Category Archives: Announcements

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD FRIDAY MARCH 12, 2021 AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.  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. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THIS MEETING WAS CALLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPENING BIDS RECEIVED FOR MOSQUITO ABATEMENT IN THE CITY OF BENTON.  MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG TO OPEN THE BIDS THAT WERE RECEIVED. 

CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG STATED THAT ONLY ONE BID WAS RECEIVED.  THE BID WAS FROM LITTLE EGYPT MOSQUITO COMPANY, LLC.  THIS COMPANY IS BASED IN JONESBORO, ILLINOIS.  THERE WERE TWO PROPOSALS INSIDE THIS BID.  THE FIRST PROPOSAL WAS FOR THE USE OF LARVICIDE TO BE USED TO TREAT DESIRED ZONES, CULVERTS, DITCHES, ETC. IN THE BENTON CITY LIMITS AT $2,300.00 PER MONTH FOR A SEASON OF SIX (6) MONTHS WITH A TOTAL OF $13,800.00 FOR MOSQUITO ABATEMENT FOR THE YEAR OF 2021.  THE SECOND PROPOSAL WAS FOR THE USE OF COMMERCIAL FOGGING.  IT WAS NOTED THAT COMMERCIAL FOGGING IS EFFECTIVE, BUT TIME CONSUMING AS CITY RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHEN THE FOGGING WILL TAKE PLACE AND A BACKUP DAY WOULD NEED TO BE PLANNED IN CASE OF RAIN.  THE COST OF COMMERCIAL FOGGING WOULD BE $4,500.00 PER MONTH WITH A TOTAL OF $27,000.00 FOR THE SIX (6) MONTH SEASON. 

A SHORT DISCUSSION WAS HELD REGARDING BOTH PROPOSALS.

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FIRST PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY LITTLE EGYPT MOSQUITO COMPANY, LLC FOR THE USE OF LARVICIDE IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,300.00 PER MONTH FOR A TOTAL COST OF $13,800.00 FOR MOSQUITO ABATEMENT IN THE CITY LIMITS OF BENTON FOR THE 2021 SEASON.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS.  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 PERKINS.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.   

9:15 A.M.                          

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2021 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.  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 WAS ONLINE AND COMMISSIONERS MESSERSMITH, PERKINS, STOREY, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ ATTENDED THIS COUNCIL MEETING IN PERSON. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE READING AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF

THE FEBRUARY 8, 2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE READING AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF

THE FEBRUARY 12, 2021 CONTINUED CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT HE WANTED TO GIVE KUDOS TO COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH AND HIS DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WITH THE WINTER WEATHER AND KEEPING THE STREETS PLOWED.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED HE WANTED TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CRAIG MILES FOR HIS WORK COORDINATING THE SNOW PLOWING AND ALL THE REPAIRS OF WATER MAIN BREAKS.  COMMISSIONER PERKINS ADDED THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN BUSY DURING THIS TIME AS WELL AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS.   

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED HE HAD NO BUSINESS FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING, BUT WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE THOUGHTS OF COMMISSIONER PERKINS. 

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING.  COMMISSIONER STOREY ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENTS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK WITH THE NUMEROUS WATER LEAKS AS WELL AS THANK THE STREET DEPARTMENT FOR THE JOB THEY DID ON KEEPING THE ROADS PLOWED.  COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THIS IS THE BEST HE HAS SEEN THE ROADS LOOK DURING A WINTER STORM IN MANY YEARS. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 02/19/2021 FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,906.83 AND ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,957.07 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $83,763.90.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALSO WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY CLERK, WATER DEPARTMENT CLERKS, TREASURER, AND ZONING/CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT MOST TIMES THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ANSWER THE TELEPHONES, TAKE ALL COMPLAINTS, AND DISPATCH THE CORRECT PERSONNEL TO ISSUES.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAS NOTICED ALL THE HARD WORK BEING DONE IN CITY HALL AND WOULD LIKE THOSE WORKERS TO KNOW THEY ARE APPRECIATED. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF SALE OF 411 NORTH COMMERCIAL, A CITY OWNED PROPERTY.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT PAM DORRIS HAS PURCHASED AN ADJACENT PIECE OF PROPERTY AND APPROACHED THE CITY REGARDING THE PROPERTY AT 411 NORTH COMMERCIAL.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT MS. DORRIS HAS AGREED TO PAY $500.00 FOR THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE APPRAISED VALUE.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE SALE OF 411 NORTH COMMERCIAL STREET TO PAM DORRIS FOR $500.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. 

NO OLD BUSINESS. 

NO NEW BUSINESS. 

NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE. 

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

6:13 P.M.

MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 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, COMPUTER ATTENDANCE, AND IN PERSON. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.  COMMISSIONER PERKINS WAS ABSENT.  EVERYONE WAS PRESENT IN PERSON FOR THIS CONTINUED MEETING. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $430,792,74.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

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

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2021 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, COMPUTER ATTENDANCE, AND 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.  MAYOR KONDRITZ AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA BOTH ATTENDED THE MEETING VIA ZOOM AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER STOREY ATTENDED THE MEETING IN PERSON. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 25, 2021.  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 HAD NO UPDATES OR PURCHASE ORDERS.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED CITY ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO DISCUSS ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF CONTRACT.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT AN AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE WATER, SEWER, AND STREET DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF BENTON.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT A MOTION NEEDED TO BE MADE ALLOWING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THIS CONTRACT.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW MAYOR KONDRITZ TO EXECUTE HIS SIGNATURE ON THE UNION CONTRACT FOR WATER, SEWER, AND STREETS FOR THE TERM OF 2020-2024.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE THIS MOTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER/ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DAVID GARAVALIA TO DISCUSS ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT FOR TECHNICAL AND CONSULTING SERVICES FOR GRANT APPLICATION FOR ABANDONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MUNICIPAL RELIEF PROGRAM.  MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT IF APPROVED, THE CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET A MAXIMUM OF $50,000.00 THAT WOULD BE USED TO REIMBURSE FOR HOMES DEMOLISHED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OR TO DEMOLISH HOMES THIS YEAR.  IN ORDER TO FILE THE APPLICATION FOR THIS GRANT, IT WILL COST THE CITY OF BENTON $1,900.00 AT A MAXIMUM IF WE WERE DENIED.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ASKED WHERE THE MONEY FOR THE APPLICATION WOULD COME FROM AND MR. GARAVALIA STATED HE COULD FIND IT IN HIS BUDGET, POSSIBLY FROM THE MOWING LINE ITEM.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO PROCEED WITH APPLICATION FOR THIS GRANT.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED HE HAD NO ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS MEETING. 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ASKED DAVID HARP OF CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE A PROJECT STATUS REPORT FOR THE I-57 INTERCHANGE.  MR. HARP STATED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN WITH CARRIE NELSON AT IDOT THIS AFTERNOON AND THAT THEY WERE GIVEN THE GREENLIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON THE PROJECT.  MR. HARP ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD BE PROCEEDING WITH A PLANNING PROJECT MEETING WITHIN THE WEEK.   

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PROCEED WITH ADVERTISING FOR TAKING BIDS ON MOSQUITO ABATEMENT FOR THE CITY OF BENTON FOR 2021.  THIS MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED HE HAD NO ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS MEETING. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FEBRUARY 5, 2021 IN THE AMOUNT OF $85,601.74.  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 ALLOW CITY EMPLOYEES TO BE PAID FOR TIME OFF TO TAKE THE COVID-19 VACCINE.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD REGARDING HOW LONG OF A PERIOD OF TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED OFF FOR GETTING THE VACCINE.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA REVISED HER MOTION.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA’S NEW MOTION WAS TO ALLOW CITY EMPLOYEES TO HAVE ONE HOUR OF PAID TIME OFF TO OBTAIN A COVID VACCINE IN THE CITY OF BENTON AND TWO HOURS TO OBTAIN A COVID VACCINE OUT OF THE CITY OF BENTON AND THIS IS FOR BOTH DOSES OF THE VACCINE.  MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.  COMMISSIONER STOREY LEFT THE MEETING BEFORE THE VOTE WAS TAKEN TO GO TO WORK.  

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO FURTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS MEETING.

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. 

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ASKED WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE EXPIRED CONTRACT FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER/ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DAVID GARAVALIA.  COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AS WELL BECAUSE A LOT OF CITIZENS HAVE ASKED HIM IF THE POSITION WILL BE OPEN.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT MR. GARAVALIA WILL BE RETIRING, BUT HE HAS SOME PROJECTS TO SEE THROUGH BEFORE DOING SO.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THEY WILL BE SEARCHING FOR A REPLACEMENT IN APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS. 

NO NEW BUSINESS.

NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE. 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS MEETING UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 FOR PAYMENT OF BILLS.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.    VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.