Council Meeting Minutes — May 13, 2019

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MAY 13, 2019 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. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR A MOTION TO BE MADE ON THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2019. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO DIRECT ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR BACKFLOW PREVENTERS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE LAKE LOT TRANSFER OF LOT #82 FROM W. RICHARD SIMPSON TO CRAIG DILLARD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE UNIFORMS FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENTS FROM CINTAS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED HE HAD NO BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (B) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF SQUAD VEHICLES FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF ESTABLISHING AN EMERGENCY HEATING AND COOLING CENTER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF APPOINTING A PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $324,347.63. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 05/03/2019 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $84,861.44, WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,605.74, AND PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,111.86 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $123,579.04. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO DENY SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR TRAVIS CRAIG OF 1106 SOUTH LICKLITER, LOT 35 AND J.L. FRANKLIN PROPERTIES OF 442 WEST CHURCH AS THEY DO NOT MEET CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR MILBURN KING OF 807 NORTH HICKMAN, ELISA CLARK OF 301 SOUTH BROWN STREET, AND BILL YOUNG OF 608 NORTH FRISCO AS THEY MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR POOL FILLS FOR JANIS THOMAS OF 1352 WHISPERWAY AND MICHELLE EUBANKS OF 809 NORTH NINTH STREET AS THEY BOTH MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT LISA MENO AS CITY TREASURER FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT LISA MENO AS THE CITY TREASURER FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT BROOK CRAIG AS CITY CLERK FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT BROOK CRAIG AS THE CITY CLERK FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT TOM MALKOVICH AS THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT TOM MALKOVICH TO THE POSITION OF CITY ATTORNEY FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT THE ENGINEERING FIRM OF JOHN H. CRAWFORD AND ASSOCIATES AS THE CITY ENGINEER. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT THE ENGINEERING FIRM OF JOHN H. CRAWFORD AND ASSOCIATES AS THE CITY ENGINEER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT FOR AIRPORT MANAGER CHARLES CASEY FOR ONE YEAR. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT FOR CHARLES CASEY AS THE AIRPORT MANAGER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SUNDAY HOURS FOR ALL LIQUOR LICENSE HOLDERS. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO DIRECT ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO AMEND THE SUNDAY HOURS FOR ALL LIQUOR LICENSES IN THE CITY OF BENTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A VIDEO GAMING PARLOR LIQUOR LICENSE IN THE CITY OF BENTON. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION DIRECTING ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PREPARE A VIDEO GAMING PARLOR LIQUOR LICENSE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.

MAYOR KONDRITZ INVITED ELECTRIC BROKER ROB WEILT OF “A.G.E.” TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. MR. WEILT STATED THAT HIS COMPANY HANDLES THE BUSINESS ACCOUNTS FOR THE CITY OF BENTON ELECTRICITY AT THIS POINT. MR. WEILT STATED THAT HE WANTED TO SIGN THE CITY UP WITH A NEW ELECTRIC SUPPLIER WHILE THE RATES WERE LOWER. MR. WEILT PRESENTED A PROPOSAL WITH RATES FOR ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, AND FOUR YEARS. THE CITY WOULD BE LOCKED IN AT THE RATE FOR THE AMOUNT OF YEARS THEY CHOSE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM AT A RATE OF 0.04596 THROUGH CONSTELLATION ENERGY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ INVITED EVAN STEWART TO PRESENT HIS MOSQUITO ABATEMENT PROJECT TO THE COUNCIL. AFTER MR. STEWART’S PRESENTATION, COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL A MULTIYEAR PROPOSAL COULD BE MADE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED THE COUNCIL IF THEY WOULD REZONE 1501 OLIVER STREET FROM R5 TO R3. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO REZONE 1501 OLIVER STREET FROM R5 TO R3. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED THE COUNCIL TO VOTE ON A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO PLACE A MODULAR HOME AT 1501 OLIVER STREET. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR 1501 OLIVER STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR A MOTION APPROVING THE ANNEXATION OF 1501 OLIVER STREET, PARCELS 08-17-401-001 AND 08-17-401-019. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION OF 1501 OLIVER STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN BIDS FOR THE ROOF AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE NEXT MEETING.

NO NEW BUSINESS.

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED IF THE UNIFORMS FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT WERE IN ADDITION TO THE CLOTHING ALLOWANCE AFFORDED THE WORKS PER CONTRACT OR IN PLACE OF. COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE IN PLACE OF THE CLOTHING ALLOWANCE. ROCKY MORRIS QUESTIONED THE ORDINANCE REGARDING RAZOR WIRE/BARB WIRE AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE AS WELL AS REIMBURSEMENT OF TAXES THROUGH TIF. JULIE PAYNE HUBLER QUESTIONED THE PURCHASE OF NEW SQUAD CARS. JAKE BETTS THANKED THE COUNCIL FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH ALLOWING SUNDAY LIQUORS SALES IN THE CITY OF BENTON. MR. BETTS ALSO QUESTIONED THE COUNCIL ON WHETHER THEY ARE THINKING AHEAD TO PARKING ISSUES ON THE SQUARE AND OFF THE SQUARE ONCE WORK ON THE COURTHOUSE BEGINS.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

TIME 7:10 P.M.