East Central Reporter

City of Newton City Council met April 1.

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 Mike Swick.

Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Mike Swick.

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 RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to adopt the amended agenda. (Remove line item 8A. and 8B. from the agenda.) Ayes: Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick

Nays: None

5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of March 18, 2025.

Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by RJ Lindemann, to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2025 meeting of the Newton City Council. Ayes: Wright, Brooks, Lindemann, Blake, Swick

Nays: None

Abstain: Glumac

6. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:

• Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM.

Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting Wednesday, March 19, 2025 @ 6:00pm

1. Move into executive session to discuss personnel

• RJ Lindemann first, Mike Swick seconds

2. Move out of executive session where personnel was discussed

• Mike Swick first, RJ Lindemann seconds

Meeting adjourned at 7:15

Submitted by: Kaleb Wright - Chairman

8. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on authorizing the Pool Assistant Manager to be paid $17/hr. B. Consider and act on authorizing the Pool Manager to be paid $19.50/hr. C. Consider and act on repairing seams in the lap joints of the commercial box gutters and replacing downspouts at City Hall for a total amount of $2,609.96. Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Mike Swick, to authorize repairing seams in the lap joints of the commercial box gutters and replacing downspouts at City Hall for a total amount of $2,609.96.

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

Nays: None

D. Consider and act on authorizing the Police Department to sell two older squad cars.

Motion was made by Kaleb Wright, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize the Police Department to sell two older squad cars.

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

Nays: None

E. Discuss and verify sign on bonus incentives for new hire officers. It was discussed to offer lateral transfer hires a $5,000 up front sign on bonus. After completion of their second year with the department, receive $2,500 bonus. After completion of their third year with the department, another $2,500 bonus. If a new hire would leave the department before completion of their 3 years, they are to pay back the incentive bonuses. These incentives will not be retroacted to any previous new hires or current employees.

F. Consider and act on authorizing the Police Department to hire another officer. Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize tabling the Police Department to hire another officer to the May 20, 2025 meeting of the Newton City Council.

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

Nays: None

9. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on authorizing the Special Event Application submitted for the Jasper County Elementary Boys and Girls Fun Run on Thursday, May 22, 2025 from 8:45 AM – 11:00 AM.

Motion was made by Gayle Glumac, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the Special Event Application submitted for the Jasper County Elementary Strong Boys and Strong Girls Fun Run on Thursday, May 22, 2025 from 8:45 AM – 11:00 AM.

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

Nays: None

10.STATEMENTS BY:

Glumac: Citizens, please be aware on May 22, 2025 the kids will be running in the Strong Boys Strong Girls fun run. Please stay observant. We have another great turnout this year with 56 girls and 62 boys participating. We have an average of 10 coaches helping with each group. It’s going to be another awesome day! Work has begun at Peterson Park for our new pickleball courts.

Wright: No comments.

Brooks: Glad to be back.

Lindemann: Wish everyone good luck in the election. Want to abolish the Capital Development Fund and lower taxes.

Blake: No comments.

Swick: No comments.

City Attorney: There will need to be an action item on the next agenda for council approval if the city wishes to remove themselves from the Intergovernmental Agreement with EMA.

City Treasurer: No Comments.

City Clerk: (2 PO’s for Water Department)

1. Water Department PO#6545 to Eric Smithenry for 375 tons of CA6 Rock at $24.27 a ton for a total amount of $9,281.25.

Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Kaleb Wright, to authorize the Water Department PO#6545 to Eric Smithenry for 375 tons of CA6 Rock at $24.27 at ton for a total amount of $9,281.25.

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

Nays: None

2. Water Department PO#6546 to R.E. Pedrotti for SCADA Pack upgrades for the water plant and elevated tanks. Total payment will be split between two fiscal years. Making payment for fiscal year 24-25 and fiscal year 25-26 $43,408.50 each, with a combined total of $86,817.00.

Motion was made by Mike Swick, seconded by Gayle Glumac, to authorize the Water Department PO#6546 to R.E. Pedrotti for SCADA Pack upgrades for the water plant and elevated tanks. Total payment will be split between two fiscal years. Making payment for fiscal year 24-25 and fiscal year 25-26 $43,408.50 each, with a combined total of $86,817.00.

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

Nays: None

Talked with Borgic’s Designs about signs we are having done for the Old Mill Bridge. It is going to cost more to rewrap and cover our existing signs than to just purchase new signs. Ben said he can get signs for $55 apiece, with roughly $75 in labor. Making it around $350 for the new signs. Alderman Blake requested we look around at other vendors before proceeding.

Mayor: Welcome back to Larry, glad to have you. Happy to hear your wife is recovering. Melissa and I have been conducting budget meetings with our department heads this week. We will be reviewing the next fiscal year budget at the upcoming Finance Committee Meeting. Myself, Amy, Maggie and Sarah Diel had a chance to meet with the new buyers of the IGA. They are hopeful that there will be very little, if any, downtime of the store during this transition. I will second RJ in wishing everyone good luck on this election day. We had our monthly department head meeting this morning. Our next big upcoming push is getting the pool up and running for the season. As Gayle stated, they have begun work at Peterson Park for the upcoming construction of new pickleball courts. I just please ask for everyone’s continued respect to stay clear of the construction site until the project is complete. Lastly, the Newton Elementary will be undergoing an expansion project. This is going to possibly change some infrastructure things on our end, so be looking for some upcoming meetings addressing these changes. Happy Spring!

11.NEXT REGULAR MEETING: April 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM

SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

• Electric Committee Meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM.

• Park, Cemetery and Pool Committee Meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025 immediately following the Electric Committee Meeting.

• Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025 immediately following the Park, Cemetery and Pool Committee Meeting.

• Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM.

12.EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Motion was made by RJ Lindemann, seconded by Gayle Glumac, 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: Blake, Swick, Glumac, Wright, Brooks, Lindemann

Nays: None

Open session suspended at 6:43 PM.

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

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

Nays: None

Open session resumed at 7:02 PM.

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

Alderman Lindemann stated he was approached by a Newton resident regarding concerns of trash at a couple surrounding neighbor’s properties. Clint Crossen and the Newton PD will be advised of this update.

13.ADJOURNMENT:

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

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

Nays: None

Meeting adjourned at 7:04 PM.

https://jaspercountyillinois.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250401-UN-CC-Meeting-Minutes.pdf