Council Meeting Minutes — March 26, 2018

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MARCH 26, 2018 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, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE WAS ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 12, 2018 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT OF ORDER OF THE AGENDA AND ALLOW JIM BROWN TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TERMINAL AT THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. MR. BROWN STATED THAT THIS WAS A 90/10 PROJECT WITH THE AIRPORT’S PORTION BEING 10%. MR. BROWN ALSO STATED THAT THE GRANT THAT WILL BE USED TO CONSTRUCT THIS TERMINAL STATES THAT 82% OF THE AREA IN THE TERMINAL MUST BE A PUBLIC USE AREA. MR. BROWN STATED THAT THIS IS A 30 WEEK PROJECT AND THAT THE AIRPORT WILL HAVE TO PAY ALL BILLS AS THEY COME IN AND REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE TO THE AIRPORT FOR THE 90% AFTER COPIES OF THE CANCELED CHECKS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.

IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001067 TO CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS FOR A NEW COMPUTER AND MONITOR AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,302.95. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE APPLICATION #14 FOR PAYMENT ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND LOAN DISBURSEMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT HE HAD NO ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #000964 FROM LEO M ELLEBRACHT COMPANY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THREE SETS OF BUNKER GEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,105.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #000965 FROM ALEXIS IRE EQUIPMENT FOR TNT DUAL BATTERY ELECTRIC SPREADER FOR REPLACEMENT OF 19-YEAR-OLD EXTRICATION CUTTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,195.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION OF CLOSING THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT BY THE OLD JAIL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #18-04 REGARDING ROAD CLOSURE OF THE REND LAKE WATER FESTIVAL PARADE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED MARCH 23, 2018 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,697.91, WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT OF $27,011.86, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $83,809.77. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR JOHN STEPHENS OF 902 FOREST STREET, RANDELL BANKS 408 BAILEY LANE, AND BERNARD JOHNSON OF 1407 NORTH MAIN AS THEY MEET ALL THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE WATER AND SEWER SUPERINTENDENT CRAIG MILES AND PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR RACHEL GARTNER TO RESEARCH PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS FOR THE CITY OF BENTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CITY OF BENTON DRUG POLICY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE 2018-2019 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE FOR INSPECTION FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED A PROPOSAL FOR REPLACING THE CHRISTMAS WREATHS IN TOWN. THE PROPOSAL STATED THAT 50, 3 FOOT SNOWFLAKE LIGHTS WOULD BE PURCHASED FOR A TOTAL OF $13,984.00. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THIS REFLECTS A 35% DISCOUNT ON THE REGULAR PRICE OF THESE DECORATIONS. AFTER A DISCUSSION REGARDING POSSIBLE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND DONATIONS TO HELP WITH THE COSTS, COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO PURCHASE THE NEW CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOVING FORWARD WITH A COMPETITIVE FREIGHT PROGRAM GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000,000.00. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THIS IS A MATCHING GRANT AND THAT IF THE CITY WERE TO BE AWARDED THE GRANT THE CITY’S PORTION WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $600,000.00. THIS GRANT WILL BE ADMINISTERED THROUGH HMG. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT A NUISANCE HEARING FOR MR. DAVID BRUCE REGARDING A PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE 300 BLOCK OF WILSON STREET WAS HELD ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT 9:00 A.M. AT THE BENTON CITY HALL IN THE COUNCIL ROOM. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT A MOTION NEEDED TO BE MADE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE HEARING. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NUISANCE HEARING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDED TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO THURSDAY AT 8:30 A.M. TO HEAR AN APPEAL ON A NUISANCE VIOLATION REGARDING THE PROPERTY IN THE 300 BLOCK OF WILSON STREET AND THEREFORE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ITEM (B) APPEAR HEARING ON NUISANCE VIOLATION. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE BROWN AND ROBERTS ENGINEERING TO PROCEED WITH THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TERMINAL PROJECT. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION AUTHORIZING BROWN AND ROBERTS ENGINEERING TO PROCEED WITH THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TERMINAL PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

UNDER MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED POLICE CHIEF KYLE MELVIN TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON RANGER, THE K9. CHIEF MELVIN STATED THAT RANGER IS CONTINUING TO BE AN ASSET TO THE CITY OF BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. CHIEF MELVIN STATED THAT IN MARCH ALONE, RANGER HAD 16 VEHICLE ALERTS THAT RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE OF EITHER DRUGS OR DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WANTED TO THANK CHIEF MELVIN FOR THE WORK HIS DEPARTMENT DOES. MAYOR KONDRITZ ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM FOR THE RECENT JOB HE DID HELPING DIFFUSE A SITUATION IN TOWN.

NO OLD BUSINESS.

NO NEW BUSINESS.

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JULIE PAYNE HUBLER ASKED CHIEF MELVIN IF THE GOAL WITH HIRING A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER WAS TO HAVE TWO FULL TIME OFFICERS, ONE AT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT. CHIEF MELVIN STATED THAT WAS THE GOAL.


COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

6:35 P.M.