City Council

City Council Regular Meeting October 16, 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, Hobler, Bowen, Stunkel, Barker, and Hubler were present. Lewey was absent. Lester arrived at 6:50p.m. MOMENT OF SILENCE: A moment of silence was held for Mark Miller III, Vandalia Volunteer Firefighter. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL Motion was made by Stunkel and MEETING MINUTES DATED seconded by Hobler to approve City OCTOBER 2, 2023: Council meeting minutes dated October 2, 2023. Motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT: The Treasurer’s report for period ending September 30, 2023 was reviewed. Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Hobler to file the report for audit. Motion carried. REGULAR BILLS: Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Barker to approve the regular bills as submitted. Motion carried. SPECIAL BILLS: Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Hobler to approve the special bills as presented: Homefield Energy in the amount of $23,560.83 for electric bill; Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association in the amount of $176,199.21 for annual contributions; McKellar, Robertson, 1  McCarty and Click Ins. in the amount of $4,451.00 for Insurance renewal; Sandberg Phoenix in the amount of $3,852.50 for legal fees; Civicplus LLC in the amount of $1,548.00 for archive renewal; Saltus Technologies in the amount of $2,530.00 for software; ADS Electric in the amount of $4,481.38 for service fees; Mac’s Fire & Safety Inc. in the amount of $1,894.07 for supplies; Beelman Logistics LLC in the amount of $17,677.30 for rock; J.B. Esker & Sons Inc. in the amount of $9,440.00 for Lake Dam Improvements; G & H Marine Inc. in the amount of $2,180.00 for boat lift repairs; South Central FS in the amount of $7,915.32 for fuel; Core & Main in the amount of $2,795.40 for supplies; Vandalia City Garage in the amount $4,297.00 for repairs; IMCO Utility Supply in the amount of $1,802.50 for supplies; Brenntag Mid-South Inc. in the amount of $20,165.28 for supplies; Cedarchem LLC in the amount of $18,747.18 for supplies. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-10-16-A: Motion was made by Hobler and AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING seconded by Brosman to approve THE EXECUTION OF THE Ordinance 2023-10-16-A: An Ordinance IMLRMA MINIMUM/MAXIMUM Authorizing the Execution of the CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT: IMLRMA Minimum/Maximum Contribution Agreement. Motion carried. Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Bowen, yea; Barker, yea; Hobler, yea. Lewey and Lester were absent. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-10-16-B: Motion was made by Brosman and AN ORDINANCE RE- seconded by Stunkel to approve AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF Ordinance 2023-10-16-B: An Ordinance SURPLUS REAL ESTATE OR Re-Authorizing the Sale of Surplus IN THE ALTERNATIVE Real Estate or in the Alternative AUTHORIZING THE LEASE OF Authorizing the Lease of Real REAL ESTATE: Estate. Motion carried. 2  Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Bowen, yea; Barker, yea; Hobler, yea. Lester and Lewey were absent. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-10-16-C: Motion was made by Stunkel and AN ORDINANCE MAKING THE seconded by Barker to approve ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS Ordinance 2023-10-16-C: An Ordinance FOR THE FISCAL YEAR Making the Annual Appropriations for BEGINNING ON THE FIRST the Fiscal Year Beginning on the DAY OF MAY 2023 AND First Day of May 2023 and Ending the ENDING THE THIRTIETH DAY Thirtieth Day of April 2024. Motion OF APRIL 2024: carried. Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Bowen, yea; Barker, yea; Hobler, yea. Lester and Lewey were absent. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT BIDS Motion was made by Stunkel and FOR A 12” CHECK VALVE seconded by Brosman to approve bid FOR SEWER PLANT LIFT from Vandevanter Engineering for STATION: $22,617.90 for a 12” check valve for Sewer Plant Lift Station. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT BIDS Motion was made by Stunkel and FOR A GENERATOR: seconded by Hobler to approve bid from C and C Pumps & Supply for $51,464.16 for a generator at the Lake. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT BIDS Motion was made by Barker and FOR A TRUCK FOR THE seconded by Stunkel to approve bid STREET DEPARTMENT: from Hecht Chevrolet for $47,710.00 for a truck for the Street Department. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT CHANGE Motion was made by Stunkel and ORDER NO. 2 FOR VANDALIA seconded by Barker to approve Change LAKE DAM IMPROVEMENTS - Order No. 2 for Vandalia Lake Dam INCREASE OF $9,440.00: Improvements – Increase of $9,440.00. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT PAY A motion was made by Brosman and ESTIMATE MO. 2 FOR seconded by Hobler to approve Pay 3 VANDALIA LAKE DAM - Estimate No. 2 for Vandalia Lake Dam $9,440.00: - $9,440.00. Motion carried. AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE A motion was made by Stunkel and PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE: seconded by Barker to approve authorization to hire Kam Hill as new Public Works Employee. Motion carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Lee Beckman from Milano & Grunloh Engineers updated the Council on the current City projects. Octochem Street Project – He sent out to take the curb off and add the rock and he hasn’t heard anything yet. He will resend it and follow up. Randolph Street updates – the estimate was a few years old, so the new estimate is higher. LaTisha is going to look at the budget and see if we want to add more money to it. Then we have to send it to IDOT to have them program the funding. Main Street Lift Station – We are waiting on material delivery so construction should begin early November. Michael’s Feed Store – No updates, LaTisha will follow up. Lake Dam Upgrades – Discussed pay estimate and change order. Beckman said that sealing the cracks were a good idea. They need to get it on the Agenda every year. Lead Service Line Replacement – The City has a grant agreement and 120 Water is working with the City on it. LaTisha will follow up. Safe Routes to School – LaTisha is waiting on IDOT for a date to do the certification. We should be under construction the first Quarter of next year. Water Treatment Plant – The project has been summitted to Rural Development and the IEPA for funding. Vandalia Lake – Beckman will schedule something next week. All the boats have been winterized. David Townsend in the audience offered the usage of 4  his boat. ITEP – The grants will be going to IDOT in the next couple of weeks. They will be getting with the City on the Right of Way projects. NPDES – They are working with Mike Anderson and it is due to the EPA by the end of the year. Unsewered Grant – It will be out this fall. DCEO Grant Application – We have $1.5 million to replace water mains and meters east of 51 and north of the railroad. OSLAD Grant – Submitted September 15th. 319 Grant – The notice of funding will be released later this year. The Maximum award is 60% of the total project cost. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gottman talked about the American Legion Park. The pavilion will be matched to the Charters Patio. Lee will be working on another drawing. Gottman said there will be a meeting with the American Legion on November 2nd at 7pm at City Hall. Gottman suggests that the Council attend. The pavilion will be paid out of TIF and the Legion will be paying for the stones. Bowen suggested that the parking lot be paved. David Townsend from the audience asked if they were going to have security cameras at the Memorial Park. Mayor Gottman said that we have cameras downtown that you can see that area. Lester asked about adding names to the stones. Gottman said that City Hall will have a running list of veterans and we will submit it to the stone company a few weeks before Memorial weekend so they can add it to the stones. Bowen said that there is a statue of Veteran Tom Higgins at the Correctional Center and he would like for it to be moved so people could see it. Gottman will talk to IML to see what can be done. Mayor Gottman will be meeting with Alex 5  from Rural King about property to create jobs for Vandalia. Gottman reported that there were positive things said about the Police Department for walking the path downtown. It made the business owners feel safe. There has been an inquiry about the some of the 120 acres of land for a business. Mayor Gottman, LaTisha, James and Ted had a meeting with CTI about the fiber optic internet. If they get enough people signing up, we can get it at the lake campground. We will be sending letters out to the lake residents. Mayor Gottman reported that there is paperwork in the packet from the IML meeting. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Connor reported that they had trial for Everett Simmons’s property and it was partially successful. He said we did recover some of the costs from the property that was torn down. He said Zac Kopp has been writing a lot of tickets the last few weeks. Some of those will be set this Wednesday at 9am by zoom. Chris Keiser’s next court date will be November 7th. Connor reminded everyone that if you violate the Illinois open meetings act, there will be penalties. CITY CLERK’S REPORT: Nothing to report. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S Paslay reported that the last REPORT: Farmers market was October 14th and it was wet and cold out. The Olde Tyme Christmas vendors forms are at City Hall, facebook page and on the website. The Halloween parade will be Thursday October 26th at 7pm. Downtown trick or treat will be Saturday October 28th with story time at 10am at the library and trick or treat from 10:30am-12:30pm and the 6  costume contest at 12:30pm at the patio. The city trick or treat will be from 6-8pm. There will be trunk or treat will be at the Moose Lodge and the Family Y from 4-6pm. This-N- That by Karen N John will have the Witches Night Out from 10am-10pm with food trucks and live music. SAFETY CODE OFFICIAL Report provided in the Council REPORT: packet. STANDING COMMITTEE Barker reported that James and his REPORTS: crew were doing good. They have been putting up Christmas lights. Stunkel reported for the Lake that there were 3 septic inspections on the south side that were turned in, but they were late and it was $200 a day. There are 2 camping tank inspections on the north side that haven’t been turned in and those fees are $50 a month. Stunkel said that they had put in a new dock on the north side. They also repaved all the roads and trimmed the trees. Stunkel said that Lot #139 was signed back over to the City. Gottman reported that the City would get prices for signs for the Lake Lot numbers to be seen from the road side and lake side. The signs would be 8X11 and the lettering would be reflective and be 7 inches tall. They will have red lettering with a white background and would be easier for the EMS and Police Department to find the Lots. Paslay reported for Carla that the Festival of Lights will be expanding to the lower level of the park. In addition to all the displays and angels they had last year, they have sold 25 additional angels and 22 additional displays. They will be turning the lights on the weekend of Thanksgiving. Paslay reported that the Festival of Trees 7  have sold all 4 of the top level tables, half of the middle level tables and half of the lower level tables. They have sold 13 table sponsorships. FOT will be Friday November 17th, doors open at 5:30pm and dinner at 6:30pm at 8th Day Venue. Gottman reported that the Employee Appreciation event was very well attended. Bowen wanted to thank the Alderman for participating in the interview process. Gottman reported that there was a total of 9 resumes for Economic Development and it closes the end of October. Lester asked about the street lights being dark downtown, Gottman will ask Lee. Lester also asked about the second entrance at the campground being opened for events. Paslay will be getting with IDOT. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CJ Schilling from the audience CONCERNS: discussed the increase of the fees on the northside of the lake of $50 per year for 4 years. Lester suggested that in 4 years, they would reevaluate. Gottman thanked Schilling for his input and it would be put into consideration. COUNCIL MOVES INTO Gottman announced that the Council EXECUTIVE SESSION AT would be moving into Executive 8:32PM: Session. A motion was made by Barker and seconded by Hubler to move into Executive Session at 8:32pm under 5 ILCS 120/2 to discuss the sale or acquisition of land. Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Bowen, yea; Barker, yea; Hobler, yea; Lester, yea. Lewey were absent. Motion carried. 8 EXECUTIVE SESSION ENDS Executive Session ends at 9:04pm. AT 9:04PM: REGULAR SESSION Mayor Gottman reconvened the regular RECONVENED AT 9:05PM: council meeting at 9:05pm with a roll call: Brosman, yea; Lester, yea; Hobler, yea; Bowen, yea; Stunkel, yea; Barker, yea; Hubler, yea. Lewey was absent. Gottman stated there was nothing to report out of Executive Session. ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made by Bowen and seconded by Stunkel to adjourn the meeting at 9:05pm. Motion carried. _________________________________ Deputy City Clerk 9