Safe Routes To School Program Was Presented To The City Council

By Kelly Costa

Prior to Monday night's City Council meeting, a finance meeting was held. Steve Moore, a representative of Staunton Schools, was a guest speaker. Moore spoke of the school receiving $20,000 as part of some grant money. The district has already done some improvements to its schools with this money, but they have money that they would like to spend on Safe Routes to School.

Parents, students, and teachers have already completed a Safe Routes to School workshop in March. Staunton Schools would like to collaborate with the City of Staunton, because not all of the sidewalks and pathways would be on school property. The City Council will discuss the matter in more detail at an upcoming committee meeting.

During the city council meeting in Correspondence, the city received a letter of resignation dated April 4, 2024 from full-time police officer Leonard Rankin. Officer Rankin’s last date of employment with the Staunton Police Department will be April 26, 2024.

The city also received an email from the Staunton FFA Alumni asking to reserve the Fireman’s Park on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 for the annual FFA Alumni Tractor Drive and to have the park rental fee waived. The city council approved the requests.

During guests, a citizen was concerned with how the Staunton Police Department handles investigations in the city. The city council will discuss the matter further at an upcoming committee hearing.

In the Treasurer’s Report, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok stated that Certificates of Deposit recently cashed in at Bank of Springfield are as follows:

Bond and Interest Fund, $150,000 plus an extra $5,085.53 in interest; and Reserve Fund, $200,000 plus an extra $6,780.70.

Certificates of Deposit that have been recently purchased at the Bank of Springfield for nine months at 5.15 percent are as follows:

Bond and Interest Fund, $100,000; and Reserve Fund, $200,000.

In the City Clerk’s Report, City Clerk Dennis Steigemeier announced that the Economic Interest forms must be submitted to Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan by May 1st, 2024.

In Public Health and Safety, the city council agreed to close Union Street from Main Street to Pearl Street and Pearl Street from Union Street to Elm Street on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the Glow Ride.

In Finance and Claims, the Council voted to pay the invoice to Laughlin Electric for electrical work completed at the South Water Tower Park and the Water Treatment Plant. $410 will be paid from line item 17.51.891.0, and $1,080 will be paid from line item 38.45.511.0.

In Utilities and Water, Council members agreed to pay the invoice to Leak Detection Services, Inc. for assistance with leak location for $1,528.50.

In Personnel, the city council voted to hire Xavier A. Zaragosa and Ethan B. Hoese as Full Time Police Officers per recommendation by the Staunton Police Commission. The city council also authorized the newly hired officers’ attendance to the S.W.I.C. Police Academy.

In Judiciary, the city council approved Ordinance #2239 making appropriations for the Fiscal Year beginning May 1, 2024 and ending April 30, 2025.

The 1st reading was given for Ordinance #2241 a Pre-Annexation Agreement with Mary A. Heyen regarding property located at 16336 VFW Road but not physically annexing the property to the city’s Corporate Boundaries at this time.

The city council approved Resolution #2024-10 declaring Surplus Property and authorizing its disposition.

Those present for the meeting were Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, Police Chief Jeff Doerr, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe, Aldermen Ryan Machota, David Dias, Terry Tipler, Kristy Berg, and Matthew McKee. Alderman David Manning was absent. City Attorney Phil Lading attended electronically. The next city council meeting will be on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 7 p.m.