City Council

CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting February 20, 2018 7:30 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was given by those 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: B. John Clark, Rebbe, Hubler, Stunkel, Lester, Barker and Crawford. Hobler was absent. MINUTES: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by B. John Clark approving the minutes from the February 05, 2018 meeting as presented. Motion carried. REGULAR BILLS: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Crawford approving the regular bills as presented. Motion carried. SPECIAL BILLS: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by B. John Clark approving the Special Bills as listed: Clayton Gathe D/B/A Gathe Farms in the amount of $5,800.00 for demolition of house on Rock Island & Randolph; Timmermann & Associates assistance provided LaTisha with Civic software in the amount of $3,388.00; P.G.A. & V., Inc. in the amount of $7,391.22 for work on the comprehensive plan; Fayette County Treasurer’s Office in the amount of $2,640.75 for 1st quarter animal control contract; Mid 1  Illinois Concrete Inc. in the amount of $1,667.50 for hot patch; Vandalia Sand & Gravel in the amount of $1,795.22 for aggregate products; Land of Lincoln Credit Union in the amount of $75,000.00 for payment of fire truck; South Central FS, Inc. in the amount of $2,326.08 for tire service, gasoline & etc.; Chase in the amount of $18,440.25 for interest on the GO Bonds; Hurst Rosche Engineering in the amount of $3,722.96 for Thrill Hill Bridge repair; ADS Electric Corp. in the amount of $3,502.08 WP/Lake Pump Station; Flo Systems, Inc. in the amount of $2,350.00 for actuator; John Crawford & Associates in the amount of $20,000.00 for surveying fees on the river intake; Brenntag Mid South, Inc. in the amount of $5,224.73 for chemicals; Hawkins, Inc. in the amount of $5,808.00 for chemicals; Kaskaskia Springs Water in the amount of $1,762.00 for 4.405 million gallons of water. Motion carried. ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION OF A motion was made by Stunkel and RANDY EDWARDS FROM THE LAKE seconded by Crawford accepting the COMMITTEE: resignation of Randy Edwards from the Lake Committee. Motion carried. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gottman informed the council that Effingham County Coroner, Duane Guffey passed away last Thursday evening at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 23rd. Duane began his public service as a part-time firefighter/EMT with the Effingham Fire Department. He also served as a part-time Effingham Police Officer and as a chief deputy 2 coroner for more than a decade and was currently serving a second term as Effingham County Coroner. Duane also operated the family business, Guffey’s Cleaners & Tuxedo Rentals in Effingham. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office will be helping out with calls in Effingham County during the funeral on Friday. Bruce Bowen, who recently retired as the Fayette County Coroner has stepped up in assisting the Effingham County Coroner’s Office at this time. Chief of Police, Jeff Ray says the funeral procession will make its way west on I-70 and should arrive at Mile Marker 63 exit in Vandalia about 11:30 to 11:45 on Friday morning and head north on U.S. Route 51 to Ramsey. Our thoughts and prayers to his family and those who worked next to him. Mayor Gottman announced that he will be flying to Washington, D.C. tomorrow to represent the Illinois Mayors at the White House. There is a conference scheduled for Thursday. He will return on Friday. Mayor Gottman announced that Governor Rauner will be in Vandalia on Saturday, February 24th. He will speak at the Vandalia American Legion at 4:30 p.m. Along with Gov. Rauner, Congressman John Shimkus and State Representative John Cavaletto will also be in attendance. 3  Mayor Gottman announced that Steve Barker will be attending the Illinois Tourist Conference in Chicago on Monday and Tuesday of next week. Mayor Gottman said that they have met with a manufacturer here in town who is looking at doing some expansions. Hopefully the city can give them some incentives to make that happen to create 20-25 jobs. STANDING COMMITTEES: Crawford reported that the furnace went out at the Water Plant. Mayor Gottman had Marty Huskey seek two bids from Culbertson’s & Stombaugh’s for a furnace. Culbertson’s did have the low bid so they will follow through with replacing the furnace. Crawford reported on the evaluation report from the IEPA. Saying the issues lined out were minor and will be addressed. Report from the Sewer Plant, Mark Augenstein got his quotes on finishing up the pump at the plant. That will be around $4,600.00. The impeller for the pump at VanSeal about $2,500.00 they have been approved and ready to go. Hubler reported that at the Personnel, Finance & Insurance Committee Meeting discussion of raising fees at the cemetery was discussed and will be acted on at a later date. 4 Stunkel also reported that the Personnel, Finance & Insurance Committee met to continue discussion of fees for services within the city. Mayor Gottman announced that Pete Sutherland, Jr. passed away Monday February 19th in Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Crawford publicly thanked the School Administration and the Vandalia Police Department and most of all the child that opened there mouth for the quick action taken last week in the shooting threat at the Vandalia High School. Barker stated that the city has received numerous requests for adjustments on their water bills due to water breaks on residential properties. Barker is asking if we can require the resident to bring in a receipt showing that they have had it repaired. Mayor Gottman said, I think we can require it if we are going to adjust their bill to make sure it’s been fixed appropriately and by a plumber. Barker asked City Attorney, Ryan Connor if we can put something in writing that we only will make one adjustment annually. 5  Attorney Connor asked Barker if he would have any interest in an ordinance that looked like the Water Department could make one adjustment and after that might require a hearing or trigger some sort of Water Committee issue where the committee could hear. Connor will work on some verbage and bring it back to the council. REQUEST STOP SIGN AT CHERRY Charlie Watson is requesting a stop & EDWARDS STREET: sign at the corner of Cherry Street and Edward’s Street. Chief Ray will go take a look at the location. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Barker to adjourn. Motion carried. ___________________ CITY CLERK 6 7 8 9 10 11