South West Illinois News

City of Pinckneyville City Council met June 10.

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 Stotlar.

PREVIOUS MINUTES

Commissioner Peradotta made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 28, 2024, regular council meeting. 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.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Commissioner Stotlar reviewed the treasurer’s report and stated that Total Gross Payroll was $1,096,919.06 for the payroll period ending May 2024, up from last year. He stated that the regular hours of 38,626 were up from last year, while overtime hours of 954.5 were about the same as last year. The increases were mostly due to the increase in number of employees from last year to this year. Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hicks. 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. 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.

CORRESPONDENCE

Commissioner Hicks announced the Perry County Fair is going on this week and invited all to attend.

Commissioner Hicks introduced Pinckneyville High School Principal, Haven Hicks, and Interim Superintendent, Dr. Gary Kelly. Dr. Kelly stated he’s been at the high school since after Christmas 2023 and thanked the City Council for access to TIF Funds for additional lighting and a future outbuilding. He thanked the Council and employees for attending, supporting, and sponsoring events at the high school, such as the new greenhouse ribbon-cutting. He thanked the City Police Department for attending and being visible at high school events, as well as the City Fire Department for performing drills and providing information during severe weather. He presented the Council with lanyards with the school logo. Commissioner Peradotta noted the school’s importance to the community.

REQUEST FROM PERRY COUNTY AG SOCIETY TO ASSIST WITH ADVERTISING COSTS FOR 2024 PERRY COUNTY FAIR

Commissioner Hicks read a request from Perry County Ag Society for a $1,500.00 donation from the hotel/motel tax fund to assist with advertising costs for the 2024 Perry County Fair. Ilene Ruroede was present and stated the carnival starts tomorrow. The City is providing a discount for armbands on Wednesday and Saturday and she is still getting sponsors for more discounted armbands. Commissioner Hicks made a motion to approve the request, which was seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

DISCUSS AND ACCEPT OR REJECT PROPOSAL FOR PHASE III ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK FOR PROPOSED WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY

Commissioner Kuhnert announced the only bid for the Phase III archaeological work for the proposed wastewater treatment facility was over $970,000.00. City Attorney Don Bigham stated this was the only bidder and also the company who did the Phase 1 and Phase 2 archaeological work. He stated Jesse Maynard of HMG Engineers requested the Council formally act on a response to the bid to either accept or reject the proposal. Mr. Bigham stated there are alternatives the engineers are investigating based on resizing the plant or looking at a different location. Commissioner Kuhnert made a motion to reject the bid for the Phase III archaeological work for the proposed wastewater treatment facility. Commissioner Hicks seconded the motion. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar and Mayor Spencer voted YEA to reject the bid. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-25 TO ACCEPT A BID PROPOSAL FROM HAGENE EXCAVATING, LLC, FOR DEMOLITION SERVICES AT 202 S. WALNUT ST., PINCKNEYVILLE

Mayor Spencer presented Resolution No. R-2024-25, a resolution placed on file at the May 28, 2024 regular council meeting, to accept a bid proposal from Hagene Excavating, LLC, for demolition services at 202 S. Walnut St., Pinckneyville. Mayor Spencer confirmed this is the house next to the fire station. Commissioner Peradotta made a motion to approve Resolution No. R-2024-25, which was seconded by Commissioner Stotlar. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

APPROVAL TO PURCHASE SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM FROM SECURITY ALARM FOR COMMUNITY CENTER

Mayor Spencer introduced Rhonda Shubert, who rents office space for U of I, manages use of venue rentals, as well as management of the After School Program at the Community Center. Ms. Shubert stated the community center is rented by the general public every weekend and some during the week. She stated there have been incidents where some items have been broken or stolen, and if she had adequate cameras in the facility, she could go back to those for review. She also is concerned of the safety of the 60 children enrolled in the After School Program both during inside the building, at recess outdoors, as well as during pick-up at the end of the day. Commissioner Kuhnert expressed his concern of the number of cameras being requested. Mayor Spencer stated the proposal is for 21 cameras to be located inside and outside the building. Ms. Shubert stated there are so many rooms and places to go inside the building other than the big room and computer lab. Commissioner Hicks stated the children are only there for the After School Program two hours per day. Commissioner Kuhnert asked if there is a deposit for weekend rentals, stating it is a nice place to go, but maybe the deposit should be increased. Ms. Shubert stated the deposit is $25.00. She also stated she has been alerted that people congregate in the parking lot when they shouldn’t be there, and outdoor cameras would allow them to monitor that. Commissioner Hicks stated the high school only has 8 cameras, and he was not against 21 cameras, but the cost of $21,000.00. Mayor Spencer stated they anticipate 4 cameras outside, the rest of the cameras would be throughout downstairs rooms and hallways, including the elevator and both stairways. Commissioner Peradotta stated nowadays you cannot have too many cameras. Commissioner Kuhnert again expressed his concern of the cost of roughly $1,000.00 per camera and suggested starting with a total of 8, 4 inside and 4 outside. Commissioner Stotlar suggested getting another bid. He stated the 32 port in the quote means up to 32 cameras can be added, so he also suggested starting with 8 cameras, as they can be obsolete in a few years and must be upgraded. Commissioner Hicks asked if anyone else bid on the project, stating he used a different company that provides clear footage for up to 90 days of use. Mayor Spencer stated the specialist recommended the number of cameras on the quote, and the same vendor has provided security cameras in City Hall and Police Department, water and sewer plants, swimming pool, and at the Airport and they can all integrate to one point. Commissioner Kuhnert confirmed the upstairs of the community center is locked from renters who rent the basement and again stated 21 is excessive. Commissioner Kuhnert made a motion to solicit a bid for 8 cameras with the option for expansion that integrates with the current system. Commissioner Stotlar seconded the motion. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Jeff Egbert of the Weekly Press questioned if there was a threat to the City due to the executive session discussion of 2c8 at the last meeting or if it was to discuss the camera system, which would not be allowed in that statute. Commissioner Kuhnert confirmed it was not for discussion of the camera system. Mayor Spencer stated the camera item was tabled at the last meeting and was not discussed. Mr. Egbert stated he wanted to confirm because if there was a threat, it would be news.

Rhonda Shubert stated the livestock social and auction is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 11th with the livestock social starting at 4:30 p.m. and the livestock auction starting at 6:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Commissioner Peradotta, seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert to move the meeting to Executive Session at 6:35 p.m. for the discussion of: Section 2 (c) (1) Appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of an employee and Section 2 (c) (2) Collective negotiating matters or deliberations concerning salary schedules. 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 6:51 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 6:52 p.m. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Peradotta, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

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