City of Newton City Council met March 17

By East Central Reporter Reports

May 5, 2020

City of Newton City Council met March 17.

Here is the minutes 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 Marleen Harris.

Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Marleen Harris.

3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta York, City Clerk

Physically present: Gayle Glumac, David Brown, Robert Reisner, Eric Blake and Marlene Harris

Absent: Larry Brooks

Also present: Attorney William Heap, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Clerk Rosetta York

4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Add Verbal Blakey from BHMG to #6 Public Comments and delete motion 9a.

Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Glumac, to adopt the amended agenda. Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris

Nays: None

5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of March 3, 2020:

Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Reisner, to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2020 meeting of the Newton City Council.

Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac

Nays: None

6. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Alderman Harris reviewed the pre-paids in the amount of $143,032.86 and the bills and accounts payable earlier today and made a motion to approve the pre-paids and authorize payment of the bills and accounts payable in the amount of $167,846.17. Glumac seconded the motion.

Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown Nays: None

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Verbal Blakey, BHMG PE (electric consultants)

Verbal Blakey: She discussed that she talked about the two ordinances at the Electric Committee Meeting which are on the tonight’s agenda. (See Electric Committee Meeting minutes.) BHMG has worked with the City of Newton Electric Department for many years. In this period the Electric Department has been doing maintenance upgrades to the system which has improved their reliability. We have had on going discussions with Ameren about system reliablity as a whole. We are working on a 5 year plan to get the City’s system to a point where it is just maintenance and extensions for growth. Things are going really well.

8. OLD BUSINESS:

a. Consider and act on Dues and Donation

distribution of funds.

Motion was made by Blake, seconded by Brown, to authorize payment of Dues and Donation distribution of funds. Ayes: Blake, Brown, Reisner, Mayor Bolander

Nays: None

Abstain: Harris, Glumac

b. Consider and act on the solid waste

hauling franchise proposal selected

by the EMA, Health and Sanitation Committee. (See Committee Meeting minutes in item # 10 in these City Council minutes.)

Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Harris, to authorize Republic Service to have the solid waste hauling franchise contract in the City of Newton for five (5) years.

Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake

Nays: None

Agenda items 8c and 8d are revenue neutral rate shifts on utility bills of $.02 from one line item (PCA base) to another line item (kWh rates). This will not cause an increase on the utility bill, rather a $.02 per kWh shift from PCA TO EL.

An Example of a revenue neutral utility bill:

c. Consider and act on 20-05 City Ordinance - Amend Chapter 11 -1-1 Electric rate.

Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to pass 20-05 City Ordinance - Amend Chapter 11 -1-1 Electric rate.

Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris

Nays: None

d. Consider and act on 20-06 City Ordinance - Amend Chapter 11 -2-1 Para. A-2 - incentive on rates.

Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to pass 20-06 City Ordinance - Amend Chapter 11 -2-1 Paragraph A-2 - incentive on rates.

Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac

Nays: None

e. Consider and act on Department Heads’ wage increase of $.85/hour effective May 1, 2020.

Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Blake, to authorize Department Heads’ wage increase of $.85/hour effective May 1, 2020.

Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown

Nays: None

f. Consider and act on part-time employees’ wage increase of $.50/hour effective May 1, 2020.

Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to authorize part-time employees’ wage increase of $.50/hour effective May 1, 2020.

Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner

Nays: None

g. Consider and act on part-time police employees’ wage increase of $2.00/hour and Ron Heltsley a wage increase of $1.98/hour.

Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Glumac, to authorize part-time police employees’ wage increase of $2.00/hour and Ron Heltsley a wage increase of $1.98/hour effective May 1, 2020

Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake

Nays: None

9. NEW BUSINESS:

a. Consider and act on authorizing the use of a deposit from a finalized utility account to pay on that customer’s debt to the City of Newton.

Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, authorizing the use of a deposit from a finalized utility account to pay on that customer’s debt to the City of Newton.

Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris

Nays: None

b. Consider and act on the Electric Department’s Revised 5 Year Plan. Deleted in item #4.

c. Consider and act on authorizing one Newton Police employee to attend Police Decoy Training Camp March 30-April 1, 2020 at a $500 fee plus allowable expense.

Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Reisner, to authorize one Newton Police employee to attend Police Decoy Training Camp March 30-April 1, 2020 at a $500 fee plus allowable expense.

Ayes: Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac

Nays: None

10. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: Dues and Donations Committee March 16, 2020, EMA, Health and Sanitation Committee March 17, 2020 and Electric Committee March 17, 2020

Blake – Dues and Donations Committee March 16, 2020:

Discuss the 2020 applications for Dues and Donations. Meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM.

Brown-- EMA, Health and Sanitation Committee March 17, 2020:

Sealed sanitation proposals were opened at 4:00 PM in the City Council Room.

1. Republic Services proposal:

Residential Rate - Year 1 $12.75/mo

Year 2 $13.13/mo

Year 3 $13.53/mo

Year 4 $13.93/mo

Year 5 $14.35/mo

Additional Carts Year 1 $5.00/mo

Year 2 $5.15/mo

Year 3 $5.30/mo

Year 4 $5.46/mo

Year 5 $5.63/mo

96 gallon Tote Year 1 $16.14/month

Commercial Rate, Year 1 2 yd $38.96/mo (based on 1 pickup per week)

4 yd $57.03/mo

6 yd $77.88/mo

8 yd $97.33/mo

Residential pickup will be on Fridays. Commercial pickup varies. Equipment was listed. Proof of

Insurance was enclosed in their proposal.

2. Sanitation Service proposal (beginning July 1, 2020):

Residential Rate - Year 1 $16.00/mo

Year 2 $16.00/mo

Year 3 $16.25/mo

Year 4 $16.25/mo

Year 5 $16.50/mo

96 gallon Tote Year 1 $20.00/mo

Year 2 $20.00/mo

Year 3 $20.25/mo

Year 4 $20.25/mo

Year 5 $20.50/mo

Commercial Rate, Year 1 2 yd $40.00/mo (based on 1 pickup per week)

4 yd $80.00/mo

6 yd $120.00/mo

8 yd $159.00/mo

The committee unanimously agreed to accept Republic’s proposal as it was lowest and met all requirements. The new rates will go into effect April 1, 2020.

The meeting adjourned at 4:18 PM.

Glumac-- Electric Committee March 17, 2020:

• Verbal Blakey, from BHMG, discussed that the annual average PCA rate on the utility bills has increased to nearly 2 cents per kilowatt. Because of the volatility of wholesale power, PCA is used to pay the fluctuation in wholesale cost. It is the common practice with utility companies, when the PCA rate average is over.01, to move the PCA rate to the base rates. That is the purpose of the two ordinances. The customer will be charged in the EL line rather than the PCA line on the bills. It is revenue neutral. No increase in bills.

• BHMG and Electric Department are working on 5 year plan.

• They need a new digger derrick truck maybe half this year and half next. Total cost is $250,000.

• Pole change outs and circuit work needs done.

• Switching from AMR to AMI metering system. AMI has remote disconnect and reconnect. The data usage will be collected.

• After this 5 year plan is completed, the system should be upgraded.

Then it would be just maintenance and growth work.

• They are meeting with Ameren annually.

• The auditor recommended the use of a customer’s unclaimed deposit to pay a bill that customer

had with city for material sales. Meeting adjourned at 5:50 PM.

11. STATEMENTS:

Council Members:

Harris: She presented the Payment and Billing Adjustment Report to the Council. Blake: There is a Negotiation Meeting Monday, March 23, 2020 at 6:00 PM Reisner: Republic Services has done a great job with the solid waste hauling. Brown: No comment

Glumac: No comment

City Attorney: No comment

City Treasurer: 3 Appropriation Changes

Motion was made by Reisner, seconded by Blake, to make the three (3) following appropriation changes:

1. General Fund Street Department, to move $1,000 from Contingency Fund to Building Repair 2. General Fund Police, to move $1,000 from Contingency Fund to Computer Maintenance

3. Wastewater Department, to move $1,500 from Contingency Fund to Tool Purchase.

Ayes: Reisner, Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown

Nays: None

City Clerk: No comment Mayor:

• “Leachman Lights in the Park” (The flier posted in many public places) is asking for any interested businesses, churches, families, groups, etc. who would like to sponsor a lighted display to be in Peterson Park for the Christmas season 2020.

• The Jasper Co. Heath Dept., the City, the County and the School have been meeting regularly about the coronavirus plans coming from the State and how to implement here. Deb Riddle has done a great job coordinating all of it.

• Last August the Council authorized $2,000 to trap feral cats. Only $525.40 has been used. The Mayor would like to reimburse Angie Martin and friends for the expenses to trap, neuter, vaccinate and release, because she has purchased traps and is doing the trapping. There is $1,474.60 that could be used to help them.

12. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: April 7, 2020 at 6:00 PM

SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Negotiation Committee Meeting at 6:00 PM Monday, March 23, 2020

13. 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 and sale of real estate pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those areas of discussion.

Ayes: Blake, Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner

Nays: None

Open session suspended at 6:30 PM

Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Harris, to go out of closed session and back into open session.

Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake

Nays: None

Open session resumed at 6:44 PM.

Mayor Bolander announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation, potential litigation and sale of real estate

Mike Weber is working on addressing the concerns about the possible TIF agreement for JCCU# 1.

14. ADJOURNMENT

Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Reisner, to adjourn the meeting.

Ayes: Glumac, Brown, Reisner, Blake, Harris