MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY FEBRUARY 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 FEBRUARY 13, 2017 BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING. 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 THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 17, 2017 SPECIAL CALLED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #001749 TO RABEN TIRE TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE BACKHOE 580 SUPER N IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,134.00. 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 DIRECT ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE INCREASING WATER RATES. THE MINIMUM RATE WOULD BE INCREASED BY $2.00 AND EACH OTHER INCREMENT WOULD BE INCREASED BY $1.00. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT WATER RATES HAD NOT BEEN RAISED IN FOUR YEARS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.
VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED ORDINANCE #17-02 FOR A THREE-WAY STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF ASH STREET AND WASHINGTON STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED ORDINANCE #17-03 FOR A FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF JESSE STREET AND WASHINGTON STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT JOHN OWENS AS A TEMPORARY FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTER DURING THE TIME DYLAN DEFOREST IS GONE TO FIREFIGHTER SCHOOL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADD DANNY STOWERS AS A PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER TO THE CURRENT ROSTER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
POLICE CHIEF KYLE MELVIN GAVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON THE NEW POLICE STATION. HE STATED THAT THE GENERATOR IS SCHEDULED TO BE PUT IN ON MARCH 1, 2017 AND THEY WOULD BEGIN DOING BUSINESS AT THE WASHINGTON STREET ADDRESS ON MARCH 6, 2017. A FORMAL RIBBON CUTTING WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 13, 2017.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED FEBRUARY 24, 2017 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,954.01 AND WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,640.96 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $91,594.97. 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 SEWER APPLICATIONS FOR JUSTIN MORNEWEG OF 204 NORTH COLLEGE, DUSTIN GOODWIN OF 510 WEST FIFTH STREET, RYAN MCCOLLUM OF 502 WEST FIFTH STREET, AND DEAN SEVERIN OF 806 SOUTH MCLEANSBORO STREET AS THEY 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 STATED THAT A LIST OF CITY OWNED REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IS BEING PUT TOGETHER FOR AN AUCTION. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THIS AUCTION WILL LIKELY TAKE PLACE IN MAY OR JUNE OF 2017.
UNDER CITY UPDATES, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT THE OLD WATER PLANT ON GRAND STREET HAS BEEN TORN DOWN. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT THE PLANT HAD BEEN THERE SINCE THE 1940’S. ALSO UNDER UPDATES, COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THE RECYCLING DUMPSTER HAS BEEN SET AT THE STREET DEPARTMENT AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN EMPTIED ONCE IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE VILLAGE OF CYPRESS HAD PICKED UP THE FIRE TRUCK THE CITY DONATED TO THEM. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT SHAWNEE ENGINEERING HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DAVID GARAVALIA ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE GIS MAP.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, ROCKY MORRIS STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED MULTIPLE CALLS FROM CITIZENS REGARDING THE CITY HAVING AN AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING UNIT PLACED BY RSP. MR. MORRIS STATED THAT HE DID NOT FEEL THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE USED A COMPANY FROM CARTERVILLE WHEN THE CITY OF BENTON HAS A HEATING AND COOLING DEALER IN TOWN. JULIE PAYNE HUBLER STATED THAT SHE ALSO FELT THE CITY SHOULD HAVE USED A COMPANY IN BENTON. TOM CARTER STATED THAT IF THERE WAS A REASON NOT TO USE THE COMPANY IN BENTON, HE FELT THAT THE CITY SHOULD HAVE USED DARNELL HEATING FROM WEST FRANKFORT IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE MONEY IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.
6:30 P.M.
MAYOR KONDRITZ Z ASKED FOR A SHORT RECESS TO ALLOW TIME FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES TO ARRIVE AT THE MEETING.
6:40 P.M.
THE MEETING RESUMED.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED RANDAL CROCKER, FRANKLIN COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN, TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AND THE AUDIENCE REGARDING THE PROPOSED 1% COUNTY WIDE TAX INCREASE. MR. CROCKER STATED THAT THE CURRENT FRANKLIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1875 AND IS EXPERIENCING FUNCTION AND MECHANICAL ISSUES. MR. CROCKER STATED THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO BUILD A NEW COURTHOUSE WITH A POSSIBLE SOUTH MAIN OR EAST MAIN LOCATION. MR. CROCKER STATED THAT THE PROPOSED 1% TAX WOULD HAVE A 20 YEAR SUNSET THAT COULD BE REACHED EARLIER. MR. CROCKER STATED THAT THE TAX WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED ON FOOD, DRUGS, TITLED VEHICLES, AND FUEL. JIM MUIR, FRANKLIN COUNTY CIRCUIT CLERK, AS SPOKE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE TAX WAS A GOOD MOVE TO SECURE THE FUNDS NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:15 P.M.
