MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY APRIL 13, 2020 AT 9:00 A.M. PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ISSUED MARCH 16, 2020, THIS MEETING WAS HELD BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE AND COMPUTER ATTENDANCE ONLY.
MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT VIA TELEPHONE/COMPUTER FOR ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 9, 2020. 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 PURCHASE ORDER 00610 TO MIDSOUTH STEEL PRODUCTS FOR AN AVIATION FUEL HOSE FOR THE AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,817.00. 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 00612 TO DAVIS AUTO REPAIR IN MCLEANSBORO, ILLINOIS FOR REPAIRS TO THE COURTESY CAR AT THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,491.57. 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 THE APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF LAKE LOT LEASE #32 FROM JOHN MEILE TO JOHN AND KATHLEEN MEILE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. 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 MAKE THE COUNCIL AWARE THAT HE HAD SPOKEN WITH PAM DORRIS OF STATE FARM INSURANCE. MS. DORRIS WOULD LIKE THE CITIZENS TO WRITE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT ON CITY SIDEWALKS WITH CHALK TO BE PROVIDED BY HER OFFICE. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA AND WANTED TO THANK MS. DORRIS FOR THIS IDEA.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE INVOICE #8 TO CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES, LLC, FOR DESIGN PHASE 1 OF THE I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,955.11. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #00014 TO DINGES FIRE COMPANY FOR THREE IN-LINE RELIEF VALVES IN THE AMOUNT OF $528.81 TO BE PAID FROM THE EXTRICATION FUND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #00041 TO AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. FOR 25 TASER CARTRIDGES IN THE AMOUNT OF $706.25. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #00090 TO DUNAGAN’S COLLISION CENTER FOR BODY WORK AND DENT REPAIR OF A SQUAD CAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,172.41. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THIS DAMAGE OCCURRED WHILE TAKING A SUSPECT INTO CUSTODY. THE SUSPECT RESISTED THE OFFICER AND STRUCK THE REA DOOR OF THE SQUAD CAR CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. CHIEF MIKE ANDREWS IS SEEKING CHARGES FOR THE DAMAGE FROM THE SUSPECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. CHIEF COCKRUM STATED THAT JEFF SHEW WILL BE RETIRING IN MAY. CHIEF COCKRUM STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE TWO PART-TIME FIREFIGHTERS TO WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT UNTIL THE POLICE AND FIRE MERIT BOARD COULD COMPLETE THE HIRING PROCESS.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE TWO 60-DAY TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS OF FIREFIGHTERS. THE TWO FIREFIGHTERS WOULD BE JAMES NEFF AND JOHN OWENS WHO ARE BOTH CURRENTLY PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS WITH THE CITY OF BENTON AS WELL AS EMPLOYEES OF ABBOTT AMBULANCE. 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 DIRECTING THE MERIT BOARD TO BEGIN THE HIRING PROCESS FOR A FIREFIGHTER TO FILL THE SPOT OF FIREFIGHTER JEFF SHEW AFTER HE RETIRES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. 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 AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE BENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000.00. 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 PURCHASE ORDER 00611 TO MCCOLLUM ELECTRIC IN THE AMOUNT OF $747.90 FOR LED LIGHT REPLACEMENT AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE CITY HALL. 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 $287,050.29. 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 PAYROLL FOR 03/20/2020 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $63,205.11, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,727.79, AND FOR THE AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $91,032.90. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED HE WOULD SECOND THIS MOTION, BUT HE WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT FIRST. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD APPROVE THE PAYROLL, BUT WAS OPPOSED TO COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH SENDING HALF OF HIS CREW HOME WITH PAY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE FELT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL BEFORE A DECISION WAS MADE. COMMISSIONER PERKINS SPOKE UP AND SAID HE AGREED WITH COMMISSIONER STOREY’S STATEMENT. 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 FOR 04/03/2020 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,914.39 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,229.13 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $89,143.52. 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 SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR AMY SIZEMORE OF 908 E MAIN STREET AND JAMES ELDRIDGE OF 314 SOUTH MCLEANSBORO STREET AS THEY MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE CURRENT 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 DIRECT CODES AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DAVID GARAVALIA AND CITY ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION FOR A “MOW TO OWN” PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF BENTON REGARDING CITY OWNED VACANT PROPERTIES. 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 TABLE ITEM (E) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021 BUDGET. 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 IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUE POOL ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MAN HOURS IT COSTS THE CITY TO PERFORM THESE ADJUSTMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER PERKINS ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO DIRECT ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN AMENDED ORDINANCE REGARDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR WATER/SEWER BILLS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE EMPLOYEES AND THE COUNCIL ON HOW THEY ARE HANDLING BUSINESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE ALSO WANTED TO COMMEND EVERY ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BENTON FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING DURING THIS PANDEMIC AS WELL AS HOW THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AT THIS TIME.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING WORKFORCE REDUCTION AS WELL AS EMPLOYEE WORK POLICIES/PROCEDURES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. DISCUSSION WAS HELD AMONG THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE BELIEVED COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH SHOULD BRING HIS EMPLOYEES BACK TO WORK AND IF HE FELT HE NEEDED TO KEEP THE CREWS SEPARATE THEY COULD WORK ON SPLIT SHIFTS OR DIFFERENT PROJECTS. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD BE LOOKING INTO THIS, BUT IT WOULD BE A PROCESS THAT MAY TAKE A FEW DAYS. COMMISSIONER PERKINS AND COMMISSIONER STOREY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FULL STREET DEPARTMENT BACK AT WORK AND NOT BEING PAID TO STAY AT HOME EVERY OTHER WEEK PER CREW.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE AIRPORT BOARD RECOMMENDING THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. REECE RUTLAND TO FILL THE VACANT SLOT ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD. 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.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS
NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
TIME 10:05 A.M.
