South West Illinois News

City of Pinckneyville City Council met Jan. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

ROLL CALL

Mayor Spencer called the regular meeting of the Pinckneyville City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall. Members present: Commissioners Kevin B. Hicks, Joshua L. Kuhnert, Sammy D. Peradotta, William B. Stotlar, and Mayor Robert L. Spencer. Mayor Spencer declared a quorum present. Mayor Spencer announced the agenda was set. Administrative staff present: City Clerk Melissa Kellerman, City Attorney Don Bigham, and Fire Chief Jim Gielow. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Peradotta.

PREVIOUS MINUTES

Commissioner Hicks made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 27, 2023, regular council meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stotlar. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Commissioner Stotlar reviewed the treasurer’s report and stated that Total Gross Payroll was $2,239,098.41 for the payroll period ending December 2023, up from last year. He stated that the regular hours of 82,668 and overtime hours of 2,413.50 were both down from last year. Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve the accounts payable with seven additional invoices: Four invoices from Egyptian Electric totaling $736.76; Frontier in the amount of $91.88; IMGA in the amount of $96,834.97; O’Reilly’s in the amount of $39.98 for a total added of $97,703.59. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Peradotta. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

CORRESPONDENCE

None

REQUEST FROM MATTHEW BENSON, THE BENSON LAW FIRM, TO DISCUSS RECONSIDERATION OF SEWER CHARGES FOR PANTHER WASH CAR WASH

Attorney Matthew Benson of The Benson Law Firm, representing Panther Wash Car Wash, requested to discuss reconsideration of sewer charges for the car wash. He stated Panther Wash removes the solid waste which is different from normal commercial customers. He stated Panther Wash has requested an alternate calculation of sewer charges and suggested the rate be the same as the water rate. Commissioner Stotlar asked Jesse Maynard of HMG to comment as he was at the meeting when Panther Wash originally brought up this issue. Mr. Maynard confirmed that after the solids are removed, the rest of the water, which contains chemicals, is still going into the sewer system. Mr. Benson confirmed it was, and stated they are not asking for sewer charges to be removed, just reduced. Commissioner Kuhnert stated the Wastewater Supervisor stated the chemicals in the water take more to treat than normal toilet/sink wastewater. He also stated the City of Pinckneyville has the lowest water/sewer rates in the State. Commissioner Peradotta noted the City Ordinance sets the sewer rate to be over the water rate due to the necessary treatment of wastewater. City Attorney Don Bigham stated the City will continue to bill Panther Wash for water and sewer based on gallons used and at the commercial calculation that everyone else pays. Commissioner Kuhnert added that people who water their yards or fill their pools are charged for sewer as well as water based on the water usage. Commissioner Stotlar responded that Panther Wash should increase their rates to cover the sewer charge. Commissioner Peradotta stated they have increased their rates in the last two years, while the City of Pinckneyville has not. Mr. Benson stated he would share this information with his clients and thanked the Council for their time.

RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-01 DESTRUCTION OF AUDO RECORDINGS OF CLOSED COUNCIL MEETINGS OF THE CITY OF PINCKNEYVILLE, PERRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS, CONDUCTED ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30, 2022

Commissioner Stotlar presented Resolution No. R-2024-01, a resolution authorizing the destruction of audio recordings of the closed council meetings of the City of Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, conducted on or before June 30, 2022. Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve Resolution No. R-2024-01, which was seconded by Commissioner Peradotta. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Commissioner Peradotta, seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert to move the meeting to Executive Session at 6:13 p.m. for the discussion of: Section 2 (c) (23) Matters relating to Utilities. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

RETURN TO REGULAR MEETING

Motion by Commissioner Peradotta, seconded by Commissioner Stotlar to return to the regular meeting at 6:53 p.m. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Commissioner Hicks, seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert to adjourn the meeting at 6:54 p.m. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

https://cms5.revize.com/revize/pinckneyvilleil/Document_Center/GOVERNMENT/AGENDAS%20&%20CITY%20COUNCIL%20MINUTES/2024/Minutes/01-08-24%20Minutes.pdf