East Central Reporter

City of Newton City Council met Jan. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. CALL TO ORDER: Joshua J. Kuhl, Mayor

Mayor Joshua Kuhl called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Mayor Joshua Kuhl.

Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Mayor Joshua Kuhl.

3. ROLL CALL: Maggie McDonald, City Clerk

Physically present: Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann, and Mike Swick

Also present: Attorney William Heap, Treasurer Melissa Brooks and City Clerk Maggie McDonald

Absent: Alderman Eric Blake

4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to adopt the amended agenda. Personnel was added to Executive Session.

Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Swick

Nays: None

5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of January 2, 2024.

Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to approve the minutes of the January 2, 2024 meeting of the Newton City Council.

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Swick, Glumac

Nays: None

6. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Alderman Lindemann reviewed the pre-paids in the amount of $212,583.34 and the bills and accounts payable earlier today and makes a motion to approve the pre- paids and authorize payment of the bills and accounts payable in the amount of $151,680.64. Kaleb Wright seconded the motion.

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Swick, Glumac, Wright

Nays: None

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:

Finance and Audit Committee Meeting Monday, January 8, 2024 at 5:30 PM. Finance/Audit Committee Meeting Minutes, Monday, January 8, 2024, 5:30 PM - 6:03 PM. Meeting called to order at 5:30pm

Demolition Reimbursement Application policies were discussed. The majority of the committee did not feel that the city should withhold reimbursements for receipts provided containing the labor of the applicants or their family members.

Meeting adjourned at 6:03 pm

Those in attendance: RJ Lindemann - Chairman, Eric Blake, Mike Swick, Maggie McDonald, Larry Brooks, Tyler Weber, Josh Kuhl, Eric Blake, Gayle Glumac, Kenneth Belcher, Elizabeth Belcher, Melissa Brooks

Electric Committee Meeting Monday, January 8, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Electric Committee Meeting Minutes, Monday, January 8, 2024, 6:03 PM-7:20 PM Present: Gayle Glumac, Joshua Kuhl, Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann, Eric Blake, Mike Swick, Melissa Brooks, Maggie McDonald, Matt Tarr, Amy Tarr, Brenda Phillips, Jeff Vance, Mike Schackmann, Tyler Weber

Meeting was called to order at 6:03 PM.

The City of Newton has now takin over the Lights in the Park. Last week, all the lights were taken down and picked up by owners or stored away. The process went smoothly with the extra help pulled together from all the city departments.

Some changes and different options of operation for the following year was discussed. The idea of setting up a separate committee for the Lights in the Park was brought to the table. Different opportunities for future storage use were also presented.

Different locations for a new substation were considered.

Matt Tarr, Electric Department Head, presented several benefits a new bucket truck could convey to their department. It can take up to 3 years to receive the new truck if decided to purchase. The Electric Department is looking into sending one employee to back-to-back lineman school training.

Possibility of new policies put in place involving supply interruption liabilities were discussed.

Mike Schackmann and Tyler Weber left the meeting at 6:51 PM.

Jeff Vance joined the meeting at 6:51 PM.

Gayle Glumac asked for a motion to go out of open session and into closed session, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to discuss municipal power.

Gayle Glumac asked for a motion to go out of closed session and back into open session, seconded by RJ Lindemann, at 7:19 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 PM.

Submitted by:

Gayle Glumac - Chairman

Personnel Committee Meeting Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 5:15 PM. (Waiting on Minutes)

8. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: NONE

9. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on authorizing the City Attorney to move forward with a city

limit property disconnection at 8665 N. St. HWY 130 and 8679 N. St. HWY 130.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac to authorize tabling the City Attorney to move forward with a city limit property disconnection at 8665 N. St. HWY 130 and 8679 N. St. HWY 130. Ayes: Lindemann, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks

Nays: None

B. Consider and act on authorizing the disbursement of funds to 3B General

Contracting for a Demolition Reimbursement Application for 706 Fairground. Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize the disbursement of funds to 3B General Contracting for a Demolition Reimbursement Application for 706 Fairground in the amount of $15,000.

Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks

Nays: Lindemann

C. Consider and act on authorizing the disbursement of funds to Mike Fischer for a

Demolition Reimbursement Application for 304 W. Curts St.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the disbursement of funds to Mike Fischer for a Demolition Reimbursement Application for 304 W. Curts St. in the amount of $8,080.92.

Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Swick

Nays: Lindemann

D. Consider and act on passing Ordinance 24-01 pertaining to Water Well

Maximum Setback Zones.

Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindeman, to pass Ordinance 24-01 pertaining to Water Well Maximum Setback Zones.

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Swick, Glumac

Nays: None

10. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on sending Newton City Attorney to the IML Spring Municipal Attorney Seminar in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, on March 7, 2024, for a total amount of $225 plus allowable expenses.

Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize sending the Newton City Attorney to the IML Spring Municipal Attorney Seminar in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, on March 7, 2024, for a total amount of $225 plus allowable expenses.

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Swick, Glumac Wright

Nays: None

11. STATEMENTS BY:

Glumac: Everyone be safe. The roads are slick.

Wright: It's supposed to stay below 20 degrees the rest of the week, everyone stay safe. Brooks: No Comments.

Lindemann: Reviewed the utility adjustments. Voiced opposition on Capital Development Fund.

Swick: No Comments.

City Attorney: No Comments.

City Treasurer: Presented appropriation changes:

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to make the three (3) following appropriation changes:

1. General Fund: General Administration (9000-27), to move $3,000 from Contingency Fund to Training Expense (5450-27).

2. General Fund: Pool (9000-28), to move $5,000 from the Contingency Fund to Equipment Repair (5600-28).

3. Specials: EMA (9000-52), to moved $3,000 from the Contingency Fund to EMA Miscellaneous Expense (7000-52).

Ayes: Lindemann, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks

Nays: None

We are working on budgets and hope to have them to department heads by end of month.

City Clerk: No Comments.

Mayor: Everyone stay safe and warm. If anyone would need anything during these bitter cold days, please reach out to myself or city hall. In the meantime, think Spring! It will be here before we know it.

12. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: February 6, 2024 at 6:00 PM

SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: NONE

13. EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to go out of open session and into closed session to discuss personnel pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those areas of discussion. Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann

Nays: None

Open session suspended at 6:24 PM.

Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to go out of closed session and back into open session.

Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Swick

Nays: None

Open session resumed at 7:03 PM.

Mayor Kuhl announced that during closed session the council discussed Personnel.

14. ADJOURNMENT:

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adjourn the meeting.

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Swick, Glumac

Nays: None

Meeting adjourned at 7:04 PM.

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