East Central Reporter

City of Newton City Council met Dec. 17.

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 RJ Lindemann.

Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman RJ Lindemann.

3. ROLL CALL: Maggie McDonald, City Clerk

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

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

4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:

Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adopt the amended agenda. (Add Potential Litigation to Executive Session and date correction to next council meeting.)

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

Nays: None

5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of December 3, 2024.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2024 meeting of the Newton City Council.

Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Swick, Glumac

Nays: None

Abstain: Blake

6. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

Alderman Lindemann reviewed the pre-paids in the amount of $320,162.04 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 $129,377.89. Kaleb Wright seconded the motion.

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

Nays: None

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Sarah Diel Kinkade with the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce: Sarah presented the last Hometown Hero Award of 2024 to the City of Newton Electric, Street, Park, Sewer and Water Departments. The city departments are always more than willing, with no hesitation, to help accommodate anything the Chamber may need with any event they host in this community. We are blessed, and beyond appetitive, for all the help you give. Thank you for always going above and beyond for our community.

8. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:

• Electric Committee Meeting on Monday, December 16, 2024 at 3:20 PM.

Electric Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, December 16, 2024 3:20 PM – 5:00 PM

Present: Gayle Glumac, Joshua Kuhl, Kaleb Wright, Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann, Mike Swick, Matt Tarr, Amy Tarr, Brenda Phillips and Melissa Brooks

Meeting was called to order at 3:20 PM.

• Gayle Glumac made a motion to go out of open session and into executive session to discuss municipal power.

5:00 PM

• Gayle Glumac made a motion to go out of executive session and back into open session. Meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM.

Submitted by: Gayle Glumac – Chairman

• Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Monday, December 16, 2024 immediately following the Electric Committee Meeting.

Finance/Audit Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, December 16, 2024 5:00 PM – 5:41 PM Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM.

• Demolition Reimbursement for Jared Wagner was discussed. It was recommended by the majority of the committee to approve his application.

• TIF Application for Brock Kessler was discussed. It was recommended by the committee to approve his application for the total of $3,500.

• IMRF rates were discussed for 2025. It was decided to proceed with the recommended rates, recommended by IMRF.

Meeting adjourned at 5:41 PM.

Those in attendance: RJ Lindemann – Chairman, Larry Brooks, Gayle Glumac, Kaleb Wright, Joshua Kuhl, Mike Swick, Maggie McDonald, Melissa Brooks, Tyler Weber, Matt Tarr

• City Insurance Committee Meeting on Monday, December 16, 2024 immediately following the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting.

City Insurance Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, December 16, 2024 5:42 PM – 5:57 PM Meeting was called to order at 5:42 PM.

• The 2025 Symetra rate increase was discussed. A 5% increase was presented by Symetra, and it was recommended by the council to approve the increase.

Meeting adjourned at 5:57 PM.

Those in attendance were:

RJ Lindemann – Chairman, Joshua Kuhl, Melissa Brooks, Larry Brooks, Kaleb Wright, Gayle Glumac, Mike Swick, Tyler Weber, Matt Tarr, Maggie McDonald

9. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on authorizing the TIF Application submitted for 906 W. Jourdan St.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the TIF Application submitted for 906 W. Jourdan St. for fifty percent of the total project cost in the amount of $3,500.

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

Nays: None

B. Consider and act on authorizing the Demolition Reimbursement Application submitted for 801 W. Jourdan St.

Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize the Demolition Reimbursement Application submitted for 801 W. Jourdan St.

Ayes: Swick, Glumac

Nays: Blake, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann

C. Consider and act on authorizing the city attorney to proceed forward with the condemning process at 311 S. Jackson St.

Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to authorize the city attorney to proceed forward with the condemning process at 311 S. Jackson St.

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

Nays: None

10.NEW BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on authorizing the IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund) contribution rate of 7.11% for 2025.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund) contribution rate of 7.11% for 2025.

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

Nays: None

B. Consider and act on authorizing Symetra Insurance rates for 2025.

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Larry Brooks, to authorize Symetra Insurance rates for 2025.

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

Nays: None

11.STATEMENTS BY:

Glumac: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Hope everyone remembers the true meaning of the season. Be safe in your travels.

Wright: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Brooks: Commend the city workers for all they do. Merry Christmas. Lindemann: Presented the utility adjustments. Thanked all involved with setting up the lights, it looks really great. Merry Christmas. It is a wonderful season and hope everyone enjoys.

Blake: Merry Christmas.

Swick: Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. Called a Water and Wastewater Committee Meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM.

City Treasurer: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

City Clerk: Congratulations to our city utility departments on your Hometown Hero Award. Well deserved. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mayor: Wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Hope you all remember the true reason for the season. Spend time with your family and friends and I hope Santa Claus finds each and every one of you. Thank you to all our city employees for all you do to keep our city running. I am grateful for everything you do and please know it does not go unnoticed. You all do a wonderful job. Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for your Christmas on the Square event last Sunday. It was a wonderful event as always. See you all next year.

12.NEXT REGULAR MEETING: January 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM

SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Water and Wastewater Committee Meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM.

13.EXECUTIVE SESSION: Personnel, Sale of Real Estate and Potential Litigation Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to go out of open session and into closed session to discuss Personnel, Sale of Real Estate and Potential Litigation pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those areas of discussion.

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

Nays: None

Open session suspended at 6:46 PM.

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

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

Nays: None

Open session resumed at 7:41 PM.

Mayor Kuhl announced that during closed session the council discussed Personnel, Sale of Real Estate and Potential Litigation.

14.ADJOURNMENT:

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

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

Nays: None

Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM.

https://jaspercountyillinois.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/241217-CC-Meeting-Minutes.pdf