Safe Passage available

By Kelly Costa

During Monday night’s city council meeting, two representatives from Safe Passage were present. Safe Passage is a program provided by St. Francis Way Clinic in Litchfield and the Macoupin County Health Department. Safe Passage assists communities by providing addiction and mental health services. People who need help with addiction problems can go to Safe Passage access points located in Macoupin and Montgomery counties. Net Community Church and Staunton Helping Hands Center are two access points in Staunton. Safe Passage is hoping to include the Staunton Police Department as an access point. More information about services provided by Safe Passage can be found at the program’s Facebook page, SafepassageMM.

The city council received a letter of resignation from full-time water treatment plant employee Brandon Lesemann. The letter is dated Jan. 10. Lesemann’s last date of employment was Jan. 21.

In the treasurer’s report, certificates of deposit recently purchased at Bank of Springfield are as follows:

General Fund - $150,000 for 12 months at 0.31 percent

Band Fund - $15,000 for 12 months at 0.31 percent

DUI Fund - $15,000 for 12 months at 0.31 percent

Depreciation Fund - $75,000 for 12 months at 0.31 percent

Bond/Interest Fund - $150,000 for 18 months at 0.41 percent

Reserve Fund - $200,000 for 18 months at 0.41 percent

City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier reported that Waste Management has renewed their trash hauling license, so they are one of four haulers providing trash service to city residents. The rates for all four licensed trash haulers are:

Republic Services, Edwardsville, $75/quarter, pick up one time per week; one 95-gal. toter included; Recycling $45/quarter;

Robert "Bob" Sanders, Alton, $18/month in city limits; $19/month outside city limits, pick-up one time per week;

DC Waste & Recycling, Inc., Hillsboro, $20/month, includes 96-gallon toter; pick-up one time per week;

Waste Management, Springfield, $32.21/month, $26.88/month senior rate; toter rental $5.50; Every account will include environmental and fuel fees.

In Public Health and Safety,the city council agreed to purchase a 2022 Dodge Durango police vehicle from Staunton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for $39,000. Alderman Hanks voted no. The motion passed 7 to 1.

In Streets and Sewer, the council agreed to have Ameren Illinois install a street light on the pole at 1100 South Union Street, and install a pole and light at the dead end of East Eighth Street to provide additional lighting to the South Water Tower Park.

The council agreed to hire Wyman Markle as a part-time police dispatcher.

In Judiciary, the council passed ordinances with the following people regarding pre-annexation agreements but not annexing property to the city's corporate boundaries at this time:

Ryan and Maria Gusewelle, 1425 W. Sixth Street; Jeffrey M. Banks and Eileen Snow, 20267 Tall Timber Road; James and Sharon Trettenero, 9450 Schaefer Road; James and Sandra Baker, 9426 Schaefer Road; Dave Delaurent and Adrianne Karl, 9337 Schaefer Road.

The collector's report included the following:

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk - Fine disbursements $1007.30; Arrest agency fee $104; Police vehicle fund $20.50; E-citation fee $8; FTA warrant fee $280;

Staunton Police Dept.- Reports $15; Ordinance violations $400;

State of Illinois - Personal property replacement tax $6,027.87; Income tax $68,861.81; Use tax $15,437.40; Video gaming tax $12,953.47; Cannabis use tax $714.20; Telecommunications tax $5,259.41; MFT tax $11,373.07; MFT renewal fund $7,737.15;

Staunton Super 8 Motel - Hotel/motel tax $1,552.91;

Ameren Jllinois - Utility tax $25,018.39.

Claims include expenditures of $42,664.65; payroll of $57,953.67; and manual checks of $605,000.

Those present for the meeting were Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, Treasurer Cindy Pirok, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe, aldermen Rick Johnson, Jeff Scanzoni, Randy Hanks, Ryan Machota, David Manning, and David Dias. Aldermen John Moore and Chad Plenske and Police Chief Jeff Doerr attended electronically. City Attorney Phil Lading was absent. The next city council meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.