Author Archives: Brook Craig

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 AT 6:00 P.M.   PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ISSUED MARCH 16, 2020, THIS MEETING WAS HELD BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE AND COMPUTER ATTENDANCE AS WELL AS IN PERSON.

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

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2020.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00633 TO ERWIN BUILDERS FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF GUTTERS AT TWIN OAKS AFTER DAMAGE FROM A RECENT STORM IN THE AMOUNT OF $898.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00621 TO CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS FOR A LASER JET PRINTER FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,295.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER FROM BARBARA HITT TO WILLIAM LASH AND ELIZABETH KEES FOR LOTS 85 AND 86.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A PARTIAL PAY ESTIMATE TO MIDWEST PETROLEUM AND EXCAVATING FOR THE AIRPORT TERMINAL PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $117,837.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYING BROWN AND ROBERTS AN ENGINEERING INVOICE FOR THE AIRPORT TERMINAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,448.71.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH DISCUSSED AMENDING THE SPEED LIMIT ON EAST TAYLOR STREET TO 20 MILES PER HOUR.  COMMISSIONER STOREY AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THEY BELIEVED THE SPEED LIMIT WAS ALREADY 20 MILES PER HOUR.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE INTO NEW SIGNAGE TO ADDRESS THE SPEEDING ISSUE ON THIS STREET. 

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00042 TO MORROW BROTHERS FORD FOR A 2020 FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,580.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE TO #00634 TO DO YOUR PART RECYCLING FOR THE CITY’S YEARLY CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR RECYCLING PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,200.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $63,012.85, WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,471.14, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $91,583.99.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO SET THE TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS FOR OCTOBER 31, 2020 FROM 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR PARENTS TO REMEMBER TO USE SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING TRICK-OR-TREATING.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED SHE WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE OPENING A LINE OF CREDIT AT THE STATE BANK OF WHITTINGTON FOR THE AIRPORT TERMINAL PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000.00 WITH SIGNEES FOR THIS LINE OF CREDIT BEING THE FINANCE COMMISSIONER, CATHY GARAVALIA, AND CITY TREASURER, LISA MENO.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA THE APR ON THIS LINE OF CREDIT WILL BE 3.5%.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE THIS MOTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT MATTHEW HARRISON AIRPORT MANAGER WITH NO PAY AT THIS TIME.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE THE AIRPORT BOARD RECOMMENDATION OF MOVING THE FUEL CARD READER UP ON THE PLAN FOR THE AIRPORT.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED MATTHEW HARRISON TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL.  MR. HARRISON STATED THAT HE CURRENTLY SITS ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD.  MR. HARRISON IS A PROFESSOR OF AVIATION AT SIU CARBONDALE AND IS 1 OF 125 PEOPLE WHO ARE CERTIFIED TO TEACH MECHANICS ON AIRCRAFT.  MR. HARRISON SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE COMPENSATED FOR TAKING CARE OF THE AIRPORT AND THAT HE HAS PLANS TO GET OUR AIRPORT NOTICED. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY BOARD TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BENCHES THAT SET AROUND THE COURTHOUSE BEFORE DEMOLITION.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO PLACE THESE BENCHES IN CAPITAL PARK ON LOAN FROM THE COUNTY.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING THE COUNCIL APPROVED TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH BENTON CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL FOR A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH UPDATED THE COUNCIL THAT THIS AGREEMENT WAS ALSO APPROVED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ALL DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED. 

IN UPDATES FROM THE MAYOR, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT JOHN CERNEY HAD RECENTLY BEEN TO BENTON TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE GEORGE HARRISON MURAL HE ERECTED ON AIRPORT PROPERTY.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT MR. CERNEY TOOK CARE OF THESE REPAIRS ON HIS OWN REQUIRING NO PAYMENT FROM THE CITY OF BENTON. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION TO APPROVE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH IDOT FOR THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDING DIVISION XX – SECTION 40-3-95.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 20-12 AMENDING THIS ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE WORDING OF THE ORDINANCE FROM “VARIETY OR 10₵” TO “VARIETY OR DISCOUNT RETAILER”.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION MADE ESTABLISHING AN ENTERPRISE ZONE FEE.  COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  3. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  2.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH AND COMMISSIONER PERKINS. 

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. 

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THERE IS A FOOD GIVEAWAY SCHEDULED AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHE WILL BE THERE HANDING OUT INFORMATION FOR THE 2020 CENSUS.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH RODNEY POTTS, THE CITY ENGINEER, TO DISCUSS THE BIDS RECEIVED ON THE CITY HALL ROOF.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WILL MAKE A DECISION ON THE BIDS AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. 

NO NEW BUSINESS.

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JULIE PAYNE HUBLER STATED THAT THERE IS A LOT OF SPEEDING ON SOUTH DUQUOIN STREET AND WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS.  MRS. HUBLER ALSO ASKED WHY THE AIRPORT RECOMMENDATIONS WERE UNDER COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ON THE AGENDA AND NOT UNDER COMMISSIONER PERKINS.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SINCE THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TO DO WITH FINANCES, SHE REQUESTED THAT THE ITEM BE PLACED ON HER AGENDA. 

TOM CARTER STATED THAT MR. HARRISON NEEDS TO LOOK INTO RETAIL SALES AT THE AIRPORT AND THE REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED.  MR. CARTER ALSO ASKED MAYOR KONDRITZ HOW THE EMERGENCY PLANS FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES WERE GOING.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT PLANS ARE BEING HANDLED ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR’S RULES AT THIS TIME. 

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

7:15 P.M.