Category Archives: Announcements

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MARCH 27, 2017 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, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 13, 2017 BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER MILLER ABSTAINED.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED BARB GRABNER-KERNS FROM TREES FOREVER TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. MS. GRABNER-KERNS STATED THAT TREES FOREVER IS A PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS TO PLANT AND CARE FOR HEALTHY AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY FORESTS. SHE STATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP US RECOVER, REPLANT, AND RESTORE THE TREES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE COUNCIL THANKED MS. GRABNER-KERNS FOR HER TIME AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001750 TO ALAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS FOR 5 UNITS OF GREASE GOBLIN IN THE AMOUNT OF $845.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #0017523 TO BEN’S LAWN SERVICE FOR A HUSTLER SUPER Z MOWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,582.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO CONSTRUCT A NEW SEWER MAIN ON THE AIRPORT NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK PROPERTY, CONTINGENT UPON PROJECT FUNDING BEING AVAILABLE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE CRAWFORD AND ASSOCIATES ENGINEERING TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT FOR THE AIRPORT NORTH SEWER MAIN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO POST A FULL-TIME STREET DEPARTMENT POSITION PER CONTRACT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2017 MFT ROCK BID, AWARDED TO BEELMAN LOGISTICS IN THE AMOUNT OF $10.49 PER TON …. 2,000 TONS FOR A TOTAL OF $20,980.00. COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THE ONLY OTHER BID RECEIVED WAS FROM CARTER AND SONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $14.86 PER TON …. 2,000 TONS FOR A TOTAL OF $29,700.00. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE SECONDED THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BID FROM BEELMAN LOGISTICS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THE RECYCLING BINS PREVIOUSLY PLACED AT THE STREET DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN MOVED ONE (1) BLOCK SOUTH. COMMISSIONER WYANT ALSO STATED THAT THE ADAMS STREET PROJECT IS SET TO BEGIN IN THE COMING WEEKS.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A CITY AMBULANCE SERVICE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER MILLER.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO HIRE KEENER’S CLEANERS FOR JANITORIAL SERVICE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR MARCH 24, 2017 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,815.65, WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,045.62, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,200.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $91,061.27. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A SEWER ADJUSTMENT OF HELPING HANDS AT 703 BEATRICE AS IT MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO DENY SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR EARNEST HEINRICH OF 713 LOCUST AND ALICE BLASCZCYNSKI OF 204 CAPITAL AS NEITHER MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO PLACE THE FISCAL YEAR 2016/2017 BUDGET ON DISPLAY IN THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE FOR TEN (10) DAYS, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:45 P.M. ON APRIL 10, 2017. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE LIGHTING IN THE CITY HALL BUILDING HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROCESS AND HE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO A LED LIGHTING SYSTEM. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE MAC 1 IS BEING BUILT IN WEST CITY AND THIS IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRUCK STOPS/CONVENIENCE STORE/VIDEO GAMING. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD AND ESTABLISH POUR LICENSES IN BENTON.

MAYOR KONDRITZ BELIEVES THAT IN THE NEXT 10-15 YEARS THE GOVERNMENT WILL REQUIRED TO USE A LED LIGHTING SYSTEM. HE STATED THAT LAKE BENTON SPILLWAY IS DARK AND WE SHOULD CONSIDER INSTALLING LED LIGHTS AT THIS LOCATION.

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

NO OLD BUSINESS.

NO NEW BUSINESS.

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, ROCKY MORRIS QUESTIONED DECISIONS MADE BY THE AIRPORT BOARD. JULIE PAYNE HUBLER THANKED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR WANTING TO START AN AMBULANCE SERVICE, QUESTIONED WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH AIRPORT SEWER WOULD BE, AND SHE QUESTIONED GETTING AN ANSWER ON THE FOIA REQUEST SUBMITTED TO THE AIRPORT BOARD. TONY LANG ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING WHY LED LIGHTS WERE NOT INSTALLED IN THE CITY HALL WHEN THE FIRST ROUND OF LIGHT REPAIRS WAS DONE. MR. LANG ALSO STATED THAT THERE MAY BE SOME TREES IN THE DITCHES BEHIND HIS HOUSE THAT NEED TO BE CUT DOWN BY THE CITY.

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

7:22 P.M.

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MARCH 13, 2017 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 STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. COMMISSIONER MILLER WAS ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 27, 2017 BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #17-04 INCREASING WATER RATES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO MAKE PAYMENT #2 FOR THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $440,663.40. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE EMPLOYEE RESIGNATION OF STEVE SHOULTZ. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. BOTH COMMISSIONERS STATED THAT THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS RESIGNATION WAS WITH DEEP REGRET. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A BID LETTING ON 03/22/17 AT 9 A.M. AT THE BENTON CITY HALL LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN FOR THE 2017 MFT CA-10 ROCK. COMMISSIONER WYANT ALSO STATED THAT HIS ENTIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ATTENDED FLAGGING SCHOOL RECENTLY.

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE CITY HAD BEEN OFFERED A DONATION OF AN AMBULANCE BY THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT, ILLINOIS. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THIS AMBULANCE WOULD BE A BACKUP FOR ABBOTT AMBULANCE SERVICE. COMMISSIONER STOREY ALSO STATED THAT THIS AMBULANCE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO CITY EMPLOYEES WHILE ON DUTY AT NO CHARGE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE DONATION OF AN AMBULANCE BY THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT, ILLINOIS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT SOME OF THE STORM SIRENS IN THE CITY OF BENTON COULD BE MOVED TO A BETTER LOCATION. COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING THESE SIRENS. CHIEF COCKRUM STATED THAT THE STORM SIRENS WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE DESIGNED FOR OUTDOOR NOTIFICATION ONLY AND THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ALERTING CITIZENS BECAUSE OF UPDATES IN THEIR HOMES MAKING THEM MORE SOUND PROOF. CHIEF COCKRUM STATED THAT IF WE REPOSITIONED SOME SIRENS ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, NOTIFICATION MAY BE BETTER. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT TO MOVE A STORM SIREN THE COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $8,000.00 AND TO PURCHASE A NEW STORM SIREN, THE COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $25,000.00. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL A FURTHER DATE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

CHIEF COCKRUM ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE THAT IF THEY PURCHASE A WEATHER RADIO, THE RADIOS CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAMMED. HOWEVER, CHIEF COCKRUM STATED HE WOULD PREFER PEOPLE DID NOT COME DURING A WEATHER EVENT TO HAVE THEIR RADIOS PROGRAMMED. CHIEF COCKRUM ALSO STATED THAT IN THE CASE OF A SEVERE WEATHER EVENT, THE BENTON COMMUNITY BUILDING IS A STORM SHELTER AND WILL BE OPENED FOR CITIZENS THAT NEED TO TAKE COVER.

IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER MILLER, ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PRESENTED MONTHLY BILLS TO BE PAID IN THE AMOUNT OF $282,474.97. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE BILLS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PRESENTED PAYROLL FOR MARCH 10, 2017 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,390.22 AND FOR WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,702.15 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $87,092.37. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PAYROLL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PRESENTED A SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR RODNEY MANDRELL OF 103 MILL STREET AND FOR MICHAEL CODY SHOCKLEY OF 1006 EAST DIAMOND STREET. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS AS THEY MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THERE WAS A SEWER ADJUSTMENT FORM TURNED IN FOR ALICE BLASCZCYNSKI, BUT MORE INFORMATION WILL NEED TO BE COLLECTED TO MAKE A DECISION.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE BENTON ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BENTON ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT A VARIANCE WAS SUBMITTED TO THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER BY MINCON ROCKDRILLS. MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR A MOTION APPROVING THIS VARIANCE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE SUBMITTED BY MINCON ROCKDRILLS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT TWO (2) TERMS HAVE EXPIRED ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT KYLE NEAL TO A ONE (1) YEAR TERM. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF KYLE NEAL TO A ONE (1) YEAR TERM ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT VICTOR SHOCKLEY TO A ONE (1) YEAR TERM. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF VICTOR SHOCKLEY TO A ONE (1) YEAR TERM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

UNDER MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL THAT HELPED DURING THE RECENT STORM THAT PASSED THROUGH OUR AREA. MAYOR KONDRITZ ALSO STATED THAT IF CITIZENS HAVE NOT DRIVEN BY THE SEWER PLANT, THEY SHOULD DRIVE DOWN PETROFF ROAD AND SEE THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.

NO OLD BUSINESS.

NO NEW BUSINESS.

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JULIE PAYNE HUBLER ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE START OF AN AMBULANCE SERVICE. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT AN AMBULANCE SERVICE HAD NOT BEEN APPROVED YET AND IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE ACTUAL ANSWERS AT THIS TIME. ROCKY MORRIS ALSO ASKED ABOUT EQUIPPING AN AMBULANCE. FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE $5,000.00 OR LESS TO EQUIP AN AMBULANCE.

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

6:48 P.M.