MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2015 AT
6 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE WANTED TO GO OUT OF ORDER OF THE AGENDA. MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED MR. GENE ALEXANDER TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. MAYOR KONDRITZ READ A PROCLAMATION THAT PROCLAIMED NOVEMBER 25, 2015 AS “MR. A” DAY IN THE CITY OF BENTON.
COMMISSIONER MILLER INTRODUCED JALAYNE LUCKETT FROM GRAY, HUNTER, STENN. MS. LUCKETT REVIEWED THE CITY OF BENTON’S ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT. SHE STATED THAT THE CITY OF BENTON HAS STAYED PRETTY CONSISTENT AND WE HAVE NO LONG TERM DEBT AT THIS POINT.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 9, 2015 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. 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 THE READING OF AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 12, 2015 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER MOORE AND COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED HE HAD NOTHING TO DISCUSS.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FROM CURT ERWIN CONSTRUCTION FOR REPAIRS TO THE STREET DEPARTMENT BARN IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,109.00 TO BE PAID FROM THE $0.02 GAS TAX FUND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #15-31 “NO PARKING –TOW AWAY” ON SOUTH LICKLITER 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 OPENED BID PROPOSALS FROM SESSER PAVE AND SEAL AND GOSCO CONSTRUCTION FOR STRIPING OF THE SQUARE AND MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS. SESSER PAVE AND SEAL’S PROPOSAL WAS FOR $8,108.60 AND GOSCO CONSTRUCTION’S PROPOSAL WAS FOR $10,687.00. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL FROM SESSER PAVE AND SEAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,108.60 TO BE PAID FROM THE $0.02 GAS TAX FUND. 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 WITHDRAW PLACEMENT OF “IN GOD WE TRUST” DECALS ON POLICE AND FIRE VEHICLES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR NOVEMBER 20, 2015 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,158.27, WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,481.72, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $850.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $105,489.99. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR BILL YOUNG AT 608 NORTH FRISCO AND LORI COWSERT OF 705 NORTH BROWN AS THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE VA REPRESENTATIVE’S CONTRACT ALLOWING HIS OFFICE TO BE IN CITY HALL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #001006 TO RURAL KING FOR TABLES, CHAIRS, AND CARTS FOR TWIN OAKS IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,784.36. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT THERE ARE SOME LEAKS IN THE ROOF AT THE CAR MUSEUM AND HE IS HAVING THOSE LOOKED INTO. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE ALSO STATED THAT SEVEN (7) WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT TWIN OAKS.
ALSO UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING AN APPRAISAL FOR THE SCOUT CABIN ON WASHINGTON STREET.
COMMISSIONER MOORE STATED THAT THE FIRE FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN HELPING DECORATE THE BUILDINGS ON THE SQUARE FOR THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS. COMMISSIONER MOORE ALSO STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS COLLECTING TOYS FOR THE “TOYS FOR TOTS” PROGRAM AND CITIZENS CAN CALL 618-985-6128 TO REPORT A NEED FOR TOYS. COMMISSIONER MOORE STATED THAT THE SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL MEET AGAIN IN JANUARY AND THEN THEY WILL BE MEETING EVERY TWO (2) MONTHS. COMMISSIONER MOORE ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSFER OF DISPATCH SERVICES FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY TO WEST CITY HAS GONE WELL SO FAR.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, MARCIA MASSEY STATED SHE HAS A PROBLEM WITH HER WATER BILL. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE ASKED MS. MASSEY TO RETURN DURING BUSINESS HOURS AND HE STATED HE WOULD DO WHAT HE COULD TO HELP HER.
ROCKY MORRIS STATED HE WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO BE AWARE THAT HE HAD FILED FOIA REQUESTS WITH THE AIRPORT BOARD AND THAT HE HAD BEEN WAITING 30-45 DAYS FOR A RESPONSE.
JULIE PAYNE-HUBLER QUESTIONED IF THE AIRPORT BOARD HAD A FOIA OFFICER. MS. HUBLER WAS INFORMED THAT JEFF COLEMAN WAS THE AIRPORT BOARD’S FOIA OFFICER AND HAS TAKEN THE NECESSARY TRAINING. MS. HUBLER ALSO QUESTIONED THE AIRPORT BOARD NOT REGULARLY INFORMING THE CITY COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL STATED THEY WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION FROM THE AIRPORT BOARD.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:20 P.M.
