Pinckneyville council approves maintenance contracts, schedules budget hearing and approves solar-lease amendment 4–1

Pinckneyville’s City Council on April 14 approved a slate of routine and substantive items, including contracts for 2025 motor fuel tax maintenance, measures to advance the city’s FY2026 budget process and a lease amendment with Kiwi Solar 2, LLC that passed on a 4–1 vote.

Mayor Robert L. Spencer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and “announced the agenda was set,” with Commissioners Joshua L. Kuhnert, Sammy D. Peradotta and William B. Stotlar present (Commissioner Kevin B. Hicks arrived at 6:04 p.m.).

Financial and contract votes were front and center. Commissioner William B. Stotlar reviewed the treasurer’s report and said, “Total Gross Payroll was $568,460.70 for the payroll period ending March 2025,” and moved to approve the report; the council approved the treasurer’s report and later, with all five members present, approved accounts payable.

On procurement, the council approved Resolution No. R-2025-05 awarding work to Beelman Ready Mix Inc. and Resolution No. R-2025-06 awarding work to Illini Asphalt Corporation for 2025 Motor Fuel Tax maintenance; both resolutions passed unanimously. The council also approved Resolution No. R-2025-04 authorizing the city to enter into a contract with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council concerning police employment.

Budget items: Commissioner Stotlar presented Resolution No. R-2025-07 to authorize a public hearing on the City’s annual budget for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2026; the council approved the resolution and also placed Ordinance No. O-2025-06 (estimate of revenues) and Ordinance No. O-2025-07 (annual budget) on file for consideration.

Land use/renewables: Mayor Spencer presented Ordinance No. O-2025-03 to enter into a second amendment to the Option and Lease Agreement (South) with Kiwi Solar 2, LLC. The ordinance passed on a 4–1 roll-call vote—Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert was recorded as the sole dissenting vote.

Appointments and personnel: The council accepted the resignation of Fire Captain/Firefighter David Pearson, effective March 17, 2025, after noting he had nearly 15 years of service. Mayor Spencer then moved to appoint Mary Stone to the Pinckneyville Public Library Board with Commissioner Kuhnert to serve as a non-voting city liaison; the appointment passed unanimously.

Public comment: Local resident Laura Loos asked whether a Tuesday morning valve replacement on West Water Street would affect her business’s water service; Commissioner Kuhnert replied the work would affect only a small section in the area of the replacement and would not affect businesses on South Walnut Street. Genevieve Hester and Loos also described a planned community event, “Splash into Summer,” proposed for May 31, 2025, and requested use of a parking lot and power for vendors.

Executive session and adjournment: The council recessed to executive session at 6:16 p.m. to discuss personnel (Section 2(c)(1)), security procedures and school building safety (Section 2(c)(8)), and litigation (Section 2(c)(11)). The meeting returned to open session at 6:35 p.m. and adjourned at 6:36 p.m.

Votes at a glance: approval of minutes (motion passed 4–0 with Hicks absent), treasurer’s report (4–0), accounts payable (5–0), R-2025-05 (5–0), R-2025-06 (5–0), R-2025-04 (5–0), R-2025-07 (5–0), O-2025-06 placed on file (5–0), O-2025-07 placed on file (5–0), O-2025-03 (Kiwi Solar lease amendment) passed 4–1 (Kuhnert NAY), appointment of Mary Stone (5–0), adjourn to executive session and return (both 5–0).