City Council

City Council Regular Meeting November 20, 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 Lester, Bowen, Stunkel, Hobler, Lewey and Hubler were present. Brosman and Barker were absent. MOMENT OF SILENCE: A moment of silence was held for former First Lady Mrs. Rosalynn Carter. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL Motion was made by Stunkel and MEETING MINUTES DATED seconded by Lewey to approve City NOVEMBER 6, 2023: Council meeting minutes dated November 6, 2023. Motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT: Report not provided. REGULAR BILLS: Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Hobler 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: Timmermann and Company, LTD in the amount of $37,500.00 for audit fees; Robert Simmons, LLC in the amount of $19,300.00 for demolition; Global Tech Systems, Inc., in the amount of $18,349.29 for police equipment; Progressive Chemical in the amount of $5,026.84 for supplies; Dinges Fire Company in the amount of $9,779.90 for equipment; Ignition 1  Graphix, Inc., in the amount of $1,540.00 for signs for Festival of Lights; Vandalia Asphalt Service in the amount of $16,243.50 for supplies; Hosick Motors, Inc., in the amount of $3,984.53 for supplies; South Central FS in the amount of $1,673.60 for gasoline; South Central FS in the amount of $2,057.86 for diesel; Core and Main in the amount of $11,205.54 for supplies; Brenntag Mid-South, Inc., in the amount of $14,358.03 for supplies; Hawkins, Inc., in the amount of $1,830.50 for supplies. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT OFFER Motion was made by Lewey and FOR PURCHASE OF LOT AT seconded by Stunkel to approve offer 4TH AND JEFFERSON submitted by Denessa and Chad STREETS: Armstrong in the amount of $500.00 for purchase of lot at Fourth and Jefferson Streets. Motion carried. ACCEPTANCE OF THE Motion was made by Stunkel and PLANNING COMMISSION seconded by Hobler to accept the MEETING MINUTES – Planning Commission meeting minutes NOVEMBER 16, 2023: dated November 16, 2023. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-11-20-A: Motion was made by Stunkel and AN ORDINANCE AMENDING seconded by Lester to approve THE CITY OF VANDALIA Ordinance 2023-11-20-A: An Ordinance MUNICIPAL CODE AT Amending the City of Vandalia CHAPTER 17, ZONING Municipal Code at Chapter 17, Zoning (UTILITY BUILDINGS): (Utility Buildings). Roll call: Hubler, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hobler, yea; Bowen, yea; Lewey, yea; Lester, yea. Brosman and Barker were absent. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-11-20-B: Motion was made by Lewey and AN ORDINANCE AMENDING seconded by Stunkel to approve THE VANDALIA MUNICIPAL Ordinance 2023-11-20-B: An Ordinance CODE (TATTOO Amending the Vandalia Municipal Code ESTABLISHMENTS): (Tattoo Establishments). 2  Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Bowen, yea; Lester, yea; Hubler, yea; Lewey, yea; Hobler, yea. Brosman and Barker were absent. Motion carried. RESOLUTION 2023-11-20-C: Motion was made by Stunkel and A RESOLUTION APPROVING seconded by Lewey to approve AN AGREEMENT FOR Ordinance 2023-11-20-C: A Resolution SERVICES BETWEEN THE Approving an Agreement for Services CITY OF VANDALIA, Between the City of Vandalia, ILLINOIS AND PITNEY Illinois, and Pitney Bowes (City BOWES (CITY HALL POSTAGE Hall Postage Meter). METER): Roll call: Lester, yea; Hubler, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hobler, yea; Bowen, yea; Lewey, yea. Brosman and Barker were absent. Motion carried. RESOLUTION 2023-11-20-D: Motion was made by Stunkel and A RESOLUTION APPROVING seconded by Lewey to approve AN AGREEMENT FOR Resolution 2023-11-20-D: A SERVICES BETWEEN THE Resolution Approving an Agreement CITY OF VANDALIA, Between the City of Vandalia, ILLINOIS AND FLOCK Illinois and Flock Safety (License SAFETY (LICENSE PLATE Plate Readers). READERS): Roll call: Lewey, yea; Lester, yea; Hubler, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hobler, yea; Bowen, yea. Brosman and Barker were absent. Motion carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Lee Beckman reviewed the status of ongoing/pending City projects. Mettler was the lowest bidder on the Octochem street project for a curb cutout. Randolph Street project’s current estimate is $1,163,000. The amount allocated was $900,000. Beckman will follow up with Paslay. Preconstruction meeting for the Main Street Lift Station will be next week. Lake Dam upgrades are complete and should be inspected annually. He recommended sealing the cracks every year. Gottman will check with James Jackson to see if the street crew would be able to fill the cracks. Beckman will follow up with Paslay 3  regarding Safe Routes to School. Letting for this will be in January 2024. Second Safe Routes to School application was submitted this fall. He anticipates hearing on that in the first quarter of 2024. Beckman stated he identified 4 peninsulas at the Lake where the siltation was coming in at a large amount. He advised to be looking at an allocation of money for that in the next budget year. Beckman will sit down with Paslay and Gottman regarding the ITEP plans before submitting to IDOT. OSLAD grant application has been submitted. MAYOR’S REPORT: Gottman reported he had complaints regarding KFC/Taco Bell. He spoke with the district manager and will be meeting with the district manager Tuesday. He reported he attended the National League of Cities in Atlanta this past week. Gottman has spoken with a representative of Intersect Illinois who is interested in seeing downstate Illinois grow. He will schedule a meeting with the representative tentatively for next week. Gottman has asked Kopp to meet with the Code Enforcer at Fairview Heights. A DAR representative was in town regarding the deterioration of the Madonna of the Trail. Some of the material is peeling, cracking and the seams are coming undone. Gottman met with a developer regarding a restaurant in town. The City has been notified that Sparklight is going to implement rate increases. Gottman has asked that a Sparklight representative attend a Council meeting before the end of the year. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Connor reported that he and Kopp had more success with 2 properties via a quit claim deed. He does not expect 4  much activity in the month of December court-wise. He and Kopp will continue to clean up the property records. Keiser case has been set for review on December 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Gottman urged the Aldermen to attend that review. CITY CLERK’S REPORT: Huhn reported that she has been working with Chief Ray regarding nonvehicle stickers. These will be ordered in the next few weeks. Stunkel asked if there should be a Public Safety meeting scheduled prior to January 1, 2024. Paslay will schedule a meeting. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S Paslay was not present for the REPORT: meeting. SAFETY CODE OFFICIAL Report provided in packet. REPORT: STANDING COMMITTEE Ray stated he has looked into the REPORTS: complaint of dark streets on South Cypress and Pine Streets. Ray will give a recommendation to the Council regarding where to place the streetlights. He updated the Council on the agreement between ambulance services and the County. Gottman stated he received one quote from a monument company for the Veteran Memorial Park, and has set a deadline of November 30, 2023 for bids to be submitted. Ray reported he is waiting on a bid at the Police Department for ceiling tile repair. Stunkel reported that he will meet with the Mayor and Paslay regarding winter projects at the Lake. Olde Tyme Christmas was a success. Hubler reported that Festival of Trees was a success. Paslay will report on that at next meeting. Festival of Lights will be open beginning November 25, 2023. Fireman’s Ball is this Saturday, November 25, 2023. 5  Historical Society Gala is December 8, 2023. Christmas Open House at the State House is December 9, 2023. Gottman stated that Jeanie Gustafson will be attending the December 4, 2023 Council meeting to discuss Economic Development. Bowen stated resumes for Economic Development Director position will be reviewed on December 4, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND Karen Sharp from This ‘N That CONCERNS: requested closure of 5th Street from the former Slack Glass building to the end of the block for a Pride event on June 1, 2024 which will feature live music, vendors, food trucks, etc. during the hours of 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. They stated they have several vendors interested in participating. An Ordinance for street closure will be drawn up for the next Council meeting for vote. COUNCIL MOVES INTO Gottman announced that Council would EXECUTIVE SESSION AT be moving into Executive Session. 7:48 P.M.: Motion was made by Bowen and seconded by Stunkel to move into Executive Session at 7:48 p.m. under 5 ILCS 120/2 for the sale of land. Roll call: Hobler, yea; Lewey, yea; Hubler, yea; Stunkel, yea; Bowen, yea; Lester, yea. Barker and Brosman were absent. Motion carried. EXECUTIVE SESSION ENDS Executive Session ends at 8:00 p.m. AT 8:00 P.M.: REGULAR SESSION Mayor Gottman reconvened the regular RECONVENED AT 8:01 P.M.: Council meeting at 8:01 p.m. with a roll call: Lester, yea; Stunkel, yea; Lewey, yea; Hobler, yea; Bowen, yea; Hubler, yea. Barker and Brosman were absent. Motion carried. 6 ADJOURNMENT: Gottman reported there was nothing to report out of Executive Session. Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Hubler to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m. Motion carried. _________________________________ City Clerk 7