Chicago City Wire

City of Winchester Board met June 4

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Winchester City Council held their monthly meeting June 4, 2025 at City Hall. 

Mayor McIntire called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with the following council in attendance: Jeff Pittman, Terry Gregory, Melinda Hembrough, Bill Jacquot, Gerald Evans, Jack Daniels and City Clerk Teri Little. 

Also, in attendance were Wanda Cody, City Treasurer; John Paul Coonrod, City Attorney; Carmen Ensinger, Scott County Times; John Simmons, Supt of Public Works; Greg Hillis, Benton and Associates; Jessica Brown. 

Mayor McIntire led those attending the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Before the meeting starts Mayor McIntire advise that graduation was very nice. The Mayors Scholarship went to Carson Gregory and the Council scholarship went to Brylee Lawson. Both very well deserving students. 

Wanda Cody, City Treasurer presented bills for approval. 

MOTION: Jack Daniels moved and Terry Gregory seconded to pay the bills as presented. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

Mayor McIntire asked for any corrections for the regular meeting minutes of May 7, 2025. 

MOTION: Bill Jacquot moved and Jeff Pittman seconded to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the regular May 7, 2025 meeting. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

Mayor McIntire asked for any corrections for the special meeting minutes May 14, 2025. 

MOTION: Terry Gregory moved and Jack Daniels seconded to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the regular May 14, 2025 meeting. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

Greg Hillis, Benton and Associates, 

Presented change order for the library from Trotter Construction. This is change order number 2 for $29,970.00. This will almost finish out the project. The last 2 items, landscaping and emergency lights, are all that is left and then can close out project. 

MOTION: Terry Gregory moved and Melinda Hembrough seconded to approve Trotter Construction Change Order #2 $29,970.00. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried 

The firm is changing their name to Benton Engineering. 

Will be finalizing the water main project and should be completed by July meeting. 

The OSLAD grant application time frame is open till 09/30/2025 

North West property sewer grant still has not been posted. 

The new convenience store drawings were received and there were only 7 small items that needed corrected. 

Jessica Brown, advised that 2 weeks ago her and her mother had been up on the square visiting the new book store when her mother went to step off the curb and missed the last step to the road. They had to call the ambulance and had a broken jaw and stiches. She is asking that we mark the bottom step with a yellow or blue line for people that are not aware that the second step down is there. John Simmons advised he would check into ways to maybe mark them. He did advise there are hand rails and areas marked for easier access to the street. 

Wanda Cody, Treasurer, presented monthly financial reports. 

TIF CD was renewed for 5 months at 4.5%. Had earned over $11,000.00 interest that was rolled over. 

Audit will start June 23rd. 

Steve Doolin, Police Chief, presented monthly report. 

Animal complaint - 9; Arrests - 2; Assist EMS - 19; Assist outside agency (police) - 9; Assist fire department/fire - 2; Assist motorist - 5; Building alarm - 4; Clear roadway (obstruction) - 2; DCFS-1; Domestic disturbance - 2; Found property returned -2; Interviews - 4; Investigations -2; Juvenile - 1; Paper service - 14; Property exchange - 6; Search warrant - 1; Solicitor complaint - 2; Speak to officer -31; Suspicious person - 1; Suspicious vehicle - 1; Traffic accidents - 2; Traffic stops/citations - 12; Traffic stops/verbal warnings -27; Training/Drill - 4; Transient - 1; Vandalism - 1; Vehicle complaint - 6; Weather spotting - 2; Well-being checks - 7. 

Advise that it is necessary for officers to provide contact information with each contact. It is easier and professional to supply a business card. For 50 cards each would be about $80.00. 

The sheriff's office and 911 frequencies expired so every radio has to be reprogrammed and cost about $65.00 per radio. Morgan County is about to switch and to go with theirs would be about $1500.00 per radio so will not be going with theirs. 

Currently need 1 portable and 2 mobile radios to complete upgrade. All radios will then be consistent and alike. Quote from GTSI for total $5693.50. 

Scott County is moving to E Citations which will replace hand written copies. Circuit Clerk Stacy Evans has agreed to purchase the equipment necessary to outfit all three vehicles. This includes iPad tablets that can also be utilized for our report writing software, accident reports and IPSAN (license information). 

iPad, thermal printer, cables, adaptors, printer mount, hotspots and printer paper totaling $5502.00. 

The city will need to provide the dock stations/vehicle mounts that will be necessary to secure the iPad and printers in the vehicles. Exact quote is not possible due to having to find possible used parts since the older Tahoe and Impala are no longer in production. Should not exceed $2900.00 total. 

The keyboards needed for the vehicle docks should be $450.00 total. 

Hotspots-3 each, included with the E Citation equipment along with activations and a year subscription. 

A spotlight is needed for the truck. The Impala is the only vehicle equipped with a spotlight total is $334.98 on Amazon. 

Need to cancel the cell number 217-742-7174 as this is the second line on his personal phone provided by the city. Everyone uses his personal number and the line is not necessary. 

Advise that Officer Tim Murphy is now done with ride alongs and is now on his own and doing very well. 

MOTION: Terry Gregory moved and Jack Daniels seconded to approve expenditures as presented. Not to exceed $10,000.00. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

Jeff Pittman, Alderman, gave handout of drawing of how the dog kennels will be set up. There are some fees due for supplies. Concrete and gravel $1000.00, metal roof $536.00, and 3 kennels at 189.99 each. Supplies should not exceed $2700.00 with $570.00 paid to Jeff for the kennels already purchased. 

MOTION: Melinda Hembrough moved and Gerald Evans seconded to approve fees for dog pound not to exceed $2700.00. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

John Simmons, City Superintendent, presented monthly report. 

Work orders-9; Grave openings - 3; Locate tickets - 17; Zoning permits - 1; Monthly sniff test; Monthly odorant reading; Cathodic protection survey; Regulator stations survey; Monthly meter reading; Monthly brush pick up; Mowing city properties; Several ordinance violations; Pour concrete on N Walnut; Several days pool work; Relocated gas service for customer; Pour concrete on S Main R.E.A.; Lavediere finish up; Dirt work at cemetery; Water service for VanDeVelde's insurance building; Lots of spraying, weed killing; Street patching. 

Having issues with people living in garages and campers again and it's an ordinance violation. Have 3 notices on violations. 

Needing to get the playground equipment fixed. Needing to know which route council would like to go. Replacing the slides would be around $14,000.00 or the plastic welding is about $5300.00 with 100% guarantee. 

MOTION: Jeff Pittman moved and Gerald Evans seconded to approve repair of playground equipment. Not to exceed $6000.00. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

The trees in the park need cleaned up and there is an ash tree next to the pavilion that needs removed as it is dead. Danny Powell submitted bid to remove 2 trees and also top and clean up tree by basketball court. Bid was for $3800.00. 

MOTION: Melinda Hembrough moved and Jack Daniels seconded to approve tree clean up in the park by Danny Powell $3800.00. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

Rex McIntire, Mayor, needing to set up a meeting with the water committee to go over water rate increases. There is additional information they need to discuss. 

John Paul Coonrod, City Attorney, passed out the Annual Appropriations Ordinance to go over and will approve next month. 

Per our insurance company, Risk Management Association, the city needs a return-to-work policy. Ordinance 992 is the new return to work policy which basically already follows what is being done at present time. 

MOTION: Bill Jacquot moved and Jack Daniels seconded to approve Ordinance 992 Return to Work Policy. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

The county was requesting assistance with resurfacing the parking lot at the Scott County Nursing Center. Mayor McIntire recommended that the city contributes as the nursing home is a big asset to the town. It will improve the overall look of the building, Resolution 2025-06-01 permits the city to allow $16,000.00 from the TIF funds be allowed for assisting in the resurfacing of the parking lot. 

MOTION: Melinda Hembrough moved and Jack Daniels seconded to approve Resolution 2025- 06-01 approving TIF Funds to nursing home $16,000.00 Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

John Paul met with Harleigh Burnett from the Wild and Free Animal Rescue and went over the agreement drawn up between her and the city. The city will work under her license and she will help establish a holding area. She agrees to take sick or aggressive animals immediately. After 7 days of holding if animal is not claimed she agrees to take and try and rehome. 

MOTION: Jeff Pittman moved and Melinda Hembrough seconded to approve agreement between City of Winchester and Wild and Free Animal Rescue 06/04/2025. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

Municipal court update - 20 citations were filed last month. There was no court last month. There have been 10 of the 20 that have cleaned up and a few others are working on it. 

Concerning the Hynes Building on the West side of the square Resolution 2025-06-02 has been drawn up to condemning the building. This will start the process as the building is in dangerous shape. If within 15 days after notice is served to owner on record, if building is not demolished or put in safe condition, a petition will be filed so that the City may demolish or destroy the building. 

MOTION: Bill Jacquot moved and Jeff Pittman seconded to approve Resolution 2025-06-02. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

Jackie Kuchy, Winchester Civic Group, advised the council that the Civic Group is regrouping and working more toward beautification of the city. Wanted to request seating be added in Stephen Douglas Park. Would like a few picnic tables that can be used during music in the park, different events and just so people can set and eat lunch in the park. John Simmons will look into different tables and areas to place them 

No Public Comments 

MOTION: Bill Jacquot moved and Jack Daniels second to adjourn 10:30 pm. Roll call resulted in all yeas. Motion carried. 

https://winchesteril.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/June-4th-2025-Agenda-Minutes.pdf