East Central Reporter

City of Newton City Council met April 2.

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 6:00 PM.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Eric Blake.

Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Eric Blake.

3. ROLL CALL: Maggie McDonald, City Clerk

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

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

4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to adopt the amended agenda. (Removal of 9A., add Kathleen Terry to 9C.)

Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick

Nays: None

5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of March 19, 2024.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to approve the minutes of the March 19, 2024 meeting of the Newton City Council.

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac

Nays: None

6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS:

• Lea Creadore, Jasper County Chamber of Commerce President: With changing times comes challenging times. The Chamber members and board continue to work extremely hard to make the Chamber of Commerce a central hub for our community. A place everyone, resident or non, can reach out for questions, information, connections and support. The value the chamber brings to the community is great and continues to improve every year. Ms. Creadore asks that the Council consider making a donation to join as a 2024 member of the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Creadore also thanked the council and city for all they do and for their continued support to help whenever it is needed.

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:

• Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 5:30 PM.

Police and Building Permit Committee, Meeting Minutes, Thursday, March 21, 2024, 5:30 PM – 6:20 PM

Present: Mike Swick, Maggie McDonald, Kaleb Wright, Melissa Brooks, Eric Blake, Riley Britton, Gayle Glumac, Josh Kuhl

• Chief Britton presented ordinance violations and procedures for notices for unlawful garbage and trash.

• The need for a School Resource Officer was supported. Requirements, duties and arrangements for the job were all discussed.

• The Police Department is preparing for the Total Eclipse. Plan to have extra patrol on duty for the event. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 PM

Michael Swick - Chairman

• Street and Alley Committee Meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 5:30 PM.

Street and Alley Committee Meeting, Meeting Minutes, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 5:30 PM – 6:24 PM

Present: Gayle Glumac, Melissa Brooks, Josh Ochs, Tyler Weber, Mike Swick, Josh Kuhl, Maggie McDonald, RJ Lindemann and Kaleb Wright

Meeting began at 5:30 PM.

• The Street Department, with the Electric Department, is currently in a lease agreement for a John Deere backhoe that will expire in May 2024. This current model is starting to worsen. Josh Ochs was asked to bring quotes for other backhoes to the table. The committee was in agreeance to sign a two-year lease agreement with John Fabick Tractor Company for a Cat Backhoe loader with a cost of $4,802.31 per month.

• Different suggestions on how to budget funds for bridge replacement on 1st St and stripping and resealing bricks on the square were considered.

• Having the Old Mill Bridge on a yearly schedule to be weatherproofed was addressed. Meeting adjourned at 6:24 PM

Submitted by:

Maggie McDonald, City Clerk

• Water and Wastewater Committee Meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 6:00 PM.

Water and Wastewater Committee Meeting, Tuesday March 26, 2024 at 6:25

1. Hiring a full-time Water Department employee

a. The committee discussed the job description of the Water Department position, it was concluded that a discussion with the union representative would be required to clarify the licensing requirements.

2. Rate increase

a. Tyler brought a proposal to the committee to raise water rates to keep up with increasing costs, this would be a slight increase now instead of a major increase in a few years. The committee challenged Tyler to look into raising his minimum usage rate instead of a rate increase.

Meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM

Submitted by:

Kaleb Wright – Chairman

8. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on authorizing BHMG to conduct an electric rate study. Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize BHMG to conduct an electric rate study.

Ayes: Brooks, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright

Nays: Lindemann

B. Consider and act on authorizing a Collection Services Agreement with ONLINE Collections to collect on unpaid utility debt.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize a Collection Services Agreement with ONLINE Collections to collect on unpaid utility debt.

Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks

Nays: None

C. Consider and act on authorizing an Agreement with IDOT and the Indiana Rail Road for Railway-Highway Grade Crossing Improvements on S. 1st Ave., Sycamore St. and West End Ave.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize tabling the Agreement with IDOT and the Indiana Rail Road for Railway Highway Grade Crossing Improvements on S. 1st Ave., Sycamore St. and West End Ave. until the April 16, 2024 City Council Meeting.

Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann

Nays: None

D. Consider and act on authorizing a two-year lease Agreement with John Fabick Tractor Company for a 2024 Backhoe Loader in the amount of $4,802.31 per month, as recommended by the Street and Alley Committee.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize a two-year lease Agreement with John Fabick Tractor Company for a 2024 Backhoe Loader in the amount of $4,802.31 per month, as recommended by the Street and Alley Committee.

Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann

Nays: Blake

E. Consider and act on passing Ordinance 24-05 Amending the City Clerk to a full-time elected position with a salary of $58,000 per year effective May 1, 2025. Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to pass Ordinance 24-05 Amending the City Clerk to a full-time elected position with a salary of $58,000 per year effective May 1, 2025.

Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick

Nays: None

F. Consider and act on authorizing the City Attorney to proceed forward with changes to Chapter 11, Electric System, in the Municipal Code.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize the City Attorney to proceed forward with changes to Chapter 11, Electric System, in the Municipal Code.

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Swick, Glumac

Nays: Blake

G. Consider and act on authorizing hotel cost for a one-night stay for two city employees for the IMEA Conference in Springfield, Illinois on Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10, 2024.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize hotel cost for a one-night stay for two city employees for the IMEA Conference in Springfield, Illinois on Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10, 2024.

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright

Nays: None

9. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on adding curbing to the North side of East Washington St., during the sidewalk replacement project, with an estimated cost of $5,625.00.

AMENDMENT MADE TO REMOVE LINE ITEM.

B. Consider and act on authorizing the re-hire of Suzi McCann as Manager of the Newton Aquatic Center.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize the re-hire of Suzi McCann as Manager of the Newton Aquatic Center.

Ayes: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann

Nays: None

C. Consider and act on authorizing the re-hire of Kristie Finley and Kathleen Terry as Assistant Managers of the Newton Aquatic Center.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the re-hire of Kristie Finley and Kathleen Terry as Assistant Managers of the Newton Aquatic Center.

Ayes: Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake

Nays: None

D. Consider and act on authorizing the City-Wide Cleanup to be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM and on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize the City-Wide Cleanup to be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM and on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick

Nays: None

10. STATEMENTS BY:

Glumac: Everyone stay safe on April 8 for the Total Eclipse.

Wright: No Comments.

Brooks: No Comments.

Lindemann: He is Risen! Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Voiced to abolish the Capital Development Fund.

Blake: No Comments.

Swick: Everyone stay alert and careful on April 8 for the Total Eclipse.

City Attorney: Praised Amy Tarr for a job well done working together on the ONLINE Collections Agreement.

City Treasurer: Thanked everyone for their time spent on budget meetings. Those meetings are important and I’m grateful we take the time to have them every year. City Clerk: (2 PO’s)

1. Electric Department PO#23-30 to Anixter for the purchase of nine (9) SM Power Fuses (for substation switches) for a total amount of $28,826.43.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the purchase of nine (9) SM Power Fuses (for substation switches) to Anixter in the amount of $28,826.43.

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac

Nays: None

2. Electric Department PO#24-30 to T & R Electric for ten (10) KVA Pole Mount Transformers for a total amount of $18,050.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize the purchase of ten (10) KVA Pole Mount Transformers to T & R Electric in the amount of $18,050.

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright

Nays: None

Mayor: Thoughts and prayers to TK Hannaman’s family. Prayers to Southern Illinois and Kentucky residents with storm damages. We’ve had our second Department Head meeting. The weekly updates put together from each department have been beneficial for all. Whether you read it or you don’t, it is suggested you take the time to see the assets we have within our employees and the tasks that are getting accomplished. Budgets were challenging, as many things have changed over the course of this past year. At the end of the day, one thing still holds true, we work together and figure these challenges out. Thank you to everyone that took the time to engage and be a part of these meetings. As well as Melissa and her crew for their diligent work. There is no one I know that is more intelligent with numbers. When these budgets are passed, they are put in the hands of the Committee Chairmans. Chairmans, I urge you take the time to research, review and understand all the information given when you voice your votes. I am excited for this next year and what is upcoming for the City of Newton. Multiple events going on for the Eclipse. No one is for sure what to expect. Many people will be out. One thing is for certain, it starts with us as residents of Newton, to do our part in helping keep our community safe.

11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: April 16, 2024 at 6:00 PM

SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Finance and Audit Committee Meeting

12. ADJOURNMENT:

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

Ayes: Lindemann, Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks

Nays: None

Meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM.

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