City of Newton City Council met Oct. 15.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER: Mark Bolander, Mayor
Mayor Mark Bolander called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM.
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:
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to adopt the amended/proposed agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of October 1, 2019:
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Brown, to approve the minutes of the October 1, 2019 meeting of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
6. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Alderman Harris reviewed the pre-paids in the amount of $290,699.77 and the bills and accounts payable earlier today and make a motion to approve the pre-paids and authorize payment of the bills and accounts payable in the amount of $112,110.57. Brooks seconded the motion.
Ayes: Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: None
8. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Consider and act on approving the 2018/2019 fiscal year audit.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Brooks, to approve and accept the 2018/2019 fiscal year audit.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
b. Consider and act on approving the 2018/2019 TIF fiscal year audit.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Brooks, to approve and accept the 2018/2019 TIF fiscal year audit.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner
Nays: None
c. Consider and act on a donation to INRR Santa Train of $250 for coats, hats and gloves.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to authorize a donation to INRR Santa Train of $250 for coats, hats and gloves.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
d. Consider and act on quote for computers and software upgrade for Treasurer’s office from Kemper Technology at $7994.96. (The amount is not known at the agenda’s posting. The quote will be discussed at the Finance Committee Meeting 10-15 at 5:15 PM)
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Brooks, to authorize payment for computers and software upgrade for Treasurer’s office from Kemper Technology at $7994.96.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
9. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Consider and act on Special Event Application for Jasper County Chamber of
Commerce Scare on the Square, October 12, 2019 at 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to approve Special Event Application for Jasper County Chamber of Commerce Scare on the Square, October 12, 2019 at 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
b. Consider and act on Special Event Application Wade Fire District Open House/Fire Prevention on October 12, 2019 between 10 AM and 2 PM.
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Reisner, to approve Special Event Application Wade Fire District Open House/Fire Prevention on October 12, 2019 between 10 AM and 2 PM.
Ayes: Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown
Nays: None
c. Consider and act on Amber Volk attending training at 2019 NREDA (National Rural Economic Developers Association) Annual Conference, hotel and registration fees are $1,353.68 plus other allowable fees on November 6-8, 2019.
Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Harris, to authorize Amber Volk attending training at 2019 NREDA (National Rural Economic Developers Association) Annual Conference, hotel and registration fees are $1,353.68 plus other allowable fees on November 6-8, 2019.
Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks
Nays: None
d. Consider and act on Dumpster Reimbursement application for $1,029.20 for the demolition of a garage at 409 Sycamore St owned by Fred Bergbower.
Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Brown, to authorize Dumpster Reimbursement application for $1,029.20 for the demolition of a garage at 409 Sycamore St owned by Fred Bergbower.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner
Nays: None
e. Consider and act on Dumpster Reimbursement application for $787.00 for the demolition of a garage at 106 Wilson St owned by Marc Shamhart.
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Glumac, to authorize Dumpster Reimbursement application for $787.00 for the demolition of a garage at 106 Wilson St owned by Marc Shamhart.
Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake
Nays: None
f. Consider and act on accepting Alec Westrich’s resignation.
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Reisner, to accept Alec Westrich’s resignation effective October 11, 2019.
Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris
Nays: None
g. Consider and act on advertising for full-time and part-time police officers with certification preferred.
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Glumac, to approve advertising for full- time and part-time police officers with certification preferred.
Ayes: Brown, Brooks, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac
Nays: None
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: Personnel 10-08-19, Finance Committee 10-15-19 and EMA 10-10-19
Brooks, Personnel--- All Department Heads discussed their ongoing work. They all said how great everybody works together among departments. Police Department is working on a couple of grants for the satellite radios. The Council and Mayor thanked all the department heads for saving the city money and being so cooperative with everyone. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM Brown, EMA---Brown, EMA--- Ed Francis discussed EMA's involvement in Corvette Funfest that came to Newton. He He stated there were about 44 volunteers that helped out. Approximately 400-500 Corvettes were in town. EMA has helped in a couple of searches lately. One of them was the missing person at Martinsville. Doug Long reportedt hat there have been five Air Evac assists since our last meeting. Edand Doug attended the IEMA conference in Springfield the first week in September. Next scheduled meeting will be January 9th,6:00 pm at the County Building. Meeting adjourned 6:35pm.
Harris, Finance--- Ann Marie Hopkins, from Kemper CPA Group LLP, discussed the 2018-19 audits. They were clean, unmodified option and within the debt limit. Discuss the computer upgrades, software updates, the quotes. Kemper’s was $7994.96. Civics’ quote was over $40,000 without the hardware. The City Treasurer is going to check into a server for their department or see if the clerk’s server could be shared. Adjourned 6:02 pm.
11. STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: No Comment
Brown: He wish Alec Westrich well in his new position. The miniature golf has had the new carpet installed.
Brooks: He wish Alec Westrich well in his new position. The people who did Homecoming Parade did a good job.
Reisner: Street Department has sealed the Streetscape brick sidewalk. It looks good. Blake: No comment
Harris: Gave the Payment and Billing Adjustment Report to the Council.
City Attorney: No comment
City Treasurer: No comment
City Clerk: I will email Republic Services again about their Fall trash pick-up for everyone within the city limits even if they do not have an account with Republic Services.
Mayor:
• The auditors recommendations from 2017 audit were corrected mid fiscal year so they are still on 2018 audit, but they have been corrected. The City is operating in the black. The auditors issued an unmodified opinion which means an opinion where auditor expresses an opinion that financial statements are presented, in all material respects, in accordance with applicable financial reporting framework. Electric and Water Departments are both operating with a 7.6 % loss, which means 7.6 % is not billed and collected. Example are streetlights, flushing fire hydrants, water main leaks, Christmas lights, Fire Protection, etc. It was a clean audit which indicates the auditor's belief that the entity's financial statements fairly present its financial results, financial position, and cash flows.
• The Chamber’s “Scare on Square” was excellent.
• Eagle Pride appreciation dinner for supporters is October 24th at 5:15 PM. The Council is invited.
• The net metering code for solar panels needs updated. There will be an Electric Committee to discuss this topic.
• Mike Shaw, from SCIP&DC, would like for Newton to pass a Resolution against fraud, waste and abuse policy. At this time it is not required for grant applications but it might be soon.
12. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: November 5, 2019 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Public Hearing/EMA October 22, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the Newton High School Auditorium
13. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation and sale of real estate
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Harris, to go out of open session and into closed session to discuss litigation, potential litigation and sale 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 6:31 PM.
Motion was made by Harris, 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 6:50 PM.
Mayor Bolander announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation, potential litigation and sale of real estate.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Harris, to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Brooks, Reisner
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM.
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