MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING OF THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, JULY 27, 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 WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE WAS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED JULY 13, 2015 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 17, 2015 CONTINUED COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW MICHAEL MCGUIRE AND GAIL WHITE FROM WHITE AND BORGONONI ARCHITECTS TO PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS ON THEIR INSPECTION OF THE CITY HALL BUILDING. MR. MCGUIRE AND MR. WHITE USED SLIDES TO PROJECT THE REPORT FOR THE AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER MILLER ASKED IF FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM WOULD PRESENT HIS FINDINGS FROM DOING AN INSPECTION ON CITY HALL THIS MONTH. CHIEF COCKRUM PRESENTED HIS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE REPRESENTATIVE, JEFF BENNETT, FROM WEEKS POLARIS TO GIVE HIS PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS THAT ALLOW UTV/GOLF CARTS ON THE STREETS. HE STATED THAT THE MAIN COMPONENTS TO BE STREET READY ARE WINDSHIELD, REAR VIEW MIRROR, HORN, BLINKERS, TAIL LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS SPOKEN WITH WEST FRANKFORT ON THEIR POLICY. THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT STATED TO THE WEEK’S REPRESENTATIVE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER EVEN GIVEN A TICKET TO ANYONE ON AN UTV/GOLF CART. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED HE HAD BEEN REVIEIWING THE STATE STATUTES REGARDING UTV/GOLF CART USAGE.
IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #002257 FOR THE DIAL STREET PUMP STATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,434.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #002258 FOR LAB TESTING IN THE AMOUNT OF $510.40. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION UNRESTRICTING $193,000.00 FROM THE CITY HALL BUILDING PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER MILLER.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION RESTRICTING $193,000.00 TO THE EAST WEBSTER STREET ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER MILLER.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR A 35 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON PETROFF ROAD FROM NORTH MAIN TO SUGAR CREEK ROAD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR A 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON SUGAR CREEK ROAD FROM PETROFF ROAD TO OLD BEN 24 ROAD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR A 35 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON SKYLANE DRIVE FROM SUGAR CREEK ROAD TO OLD BEN 24 ROADS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 24, 2015 FOR POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF A PORTION OF ESPY STREET FROM NORTH STOTLAR WEST TO DEAD END. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MOORE STATED HE HAD NOTHING FOR DISCUSSION THIS EVENING.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED PAYROLL DATED 07/17/2015 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,229.22 AND FOR WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,784.01 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $93,863.23. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PAYROLL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR SWIMMING POOLS FOR TOM TRURAN OF 402 SOUTH DUQUOIN, DOLORES OYLER OF 209 WEST WEBSTER, LINDA ALVAREZ OF 1212 E GRAYSON, JOSH KINSMAN OF 406 MCCALL, AND MARY WYANT OF 412 SOUTH STOTLAR. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THESE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR POOLS MET THE CRITERIA OF THE ORDINANCE AND MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THEM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED A SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR SWIMMING POOLS FOR MATTHEW HOPKINS OF 905 NORTH MCLEANSBORO. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO DENY THIS ADJUSTMENT AS IT DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR AN ADJUSTMENT ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR JESSICA MCCONNELL OF 506 NORTH WARD AND PATRICIA WINKLER OF 701 FORREST. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE ADJUSTMENTS AS THEY MEET THE CRITERIA OF THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT AT AN EARLIER COUNCIL MEETING HE HAD DISCUSSED IMRF PARTICIPATIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. HE STATED THAT THIS IS STILL BEING WORKED ON AND IT WILL NEED TO BE REVISITED.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING HE PROVIDED EVERYONE A COPY OF THE IML CONFERENCE REGISTRATION. HE STATED THAT IF ANYONE WANTED TO GO, THEY NEED TO LET THE MAYOR KNOW SO RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT ITEM (F) WILL BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM IPRF CAME IN TO GO OVER ISSUES WITH TRAINING. CHIEF COCKRUM, ATTORNEY MALKOVICH, AND SUPERINTENDENT STEVE SHOULTZ SET IN ON THE MEETING. HE STATED WE WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE PROGRAMS IN AN EFFORT TO GET OUR WORKER’S COMPENSATION PREMIUMS REDUCED.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO BOB REA WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY JAIL MUSEUM CAME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING TO ASK WITH HELP IN FUNDING. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO GIVE $500.00 A MONTH TO HELP WITH FUNDING OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY JAIL MUSEUM UNTIL THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND THEN AT THAT TIME REEVALUATE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR DONATIONS. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT IN THE FUTURE HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS BUDGETING FOR THIS SO WE WOULD KNOW ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND.
ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH STATED THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THE CONTRACT FOR NOVACARE CONCERNING EMPLOYEE TESTING. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT WE NEEDED A MOTION ALLOWING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THIS CONTRACT. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW MAYOR KONDRITZ TO SIGN THE CONTRACT CONCERNING EMPLOYEE TESTING WITH NOVACARE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PRESENTED THE RESIDENTIAL TRASH CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES. HE STATED WE NEEDED A MOTION TO ALLOW MAYOR KONDRITZ TO SIGN THE RESIDENTIAL TRASH CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW MAYOR KONDRITZ TO SIGN THE RESIDENTIAL TRASH CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ INTRODUCED FREDA BROADWAY, PRESIDENT OF THE LADIES AUXILIARY FOR AMERICAN LEGION POST 280. MRS. BROADWAY ALSO BROUGHT SOME OF THE LADIES AUXILIARY WITH HER TO THE MEETING. THEY STATED THEY WERE TRYING TO RAISE MONEY FOR A MONUMENT TO BE PLACED AT THE MASONIC AND ODD FELLOW’S CEMETERY IN HONOR OF OUR VETERANS. THE LADIES AUXILIARY STATED THEY NEEDED $2,600.00 FOR THE PROJECT AND HAD ALREADY RECEIVED $1,300.00 FROM AMERICAN LEGION POST #280. THEY ASKED FOR A DONATION OF $1,300.00 FROM THE CITY TO HELP FUND THE REST OF THE MONUMENT. MAYOR KONDRITZ SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS ITEM.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED A CDAP HOUSING REHABILITATION GRANT, GRANT #14-243003. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THE CITY OF BENTON WILL RECEIVE $400,000.00 IN CDAP HOUSING REHABILITATION GRANT FUNDS TO REHABILITATE TEN (10) HOMES. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CDAP HOUSING REHABILITATION GRANT #14-243003. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
UNDER MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY CHRIS JERRELLS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL. MR. JERRELLS WOULD LIKE PERMISSION TO HAVE THE STUDENTS IN THE HISTORY CLUB PAINT MURALS ON THE BUILDING ADJACENT TO CAPITAL PARK. THE COUNCIL STATED THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THIS AND SEE IF IT WAS POSSIBLE WITH THE BUILDING’S OWNER.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MOORE STATED COMMISSIONER MOORE STATED THAT THE DISPATCH CONTRACT IS BEING WORKED ON CURRENTLY.
COMMISSIONER MOORE ALSO STATED THAT ALEX MELVIN HAD ONE FINAL TEST TO PASS BEFORE HIS SCREENING FOR THE POSITION OF PROBATIONARY FULL TIME FIREFIGHTER COULD BE GIVEN.
ALSO UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A BID LETTING FOR THE OIL AND CHIP PROGRAM ON 08/05/15.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, NELSON ENRIETTO ASKED THE COUNCIL IF THERE WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE TYPE OF GARBAGE AND WASTE REPUBLIC SERVICES WILL PICK UP COMPARED TO WHAT BULLDOG SERVICES PICKED UP. THE COUNCIL REASSURED HIM THAT PICKUP SHOULD BE THE SAME.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR
ITEM (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: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER
MILLER AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
TIME: 9:00 P.M.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
TIME: 9:55 P.M.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE CURRENT ZONING DEPARTMENT POSITION TO TWO POSITIONS; ONE OF ZONING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT WORKING 35-40 HOURS A WEEK WITH AN ANNUAL SALARY OF $28,000.00 – $35,000.00 WITH BENEFITS. THIS POSITION WILL BE ADVERTISED IN THE LOCAL PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS; THE SECOND POSITION WOULD BE A DEPUTY CITY CLERK/CITY HALL ASSISTANT POSITION TO WORK 30 HOURS PER WEEK WITH AN ANNUAL SALARY OF $25,000.00 WITH BENEFITS. THIS POSITION WOULD BE OFFERED TO CURRENT EMPLOYEE, PAULA GALLOWAY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
TIME: 10:00 P.M.
