Author Archives: Brook Craig

MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY AUGUST 13, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.

MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.   COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.    

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS PAYABLE ON AUGUST 13, 2021 IN THE AMOUNT OF $288,867.49.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

8:32 A.M.

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY AUGUST 9, 2021 AT 6:00 P.M.   THIS MEETING WAS HELD BY IN -PERSON AND COMPUTER ATTENDANCE PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ISSUED MARCH 16, 2020. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH AND COMMISSIONER STOREY ATTENDED VIA ZOOM CONNECTION AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND MAYOR KONDRITZ ATTENDED THE MEETING IN PERSON. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG HAD RECEIVED A RESIGNATION LETTER FROM COMMISSIONER IAN PERKINS.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAS ACCEPTED THIS RESIGNATION. 

NOTHING FURTHER WAS DISCUSSED REGARDING PUBLIC PROPERTIES. 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO PURCHASE ORDERS.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE DID WANT TO THANK THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY FOR STEPPING UP TO HELP WITH WHAT HIS DEPARTMENT NEEDED AS THEY WERE SHORT STAFFED DUE TO COVID-19. 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #21-5 FOR CLOSURE OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE FOR THE BENTON/WEST CITY CHAMBER CAR SHOW.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INVOICE TO CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES FOR THE 1-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $57,985.60.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL TO FURNISH MATERIALS FROM ILLINI ASPHALT CORPORATION FOR THE MFT ROAD PROGRAM ON MCLEANSBORO STREET IN THE AMOUNT OF $56,485.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00357 TO FIRE APPARATUS & SUPPLY TEAM FOR REPAIRS TO ENGINE #803 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,158.55.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO REMOVE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS BLADES, SYNDER, AND WARREN FROM THE ROSTER.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO PURCHASE A SIDE BY SIDE FROM WEEK’S IN BENTON WITH THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE SURPLUS BOAT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  THE FOREIGN FIRE FUND WILL PROVIDE THE REST OF THE FUNDS NEEDED FOR THIS PURCHASE.  COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS SIDE BY SIDE WHEN THEY NEED TO.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ASKED IF THIS PURCHASE WOULD BE MADE BEFORE OR AFTER THE BOAT WAS SOLD.  COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THIS PURCHASE WOULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL AFTER THE SURPLUS ITEM WAS SOLD.  THIS MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RENEWAL OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH BCHS FOR STANDBY AMBULANCE SERVICES.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED HE HAD NOTHING NEW TO REPORT ON REGARDING UNION NEGOTIATIONS.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD A MEETING SCHEDULED TO DISCUSSION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE POLICE UNION ON 08/10/2021. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT THE MEETING WOULD NEED TO BE CONTINUED FOR THE PAYMENT OF BILLS. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 08/06/2021 FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $54,638.25 AND ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,390.23 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $100,028.48.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW CITY ATTORNEY THOMAS MALKOVICH AND A CITY EMPLOYEE TO ATTEND THE FALL TIF CONFERENCE HELD IN CHICAGO DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2021.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

CITY ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES FOR THIS MEETING.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES FOR THE MEETING AND NO PURCHASE ORDERS. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEMS (C) AND (D) UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS ON THE AGENDA. 

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE ACCEPTING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 (ARPA) AWARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREEMENT.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 (ARPA) ASSURANCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE VI OF THE CIVIC RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.  COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

NO OLD BUSINESS. 

NO NEW BUSINESS. 

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, MR. TOM CARTER ASKED IF THE CITY WAS STILL GOING TO HONOR THE HIRING FREEZE THAT WAS AGREED UPON DURING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE WATER, SEWER, AND STREET DEPARTMENTS.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD GET BACK TO MR. CARTER REGARDING THIS. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. TO PAY BILLS.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

6:19 P.M.