City Council

CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting March 19, 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 were: Lester, yea; B. John Clark, yea; Stunkel, yea; Crawford, yea; Hubler, yea; Rebbe, yea; Hobler, yea; Barker, yea. MINUTES: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Barker approving the minutes from the March 5, 2018 meeting as presented. Motion carried. REGULAR BILLS: A motion of 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 by Barker approving the Special Bills as presented: PMSI in the amount of $4,050.00 for sealant; Crawford & Associates in the amount of $2,028.00 for dam repairs; Witness Distillery, LLC in the amount of $34,887.64 for TIF reimbursement; Hurst Rosche Engineering in the amount of $1,716.12 for services on Thrill Hill Bridge; Sheldon Schulte Construction in the amount of $19,070.00 for removal of old windows & install new & remove old fascia 1  board and replace with new; Schulte Supply in the amount of $9,000.00 for installation of 6” EZ valves; Brenntag Mid South Inc. in the amount of $8,236.08 for chemicals; Hawkins, Inc. in the amount of $5,808.00 for chemicals; Kaskaskia Springs Water in the amount of $1,874.40 for house water 4.686 million gallons; Vandevanter Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $8,620.48 for maintenance inspection. Motion carried. A VISIT FROM BRAD COLE, Brad Cole the Executive Director of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IML: the Illinois Municipal League provided an update on state shared municipal revenue. The General Assembly is adjourned until April 9, 2018, when the House of Representatives returns to session. The Senate will be back in session on April 10th. The Governor’s budget proposal would continue the 10% reduction to the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) for another year and increase diversions from Corporate Personal Replacement Taxes (CPPRT) to pay for state expenses. APPROVAL OF STREET COMMITTEE A motion was made by B. John Clark MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 5, and seconded by Stunkel approving the 2018: Street Committee Meeting Minutes from March 5, 2018 as presented. Motion carried. ORDINANCE #2018-3-19-A: A motion was made by Hobler and AMENDING CHAPTER 10 VEHICLES seconded by B. John Clark approving AND TRAFFIC AT 10.04.030 STOP Ordinance #2018-3-19-A, Amending INTERSECTIONS Chapter 10 Vehicles And Traffic At 10.04.030 Stop Intersections. 2  An addition of a stop sign at the intersection of Cherry Street and Edwards Street direction of approach would be east and west. Roll Call: Clark, yea; Hobler, yea; Lester, yea; Stunkel, yea; Barker, yea; Rebbe, yea; Hubler, yea; Crawford, yea. Motion carried. ORDINANCE #2018-3-19-B: A motion was made by Hubler and AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER seconded by Stunkel adopting 12.20 CEMETERIES (FEE INCREASES Ordinance #2018-03-19-B, Amending EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2018 Chapter 12.20 Cemeteries. Increase in fees. Roll Call: Stunkel, yea; Clark, yea; Hubler, yea; Hobler, yea; Crawford, yea; Lester, yea; Rebbe, yea; Barker, yea. Motion carried. AUTHORIZATION TO SEEK BIDS FOR A motion was made by B. John Clark CONCRETE WORK AT 8TH STREET & and seconded by Barker authorizing JANETTE DRIVE: the public works department to seek bids for concrete work at Eighth St & Janette Drive. Motion carried. ORDINANCE #2018-3-19-C: A motion was made by Hobler and AMENDING SALARIES FOR FISCAL seconded by Stunkel Adopting YEAR MAY 1, 2018-APRIL 30, 2019 Ordinance #2018-3-18-C, Amending Salaries For Fiscal Year May 1, 2018- April 30, 2019. Roll Call vote: Clark, yea; Hubler, yea; Stunkel, yea; Crawford, yea; Hobler, yea; Rebbe, yea; Lester, yea; Barker, yea. Motion carried. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gottman announced on Saturday, March 24th from 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. there will be a fundraiser “Casino Night” at the Vandalia American Legion the proceeds from this event will go towards the Vandalia 2019 Bicentennial of Vandalia. 3 Mayor Gottman announced that Steve Stombaugh has submitted his resignation from the Vandalia Planning Commission. Stombaugh also retired from the Vandalia Volunteer Fire Department effective immediately. A motion was made by Lester and seconded by Stunkel accepting his resignation from the Planning Commission. Motion carried. The electrical bid for the City of Vandalia was Home Field Energy. They remain the low bid. The price will drop from 0.057 to 0.049 for three year agreement. The bid from Ameren was higher at 0.0614. Mayor Gottman along with City Administrator, LaTisha Paslay and some of the Department heads met last week with the city’s new engineering firm, Grunloh Engineering on projects for the City of Vandalia. Mayor Gottman announced that the Old Capitol Foundation met last week. The Vandalia Volunteer Fire Department received $56,867.85 from the Hazel Kelly restricted money. The South Hill Cemetery received $65,000.00 from the Hazel Kelly Fund. $2,000.00 of this money will be used to install a monument stone for the mausoleum that was taken down several years ago. They have no marker in our cemetery. The Old State Burial Grounds has an above ground grave that needs some repairs in the amount of $1,800.- 1,900.00. 4  The Old Capitol Foundation under the unrestricted money donated $1,500.00. The first meeting on the comprehensive plan met last Thursday evening at Kaskaskia Community College with about 45 in attendance. Mayor Gottman announced that the new Alzheimer’s care facility, Willow Brook, is now open on Sunset Drive. Mayor Gottman also announced that the Holiday Inn Express multi-million dollar renovations continue. The owner of that hotel is Robert Plummer. Chuck Keller is no longer part owner of that hotel. Mayor Gottman informed the council that work on Witness Distillery continues and the restaurant Blind Society is open at this time. The Thrill Hill Bridge Construction will begin again after things dry out. A new BBQ restaurant will open soon in downtown Vandalia. The news release from the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows that the unemployment rate for Fayette County in January 2018 fell to 6.1% from 8.2% in January of 2017. Mayor Gottman reported that three dilapidated houses that are beyond repair have been taken down in the recent months. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: Alderwoman Crawford reported that the Water Plant is up and going fine. 5 Mark Augenstein reported that all the lift stations are up and going well. Rebbe reported that the Public Safety Committee met this evening with the Vandalia Volunteer Fire Department to discuss an addition to the Hazel Simma-Kelly Annex Building. The Fire Department is also looking at purchasing an equipment truck. The Vandalia Police Department is looking at purchasing a new four- wheel drive truck which would be funded out of the DUI monies. Hubler questioned when the work will be done on the garage building at the cemetery. Mayor Gottman said that he will talk with the engineering firm and have them take a look at it to see what can be done. Mayor Gottman also asked Sam Kerr, Cemetery Sexton to get a quote on a grave compacter. Hobler announced that the Lake Committee will hold their first meeting of the season on Tuesday, March 27th at 3:00 p.m. in City Hall. Code Official, Zac Kopp said that he ordered an environmental study for the Old Jail. LaTisha Paslay announced the city is looking for a part-time custodian and also accepting applications for seasonal laborers at Vandalia Lake. Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 23 at 5:00 P.M. in City Hall. 6  A Personnel Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 27th following the lake committee meeting to review the applications. Barker reported on the Tourism meeting. They will have a regular meeting each month to make plans for the Grande Levee and other events. REPORT ON THE OLD WAL-MART City Attorney Ryan Connor announced BUILDING: that the city is moving forward with trying to rectify the former Walmart building at the corner of Veterans Ave and West Randolph St. that is owned by Stan Kroenke. Connor said, the city has a summons issued for April 4th at 9:00 a.m. A summons was issued to the agent for service of process for TKG Vandalia properties, LLC, the company that owns that particular parcel. ADJOURNMENT: There being nothing further to discuss a motion was made by Barker and seconded by B. John Clark to adjourn. ____________________ CITY CLERK 7 8