Water main bids accepted

By Kelly Costa

During the Staunton City Council held Monday night, the council accepted the low bid from Midwest Municipal Supply for hydrants for the Franklin/Hibbard water main project for $4,200. Other bids received were from Schulte Supply for $4,786.20 and Core and Main for $5,250.

The low bid from Midwest Municipal Supply was accepted for materials for the Franklin/Hibbard water main project for $21,145.69. Other bids received were from Schulte Supply for $24,157.20 and Core and Main for $24,354.69.

In other business, a letter was received from Zion Early Childhood Education Center requesting to block the streets and intersections of Wood, Henry, Hoxsey, and Panhorst from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 16, with June 30 as an alternate date in case of extreme heat. This is to allow daycare students to ride their bicycles around the school. There is also a request for city workers to set up barricades that morning for the event. The requests were approved.

An email was also received from St. Paul United Church of Christ requesting to close Union Street from Pearl to Mill on Saturday, July 9, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. to host a family friendly Street Fest. This event will be held after the Tour de Donut. The request was approved.

City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier announced that Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation extending the statewide declaration through June 25 which means that public meetings may continue to be held remotely.

In Tourism, it was agreed to close the following streets on Sunday, June 26, from 7 to 11:59 p.m. for the upcoming fireworks display: Ash Street from Pennsylvania to Montgomery and Montgomery Street from Ash to Luker.

In Personnel, the council agreed to hire Tim Waltrip as a full-time water treatment plant employee effective June 1, 2022.

In Judiciary, an ordinance was approved annexing the property owned by Aaron Eller and Kaitlyn Brewer at 20062 Staunton Road to the city of Staunton.

The city liquor code was amended by increasing the number Class A liquor licenses from 10 to 11. Alderman Plenske voted no. The ordinance passed 5 to 2.

The first reading was given for an ordinance denying a zoning variance for real property located at 223 East Pennsylvania Street. Ryan and Amber Ruehrup are the owners of the property, and they attended the meeting to ask that the zoning variance be approved. The owners have cleaned this lot and would like to build an enclosed carport and/or pole barn on the property to store their camper. The neighbors have no objections to this building and are happy to have the property cleaned. Mayor Neuhaus said that there would be further discussion at the committee meeting about the zoning variance.

The first reading was given for an ordinance granting a zoning variance for property at 503 Klondike Street.

The first reading was given for an ordinance approving a collective bargaining agreement with the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local Union Number 338, on behalf of the city of Staunton’s full-time employees of the Street, Water, and Sewer Departments.

The collector’s report included:

Utility tax - M.J.M. Electric Cooperative $192.67; Southwestern Electric $739.97;

Hotel/Motel tax - Staunton Super 8 Motel $2,300.73;

Staunton Police Department - Ordinance Violations $300;

Macoupin County Circuit Clerk - Fine Disbursement $895.58; Arrest Agency Fee $192.00; E-Citation Fee $8; Police Vehicle Fund $1;

State of Illinois - MFT Tax $10,083.20; MFT Renewal Fund $7,214.68; Sales Tax $66,766.25;

Macoupin County Treasurer - Real Estate Taxes $9,309.31; Real Estate Taxes – Library $1,157.34; Downtown TIF Taxes $898.31; Interstate TIF Taxes $612.15.

Claims included expenditures of $97,784.84, payroll of $123,473.97, and manual checks in the amount of $5,579.42.

Those present for the meeting were Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, Treasurer Cindy Pirok, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe, Police Chief Jeff Doerr, aldermen Rick Johnson, Jeff Scanzoni, Chad Plenske, Ryan Machota, John Moore, and David Dias. City Attorney Phil Lading, and aldermen Randy Hanks and David Manning were absent. The next city council meeting will be on Monday, June 27 , 2022 at 7 p.m.