City Council

City Council Regular Meeting March 4, 2024 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, Barker, Stunkel, Hobler, Lewey and Hubler were present. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL Motion was made by Stunkel and MEETING MINUTES DATED seconded by Hobler to approve City FEBRUARY 20, 2024: Council meeting minutes dated February 20, 2024. Motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer’s report for period ending February 29, 2024 was reviewed. No action needed. 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 Brosman to approve the special bills as presented: Civic Systems, LLC in the amount of $2,200.00 for ACH licensing fee; Triple A Asbestos Service, Inc., in the amount of $7,615.00 for asbestos abatement; Robert Simmons, LLC in the amount of $10,200.00 for demolition services; Ritchey Painting in the amount of $4,553.00 for police department painting; Land of Lincoln Credit Union in the amount of $7,000.00 for sewer vac; Milano and Grunloh Engineers in the amount of $26,596.25 for engineering 1  fees; Mid-Illinois Concrete, Inc., in the amount of $1,548.50 for supplies; Land of Lincoln Credit Union in the amount of $10,285.00 for fire truck loan; Core and Main in the amount of $2,969.64 for supplies; Centraz Industries, Inc., in the amount of $7,674.86 for supplies; Contech Engineered Solutions in the amount of $6,152.36 for supplies; Sidener Environmental Services in the amount of $1,690.20 for maintenance; Brenntag Mid South, Inc., in the amount of $6,174.60 for supplies; Hawkins, Inc., in the amount of $1,830.50 for supplies; USA Bluebook, Inc., in the amount of $1,606.79 for supplies; Homefield Energy in the amount of $15,093.56 for electric bill; CedarChem, LLC in the amount of $18,809.76 for supplies. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2024-3-4-A: AN Motion was made by Brosman and ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING seconded by Barker to approve THE CITY OF VANDALIA, A Ordinance 2024-3-4-A: An Ordinance MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, Authorizing the City of Vandalia, a FAYETTE COUNTY, Municipal Corporation, Fayette ILLINOIS, TO BORROW County, Illinois, to Borrow Funds FUNDS FROM THE ILLINOIS from the Illinois Environmental ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Protection Agency Public Water AGENCY PUBLIC WATER Supply Loan Program. SUPPLY LOAN PROGRAM: Roll call: Barker, yea; Bowen, yea; Brosman, yea; Hobler, yea; Hubler, yea; Lester, yea; Lewey, yea; Stunkel, yea. Motion carried. REQUEST FOR TRIPLE A Motion was made by Brosman and TUMBLING FOR A ROAD seconded by Stunkel to approve CLOSURE OF 4TH STREET request submitted by Triple A FROM MAIN TO GALLATIN Tumbling for a Road Closure of 4th STREET FOR A FUNDRAISER Street from Main to Gallatin Street – SATURDAY, MAY 25, for a Fundraiser – Saturday, May 25, 2024: 2024. Motion carried. 2 ORDINANCE 2024-3-4-B: AN Gene Rowell addressed the Council ORDINANCE AMENDING THE regarding his plans for the proposed VANDALIA MUNICIPAL CODE business. He currently owns 11 AT TITLE V BUSINESS locations. He has approximately 80 LICENSES AND REGULATIONS employees currently. He said he AT SECTION 5.08.070 would employ 5 or 6 full time NUMBER OF LICENSES employees at this location. (INCREASE CLASS J TO 5 – LUCKY DOGS): Motion was made by Brosman and seconded by Barker to approve Ordinance 2024-3-4-B: An Ordinance Amending the Vandalia Municipal Code at Title V Business Licenses and Regulations at Section 5.08.070 Number of Licenses (Increase Class J to 5 – Lucky Dogs). Roll call: Barker, yea; Bowen, yea; Brosman, yea; Hobler, nay; Lewey, nay; Lester, nay; Hubler, nay; Stunkel, yea. Due to a 4-4 tie, Gottman voted yea. Motion carried. FIRST READING OF VIDEO First reading of Video Gaming GAMING APPLICATION FROM License application from Kickn 66 KICKN 66 LIQUOR AND MORE Liquor and More Corp., D/B/A Lucky CORP., D/B/A LUCKY DOGS: Dogs was done. Action will be taken at the March 18 meeting. ORDINANCE 2024-3-4-C: AN Motion was made by Stunkel and ORDINANCE AMENDING THE seconded by Barker to approve VANDALIA MUNICIPAL CODE Ordinance 2024-3-4-C: An Ordinance AT TITLE V BUSINESS Amending the Vandalia Municipal Code LICENSES AND REGULATIONS at Title V Business Licenses and AT SECTION 5.08.070 Regulations at Section 5.08.070 NUMBER OF LICENSES Number of Licenses (Increase Class E (INCREASE CLASS E TO 9 - to 9 – Eddie’s Rise N’ Dine). EDDIE’S RISE N’ DINE): Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Lester, yea; Brosman, yea; Barker, yea; Hubler, yea; Lewey, yea; Hobler, yea; Bowen, yea. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT SDS Motion was made by Stunkel and STORES, INC., D/B/A seconded by Barker to approve SDS EDDIE’S RISE N’ DINE Stores, Inc., D/B/A Eddie’s Rise N’ GAMING APPLICATION: Dine Gaming Application. 3  Roll call: Brosman, yea; Lester, yea; Hobler, yea; Bowen, yea; Lewey, yea; Barker, yea; Hubler, yea; Stunkel, yea. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2024-3-4-D: AN Hobler asked why the applications ORDINANCE AMENDING THE for Duffy and Associates and Wal- VANDALIA MUNICIPAL CODE Mart were being voted on together. AT TITLE V BUSINESS Connor stated the Council was only LICENSES AND REGULATIONS considering how many Class D liquor AT SECTION 5.08.070 licenses the Council wants to have. NUMBER OF LICENSES (INCREASE CLASS D TO 4 – Mike Phillips addressed the Council, DUFFY AND ASSOCIATES, stating his support for selling D/B/A DISCOUNT TOBACCO alcohol at convenience stores and AND WAL-MART): Wal-Mart. Urvish Amin, representing Harry’s 66 Package Liquor, reviewed the handout that was included in the Council packet that he compiled based on area community populations. Hobler again strongly opposed voting on these licenses together and felt they needed to be voted on separately. Connor again stated the Council was voting on whether or not to increase the number of liquor licenses from the current of 2 Class D liquor licenses, with the additional licenses being issued to the 2 applicants (Duffy and Associates and Wal-Mart). Lester said he felt the applications should be dealt with separately in case somebody had an objection to one and not the other. Austin Parks, representing Duffy and Associates, reviewed the plans they have for the former Family Video building. 4  Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Barker to approve Ordinance 2024-3-4-D: An Ordinance Amending the Vandalia Municipal Code at Title V Business Licenses and Regulations at Section 5.08.070 Number of Licenses (Increase Class D to 4 – Duffy and Associates D/B/A Discount Tobacco and Wal-Mart). Roll call: Lewey, yea; Lester, yea; Brosman, yea; Bowen, yea; Barker, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hubler, yea; Hobler, nay. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2024-3-4-E: AN Gottman stated that Jack Flash was ORDINANCE AMENDING THE notified their liquor license VANDALIA MUNICIPAL CODE application will be disqualified as AT TITLE V BUSINESS the business is too close in LICENSES AND proximity to an educational center. REGULATIONS AT SECTION Therefore, Ordinance 2024-3-4-E 5.08 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE would be amended to read: An SALES (CREATING CLASS B Ordinance Amending the Vandalia AND INCREASING TO 2 – Municipal Code at Title V Business MEYER OIL COMPANY AND Licenses and Regulations at Section WORTMAN HOLDINGS D/B/A 5.08 Alcoholic Beverage Sales JACK FLASH): (Creating Class B and increasing to 1 – Meyer Oil Company). Connor stated the Ordinance as presented is for the sale of beer and wine. A representative from Meyer Oil asked what the steps would be to apply for the sale of beer, wine and liquor. He stated he would be open to entertaining applying for a Class D license. Lewey was opposed to adding the sale of liquor to the Class B license as presented. Connor said the Ordinance as presented could be amended. Alvina Stoltz asked the Council what would happen to Burger King if the liquor license for Meyer Oil Company was issued since the restaurant was adjoined to the gas station. The representative from Meyer Oil stated 5  they would honor the current lease agreement with Burger King but was unsure of the lease end date. Motion was made by Lewey and seconded by Stunkel to approve the amended Ordinance 2024-3-4-E: An Ordinance Amending the Vandalia Municipal Code at Title V Business Licenses and Regulations at Section 5.08 Alcoholic Beverage Sales (Creating Class B and Increasing to 1 – Meyer Oil Company). Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Barker, yea; Bowen, yea; Lewey, yea; Hobler, nay; Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Lester, yea. Motion carried. FIRST READING OF LIQUOR First reading of the Liquor License LICENSE REQUEST FROM application from South Central FS SOUTH CENTRAL FS – was done. Action will be taken at SEEKING CLASS B LIQUOR the March 18 meeting. LICENSE: FIRST READING OF VIDEO First reading of the Video Gaming GAMING LICENSE License application from Harry’s 66 APPLICATION FROM HARRY’S Package Liquor was done. Barker 66 PACKAGE LIQUOR: asked for clarification allowing pour in a package liquor store. Paslay will check into this. Amin will provide a proposed layout of the building. Action will be taken at the March 18 meeting. FIRST READING OF LIQUOR First reading of Liquor License LICENSE REQUEST FROM application from PMK, Inc., was PMK, INC. done. Action will be taken at the March 18 Council meeting. ACCEPTANCE OF LAKE Motion was made by Stunkel and COMMITTEE MEETING seconded by Hobler to accept the MINUTES – FEBRUARY 23, Lake Committee meeting minutes dated 2024: February 23, 2024. Motion carried. 6 ACCEPTANCE OF THE Motion was made by Barker and TOURISM COMMISSION seconded by Stunkel to accept the MEETING MINUTES – Tourism Commission meeting minutes OCTOBER 10, 2023: dated October 10, 2023. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 2024-3-4-F: AN Motion was made by Hubler and ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING seconded by Stunkel to approve THE VANDALIA TOURISM Ordinance 2024-3-4-F: An Ordinance COMMISSION: Establishing the Vandalia Tourism Commission. Roll call: Barker, yea; Bowen, yea; Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Hobler, yea; Stunkel, yea; Lester, yea; Lewey, yea. Motion carried. AUTHORIZATION TO SEEK Motion was made by Barker and BIDS FOR COPIER seconded by Stunkel to give Paslay REPLACEMENT AT CITY HALL authorization to seek bids for AND POLICE DEPARTMENT: copier replacement at City Hall and Police Department. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None. MAYOR’S REPORT: Gottman reported that the City will be recognizing Sophie Bowers, High School Wrestling State Champ, in the near future. He spoke to IDOT in regard to the road condition at the west interchange. Their goal is to do construction in that area this summer. The prospect interested in the former Long John Silver’s building has been in contact with the owners. Medline has been sold to a corporation. The sale of the former Purina property is moving forward. Representatives from Discover Downstate Illinois have met with Gottman and tourism representatives from Centralia and Greenville who are interested in working together to promote tourism in these communities. The draft of the Personnel policy handbook will be presented to the Personnel Committee within the next week or 7  two. He attended a Zoom meeting regarding TIF. He reported there is movement on the former County Market building. Employee Appreciation Day was celebrated on March 1. Meeting will be held this Thursday regarding the OKAW Valley Center on the 120 acres. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S Paslay reported a Career Fair will REPORT: be held on Monday, March 25 at Kaskaskia College from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. Department heads are to have their budgets turned in to her by the end of the day Friday, March 8. Work session to discuss budgets with the department heads will be scheduled. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Nothing to report. CITY CLERK’S REPORT: Huhn reported that her office has begun mailing out information to vendors regarding paying invoices via ACH. Her office has also started the process of getting documents ready for shred per the record disposal certificate. SAFETY CODE OFFICIAL Report provided in previous meeting REPORT: packet. STANDING COMMITTEE Barker stated that the sidewalk in REPORTS: front of Michel’s Feed Store is partially done. The storm sewer problem on First Street has been taken care of. Brosman reported he, Gottman and Paslay met with American Water representatives and gathered more information. Paslay reported that work continues on the Main Street Lift station. Gottman reported that the County has purchased new guns. He would like to budget for new guns for the City Police officers. Lester reported that work has begun on closing the west entrance to the basement at 8  City Hall. Work has also begun on repairing a section of the parking lot. Stunkel reported that the Lake Committee met on Friday, February 23. It was the recommendation of the Lake Committee that Lake lot 139 should have a minimum bid of $20,000. It will be sent out to everybody on the list. Those who are interested will submit a sealed bid. Deadline to be determined. Motion was made by Brosman and seconded by Stunkel to proceed with the recommendation of the Lake Committee. There were no objections. Motion carried. Lake lot signs were discussed. This will be rebid with specifications regarding structure and material. Stunkel and Workman will work with Paslay on this. The initial signs will be paid for by the City. If signs are damaged, the Lessee will be required to pay for it. Dumpsters will be delivered to the Lake in April and be picked up in October. Workman also stated that signs designating locations of lots will be posted at major points. Any requests for paved paths on lake lots will be handled on a case by case basis. Lake lot revocations have been resolved without having to hold hearings. Bowen stated he attended the Chamber of Commerce banquet. Bowen asked if it would be possible to announce when the leaf vac is going to run so the citizens would be informed. James Jackson will call Todd Stapleton at the radio station and he will announce it. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND Stunkel said he would like to see a CONCERNS: step raise for the seasonal and part-time employees. This will be discussed at the budget meetings. Lester said he thinks the west interchange could possibly support a 9  hotel. Mike Wehrle stated he has not pursued that option. He said he has several interested parties in that area. Paslay stated Safe Routes to School is in the hands of IDOT. Barker noted the estimated value of the Marathon sign to be between $1,000 and $2,000 and the pole value between $800 and $1200. Hubler stated the intersection at 6th and Johnson Streets is dangerous. Chief Ray suggested making that particular intersection a 4 way stop. Paslay will draw up an Ordinance. COUNCIL MOVES INTO Gottman announced Council would be EXECUTIVE SESSION AT moving into Executive Session. 8:02 P.M.: Motion was made by Brosman and seconded by Barker to move into Executive Session at 8:02 p.m. under 5 ILCS 120/2 for the acquisition/sale of land, litigation and a personnel matter. Roll call: Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Lester, yea; Bowen, yea; Hobler, yea; Lewey, yea; Stunkel, yea; Barker, yea. Motion carried. EXECUTIVE SESSION ENDS Executive Session ends at 9:03 p.m. AT 9:03 P.M.: REGULAR SESSION Mayor Gottman reconvened the regular RECONVENED AT 9:05 P.M.: Council meeting at 9:05 p.m. with a roll call: Hobler, yea; Lester, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hubler, yea; Lewey, yea; Brosman, yea; Bowen, yea; Barker, yea. Motion carried. Gottman stated there was nothing to report out of Executive Session. 10 ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made by Hubler and seconded by Stunkel to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m. _________________________________ City Clerk 11