MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JANUARY 27, 2020 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.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 1, 2020 REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING. 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 THE COUNCIL WOULD BE GOING OUT OF ORDER OF THE AGENDA. UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED GARRET COLLIER FROM THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD TO DISCUSS AMENDING THE AIRPORT HANGAR LEASES. MR. COLLIER STATED THAT THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD HAD NOT MET TO DISCUSS THIS YET AND WOULD BE SENDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (B) UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS “DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AMENDING AIRPORT HANGAR LEASES. 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 ERIC BOE OF BROWN AND ROBERTS TO PRESENT THE CURRENT STANDING OF THE AIRPORT AS TO FAA AND IDOT AERONAUTIC ISSUES. MR. BOE STATED THAT THE AIRPORT NEEDS TO HOUSE 10 AIRCRAFT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $150,000 FROM THE FAA. GARRETT COLLIER STATED THAT HE AND RACHEL GARTNER ARE WORKING ON GETTING NEW LEASES SIGNED.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DAVID GARAVALIA TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING A PROPOSAL FROM JIM EMBERTON TO REMOVE SPECIFIED ITEMS FROM THE REAL ESTATE OF 1107 HIGHLAND STREET PURSUANT TO COURT ORDER OBTAINED BY CODE ENFORCEMENT. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS PROPERTY SINCE THE COURT ORDER HAS BEEN OBTAINED, BUT IT IS STILL NOT CLEANED UP. MR. GARAVALIA ASKED THE COUNCIL IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH CLEANING UP THIS PROPERTY. MR. GARAVALIA ALSO PRESENTED PICTURES FROM THE TIME THE COURT ORDER WAS MADE AND PICTURES TAKEN TODAY. DISCUSSION WAS HELD. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WAS NOT SURE HE WAS READY TO COMMIT CITY FUNDS TO CLEANING UP PRIVATE PROPERTY. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 2. COMMISSIONER STOREY AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DAVID GARAVALIA TO PRESENT DEMOLITION PROPOSALS FOR 202 EAST MAIN STREET AND 427 WEST WEBSTER STREET. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED FROM ANDY POOLE AND WERE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,590.00 FOR 427 WEST WEBSTER STREET AND $9,210.00 FOR 202 EAST MAIN STREET. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE DEMOLITION OF 202 EAST MAIN STREET WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EXTENDING THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT ON EAST MAIN AND ALLOW FOR THE PLACEMENT OF 12 MORE PARKING SPOTS. MR. GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT MR. POOLE PLANS ON DEMOLISHING THESE TWO STRUCTURES IN MARCH OF 2020.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PROPOSAL FOR 202 EAST MAIN IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,210.00 TO BE PAID FROM TIF FUNDS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DEMOLITION PROPOSAL FOR 427 WEST WEBSTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,590.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ PRESENTED AN INVOICE FOR PAYMENT TO CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES. THIS IS INVOICE 6 FOR THE BENTON I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $87,760.13. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICE #6 FOR THE I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $87,760.13. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #00603 TO .GOV DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION SERVICE FOR ACCESS TO THE GOOGLE CALENDAR, GOOGLE DRIVE, AND EMAIL SERVICES FOR A ONE –YEAR SERVICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $400.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAS SPOKEN WITH JALAYNE LUCKETT OF ATLAS CPAS REGARDING THE SIGNING OF BILLS. ACCORDING TO MS. LUCKETT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNING A WARRANT FOR ALL THE BILLS AND THEY NEED TO BE SIGNING EACH OF THEIR DEPARTMENT’S BILLS. MS. LUCKETT STATED IT WOULD BE BEST PRACTICE FOR EACH COMMISSIONER TO SIGN ALL OF THE BILLS.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED JANUARY 24, 2020 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,548.05, WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,075.50, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $100,723.55. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA PRESENTED A SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR CARRIE CLOVER OF 403 SOUTH LICKLITER STREET. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS SEWER ADJUSTMENT AS IT MEETS 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.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ATTENDING THE SPRING MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY’S SEMINAR. THE REGISTRATION IS $175.00 AND THE SEMINAR IS THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 IN MT. VERNON, ILLINOIS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA THANKED TOM CARTER FOR TAKING TIME TO MEET WITH HER REGARDING UNION CONTRACTS AS A PREVIOUS UNION MEMBER.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO SEND A LETTER TO THE LABORER’S LOCAL 773 STATING THE CITY’S DESIRE TO MODIFY OR TERMINATE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO THE TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT. 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 SEND A LETTER TO THE LOCAL 318 STATING THE CITY’S DESIRE TO MODIFY OR TERMINATE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE WATER, SEWER, AND STREET DEPARTMENTS PURSUANT TO THE TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT. 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 SEND A LETTER TO THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE STATING THE CITY’S DESIRE TO MODIFY OR TERMINATE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO THE TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED HE HAD NO BUSINESS FOR THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #20-01 FOR A TWO-WAY STOP SIGN ON FIRST AND WILLIAMS STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO DIRECT ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE CREATING A THREE-WAY STOP AT FRISCO AND DIAL STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PARKING RESTRICTIONS FOR THE OUTER PARKING SPOTS ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE. DISCUSSION WAS HELD. MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL A LATER DATE WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #00604 TO FLIGHT LIGHT FOR AN AIRPORT ROTATING BEACON IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,725.00. COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT THIS ITEM WOULD BE PAID FOR FROM THE AIRPORT FUND. 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 ALLOW DAVID GARAVALIA TO ADVERTISE THE ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS ON CERTAIN LAKE LOT LEASES AT LAKE BENTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT CITY HAD A LARGE WATER LEAK ON EAST MAIN STREET TODAY. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THE WATER DEPARTMENT DID A GREAT JOB ON FIXING THE LEAK.
IN OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD GONE THROUGH THE FIRST SUGGESTIONS LEFT IN THE CITY OF BENTON SUGGESTION BOXES. THE SUGGESTIONS INCLUDED BRINGING RECYCLING BACK TO THE FIREHOUSE, GETTING A GROUP TOGETHER TO HELP CITIZENS WITH SMALL JOBS AROUND THEIR HOMES, INVESTING MORE IN RECYCLING, AND FINDING SOMETHING FUN FOR THE KIDS TO DO.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER QUESTIONED PLACING A CAMERA IN THE ELEVATOR AT CITY HALL TO HELP REDUCE THE DAMAGES CAUSED TO THE SYSTEM.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:50 P.M.
