Mayor Pat McMahan declared December 2, “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Day” in Mascoutah in a proclamation read during the meeting. (From left to right: Mary Price, Donna Mae Schlueter, Mayor Pat McMahan, Michelle Miller and Nicole Vernier
By Zachary Daum
mascherald@heraldpubs.com
The Mascoutah City Council met on Monday, December 2 at 6:30 PM for a public hearing on a proposed property tax levy increase for Mascoutah’s special service area, before meeting for their regular council meeting at 7:00 PM. There were no citizens in attendance for the public hearing.
Mayor Pat McMahan stated that this is done every year and that there is no reason not to move forward with it. This amount does not increase tax rates, but increases the amount of money captured by the tax rate as it stands.
Mayor McMahon read a proclamation in relation to the Zonta Club for their dedication to supporting women’s rights. December 2 was declared “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Day.” The Zonta club also noted that they raised $155,000 for Zonta international since it’s inception in the Mascoutah area.
The following is the complete proclamation as stated and read during the meeting:
“WHEREAS. the crime of violence against women and girls
- Continues to be the most pervasive human rights violation and a global epidemic
- Is due to systemic use of physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, psychological and economic control and/or does not know any national nor cultural barriers and affects millions of women and girls of all races and abuse socioeconomic backgrounds, in peacetime and conflict
- violates an individual’s privacy. dignity, security, and humanity
- results in serious short-term and long-term physical, sexual and reproductive, and mental health problems, including increased vulnerability to HIV; and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization estimates that one in three (30% of) women woridwide have
experienced physical and/or sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, according to UNICEF, “around 120 million girls under the age of 20 worldwide (about one in 10) have experienced forced intercourse or other forced sexual acts”; and
WHEREAS, more than 650 million women alive today were married as children and 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 each year, and
WHEREAS, according to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, `the most common form of human trafficking (79%) is sexual exploitation”; and
WHEREAS, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation in the countries where the practice is concentrated, he World Health Organization estimates; and
WHEREAS, Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals with more than 26,000 members in 64 countries working together to make gender equality a worldwide reality for women and girls and has contributed to help achieve a world free of violence against women and girls for more than 100 years; and
WHEREAS, during the 16 Days of Activism, 25 N0vember-10 December, the Zonta Club of Mascoutah Area- along with all Zonta clubs-is encouraged to take part in the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign and to take local, national and international actions to influence the making and implementation of laws, as well as changing gender-based attitudes and behaviors to end violence against women.
THEREFORE, I, Pat McMahan, do hereby proclaim December 2nd as Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Day in Mascoutah, Illinois and encourage all residents to prevent gender-based violence by educating the community on its harm, to advocate for survivors of gender-based violence and to act in service on their behalf,
IN -WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused a seal of the City of Mascoutah to be affixed, on this, the 2nd day of December, 2024.”
After the public hearing and proclamation reading for Zonta, the council began their regular meeting, with a first reading of the 2024 Property Tax Levy. The 2023 rate setting EAV was $160,311,430, with this year’s estimate sitting at $196,335,568 for an increase of $36,024,138. The tax levy amount is the estimated amount of dollars needed by the city to run operations and to pay general obligation bonds. This does not raise property taxes, but captures more of the tax funds already collected for city use. “It’s important for people to know that we are not raising taxes. This is something we do every year.”
The council unanimously approved a bid award for the purchase in the amount of $32,900 to Holzhauer Motorsports of Nashville, IL for an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) for use by Mascoutah Police and EMS. This vehicle will be used for both special events and for emergency operations as needed. The funding for this is within the 2024 budget. This also includes a medical skid unit for use with this vehicle in the amount of $4,090. This was the lowest bid out of 4, with the others being one from Polaris for $35,999, one from Oasis Powersports in the amount of $35,999 and one from Lou Fusz Motorsports in the amount of $35,999. Mascoutah Police Chief Scott Waldrup said that the ATV would also assist with drone use. It will be able to transport the drone to locations outside of more easily accessible areas. Councilman Nick Seibert requested where the vehicle would be stored with the electric shed being a temporary location for this, before finding another storage area.
An agreement of a bid award and expenditure in the amount of $54,000 for engineering service to prepare plans, specifications and construction documents for “Safe Routes to School” bump-outs on County Road was discussed and unanimously approved. The city previously applied for and received a grant in the amount of $250,000 for construction of measures to improve safety for students around the high school area. This proposal allows for the construction of bump-outs on County Rd.
The council then discussed and unanimously approved a resolution to apply for a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant. This grant money would be used to create a roundabout at West Main Street and County Road. The city believes that a roundabout at this location would improve safety and traffic speed at the location. This grant would pay for 80% of the costs for preliminary engineering. City Engineer Sal Eklott was asked about the timeline on this roundabout project, who stated that the earliest the city would see any construction of this roundabout would be 4 years. Mayor McMahan stated that with that timeline, TIF district funds could be used to help pay the cost of construction for the roundabout. Elkott was also asked by Councilman Jack Weyant about how this would affect nearby businesses. Elkott explained that because the construction is years down the line, concerns by nearby businesses and residents alike would be consulted. Mayor McMahan stated that this is currently only a rough concept.
The council adjourned at 7:22 PM. They will next meet for their final meeting of 2024 on Monday, Dec. 16 at 7:00 PM. All citizens are welcome to attend in person. Optional virtual public attendance is also being provided virtually through Zoom Meeting (https://zoom.us). Information on how to attend these meetings can be found on the Mascoutah City Council website at https://www.mascoutah.org/mayor-city-council in meeting agenda notes.
Join us in saying NO 