City Council

City Council Regular Meeting January 3, 2023 6:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was given by all that were present. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gottman called the regularly scheduled meeting of the Vandalia City Council to order at 6:30 pm. ROLL CALL: Aldermen Brosman, Lester, Lewey, Hubler, Hobler, Stunkel, Barker and Rebbe were present. MOMENT OF SILENCE: A moment of silence was held for Cheryl Bowen, wife of Dean Bowen, former owner of Bowen Cabinet and Appliances. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL A correction to the 12/19/2022 MEETING MINUTES DATED minutes was requested by Mayor DECEMBER 19, 2022: Gottman. “Gottman noted that it has been several years since the City has increased the tax levy to the City’s residents” will be added to the 12/19/2022 Council minutes. Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Hobler to approve the corrected minutes from the December 19, 2022 City Council meeting. Motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer’s report not provided. REGULAR BILLS: Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Barker to approve the regular bills as submitted. Motion carried. 1 SPECIAL BILLS: Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Lewey to approve the special bills as presented: Ameren Illinois in the amount of $3,253.22 for electric bill; Crafco, Inc., in the amount of $1,554.00 for supplies; Brenntag Mid South, Inc., in the amount of $1,596.36 for supplies; Omnisite Corporation in the amount of $4,550.00 for outside services. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-01-03-A: Gottman reported the American Legion AN ORDINANCE AMENDING has officially sold their facility THE VANDALIA MUNICIPAL and that liquor license (Class C-2 CODE AT TITLE V BUSINESS Club) needs to be closed. Howie’s on LICENSES AND REGULATIONS Main has closed also and that liquor AT SECTION 5.08.70 license (Class E – Restaurants- NUMBER OF LICENSES: Hotels-Motels) needs to be closed. Amendment will be made to Section I of the Ordinance, changing “Not more than 1 Class C2 license shall be currently in effect at any one time”. Motion was made by Hobler and seconded by Stunkel to approve amended Ordinance 2023-01-03-A: An Ordinance Amending the Vandalia Municipal Code at Title V Business Licenses and Regulations at Section 5.08.70 Number of Licenses. Roll call: Hubler, yea; Barker, yea; Stunkel, yea; Lewey, yea; Rebbe, yea; Hobler, yea; Brosman, yea; Lester, yea. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT BIDS Huhn presented two bids for shipping FOR A STORAGE CONTAINER containers to store the Festival of FOR FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Lights Christmas displays and DISPLAYS: lights. She stated the need for a 40’ container as plans for expanding the number of displays is anticipated. Motion was made by Barker and seconded by Lewey to approve the bid submitted by OTS in the amount of $6,000.00. 2  Roll call: Barker, yea; Hubler, yea; Lewey, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hobler, yea; Rebbe, yea; Brosman, yea; Lester, yea. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT BIDS Two bids were presented for a new FOR HVAC FOR SEWER HVAC system for the sewer plant as PLANT: the furnace quit working. Gottman also noted they will be looking into installing additional insulation at the sewer plant. Paslay will work with the Engineers to draw up a spec and put it out for bid. Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Brosman to approve the bid submitted by Culbertson’s Heating and Cooling in the amount of $9,555.00. Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Lewey, yea; Hubler, yea; Barker, yea; Hobler, yea; Rebbe, yea; Brosman, yea; Lester, yea. Motion carried. MOVE INTO AN AGREEMENT Two bids were presented for propane WITH BLUE FLAME PROPANE: for the sewer plant. Motion was made by Brosman and seconded by Barker to move into an agreement with Blue Flame Propane. Motion carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Paslay updated the Council on Safe Routes to School. She is completing the necessary paperwork for certification by IDOT before sending it out for bid. MAYOR’S REPORT: Regarding the Lake subdivision parcels, Gottman noted: 117 lots – purchased; 57 lots – new lease; 46 lots – stayed with the old lease (broken down into lots and not people as some people own multiple lots). Gottman brought up the possibility of opening this up again to see if some of the others are interested in buying. He also brought up possible consideration of requiring a license to sell tobacco. Various handouts were reviewed. IL 3  South Tourism will be hosting an event in Highland on January 24. Paslay, Gottman and Huhn will be attending. CITY CLERK’S REPORT: Clerk Huhn reported there will be a computer software upgrade on January 17, 18 and 19. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S As reported under Unfinished REPORT: Business. SAFETY CODE OFFICIAL: No report provided. STANDING COMMITTEES Barker reported that Street REPORTS: Department will be removing the Christmas decorations downtown. He reported that there were several water main breaks during the cold snap. Hobler and Paslay will schedule a Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss golf carts, motorized bicycles and side by sides. The contractor for the cemetery building has been in contact with Andy Vaughan and Sam Kerr. Stunkel, Paslay and Lewey will schedule a Personnel Committee meeting. Hubler thanked those involved with the Tourism events for 2022. Paslay said she will place an ad in the newspaper to advertise the opening at the City Garage. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND Doug and Kelly Klein addressed the CONCERNS: Council. They asked if the City had heard anything from the Inspector with IDPH. Gottman stated the City has not heard anything. Paslay will check with Marlin Filer tomorrow. Water and Sewer Committee meeting will be scheduled for Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Paslay will follow up with Lee Beckman, City Engineer, tomorrow. The Kleins reported they had a backflow valve installed last week. 4 ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made by Hubler and seconded by Barker to adjourn the meeting at 7:04 p.m. Motion carried. _________________________________ City Clerk 5