MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MARCH 14, 2016 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND DIRECTED ROLL TO BE CALLED. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 22, 2016 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ INVITED CARE-A-VAN REPRESENTATIVES, JENNIFER HAMMONDS (SOCIAL WORKER) AND JENI CHAMBLESS (PA) TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. THE REPRESENTATIVES STATED THAT THEY WERE SORRY THEY COULD NOT ATTEND THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING WHERE A PROCLAMATION WAS MADE REGARDING THEIR SERVICES PERFORMED AT BENTON CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL. THEY THANKED THE COUNCIL FOR THE PROCLAMATION.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT AGE (AFFORDABLE GAS AND ELECTRIC) REPRESENTATIVE ROB WEILT HAD BROUGHT RATES FOR THE COUNCIL TO LOOK OVER. HE STATED THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT RATES ONE MORE TIME BEFORE SIGNING A CONTRACT.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #0022584 FOR ALAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS FOR A GREASE GOBLIN IN THE AMOUNT OF $928.62. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #0022585 FOR HD SUPPLY FOR 1 2” COMPOUND METER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,344.38. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001028 FOR HOME DEPOT FOR TWO 3-LIGHT TEXTURED CEILING LIGHTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $119.98. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TWIN OAKS RESERVATIONS CONTRACT WITH LAKE COVE HOTEL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT HE WOULD BE OBTAINING BIDS FOR 1,000 TONS OF CA-10 FOR THIS YEAR’S UPCOMING ROAD PROJECT. COMMISSIONER WYANT ALSO STATED THAT, WEATHER PERMITTING; HE WOULD BEGIN LOOKING INTO WHICH STREETS NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR’S PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER WYANT ALSO UPDATED THE COUNCIL ON THE PAINTING BEING DONE ON THE SQUARE. HE SAID THAT THE CROSS WALKS WILL BE FININSHED THIS WEEK, WEATHER PERMITTING.
COMMISSIONER MOORE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #16-01 APPROVING ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE REND LAKE PARADE. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #001038 TO HEARTLAND OFFICE SUPPLY FOR A SWINGLINE SHREDDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,999.99. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #001023 TO CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS FOR MICROSOFT SQL SERVERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,561.00. 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 PAYROLL FOR FEBRUARY 26, 2016 FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,820.67, FROM THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,781.77, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $850.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $93,452.44. 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 PAY BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $285,411.51. 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 PAYROLL FOR MARCH 11, 2016 FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,823.53 AND FROM THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,732.24 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $81,564.77. 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 JACOB CURRY OF 504 NORTH BUCHANAN, BETH ANN WILSON OF 220 NORTH COMMERCIAL, AND BCMW OF 510 JOPLIN. SECOND 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 AUDIT ENGAGEMENT LETTER FROM GRAY, HUNTER, STENN FOR OUR NEXT AUDIT. 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 THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO BE READY FOR THE MOVE TO THE NEW CITY HALL. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW HIMSELF AND CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG TO BEGIN TALKING WITH VENDORS CONCERNING THE NEW CITY HALL. 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 TO THE COUNCIL THAT IN THE NEW CITY HALL HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN REPLACING THE PICTURES OF PREVIOUS MAYORS ON A PLAQUE. THIS PLAQUE WOULD BE PLACED IN THE NEW COUNCIL ROOM. PICTURES OF FORMER MAYORS WOULD BE KEPT IN A PHOTO ALBUM AND AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING WHEN REQUESTED. COMMISSIONER MILLER ASKED THE COUNCIL TO TAKE SOME TIME AND LET HIM KNOW THEIR FEELINGS ON THIS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THERE WAS SOME REPORTED DAMAGE AT TWIN OAKS FROM FOUR-WHEELERS. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD SURVEYED THE DAMAGE AND COULD SEE APPROXIMATELY 60 RUTS IN THE FRONT YARD AT TWIN OAKS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ MENTIONED THE ZIKA VIRUS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE ZIKA VIRUS. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE WITH THIS. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT ONE IMPORTANT THING TO DO IS TO RID THE CITY OF OLD TIRES AS THEY CAN BE A BREEDING GROUND FOR MOSQUITOS. HE STATED THAT WE WOULD REVISIT THIS IN THE FUTURE.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD “POINT MAN” ON THE EFFORTS IT HAS MADE WITH KEEPING OUR CITIZENS INFORMED. MAYOR KONDRITZ SAID HE APPRECIATES THINGS OF INTEREST BEING BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE OF THE AIRPORT WAS WRITTEN IN 1947 AND HE DID NOT PERSONALLY KNOW OF ANY AMENDMENTS TO DATE. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE MAY CONSIDER GETTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE INVOLVED AS HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE MEETINGS TO BE OFFICIAL MEETINGS DUE TO QUORUMS NOT BEING PRESENT. MAYOR KONDRITZ ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS NOT SURE THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND BROWN AND ROBERTS WAS LEGAL. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAS WALKED TO THE AIRPORT AND BACK APPROXIMATELY 18 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND HAS YET TO SEE AN AIRPLANE LAND OR TAKE OFF. MAYOR KONDRITZ ALSO STATED THAT HE IS PLANNING ON OBJECTING TO THE RECENTLY AWARDED GRANT PROVIDING FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A FENCE AROUND THE AIRPORT.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MOSQUITO/ZIKA ABATEMENT PROPOSAL. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (C). SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. 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 PURCHASE A HALF PAGE AD FOR THE “VOICE OF THE CHILD” SPRING CASA EVENT. THE AMOUNT OF THE AD IS $55.00. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO PURCHASE A HALF PAGE AD AT $55.00. 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 HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT JANE MILLER AND KYLE NEAL TO THE TOURISM BOARD FOR A TERM OF 2 YEARS EACH. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPOINTMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER MILLER ABSTAINED.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINTMENT TRAVIS SEVERIN IN A 1 YEAR TERM ON THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT. 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 WE HAD RECEIVED THE RESIGNATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMISSIONER DAVID MOORE. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD ACCEPT THIS WITH REGRET. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF COMMISSIONER DAVID MOORE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. 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 THE NEXT STEP WITH THE SEWER PLANT WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT WE MAY BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AS EARLY AS AUGUST.
ALSO UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NOVACARE ON GETTING JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING RETREAT.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JULIE PAYNE-HUBLER THANKED COMMISSIONER MOORE FOR HIS SERVICE. SHE ALSO STATED SHE WAS AGAINST USING ANY FUNDS TO PUT A FENCE AROUND THE AIRPORT. MRS. HUBLER ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS BEEN PICKING UP GARBAGE AND DEBRIS ON DUQUOIN STREET FROM HER HOME TO THE RAILROAD TRESTLE. MRS. HUBLER STATED THAT THERE IS MORE TRASH ON THE PROPERTY OF THE RAILROAD, BUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO PICK IT UP. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CHRIS FLENER STATED HE WOULD SPEAK WITH THE RAILROAD.
ROCKY MORRIS SPOKE BEFORE THE COUNCIL. MR. MORRIS STATED THAT HE HAS PERSONALLY NOTED NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS AT THE AIRPORT AND THAT THE FAA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR. MORRIS SAID THE FAA WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH THE CITY OVER THESE VIOLATIONS.
COY COCKRUM OF SHAWNEE ENGINEERING WANTED TO THANK COMMISSIONER MOORE FOR HIS SERVICE.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE 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.
7:32 P.M.
