Author Archives: Brook Craig

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 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 AUGUST 24, 2020.  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 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2020.  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 ADVERTISE FOR ACCEPTING BIDS FOR AIRPORT PROPERTY BALING TO BE OPENED ON OCTOBER 12, 2020.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ASKED DAVE HARP OF CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON THE PROGRESS OF THE I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT.  MR. HARP STATED THAT PLANNING IS UNDERWAY AND THAT HE WILL BE SCHEDULING A TIME WITH COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH TO DISCUSS A REVISED TIMELINE. 

COMMISSIONER MESSERMITH STATED THAT THE SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS SET TO BEGIN THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2020.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE PROJECT WILL BEGIN IN FRONT OF THE BENTON MOTEL ON NORTH MAIN STREET. 

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00029 TO MERMET SPRINGS FOR DIVE CERTIFICATION FOR JAMES NEFF IN THE AMOUNT OF $515.00.  COMMISSIONER STOREY NOTED THAT THIS WILL BE PAID FOR BY DONATIONS.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.  CHIEF COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A PLAQUE FROM THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL’S OFFICE FOR A UNIT CITATION FOR ACTIONS ABOVE AND BEYOND.  CHIEF COCKRUM PRESENTED THE PLAQUE TO THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAD RECEIVED THIS HONOR:  JEFF SHEW, DYLAN DEFOREST, MICHAEL FRAULINI, AND KYLE WILKERSON.  

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00632 TO CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS TO UPGRADE THE OFFICE SUITE SOFTWARE ON THE CITY CLERK’S COMPUTER.  THIS WOULD UPGRADE WORD, EXCEL, POWER POINT, AND OUTLOOK TO THE 2019 VERSION FROM THE 2013 VERSION CURRENTLY INSTALLED ON THE COMPUTER.  THE AMOUNT OF THIS UPGRADE IS $279.00.  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 MONTHLY BILLS PAYABLE FOR SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 IN THE AMOUNT OF $239,360.86.  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 PAYROLL FOR 05/01/2020 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,250.15 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,884.25 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $87,134.40.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH SECONDED THIS MOTION.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE AND CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG HOSTED A CENSUS TENT AT THE CHAMBER CAR SHOW AND THAT THEY WOULD BE HOSTING ANOTHER EVENT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT IF ANYONE NEEDED ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR CENSUS TO CONTACT CITY HALL AND THEY WOULD BE HELPED. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #20-11 PERTAINING TO THE LOCAL CURE PROGRAM.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THERE WERE BIDS RECEIVED REGARDING THE CITY HALL ROOF PROJECT AND ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO OPEN THE BID.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THERE TWO BIDS RETURNED TO THE CITY HALL.  THE FIRST BID OPENED WAS FROM ANDREWS ROOFING IN BENTON, ILLINOIS AND CAME TO A TOTAL OF $32,478.00.  THE SECOND BID OPENED WAS FROM GLANDT ROOFING LLC IN EAST CARONDELET, ILLINOIS.  GLANDT ROOFING SUBMITTED TO OPTIONS WITH THE TOTAL OF OPTION #1 BEING $32,850.00 AND OPTION #2 BEING $37,550.00.  MOTION TO TABLE SELECTION OF AWARD OF THE BID WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE WATER, SEWER, AND STREET UNION WAS ONGOING. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND HIS CONDOLENCES TO THE CHARLES CASEY FAMILY AFTER THE PASSING OF MR. CASEY WHO WAS THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT MANAGER. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT A PROCLAMATION FOR AVIATION APPRECIATION MONTH WAS INCLUDED IN THE COUNCIL’S PACKETS.  MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR A MOTION PASSING THIS PROCLAMATION.  COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2020 AS AVIATION APPRECIATION MONTH IN THE CITY OF BENTON, ILLINOIS.  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 THERE WAS A PROCLAMATION FOR ASSISTED LIVING WEEK INCLUDED IN THE COUNCIL’S PACKETS.  MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR A MOTION PASSING THIS PROCLAMATION.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 AS ASSISTED LIVING WEEK IN THE CITY OF BENTON, ILLINOIS.  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 HAD RECEIVED A RESIGNATION LETTER FROM MIKE HOFFMAN STATING HE WOULD BE RESIGNING FROM THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY BOARD AS HE NO LONGER LIVES IN BENTON.  MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS RESIGNATION.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF MIKE HOFFMAN FROM THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER BOARD.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  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 APPOINT ROBIN FRAILEY TO THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER BOARD TO REPLACE MIKE HOFFMAN FOR A TERM THAT WOULD END APRIL 8, 2022.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA 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. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO REAPPOINT DAVID SNEED TO THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD FOR A TERM THAT WOULD END FEBRUARY 28, 2023.  COMMISSIONER STOREY 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 REAPPOINT LOMA BAXTER TO THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD FOR A TERM THAT WOULD END APRIL 14, 2023.  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 REAPPOINT RICK KNIGHT TO THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD FOR A TERM ENDING APRIL 14, 2023.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE THIS MOTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  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 REAPPOINT JEREMY YOUNG TO THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD FOR A TERM ENDING OCTOBER 14, 2022. 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 APPOINT COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AS THE PERSON TO COORDINATE DECORATING FOR THE NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL.  COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY BOARD TO BE IN ON THE DECISION MAKING.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE AGREED.  MATTHEW HARRISON, WHO SITS ON THE AIRPORT BOARD, STATED THAT COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE ENTIRE BOARD AND THAT THEY WERE INCLUDED IN ALL DECISION MAKING.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE AM OPTION TO APPOINT CATHY GARAVALIA TO COORDINATE DECORATING FOR THE AIRPORT TERMINAL.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH BCHS FOR A STUDENT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM.  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. 

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. 

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD MET WITH THE CITY’S AUDITORS EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON.  SHE STATED IT WAS BROUGHT TO HER ATTENTION THAT SHE NEEDED TO REITERATE TO THE COUNCIL THAT THEY SHOULD BE SIGNING OFF ON BILLS.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT ONE COMMISSIONER DOESN’T EVEN SIGN HIS OWN BILLS, BUT THAT SHE WOULD NOT CALL HIM OUT BY NAME.  SHE STATED THAT SHE AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH SIGN AND REVIEW ALL BILLS EACH MONTH, ONE COMMISSIONER SIGNS ONLY HIS OWN, AND ONE COMMISSIONER DOESN’T SIGN OR REVIEW ANY BILLS. 

NO NEW BUSINESS.

NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE. 

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

6:45 P.M.

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL HELD WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 AT 9:00 A.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.  THOSE PRESENT IN PERSON WERE GARAVALIA, STOREY, MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  COMMISSIONER PERKINS ATTENDED VIA TELECONFERENCE.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO TRANSFER LAKE LOT LEAST #104 FROM KEVIN AND TAMMY WESTON TO ROBERT CASKEY.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

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

TIME 9:05 A.M.