MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2019 AT 6:00 P.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 PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH WAS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 12, 2019. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ INVITED REG ANKROM OF SIMEC ENERGY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. MR. ANKROM STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A LOWER RATE FOR THE CITY’S ELECTRIC AGGREGATION CONTRACT THROUGH HOMEFIELD ENERGY. MR. ANKROM STATED THAT A RATE OF $0.04584/KWH FOR JUNE OF 2020 THROUGH JUNE OF 2022.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (B) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF TRANSFER OR LAKE LOTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
NO BUSINESS FOR STREETS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
NO BUSINESS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR NOVEMBER 15, 2019 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,406.65, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,107.74, AIRPORT MANAGER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00, AND AUXILIARY POLICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,320.75 FOR A TOTAL OF $94,935.14. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2019 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,697.89 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,580.07 FOR A TOTAL OF $93,277.96. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR RICHARD KONDRITZ OF 525 EAST BURKETT AND TROY KNIGHT OF 806 NORTH MCLEANSBORO. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD RECEIVED COPIES OF LETTERS THAT WERE SENT TO COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND MAYOR KONDRITZ REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THE PENSION BOARDS ARE REQUESTING THE CITY TO LEVY FOR PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ASKED IF ALL OF THE COUNCIL HAD REVIEWED THESE LETTERS. EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL AGREED THEY HAD REVIEWED THE LETTERS.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #19-16, THE TAX LEVY FOR 2020/2021. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018/2019. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THERE WERE COPIES AVAILABLE IN THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE IF ANYONE NEEDED A COPY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ILLINOIS. SHE STATED THAT THERE IS AN INCREASE OF $61.93 PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT THIS INCREASE IS BELOW THE NATIONAL RATES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER PERKINS ABSTAINED.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO DISCUSS ITEM (B) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF ADDING HOURS OF OPERATION FOR ALCOHOL/LIQUOR LICENSE HOLDERS. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT MAYOR KONDRITZ HAS BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT ALLOWING THE LIQUOR LICENSE HOLDERS TO HAVE EXTRA HOURS OF OPERATION ON THANKSGIVING EVE, CHRISTMAS EVE, AND NEW YEAR’S EVE. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED FOR A MOTION ALLOWING THE LIQUOR LICENSE HOLDERS TO BE OPEN TILL 2 A.M. ON THESE DAYS AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ PRESENTED A PURCHASE ORDER FOR A FENCE TO BE PLACED AROUND THE GENERATOR AT CITY HALL. THE PURCHASE ORDER, #00088 WAS FOR DANIEL ROBINSON TO PLACE A 16 X 16 BLACK CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH PRIVACY SLATS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,855.00. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED WHY BIDS WERE NOT TAKEN ON HEALTH INSURANCE RATES. CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG STATED THAT THE INSURANCE PROPOSALS/RATES WERE TAKEN CARE OF BY S.C.D. REA INSURANCE.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
6:25 P.M.
