City Council

City Council Regular Meeting December 4, 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, Bowen, Hobler, Lewey and Hubler were present. Stunkel and Barker were absent. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL Motion was made by Lewey and MEETING MINUTES DATED seconded by Hobler to approve City NOVEMBER 20, 2023: Council meeting minutes dated November 20, 2023. Motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer’s report for period ending October 31, 2023 was reviewed. Motion was made by Hobler and seconded by Lewey to file the Treasurer’s report for audit. Motion carried. REGULAR BILLS: Motion was made by Brosman and seconded by Lewey to approve the regular bills as submitted. Motion carried. SPECIAL BILLS: Motion was made by Hobler and seconded by Brosman to approve the special bills as presented: WPMB/WKRV in the amount of $1,919.00 for advertising; Grubaugh Contracting in the amount of $6,850.00 for house demolition; Axon Enterprise, Inc., in the amount of $42,624.00 for body cameras; Fayette County Clerk and Recorder in the amount of $6,500.00 for animal control; Chandler Brothers 1  Construction in the amount of $15,546.50 for sidewalk repairs; Land of Lincoln Credit Union in the amount of $7,000.00 for sewer vac; Ameren Illinois in the amount of $2,724.07 for utility bill; Discover Downstate Illinois in the amount of $5,265.00 for advertising; Ponderosa in the amount of $2,078.38 for food for Festival of Trees; Wehrle Properties in the amount of $34,591.87 for TIF reimbursement; Milano and Grunloh Engineers in the amount of $5,193.75 for engineering fees for ITEP design; Core and Main in the amount of $2,785.63 for supplies; Brenntag Mid-South, Inc., in the amount of $5,280.00 for supplies; Hawkins, Inc., in the amount of $2,225.78 for supplies; USA Bluebook in the amount of $1,776.17 for supplies; Homefield Energy in the amount of $17,839.73 for utility bill; Land of Lincoln Credit Union in the amount of $10,285.00 for fire truck loan. Motion carried. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND Joe Lawson introduced himself to the COMMENTS ON ITEMS LISTED Council. He asked the Council to BELOW: consider not granting the street closure for a Pride event on June 1, 2024 as requested by Karen Sharp from This ‘N That. Connor reminded the Council that they needed to evaluate the road closure and not the content of the actual event. Lawson said the government is set up to come together in groups to make decisions for the best interest of the community. He stated the Council should consider what their constituents would like to see happen. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Jeanne Gustafson gave a presentation PRESENTATION: on Economic Development. 2 APPROVAL OF 2024 COUNCIL Motion was made by Hobler and MEETING SCHEDULE: seconded by Lewey to approve the 2024 Council meeting schedule as presented. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF 2024 CITY Motion was made by Lewey and HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: seconded by Hobler to approve the 2024 City holiday schedule as presented. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-12-4-A: Motion was made by Hubler and AN ORDINANCE AMENDING seconded by Lewey to approve CHAPTER 10 VEHICLES AND Ordinance 2023-12-4-A: An Ordinance TRAFFIC AT PARAGRAPH Amending Chapter 10 Vehicles and 10.16.030 PARKING Traffic at Paragraph 10.16.030 PROHIBITED OR CONTROLLED Parking Prohibited or Controlled at AT SCHEDULE F THEREOF – Schedule F Thereof – Parking PARKING LIMITATIONS: Limitations. Roll call: Hubler, yea; Hobler, nay; Bowen, yea; Brosman, yea; Lewey, yea; Lester, yea. Stunkel and Barker were absent. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-12-4-B: Gottman noted there is no increase AN ORDINANCE MAKING THE in the tax levy, as has been the ANNUAL TAX LEVY FOR THE case for the past several years. FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON Motion was made by Hobler and THE FIRST DAY OF MAY seconded by Hubler to approve 2023 AND ENDING ON THE Ordinance 2023-12-4-B: An Ordinance THIRTIETH DAY OF APRIL Making the Annual Tax Levy for the 2024: Fiscal Year Beginning on the First Day of May 2023 and Ending on the Thirtieth Day of April 2024. Roll call: Bowen, yea; Brosman, yea; Lester, yea; Lewey, yea; Hobler, yea; Hubler, yea. Stunkel and Barker were absent. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-12-4-C: Motion was made by Hubler and AN ORDINANCE REGARDING seconded by Brosman to approve THE ILLINOIS PAID LEAVE Ordinance 2023-12-4-C: An Ordinance FOR ALL WORKERS ACT FOR Regarding the Illinois Paid Leave THE CITY OF VANDALIA, for all Workers Act for the City of ILLINOIS: Vandalia, Illinois. 3  Roll call: Lewey, yea; Lester, yea; Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Bowen, yea; Hobler, yea. Stunkel and Barker were absent. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2023-12-4-D: After much discussion, motion was AN ORDINANCE MODIFYING made by Lester and seconded by Bowen SECTION 8.16.02 GARBAGE to table Ordinance 2023-12-4-D: An COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL Ordinance Modifying Section 8.16.02 – CONTAINERS: Garbage Collection and Disposal – (TABLED) Containers. Motion to table Ordinance 2023-12-4-D carried. There were no objections. ORDINANCE 2023-12-4-D: Motion was made by Hobler and AN ORDINANCE MODIFYING seconded by Lewey to approve SECTION 8.20.01 Ordinance 2023-12-4-D: An Ordinance INOPERABLE MOTOR Modifying Section 8.20.010 VEHICLES: Inoperable Motor Vehicles. Roll call: Hubler, yea; Brosman, yea; Hobler, yea; Bowen, yea; Lewey, yea; Lester, yea. Stunkel and Barker were absent. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT ROAD Karen Sharp from This ‘N That stated CLOSURE REQUEST ON 5TH she feels that a Pride event would STREET FOR PRIDE EVENT – be a benefit to the community. JUNE 1, 2023 FROM 10 Motion was made by Bowen and A.M. UNTIL 8 P.M. seconded by Lewey to table the road (SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE closure request on 5th Street for a OF THIS ‘N THAT PROPERTY Pride event on June 1 from 10 a.m. TO MADISON STREET): until 8 p.m. Motion to table request (TABLED) carried. No objections. RESOLUTION 2023-12-4-E: Motion was made by Lewey and A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING seconded by Brosman to approve ROAD CLOSURE FOR 2024 Resolution 2023-12-4-E: A Resolution FIRST ANNUAL VANDALIA, Authorizing Road Closure for 2024 ILLINOIS CAR CRUISE First Annual Vandalia, Illinois, Car (GALLATIN STREET – THIRD Cruise (Gallatin Street – Third to TO FIFTH): Fifth Streets). Roll call: Lewey, yea; Hubler, yea; Hobler, yea; Lester, yea; Bowen, yea; Brosman, yea. Stunkel and Barker were absent. Motion carried. 4 APPROVE OR REJECT ROAD Motion was made by Lewey and CLOSURE OF 4TH STREET seconded by Hobler to approve road FROM MAIN STREET TO closure of Fourth Street from Main JOHNSON STREET FOR SAME Street to Johnson Street for same CAR CRUISE: car cruise. Motion carried. AUDIENCE CONCERNS: Amber Miller introduced herself to the Council. She stated that she is in the process of building a house and has found household items along with concrete, bricks, plastics, etc. underground. She asked if the City would be in favor of assisting with removal of these items. Connor advised the Council this would be a purely private purpose on an individual residence and not a public purpose. No action taken. MAYOR’S REPORT: Gottman reported he attended the Fayette County Economic Development meeting. He gave an update to the County what was going on in the City. He has been working with a representative from Intersect Illinois. There is an individual interested in some acreage of the 120 acres out by Wal-Mart. He has also spoken with an individual who is interested in opening a franchise restaurant. The City is working on a 5 year plan regarding vehicle replacement. Gottman hopes to have this plan to the Council at a January meeting. He also reported he is working on a 5 year plan for roofs on buildings that the City owns. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Connor reported the summons is out in the Keiser case. He stated they are now getting ready to start the next round of demolitions. CITY CLERK’S REPORT: Huhn reported that stickers for golf carts and non-highway recreational vehicles have arrived. Gottman noted that sealed bids are being accepted 5  for sticker #1. Proceeds will go to Veterans Memorial Park. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S Paslay reported Festival of Trees REPORT: was a big success. SAFETY CODE OFFICIAL Report provided in previous meeting REPORT: packet. STANDING COMMITTEE Paslay reported the mini-excavator REPORTS: will hopefully be delivered by the end of the month. Lewey voiced his displeasure with the work CTI is doing while digging for fiberoptic cables. Water/Sewer committee meeting is December 14 at 1:30 p.m. Meeting has been set for January 8, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss cemetery rates and also the dumpster ordinance that was tabled tonight. Gottman noted that the wastewater facility has been nominated for Best Operated Wastewater Treatment Works award. Gottman reported he did not receive any bids for filling in the basement door and repairing the parking lot. He has talked to a couple of contractors who are interested in submitting bids. Employee evaluations are to be completed by the end of this year. Meeting with Gottman, Paslay and Huhn will be held to discuss changes to the Employee handbook. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND Lewey asked if there was going to be CONCERNS: a fence around the solar farm. Gottman will talk to the solar farm representative. Lewey also stated the solar farm is burning garbage. 6 ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made by Hubler and seconded by Lewey to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m. _________________________________ City Clerk 7