Category Archives: Announcements

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MAY 14, 2018 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. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE WAS ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 23, 2018 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT WE WOULD BE GOING OUT OF ORDER OF THE AGENDA AND ALLOW EVAN STEWART OF GET M.O.S.T. TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL. MR. STEWART STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN TREATING THE CITY FOR MOSQUITOS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH A THREE YEAR CONTRACT THAT WOULD INCLUDE A 4% INCREASE STARTING NEXT YEAR. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO LOCK THE NEXT COUNCIL INTO A CONTRACT AND THEREFORE HE RECOMMENDED ONLY SIGNING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH M.O.S.T. PEST SERVICES. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH GET M.O.S.T. IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,640.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER MILLER ABSTAINED.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH RIGHT AWAY ACQUISITIONS ON WASTENA STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT ALSO STATED THAT AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION THERE WERE FIVE HANDICAP PARKING SPOTS PLACED IN THE NORTH EAST MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #002136 TO EC AMERICA, INC. FOR ENCASE FORENSICS LICENSING FOR ONE YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $585.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $275,019.78. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR APRIL 20, 2018 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,877.45 AND WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,717.9 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $93,595.38. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR WILLIAM JONES OF 905 NORTH MCLEANSBORO, LINDA CARLISLE OF 10978 OLD HICKORY COURT, KELLY ROLAND OF 608 NORTH FRISCO, AND LUVONTA GRAHAM OF 1208 EAST ESPY AS THEY MEET ALL THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR SWIMMING POOLS FOR MICHELLE EUBANKS OF 809 NORTH NINTH STREET, JOE RIZOR OF 1105 SOUTH POPE STREET, JAY SUDEMEYER OF 512 NORTH EIGHTH STREET, AND DALE IRVIN OF 402 WEST MCFALL STREET AS THEY MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO HAVE A FEASIBILITY STUDY CONDUCTED BY PGAV IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,500.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT LAKE COVE HOTEL IS CURRENTLY DOING ALL RESERVATIONS FOR THE TWIN OAKS LODGE AND THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THAT PROCESS BACK INTO CITY HALL. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO RETURN THE RESERVATION BOOKING OF TWIN OAKS LODGE TO THE BENTON CITY HALL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE CURRENT RENTAL RATES FOR THE TWIN OAKS LODGE ARE $100.00 TO RENT ON MONDAYS THROUGH THURSDAYS AND $200.00 ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, OR SUNDAY. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO INCREASE RENTAL RATES AT THE TWIN OAKS LODGE TO $150.00 FOR RENTAL ON MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND TO $300.00 FOR RENTAL ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, OR SUNDAY EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2018 UNLESS PREVIOUSLY BOOKED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE EPISODES OF ABUSE AT THE CITY PAID RECYCLING DROP. COMMISSIONER WYANT ASKED THE COUNCIL WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO WITH THIS SITUATION. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO DISCONTINUE THE RECYCLING PROGRAM PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF BENTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION, THE CITY RAN AMBULANCE SERVICE HAS BROUGHT IN REVENUE OF $900.00 AND HAS HAD A COST OF $5,800.00. FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 10 BILLS OUT WITH ESTIMATED REVENUE OF $6,000.00 EXPECTED TO BE COLLECTED.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD REVIEWED THE COVENANTS FOR LAKE HAMILTON SUBDIVISION AND WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THESE. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #18-03, LAKE HAMILTON SUBDIVISION COVENANTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT LISA MENO TO THE FIRE PENSION BOARD FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT LISA MENO TO THE FIRE PENSION BOARD FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT BROOK CRAIG TO THE POLICE PENSION BOARD FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT BROOK CRAIG TO THE POLICE PENSION BOARD FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN ACCEPTING CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT FOR WATER BILLS, LAKE LOT LEASES, RECONNECT FEES, AND DEPOSITS.

UNDER NEW BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT MR. “A” (GENE ALEXANDER) WOULD LIKE TO PAINT A MAP OF THE UNITED STATES AT CITY HALL. THE COUNCIL ALL VOICED THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS.

ALSO UNDER NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE FOURTH MONDAY OF THE MONTH WILL BE MEMORIAL DAY AND HE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE MEETING TO TUESDAY. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO MOVE THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING FROM MONDAY, MAY 28, 2018 TO TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2018. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, WILLIAM MCPHERSON ASKED WHO GOVERNS THE MASONIC AND ODD FELLOWS CEMETERY. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE CEMETERY HAS THEIR OWN BOARD. RAY BATISTA VOICED HIS CONCERNS WITH PEOPLE PLACING GARBAGE AT THE RECYCLING DUMPSTERS. MELVIN DIXON ASKED IF THE COUNCIL COULD TELL HIM AN ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR THE I57 INTERCHANGE TO BE COMPLETED. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING TO BE ASKED TO IDOT. JOHN MOHR STATED THAT IN A THREE STREET RADIUS OF HIS HOUSE HE COUNTED 37 LAWNS WITH WEEDS HIGHER THAN HIS KNEES THAT NEEDED TO BE CUT. MARK STERNIMANN ASKED THE COUNCIL AT WHAT TIME DO THEY CONSIDER THE TALL WEEDS TO BE A NUISANCE DUE TO PESTS AND ALSO A FIRE HAZARD.

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

7:02 P.M.

CONTINUED MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY MARCH 29, 2018 AT 8:30 A.M. AT THE BENTON CITY HALL. ROLL WAS TAKEN. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE WAS ABSENT. THIS MEETING WAS CONTINUED REGARDING HEARING AN APPEAL ON A NOTICE TO ABATE FOR NUISANCE UNDER CHAPTER 25 OF THE CITY OF BENTON REVISED CODE OF ORDINANCE. UNDER 25-1-5 THE INDIVIDUAL HAS A RIGHT TO APPEAR THE HEARING DECISION TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE CITY OF BENTON RECEIVED A VERBAL APPEARANCE NOTICE FROM MR. DAVID BRUCE AT 8:00 A.M. ON MARCH 29, 2018. THE NOTICE FROM MR. BRUCE STATED THAT HE WOULD SUBMIT THE VERBAL APPEARANCE RATHER THAN PHYSICALLY APPEAR CONCERNING THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IN THE 300 BLOCK OF WILSON STREET. MR. BRUCE STATED THAT IMPROVEMENTS HE HAS MADE TO THE PROPERTY SINCE HE PURCHASED SAID PROPERTY. MR. BRUCE ALSO NOTED THAT HE DOES HAVE ITEMS PILED ON THIS PROPERTY THAT HE PLANS TO REMOVE. MR. BRUCE STATED THAT “THIS LETTER HAS BEEN SEALED WITH MY OWN BLOOD, THERE IS PROBABLY ENOUGH THERE TO GET A D.N.A. PROFILE.” MR. BRUCE STATED THAT THE CAR IS LEGAL AND INSURED AND THAT THE TRAILER HAS NEW TIRES AND WILL BE COMPLETELY RESTORED. MR. BRUCE’S LETTER STATED THAT IF THE CITY CONTINUES TO PURSUE THIS ISSUE, HE WILL FILE CHARGES WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. MR. BRUCE’S LETTER AS WELL STATED THAT HE HAS A BLANK COMPLAINT FORM FROM THE A.R.D.C.

AFTER READING THE LETTER FROM MR. BRUCE AND HEARING TESTIMONY FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DAVID GARAVALIA, THE COUNCIL MADE A DECISION ON THE APPEAR. THE COUNCIL STATED THAT MR. BRUCE HAS 60 DAYS FROM TODAY (MARCH 29, 2018) TO CORRECT THE ISSUES IN THE NUISANCE VIOLATION. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DAVID GARAVALIA STATED THAT HE WOULD CHECK ON THE PROPERTY ONCE A WEEK BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 29, 2018 TO MONITOR PROGRESS. A LETTER WILL BE SENT TO MR. BRUCE WITH THE DECISION.

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

8:45 A.M.

MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD THURSDAY APRIL 12, 2018 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. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. COMMISSIONER STOREY WAS ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $287,743.28. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #18-02, FISCAL YEAR 2018/2019 BUDGET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.