City of Newton City Council met July 2.
Here is the agenda provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER: Mark Bolander, Mayor
Mayor Mark Bolander called the meeting to order.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Gayle Glumac.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Gayle Glumac.
3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta York, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown, Larry Brooks, Robert Reisner, Eric Blake and Marlene Harris
Absent: None
Also present: Attorney Max Tedford, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Clerk Rosetta York
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: 1. add Melissa Borgic #6; 2. Correct # 7F to $110,672.00.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Brown, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of June 18, 2019
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2019 regular meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Melissa Borgic
She spoke about the Corvette Funfest 2019-Fun Run Road Tour to Newton.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on ordering a new generator for City Hall.
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Glumac, to authorize ordering of a new generator for City Hall.
Ayes: Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on ordering a new phone system for City Hall.
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Harris, to authorize ordering of a new phone system for City Hall.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on renovation of City Hall in phases.
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Reisner, to authorize the full renovation of City Hall in phases and includes the new City Hall generator and phone system.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brooks, Reisner
Nays: Blake, Brown
D. Consider and act on a letter of support for the Embarras River Watershed Management Plan.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Brooks, to authorize the letter of support for the Embarras River Watershed Management Plan with a pledge of up to $1000.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brooks, Reisner, Blake
Nays: Brown
E. Consider and act on TIF Application from Mike Niemerg at 101 Sycamore St.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Brown, to authorize the payment of TIF Application from Mike Niemerg at 101 Sycamore St for $2,500.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
F. Consider and act on Partial Pay Estimate #1 Hanfland Painting Contractors, LLC for the south tower exterior painting for $116,500.00 110,672.00.
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Glumac, to authorize the payment of Partial Pay Estimate #1 Hanfland Painting Contractors, LLC for the south tower exterior painting for $110,672.00.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
8. NEW BUSINESS: NONE
A. ConsiderandactonauthorizingAmyJ.TarrtosignchecksintheabsenceofClerkRosettaYork.
Motion was made by Blake, seconded by Harris, to authorize Amy J. Tarr to sign checks in the absence of Clerk Rosetta York.
Ayes: Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:
Brooks Reported on Building and Grounds Committee Meeting June 27:
1. Discussed the TIF obligations and the estimated TIF income for 2019-20 to project money that would help with some of the city hall renovations.
2. Discussed the City’s legal debt limit of 5.6% in case the city had to borrow to renovate.
3. Discussed Cummins City Hall generator quote, $17,775. This does not include installation, concrete or housing for the generator.
4. Discussed quote for new City Hall phone system for $6,946.20. The current phone system is 40 years old. The phone hardware is not compatible with the new software.
5. Discussed the renovation of City Hall in phases.
6. Adjourned at 7:30 PM
Harris Reported on Finance Committee Meeting July 1:
1. Discuss TIF Applications: The Committee said Mike Niemerg’s TIF applications is ok to approve at council meetings. Warehouse Antique’s TIF reimbursement was $1832.50 (originally half) but has been lowered to $1207.50 (half of final amount).
2. Discuss the 2019-20 Appropriations.
3. Discuss the purchasing of banners for the 32 new street light poles. Price range was $25 to
$100. Mayor is going to contact suppliers about pricing and designs.
4. Adjourned at 5:48 PM
Harris Reported on JEDI Meeting July 2:
Amber Volk Minutes
1. New Jedi Member: Jasper County Daily News – Mindy Hartke
a. Prior a reporter with Gatehouse Media.
b. Began the Jasper County Daily News starting with a Facebook page. Within the first 24 hours there were 600 people who liked the page and 613 following it. Currently at 1,498 likes and 1,533 followers. We predict growth will pickup once school starts as the site attracts bother parents and students.
c. Website publishing began June 12th. A total of 9,818 visits in two weeks.
d. News items are published daily on the website. Obituaries will be posted on both the site and Facebook. Submissions can be done through Facebook, website, or by drop box at our home.
e. No subscription and is free to be accessed by anyone. Will begin to add advertisers to the site over the next month.
f. “I believe journalism, in general, has the power to bring people together. The written word can be powerful enough to shape the future and connect communities. To do this, the information has to be accurate, timely and as unbiased as possible. For a small-town paper to succeed there has to be a level of ownership by the community, just as the Marching Eagles are our band and the Eagles are our team, I hope this becomes something people refer to as “our paper”.”-Mindy Hartke
www.jcdailynews.com jcdailynews@gmail.com Jasper County Daily News/FB
Monthly Updates
a. Amber Volk, Executive Director
i. SCIRPDC New Hire: Derek Sherman has accepted the position and will start Aug. 1st.
ii. Jasper County Hazard Mitigation Plan Grant.
1. We have received the grant. Due to a clerical error, everyone who applied for the grant was accepted. We will receive the money from the grant.
iii. Still waiting to hear from the Yager’s if Newton will be the site of the Corvette Funrun. Since the meeting, we have received word Newton will be the site for the Corvette Funrun in September.
b. Mark Bolander, Mayor of Newton
i. The North Arrow Senior Apartment Complex will be a $4 million project.
ii. The fair was excellent except for one rainy night.
iii. Saturday Elite Fitness had an event on the square.
iv. All proceeds from Peterson Park on June 29th went to the river walk. Around $1,500 was earned.
v. After working 57 years at Louis Ochs (also before it was Louis Ochs) Louis has sold.
c. Ron Heltsley, Jasper County Board Chairman
i. Thank you, Louis, for all of your years.
ii. The Electronics Drive was way down compared to previous times. Only 1 semi load. There are currently 2 more events scheduled.
iii. Next county board meeting is July 11th at 7pm.
3. Comments from those attending the meeting.
a. Jason Warfel: The Elite Fitness Competition: Patriot Games 2019 was held on June 29th on the North Side of the Square. 18 teams competed. Hopefully this will become an annual event.
b. Doug Weddell: Jeep Run is July 27th. 10am registration and leave at noon to tour around Jasper County. Cruise Night is August 2nd.
i. Sarah Kinkade is the new Chamber Director. She will be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-3pn and some Wednesdays.
ii. The Johnny & June’s Ned Ledoux Concert went well. 500 tickets sold.
c. Mike Hall: Currently not many Federal Grants but will start up in the fall.
i. Delta Workforce Grant Program.
ii. New Capital Bill based on gas tax. The Highway fund will be spent in our area.
iii. We are currently fully staffed and I am no the Outreach Coordinator.
iv. During the August break, we will be in district for a month.
10. STATEMENTS:
Council Members
Glumac: No comment
Brown: There will be a Park and Cemetery Committee Meeting July 15, 2019 at 5:30 at the Ives Mausoleum located in Riverside Cemetery next to Peterson Park. The tennis courts are done.
Brooks: The 2019 Corvette Fun Fest sounds like it will be fun.
Reisner: No comment
Blake: Read the Jasper County Animal Report
Harris: She had received a complaint about street parking on the 100 block on N. Lafayette. On 3rd St. north of Marion St. the rains have washed the gravel into the ditches.
City Attorney: No comment
City Treasurer: Not present
City Clerk: No comment
Mayor: If the Corvette Funfest 2019-Fun Run Road Tour to Newton does happen, a great number of volunteers will be needed. Please volunteer to help make this a special event opportunity for our community.
11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: July 16, 2019 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
Park and Cemetery Committee, July 15, 2019 at 5:30 PM at the Ives Mausoleum in Riverside Cemetery.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation, 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: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 6:44 PM.
Motion was made by Blake, seconded by Glumac, to go out of closed session and back into open session.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 7:21 PM.
Mayor Bolander announced that during closed session the council discussed Litigation, potential litigation, personnel and sale of real estate.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Brooks, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM.
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