Mayor gets good comments about Bicetennial

Mayor Rick Gottman summed up Vandalia’s Bicentennial Celebration in four words at Monday’s city council meeting.
“Wow, what a weekend,” Gottman said.
The mayor said that he received “more positive than negative” comments about the weekend, and that many people, including downtown merchants have told him that “we need more of that.”
Gottman mentioned in particular the large crowd of people from five local congregations coming together for the community church service on Sunday morning and the community concert featuring four bands on Saturday evening.
One facet of the celebration was local musicians performing at the new Willms & Associates’ new Charters Patio at Fourth and Gallatin streets, and Gottman said that business representatives have told him that they plan to use that area for regular events in the future.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Gottman and Alderman Steve Barker of the city’s tourism committee said that plans are under way to make Olde Tyme Christmas a bigger event this year.
“We’re trying to build it up,” Gottman said.
Gottman said that 45 vendors, not counting food vendors, have already been signed up for the Nov. 15-16 holiday event, which includes the lighting of the city Christmas tree and Vandalia Rotary Club’s Christmas Parade.
Barker said that a Santa House being constructed will be placed at the city lot at the northwest corner of Fifth and Gallatin streets.
In other action, the council approved an ordinance dropping the number of council committees from nine to eight, with tourism now combined with the railroad and economic development committee.
“I just wanted everyone to have an opportunity to serve as a chair of one committee,” Gottman said.
Then, Gottman announced his committee appointments for 2019, with many of the aldermen receiving new appointments.
“I think everyone’s done a great job,” Gottman said.
“I just felt it was an opportunity to let other people do some things different.
“Nothing against anyone here,” he said. “It’s just that I’ve had it that way probably since I’ve been here (as mayor) and thought it’s time to shuffle things up.”
The committee assignments, with the chairman listed first, are:
• Streets – Barker, Ken Hubler, Russ Stunkel, Bret Brosman.
• Water and sewer – Brosman, Dorothy Crawford, Mike Hobler, Barker.
• Lake – Stunkel, Andy Lester, Brosman, Joel Rebbe.
• Railroad, economic development and tourism – Crawford, Brosman, Barker, Hubler.
• Personnel, finance and insurance – Lester, Stunkel, Crawford, Hobler.
• Cemetery and landfill – Hubler, Crawford, Barker, Rebbe.
• Public safety – Hobler, Stunkel, Rebbe, Lester.
• Building and grounds – Rebbe, Lester, Hubler, Hobler.
In other action on Monday:
• The council approved requests from the Vandalia Moose Lodge and FAYCO Enterprises to increase the maximum value of prizes to $50,000.
• The council approved the low bid of $9,826 from Draege and Sons LLC for the demolition of a home at 610 S. Sixth St.
Other bids received were from: Robert Simmons LLC, $19,500; and Grubaugh Contracting, $38,900.
Gottman said that the city checked with the low bidder because of the large difference in bids, and that bid “is all in line.”
• The council delayed action on bids for masonry repairs to the public safety building, to allow the building and grounds committee more time to study the bids.
• Gottman reported that the city has received one estimate on the replacement of the city hall server and that it will be getting a second estimate.
Because both are from local businesses, Gottman said, he wanted both to have an opportunity to bid on the work.
The council authorized Gottman and City Clerk Peggy Bowen to make a decision for a new server.
• The council approved the low bid of $1,600 from Fred A. Finney for an archaeological survey and assessment of the proposed 7-acre property for a city water treatment plant.
• The city approved an agreement with Hurst-Roche Engineers Inc. for the inspection of six local bridges, at a cost of $3,500.