Pinckneyville council approves solar and animal-control agreements, places other contracts on file; executive session held

Mayor Spencer and the Pinckneyville City Council met Jan. 12 in the council chambers and approved a series of intergovernmental agreements and routine financial items before adjourning to an executive session on personnel, property pricing and security concerns.

The council voted 4–1 to adopt Resolution No. R-2025-34, authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with Perry County and Saffron Solar, LLC for a solar energy development within the city; Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert cast the sole NAY. The resolution was introduced by Mayor Spencer and moved by Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta with Commissioner William B. Stotlar seconding the motion.

In other votes, the council unanimously approved Resolution No. R-2025-35, authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with Perry County for animal control services within Pinckneyville. The council also placed on file Resolution No. R-2026-01 renewing an existing fishery-management agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for Pinckneyville City Lake (the agreement has been in effect for more than 40 years) and placed on file Resolution No. R-2026-02 to enter into a custodial-services agreement with Hepp Commercial Cleaning LLC for cleaning of the community center; Commissioner William B. Stotlar moved to file R-2026-02 after Commissioner Kevin B. Hicks said he thought the price "was high." All four file motions passed unanimously.

Financial items on the agenda included approval of the Treasurer’s Report, in which Commissioner William B. Stotlar reported Total Gross Payroll of $2,754,180.51 for the payroll period ending December 2025, regular hours of 91,557 (down from last year) and overtime hours of 3,230 (up from last year); the council voted unanimously to approve the Treasurer’s Report. The council also approved accounts payable and added two invoices totaling $1,934.28: $584.70 to Egyptian Electric and $1,349.58 to Clearwave; that motion carried on a unanimous roll call.

The council recognized the PCHS Cheerleaders for winning their first ICCA State Championship. Representatives Brandy Steely and Casey McDonnough of Pinckneyville Community Hospital requested permission to hang anniversary banners on 15 city light posts along Illinois State Highway 154 and at the stop-light area for the hospital’s 75th anniversary, with installation planned for March through June and a hospital event on June 5, 2026; the council approved the request and the hospital will be responsible for installation.

During public comment, Jeff Egbert of the Weekly Press asked whether any actual threats had prompted the planned executive-session discussion under Section 2(c)(8). Mayor Spencer and City Attorney Don Bigham responded that Section 2(c)(8) is broad and that the intended discussion concerns security procedures or safety of public property; no further public detail on those items was disclosed in the open session.

On a motion by Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta, seconded by Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert, the council adjourned to executive session at 6:18 p.m. to discuss Section 2(c)(1) (personnel), Section 2(c)(6) (setting a price for sale or lease of public property) and Section 2(c)(8) (security procedures). The council returned to open session at 7:14 p.m. and adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- R-2025-34 (Saffron Solar intergovernmental agreement): PASSED 4–1 (YEA: Hicks, Peradotta, Stotlar, Mayor Spencer; NAY: Kuhnert). - R-2025-35 (Animal control services): PASSED unanimous. - R-2026-01 (Fishery management with IDNR): placed on file unanimous. - R-2026-02 (Custodial services with Hepp Commercial Cleaning LLC): placed on file unanimous.

The council did not disclose actions taken in executive session in the open minutes.