MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING OF THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ROLL WAS TAKEN. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE READING AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 8, 2015 MEETING AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE READING AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED JUNE 12, 2015 MEETING AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ INTRODUCED DAILUS RICHARDSON. MR. RICHARDSON IS A BENTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND HE AND HIS FISHING PARTNER, TREVOR MCKINNEY, HAVE QUALIFIED TO FISH IN THE BASS MASTER’S HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL TOURNAMENT. THERE ARE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED FOR DOING CONSERVATION PROJECTS. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT MR. RICHARDSON WANTS TO DO A MONOFILAMENT FISHING LINE RECYCLING PROGRAM AT LAKE BENTON. MR. RICHARDSON DESCRIBED THE PROGRAM AND PASSED OUT PICTURES TO THE COUNCIL. MR. RICHARDSON STATED THAT THERE WAS A POST AT LAKE BENTON HE WOULD LIKE TO PUT HIS RECYCLING CONTAINER ON. MAYOR KONDRITZ THANKED MR. RICHARDSON FOR HIS VOLUNTEERING.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT WE RECEIVED TWO (2) BIDS FOR TRASH SERVICES. THE BIDS WERE HANDED TO ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH FOR OPENING. THE FIRST BID OPENED WAS FROM BULLDOG. THE PRICE FROM BULLDOG WAS $10.00 PER CUSTOMER OR $9.50 PER SENIOR FOR A PERIOD OF 4 YEARS WITH NO INCREASE. THE SECOND BID OPENED WAS FROM REPUBLIC. THE PRICE FROM REPUBLIC WAS $9.00 PER CUSTOMER OR $8.75 FOR SENIORS FOR 4 YEARS WITH NO INCREASE. REPUBLIC’S BID ALSO INCLUDED ALTERNATE BIDS WITH PRICES FOR RECYCLING AND TOTES. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (B) UNTIL FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 26, 2015, TO FURTHER LOOK AT THE BIDS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO NAME SHAWNEE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AS THE CITY ENGINEER. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO NAME SHAWNEE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AS CITY ENGINEER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT THE PLANS WERE COMING ALONG WITH THE NEW SEWER PLANT AND THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO BREAKING GROUND.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #15-12 FOR A 4-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF GRAYSON STREET AND FAIRLAND STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THERE IS A DISCREPANCY WITH THE SPEED LIMIT ON HUDELSON STREET FROM SOUTH MAIN TO SOUTH DUQUOIN STREET. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE FOR A 20 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON SOUTH MAIN TO SOUTH DUQUOIN STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MOORE MADE A MOTION TO REQUEST THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE MERIT BOARD PRESENT A CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF FULL TIME FIREFIGHTER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MOORE TABLED ITEM (C) AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED PAYROLL PAYABLE FOR 06/19/15 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,908.84, WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,973.23, AIRPORT CARETAKER, AND AUXILIARY POLICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,510.13 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $93,242.20. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO PAY THIS PAYROLL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED A SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR CHARLES WEBSTER, PARTNER AT FLOWERS BY DAY, AT 1101 NORTH MAIN STREET. COMMISSIONER MOORE QUESTIONED THE REASON FOR LOSS. COMMISSIONER WYANT ALSO QUESTIONED THE LOSS. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE WOULD CALL MR. WEBSTER TO DISCUSS THE LOSS.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED POOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR MICHELLE CZUPRYNSKI OF 607 ELECTION STREET, MICHELLE GULLEY OF 208 NORTH SEVENTH STREET, DARRYL LYNCH OF 420 STONE BROOK, ANDREW FREEMAN OF 1301 WHISPER WAY, KATHLEEN ROSE OF 510 NORTH GRAND STREET, KELLY DAWSON OF 703 MADISON STREET, MELINDA THOMAS OF 600 WEST SIXTH STREET, AND NICOLE KUBERSKI OF 206 WEST PARK. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE POOL ADJUSTMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO HAVE A RESOLUTION CREATED RESTRICTING FUNDS OF $600,000.00 FOR A NEW CITY HALL OR EXISTING CITY HALL RENOVATIONS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ITEMS (E) AND (F) IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT DURING THE AUDIT PROCESS HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CITY NEEDED POLICE AND FIRE PENSION ACTUARIAL REPORTS. WITHOUT THE COMPLETION OF THESE REPORTS, THE AUDIT WOULD BE DEEMED INCOMPLETE. THE COST OF COMPLETING THESE ACTUARIAL REPORTS IS $8,000.00. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE COMPLETION OF POLICE AND FIRE PENSION ACTUARIAL REPORTS FOR THE COST OF $8,000.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE CREATED FOR PREVAILING WAGE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY FOR JUNE 2015. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW PRISTINE THE TOWN IS LOOKING. HE STATED THE FLOWERS AROUND ARE BEAUTIFUL. HE ALSO STATED HOW PROUD HE IS OF THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE HELPING.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE AMERICAN LEGION LADIES AUXILIARY POST #280 FOR A FLAG PROJECT AT THE CEMETERY. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO DONATE $1,000.00 TO THE AMERICAN LEGION LADIES AUXILIARY POST #280. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT IT IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR THE CITY DONATES TO THE FIREWORKS AT REND LAKE. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE WOULD FIND THE AMOUNT ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET AND REPORT THIS AT THE CONTINUED MEETING ON FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
UNDER NEW BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE CITY GIVES EVERYONE A CHANCE TO PAY THEIR WATER BILLS. HE STATED THAT THERE IS A SMALL PERCENT WHO DO NOT PAY THEIR BILLS ON TIME. SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE DISCONNECT LIST, AFTER THEY’VE BEEN SENT A DISCONNECT NOTICE FOR BEING 60 DAYS, COME IN AND PAY A 1 MONTH BILL KEEPING THEM OFF DISCONNECT, BUT STILL BEING 30 DAYS BEHIND. MAYOR KONDRITZ FEELS IT IS UNFAIR FOR ANYONE, ENTITY OR PERSON, TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS. HE STATED THAT THE BILLING CLERK AND HE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS. HE FEELS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THEIR BILL IN FULL WHEN BEING SENT A DISCONNECT BILL. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO HAVE ATTORNEY MALKOVICH, MAYOR KONDRITZ, AND BILLING CLERK MELISSA HUNGATE COME UP WITH STRICTER RULES ON DISCONNECT BILLS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JULIE PAYNE-HUBLER SPOKE. MRS. HUBLER SAID SHE WANTED MAYOR KONDRITZ TO KNOW THAT HE IS NOT THE VILLAIN WHEN IT COMES TO THESE WATER BILLS. SHE ALSO STATED SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT TRASH COLLECTION AND SHE ALSO THOUGHT THE CITY SHOULD HAVE HIGHER LATE CHARGES ON WATER BILLS. TOM CARTER ALSO SPOKE BEFORE THE COUNCIL. HE VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE AT FRANKLIN HOSPITAL AND ASKED THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER GETTING INVOLVED. CHRIS LOWERY, AN AID FROM REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BRADLEY’S OFFICE, STATED THAT THE LOCAL SHRED DAY RECENTLY HELD WAS A SUCCESS.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEMS (B) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE AND/OR PENDING LITIGATIONS AND (C) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY, INCLUDING HEARING TESTIMONY ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR AGAINST LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO DETERMINE ITS VALIDITY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:55 P.M.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER
MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER,
AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
8:35 P.M.
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015 AT 8:30 A.M. TO CHOOSE A TRASH PROVIDER AND ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
8:40 P.M.
