City Council Meeting Minutes — July 22, 2019

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JULY 22, 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 STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA WAS ABSENT.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR A MOTION TO BE MADE ON THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 8, 2019. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED KYLE MCCOLLUM OF MCCOLLUM ELECTRIC TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND MAKE HIS PRESENTATION REGARDING LED LIGHTING TO BE POSSIBLY INSTALLED AT THE BENTON FIRE STATION. MR. MCCOLLUM BROUGHT A NEW LED LIGHT TO SHOW THE COUNCIL THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE NEW LIGHTS. MR. MCCOLLUM STATED THAT IF THE CITY WERE TO INSTALL THE NEW LIGHTS, THE CITY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REBATE THROUGH AMEREN ON THE LIGHTS AND THE COST OF THE LIGHTS WOULD BE RECOVERED THROUGH SAVINGS ON ELECTRIC BILLS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED RICK LINTON OF REND LAKE AREA TOURISM TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. MR. LINTON STATED THAT HE WANTED TO DO A PRESENTATION ABOUT WHAT REND LAKE AREA TOURISM PROVIDES TO OUR AREA. MR. LINTON SHOWED A PRESENTATION ON THE TELEVISION IN THE COUNCIL ROOM AND STATED THAT HIS GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOURISM GUIDES ABOUT OUR AREA AT REST AREAS, RESTAURANTS, AND HOTELS THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS. MR. LINTON STATED THAT REND LAKE TOURISM IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES DUE TO THE BED TAX CURRENTLY BEING ENFORCED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #001762 FROM DIAMOND EQUIPMENT FOR TWO NEW PUMPS IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,395.00. COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO AWARD THE NORTH MAIN STREET WATER MAIN PROJECT TO THE LOW BIDDER OF WIGGS EXCAVATING FOR A TOTAL PROJECT PRICE OF $275,707.95. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #19-11 REQUESTING A PERMIT FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE NORTH MAIN STREET WATER MAIN PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE UTILITY PERMIT WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE NORTH MAIN STREET WATER MAIN PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FOUR (4) YEAR CONTRACT WITH CRAIG MILES AS THE WATER AND SEWER SUPERINTENDENT FOR A SALARY OF $70,075.00 ANNUAL WITH A 2% RAISE ON THE FIRST DAY OF EACH FISCAL YEAR ANNUALLY FOR THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAY ESTIMATE #1 TO MIDWEST PATROLEM AND EXCAVATING IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,425.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE ONLY THING HE HAD FOR THIS MEETING WAS AN UPDATE. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE SUMMER ROAD PROGRAM HAS BEGUN.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001153 TO MCCOLLUM ELECTRIC FOR 29 LED LIGHTS TO BE USED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,450.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001154 TO CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS TO UPDATE THE LICENSE AND SOFTWARE ON ALL COMPUTERS AT CITY HALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,504.00. THIS NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED DUE TO MICROSOFT NO LONGER SUPPORTING THE CURRENT OPERATING SYSTEM BEING USED AT CITY HALL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 07/12/2019 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $73,038.88 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,311.84 FOR A TOTAL OF $99,350.72. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 07/26/2019 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $72,178.06, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,906.86, AND FOR THE AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $106,184.89. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO DENY THE SWIMMING POOL SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR DEBBIE WILLIAMS OF 407 NORTH BUCHANAN STREET AS IT DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MESSERMSITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR PAIGE TOWEL OF 526 EAST BURKETT, LONNIE BOWLIN OF 408 EAST CHURCH STREET, MARCH BENNETT OF 207 WEST MITCHELL, NANCY LAMBERT OF 634 NORTH BUCHANAN, STEPHEN DETHROW OF 804 NORTH FAIRLAND, SUSAN ATKINS OF 1421 NORTH DELLA, CAROL CORONA OF 510 NORTH WARD, STEVEN IONSON OF 807 NORTH PARK CIRCLE, JANETTA ROGERS OF 707 NORTH MADISON, MICHELLE NOVAK OF 508 EAST SMITH, MIKE WALTERS OF 418 LICKLITER, TERESA BAYLESS OF 311 NORTH BROWN, AND ROBERT TISDALE OF 302 SOUTH WARD AS THEY MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE.

NO UPDATES FROM MAYOR KONDRITZ.

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

NO OLD BUSINESS.

NO NEW BUSINESS,

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED IF AN AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED WITH FRANKLIN HOSPITAL. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT AN AGREEMENT HAD NOT BEEN REACHED AT THIS POINT.

ALSO IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, RUSSELL BALLARD TOLD THE COUNCIL THERE WAS TALL GRASS AND LOTS OF WILD ANIMALS IN THE AREA OF FIFTH STREET. MR. BALLARD STATED THAT HE CONTRACTED ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FROM A TICK FOUND ON RABBITS. MR. BALLARD BELIEVES THE RABBITS IN HIS YARD MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS AND WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO HELP WITH THE ANIMAL CONTROL IN THIS AREA. COMMISSIONER STOREY TOLD MR. BALLARD THAT HE SHOULD TALK TO CRAIG MILES AND HE COULD HELP HIM IN THIS AREA.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

7:00 P.M.