City Council

CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting January 4, 2016 7:30 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was given by all present. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gottman called the regularly scheduled meeting of the Vandalia City Council to order at 7:30 P.M. ROLL CALL: Aldermen present were: Swarm, B. John Clark, Hubler, Stunkel, Rebbe and Hobler. Crawford and Lester were absent. MINUTES: A motion was made by Swarm and seconded by Stunkel approving the minutes with corrections from the December 21, 2015 meeting as presented. Motion carried. REGULAR BILLS: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Hobler approving the regular bills as presented. Motion carried. SPECIAL BILLS: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded B. John Clark approving the Special Bills as presented: Ron Whiteside Communications in the amount of $2,642.00 for installing equipment in squad car; Land of Lincoln Credit Union in the amount of $12,488.50 for loan on fire truck; Vandalia Park District in the amount of $35,000.00 for TIF reimbursement; U.S. Bancorp in the amount of $14,781.19 for water meters; Illinois EPA in the amount of $22,787.56 for loan on drinking water project; Brenntag Mid South, Inc. in 1  the amount of $9,400.06 for chemicals; Luby Equipment Services in the amount of $1,865.60 for generator heater repairs. Motion carried. AUTHORIZATION TO SEEK PART- A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded TIME CUSTODIAL SERVICES: by B. John Clark giving Mayor Gottman authorization to seek part-time custodial services for City Hall and the Public Safety Building. Motion carried. The applicants will be interviewed by the Personnel Committee along with any aldermen who wish to sit in on the interviews. REVIEW & RELEASE OF Mayor Gottman reported after reviewing EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES: the Executive Session at this time there are no Executive Session Minutes to be released to the public. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gottman reported that he attended the Chamber of Commerce Board of Director’s Meeting today. Mayor Gottman announced that a new restaurant JJ’s Café in downtown Vandalia is now open. Mayor Gottman announced that State Senator Kyle McCarter will be the guest speaker at the Chamber Meeting this Wednesday. Mayor Gottman announced that the City of Vandalia will begin work to renew the Enterprise Zone. Vandalia, St. Elmo, Ramsey & Brownstown form the zone for economic development. Mayor Gottman announced that The Eagles Club is now closed. STANDING COMMITTEES: B. John Clark announced that the Street Committee will meet on Monday, January 18th at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. 2 Swarm reported that in spite of the recent rains, there were no major issues with the city’s water or sewer systems. Swarm asked if the State of Illinois made payment on the water and sewer bill for the Vandalia Correctional Center. Clerk Bowen said no, we have not received any payment since August 2015. Swarm asked how much do they owe the city for water & sewer and Bowen said about $350,000.00. Swarm asked if it is time to send them a disconnect letter because it is a hardship and Mayor Gottman answered no, Clerk Bowen has been talking with State Representative John Cavaletto, who is working to get the city some of the money that is owed. Mayor Gottman announced that the City of Vandalia received a check in the amount of $9,093.81 for the Vandalia Volunteer Fire Department from the Hazel Simma- Kelly Fund. Mayor Gottman also announced that the South Hill Cemetery also received a check in the amount of $9.093.81 for maintenance and day to day operations of the cemetery. Hubler reported that the Cemetery & Landfill Committee met this evening prior the council meeting to discuss the garbage collection contract with Doty Sanitation which will expire on July 31st. Mayor Gottman announced that Statewide Tire will be relocating to the Agracel Building behind the Graham Packaging location. 3  Agracel will take ownership of Statewide’s current location on Randolph Street. Stunkel said that the Personnel Committee will review the applications for the part-time custodial position in the near future. Mayor Gottman noted that on February 13th & 14th the Vandalia Tourism Commission and the Vandalia Historical Society will be sponsoring a weekend with Mr. Lincoln. An open house at the National Road Interpretive Center along with a Lincoln Civil War Ball at the Vandalia Moose Lodge will take place on Saturday. On Sunday, attend the church of your choice and a lunch buffet at the Capitol View Restaurant and then at 2:00 p.m. Lincoln’s birthday party at the State Capitol. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by B. John Clark and seconded by Hobler to adjourn. Motion carried. ________________ CITY CLERK 4 5 6 7 8 9 10