sales tax on groceries. Motion carried with Alderpersons Sullivan, Nelsen, Smith, Porter, Reed and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

The yearly bill for insurance is due to the IMLRA. The cost of the yearly invoice is $50,450.92. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve the payment of $50,450.92 to the IMLRA. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Reed, Porter, Sullivan, Smith and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

The 2025 City Council Meetings will be held on the following dates: January 2, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5 and December 3. The meetings will be held at the Bromwell Lodge, 225 N Chestnut, Assumption, IL 62510. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to approve the 2025 City Council Meetings on January 2, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5 and December 3. Motion carried with Alderpersons Porter, Reed, Nelsen, Sullivan, Smith and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

Engineer Mark Bingham gave an update on the Baxmeyer Subdivision regarding the rock, leveling and seeding progress.

A pay request for Ballinger Concrete Construction for the Baxmeyer Subdivision is $46,509.40. Council Member Porter, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve $46,509.40 for Ballinger Concrete Construction for Baxmeyer Subdivision. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Smith, Porter, Sullivan, Nelsen and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

A pay request from Ballinger Concrete Construction for dirt work at the Baxmeyer Subdivision is $6,600.00. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Porter, made the motion to approve the payment of $6,600 for Ballinger Concrete Construction. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Reed, Smith, Nelsen, Porter and Sullivan voting aye and 0 nays.

An invoice from T&J Excavating for $4,320.00 for leveling rock at the Baxmeyer Subdivision was received. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made the motion to approve the invoice of $4,320.00 from T&J Excavating. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Porter, Nelsen, Reed, Sullivan and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

An invoice from T&J Excavating for $7,815.00 for seeding at the Baxmeyer Subdivision was received. The council discussed possibly holding the check until the straw was done. The weather has delayed the straw being spread. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve payment for $7,815.00 to T&J Excavating for leveling rock at the Baxmeyer Subdivision. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Smith, Walden, Porter, Reed and Sullivan voting aye and 0 nays.

Another invoice from T&J Excavating for $540.00 for some additional leveling of rock at the Baxmeyer Subdivision was received. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve payment of $540.00 to T&J Excavating for leveling rock. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Smith, Porter, Sullivan, Nelsen and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

The following invoices were received from Gaither Farms for rock hauling for the Baxmeyer Subdivision.

10/28/24 Invoice $369.53

10/29/24 Invoice $2,637.23

10/29/24 Invoice $3,378.60

10/29/24 Invoice $3,748.13

10/29/24 Invoice $3,375.75

10/29/24 Invoice $1,463.93

10/31/24 Invoice $650.25

Total $15,623.42

Council Member Reed, seconded by Council Member Walden, made the motion to approve the above listed invoices for Gaither Farms for rock hauling at the Baxmeyer Subdivision. Motion carried with Alderpersons Sullivan, Nelsen, Smith, Porter, Reed and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

Joyce Throneburg suggested possibly putting signs on the lots showing the size. The cost of signs would be approximately $600.00. Also advertising was discussed. More information will be at the Committee of the Whole Meeting November 19, 2024.

Mayor Page asked to go into Executive Session for Personnel 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1). Council Member Porter, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to go into Executive Session for Personnel at 8:23 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Reed, Porter, Smith, Sullivan and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to go back into regular session at 9:00 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Porter, Reed, Smith, Sullivan and Walden aye and 0 nays.

Audience members were invited back into the meeting at 9:00 pm.

Mayor Page introduced Seath Hubbs. Mayor Page would like to appoint Seath Hubbs as Acting Police Chief for $70,000 a year. If he does not accept the Police Chief position and wants to be only an officer his salary will be $65,000.00. Council Member Reed, seconded by Council Member, made a motion to hire Seath Hubbs as a Police Officer. He will be appointed as Acting Police Chief for $70,000.00 until he decides if he wants the Police Chief position or until we hire a Police Chief. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Reed, Porter and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

Public Comments:

A member of the public questioned what the original cost of the subdivision and the total cost now.

The public also commented on the ordinance for the sales tax of 1% and if it is going to benefit all of the citizens of Assumption. The $20,000.00 would mean a lot to our citizens that could give them some relief. It was questioned why not give the citizens some relief.

Another member of the audience thanked the City for the work done on the ditch.

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to adjourn at 9:03 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Porter, Reed, Smith, Sullivan and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to approve the minutes of November 6, 2024 City Council meeting at the December 4, 2024 City Council Meeting. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Smith, Reed, Porter and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

https://cityofassumption.org/documents/397/11-_November_2024.doc.pdf