City of Newton City Council met Sept. 6.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER: Joshua J. Kuhl, Mayor
Mayor Joshua J. Kuhl called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman RJ Lindeman.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman RJ Lindeman.
3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta York, City Clerk
Physically present: Gayle Glumac, Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann and Eric Blake Also present: Attorney William Heap, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and Clerk Rosetta York
Not Present: David Brown and Marlene Harris
4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA: Add Cindy Rife to # 6 and Lanette Huddleston Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Brooks, to adopt the amended agenda.
Ayes: Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
5. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES of August 16, 2022. Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Blake, to approve the minutes of the August 16, 2022, of the Newton City Council.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Glumac
Nays: None
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Kenneth and Elisabeth Belcher, Cindy Rife, Lanette Huddleston and Sara Kinkade
Kenneth and Elisabeth Belcher: Elisabeth Belcher had analyzed the historical TIF reimbursement data to find that the new 15% TIF reimbursement policy would have negatively affected about 80% of the historic TIF reimbursements. She asked how that is helping small business. Forty minutes of debate later, it was decided to call a Finance Committee Meeting to review the New 15% reimbursement TIF Policy. Cindy Rife: There is still excessive high-speed traffic on Martin St. which is a big safety issue.
Mayor: He would discuss it with Chief Britton. The City would check on digital speed signs.
Lanette Huddleston: Asked if the City required any permits or licenses to start a business on west side of the Square.
Mayor: It depends on the type of business, but for the one she is thinking about there are none.
Sarah Kinkade: Thanked the City for all there help and cooperation with the Fall Festival.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: Lindemann: Finance/Audit Committee Meeting Tuesday, August 29, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Present: Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann, Melissa Brooks, Josh Kuhl, Gayle Glumac, Marlene Harris, Tyler Weber, Brenda Phillips and Brian Bradbury
Meeting was called to order at 6:00.
• Brian from Kemper reviewed the results of the yearly city audit.
• TIF application for Mike Neimerg was discussed. It was decided to award his project a revised total of $146.40, or 15% of the total project cost.
• TIF application for the KC Hall was discussed. It was decided to award them $3,968, or 15% of the total project cost.
• The MFT compliance review for 2021 was reviewed.
• A material sale for a water meter was discussed.
• The farm leases for the city were discussed. It was decided to open them up for revision.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:00
8. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on approving the 2021/2022 TIF fiscal year audit.
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Brooks, to approve the 2021/2022 TIF fiscal year audit.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Glumac, Brooks
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on approving the 2021/2022 fiscal year audit.
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Lindemann, to approve the 2021/2022 fiscal year audit.
Ayes: Blake, Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
C. Consider and act on IDOT 2021 Compliance Review of MFT funds for January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. (This is an annual review by IDOT.) Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Glumac, to authorize IDOT 2021 Compliance Review of MFT funds for January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. (This is an annual review by IDOT.)
Ayes: Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
D. Consider and act on TIF application for Mike Niemerg at 101 Sycamore St. Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to authorize TIF application for Mike Niemerg at 101 Sycamore St. for $146.40.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Glumac
Nays: None
E. Consider and act on TIF application for K. C. Hall at 707 S. Van Buren St. Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Brooks, to authorize TIF application for K. C. Hall at 707 S. Van Buren St. for $3,968.00.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Glumac, Brooks
Nays: None
9. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Consider and act on Newton Police Department employee attending 2022 Leadership Series Training.
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Lindemann, to authorize Newton Police Department employee attending 2022 Leadership Series Training.
Ayes: Blake, Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
B. Consider and act on St. Thomas students to do landscaping on the “Welcome to Newton” signs with a $1,000 purchase limit per sign.
Motion was made by Blake, seconded by Glumac, to authorize St. Thomas students to do landscaping on the “Welcome to Newton” signs with a $1,000 purchase limit per sign.
Ayes: Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann, Glumac
Nays: None
10.STATEMENTS:
Council Members:
Glumac: Electric Committee Monday September 12, 2022 at 6:00 PM. Brooks: No comments
RJ Lindemann: Called a Finance/Audit Committee Meeting Monday September 12, 2022 at 7:20 PM.
Presented Billing Adjustments and Payment Adjustments reports.
Blake: Thank you to City Treasurer for her work on the Audit. Thank you to the St. Thomas students for doing the landscape on the signs. Thank you to the citizens for coming to the council meeting.
City Attorney: No comments
City Treasurer: No comments
City Clerk: 1 Park/Cemetery Department PO
Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Glumac, to authorize Park/Cemetery Department PO for $12,680.00 to Robards Plastering Inc.
Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Glumac
Nays: None
Mayor Kuhl:
• I hope everyone goes to the Fall Festival this Saturday.
• Thank you to Melissa, the City Treasurer, and her team. It's not often the audit company actually says the majority of the work is done for them. Melissa has everything ready for the auditors.
• The weekend before I attend the first responders appreciation day on the courthouse square that for our city police department, the county police department, fire department, EMA and dispatch. The guest speaker was Mrs. Oberheim from Champaign, Illinois, who lost her husband, Chris a Champaign Police Officer, a little over a year ago in the line of duty. The message is that strong people still exist in this world. It was a good day and was very well attended. I appreciate everything that our first responders do for our community on a daily basis.
• Last Friday evening, it was great to have our community at a home football game. The stands were packed. It was a great game, great atmosphere and it's nice to see people flooding into our community once again. If you haven't had the opportunity yet, please support our athletic teams.
11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 6:00 PM
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
Personnel Committee Meeting September 12, 2022 at 5:30 PM
Electric Committee Meeting September 12, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Finance/Audit Committee Meeting September 12, 2022 at 7:20 PM
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation, potential litigation, purchase of real estate and personnel
Motion was made by Blake, seconded by Lindemann, to go out of open session and into closed session to discuss litigation, potential litigation, purchase of real estate and personnel pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those areas of discussion.
Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Glumac, Brooks
Nays: None
Open session suspended at 7:15 PM.
Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Lindemann, to go out of closed session and back into open session.
Ayes: Blake, Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann
Nays: None
Open session resumed at 8:01 PM.
Mayor Kuhl announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation, potential litigation, purchase of real estate and personnel.
Blake called a Personnel Meeting, September 12, 2022 at 5:30.
13.ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to adjourn the meeting. Ayes: Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM.
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