The Vandalia City Council met on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included approval of routine items, a public comment, adoption of three resolutions, first reading of a subdivision ordinance, and emergency passage of two ordinances. All votes were 6-0.
All right. The Monday, November 17th, 2025 meeting, Council meeting will now come to order. The first item on the our agenda is moment for reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. And at this time, I'd like to have Liam come forth. He's a scout Boy Scout from Troop 307. He's going to lead us into the pledge. If everyone will rise and we'll go on your mark. I pledge an allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the public for which it stands one nation under God, individual liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Liam. All right. Council, if you've had the opportunity to review the minutes from the October 6th meetings. Are there any questions or concerns, comments for those? All right. Hearing none, those are approved. We have there are no communications petitions in awards tonight, and there's no public hearing as well. That brings us to at this time, welcome comments from interested citizens. As you come to the podium, please clarify your or clearly state your name and address for the record. We further ask that those who speak to follow the etiquette of communicating with respect to others. As courtesy, please stay on topic with your statements. A reminder that this is not a form for arguments or debate. Anyone? Okay. Excuse me. Robert Shanahan, 7733 South Brown School Road. After the special meeting last week, we now have three versions of the infamous traffic impact study amendment to ordinance 25-02. The version that was actually voted on, the version that was actually recorded and published, and the version that was somewhat agreed upon last week. You can argue all you want about intent or meaning, but the fact remains that the council created and voted on an amendment with specific wording and a specific meaning in the English language at the March 3rd council meeting. When the referendum package was submitted in the spring, the committee fully intended and meant for the package to be complete and correct. Yet it was denied because it did not meet the exact wording and meaning of the ordinance as written. Who gets to choose when the law needs to be followed exactly word for word or when it's okay to use a loose loose interpretation of the language? Why did both of these instances go against the local taxpayers and for the out-of-town developers? If I get blind stinking drunk and blow through a red light at twice the legal speed limit, killing a family of four, I don't get a walk by telling the judge, hey, I didn't mean for that to happen. I intended to make it home safe. Yeah, that's how long we've been talking about this. And every one of them is gone, almost everyone, in favor of the developers. That doesn't seem to be a coincidence to me. All right, thank you. Anyone else? All right. All right, seeing none, we'll continue on with the city manager's report. Mr. Althouse, you have two items tonight. Thank you, Your Honor. First one, city offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The recreation center will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. until noon for the fitness area, gym and track. The recreation center will resume regular hours and schedule on Friday, November 28th. And number two, the Christmas tree lighting and holiday market will be running from 4 p.m. to 7 30 p.m.