Staunton Star - Times - Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years

by Kelly Costa

The Staunton City Council voted to provide radio dispatch services for the Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service, Inc., at the city council meeting held Monday night.

After negotiations, both sides reached an agreement whereby the Staunton radio dispatch center will provide dispatch services for a one-year period with a monthly fee of $750. Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service will be responsible for the cost of installing any new equipment necessary for the city of Staunton to page them out for dispatch purposes. The agreement becomes effective immediately after both parties sign it.

The council also gave the first reading of an ordinance that will transfer property from the State of Illinois through the Department of Natural Resources to the City of Staunton for the sum of $1. The property was formerly part of Consolidation Coal Company Mine #14 and is about 2.13 acres. The quitclaim deed has already been signed.

In other business, a resolution authorizing a redevelopment agreement with Bart and Patti Brauer was approved. In accordance with the tax increment allocation redevelopment (TIF) act, the council gave their approval to apply TIF revenues to the Brauer's project at 100 E. Main Street.

The city will reimburse 75 percent of expenses up to $4,743.75. The project includes tuck pointing, sealing mortar and installing gutters on the exterior of the building.

An active shooter table top exercise is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Staunton Public School. The exercise is held by the Staunton Area Emergency Management Council, and other emergency services within Staunton will take part. The group meets monthly to provide advice and coordination on emergency prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery actions and activities.

Participants will discuss various scenarios and general problems and procedures in the context of response to a specific incident.

Also in honor of National Preparedness Month in September, SAEMC will be holding its Safety Fair on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Net Community Church. Inside and outside exhibitors will be available to help prepare the community for emergencies before they occur. Extensive resources and trained personnel with hands-on activities will be on site. The public is welcome to this free event.

City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier announced that auditors from C.J. Schlosser and Co. will be in the city clerk’s office on Monday, Aug. 15, to perform their site work for the fiscal year audit.

In Park and Civic Improvement, the council renewed a contract with Christmas Décor Systems for Main Street holiday lighting at a cost of $3,500 per year with a three-year contract.

In Finance and Claims, the council accepted a bid from Da-Com Corporation for copiers and printers for the city clerk’s office, police department, and public works building for $14,851.

The council also voted to renew health insurance for city of Staunton full-time employees from CBIZ Benefit & Insurance Services of Illinois (Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Illinois) effective Oct. 1, 2022. The monthly renewal premium will be $931.80 per employee per month.

The council also approved the renewal of city of Staunton employee dental, life, vision, and AD&D insurance from CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services of Illinois effective Nov. 1, 2022, at a renewal rate of $55.58 per employee per month. (Principal Insurance Co.)

In Utilities and Water, the city council approved a quote from Keeley Restoration for dam repair and maintenance for $6,550.

In Judiciary, the council approved ordinances for charity roadblocks by Adopt-A-Pet (Oct. 8) and VFW Post 1241 (Aug. 26 and 27) at the intersection of Main Street and Route 4 and Main and Union streets.

The collector's report includes the following:

Staunton Area Ambulance Service - May and June dispatch fees $1,000;

Madison Communications - franchise fee $3,080.03;

Staunton Police Dept. - Reports $30;

Jersey County Circuit Clerk - FTA warrant fee $25;

Southwestern Electric - Utility tax $789.51;

State of Illinois - sales tax $66,281.35; personal property replacement tax $1,027.09.

A business license was issued to Alender Insurance Agency, and a solicitor's license was issued to Chills Brothers.

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