Increases approved in water line tap fees

During Monday night’s Staunton City Council meeting, the council approved an increase in tap fees to city water mains. Each tap-on to the water main with a service line one-inch in diameter or smaller requires payment of $2,000 for city residents and $2,500 for non-city residents. Each tap to a main with a service line greater than one-inch in diameter is $3,000 for city residents and $3,500 for non-city residents. No new water accounts will be activated outside the corporate limits unless the property owner signs a pre-annexation agreement with the city. The new fees went into effect immediately.

In other business, a letter of resignation was received from full-time police officer Thomas Williams with his last day of employment on Nov. 5.

A letter of resignation was also received from part-time yard waste site attendant Steve Griffith dated Nov. 3 and effective immediately.

The council agreed to close Main Street from Edwardsville Street to Union Street on Friday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 4, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Christmas Tree Lighting and Snack with Santa. They also requested to keep Main Street closed from Wood Street to Elm Street from 8 p.m. on Dec 3 until 8 a.m. on Dec. 4.

The official certificate was received from the Illinois Secretary of State notifying the city that the 2020 Census showed that Staunton has 5,054 inhabitants.

The city clerk’s office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day. All public works employees, except for one water treatment plant employee, will be off that day as well.

In Park and Civic Improvement, the council approved a bid from J-N-F Tree Service to remove three trees, trim one tree, and grind stumps at Fireman’s Park for $4,900. Alderman Randy Hanks voted no. The motion passed 6 to 1.

The following expenses were approved with Hanks voting no:

• Up to $6,000 for flag poles and solar lighting at the Ralph and Josephine Oltmann Community Center and South Water Tower Park.

• Up to $2,000 for the Yard of the Week program.

• Up to $5,000 for dumpster services for the property at 108 East Main Street.

In Finance and Claims, the council renewed insurance with Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust for one year in the amount of $98,134. The Staunton Public Library will reimburse the city $850 for their portion of the premium.

The 2022 Workers Compensation Renewal with Illinois Public Risk Fund for $47,300 was approved.

In Utilities and Water, a bid for $5,502 was accepted from Midwest Municipal Supply for pipe for a water main upgrade on Lakewood Drive and water main extension on Streeb Lane.

In Streets and Sewer, approval was given to purchase a 9-foot plow from Woody’s Municipal Supply Co. for $7,995 to be installed on a new truck. Hanks voted no.

In Personnel, Linda Curtis was hired as a part-time crossing guard and yard waste site attendant.

Christmas bonuses were approved for city employees as follows: $250 to department heads and full-time bookkeeper Lori Grandone; $150 to full-time employees; and $100 to part-time employees with more than 250 hours per year.

V.F.W. Post #1241 will have a charity roadblock at the intersections of Main Street and Route 4 and Main and Union streets on Nov. 12 and 13.

Those present for the meeting were Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe, aldermen Rick Johnson, Jeff Scanzoni, Randy Hanks, John Moore, Ryan Machota, David Manning, and David Dias. Plenske was absent. Police Chief Jeff Doerr attended electronically. The next city council meeting will be on Monday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.