Pinckneyville council approves routine purchases, hires and places clean FY2025 audit on file

The Pinckneyville City Council on Sept. 22 approved a series of routine operational matters—ranging from equipment purchases to event permits—and placed the city’s Fiscal Year 2025 audit on file after auditors issued a clean opinion.

Mayor Robert L. Spencer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and a full council voted unanimously on the night’s motions. Commissioner William B. Stotlar reviewed the Treasurer’s Report for the period ending August 2025, reporting a total cash balance of $11,589,200.35 and an unrestricted balance of $2,254,265.47. Stotlar also reported Total Gross Payroll of $1,779,444.98, with regular hours down to 58,972.75 and overtime hours up to 2,119. “Most accounts were within budget,” Stotlar said, noting specific overages in some funds later in the meeting.

The council approved a sequence of requests and purchases: an estimate from USDI for $11,836.63 to replace an inoperable gas regulator and meter at the high school (to be paid from Gas — Capital Outlay); the hiring of Kerry DeSpain as a maintenance operator for the Water Treatment Plant; and a $15,781.50 purchase from United Steel (through Kellerman’s Feed & Supply) for a 30‑by‑50‑foot heavy‑gauge carport for the street department. Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert presented the USDI estimate and moved the meter replacement; Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta moved the carport purchase.

On community events and local rules, the council unanimously granted the Perry County Backstoppers permission to collect at the four‑way stop on Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. to noon and approved St. Bruno Church’s request to close North Sullivan Street for a Trunk‑N‑Treat on Oct. 24 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Commissioners also set Trick‑or‑Treat for Oct. 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. for homes with porch lights on only, and approved a measure allowing Class A, D and F liquor license holders to remain open until 2 a.m. on Mardi Gras night and New Year’s Eve.

The council approved providing annual flu and pneumonia vaccines to all full‑ and part‑time city employees.

Fiscal Year 2025 audit

Sarah Kary, CPA of Rice Sullivan, LLC, presented the FY2025 audit and reported a clean opinion with no deficiencies in internal controls. Kary said most accounts were within budget but noted overages of approximately $11,000 in the police fund, $44,000 in the pool fund and $3,000 in the library fund. Commissioner Stotlar moved to place the audit on file and the council voted to accept and file the audit report.

Resolution removed from agenda

Mayor Spencer announced at the meeting’s start that Resolution R‑2025‑26, an agreement for grant assistance with A Taste of Fantasy, LLC d/b/a Pinckneyville Dairy Queen, had been removed from the agenda; the council took no action on that resolution.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (Sept. 8, 2025): mover — Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta; second — Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Approve Treasurer’s Reports: mover — Commissioner William B. Stotlar; second — Commissioner Kevin B. Hicks; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Approve accounts payable: mover — Commissioner William B. Stotlar; second — Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Perry County Backstoppers collection (Oct. 4, 2025): mover — Commissioner Kevin B. Hicks; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - St. Bruno Church street closure (Oct. 24, 2025): mover — Commissioner Kevin B. Hicks; second — Commissioner William B. Stotlar; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Extended liquor hours (Mardi Gras, New Year’s Eve): mover — Commissioner Kevin B. Hicks; second — Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Set Trick‑or‑Treat (Oct. 31, 2025): mover — Commissioner Kevin B. Hicks; second — Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - USDI meter replacement at high school ($11,836.63): mover — Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert; second — Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Hire Kerry DeSpain (Water Treatment Plant relief operator): mover — Commissioner Joshua L. Kuhnert; second — Commissioner Kevin B. Hicks; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Purchase carport for street department ($15,781.50): mover — Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta; second — Commissioner William B. Stotlar; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Annual flu/pneumonia vaccines for employees: mover — Commissioner William B. Stotlar; second — Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved). - Place FY2025 audit on file: mover — Commissioner William B. Stotlar; second — Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta; vote — 5 YEA, 0 NAY (approved).

The council adjourned at 6:17 p.m. following the unanimous motion to adjourn.