MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD TUESDAY MAY 26, 2020 AT 6:00 P.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 MAY 11, 2020. 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 THE MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 15, 2020. 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 LOW BID SUBMITTED BY WIGGS EXCAVATING FOR WATER MAIN RELOCATION ON ROUTE 7 IN THE AMOUNT OF $157,732.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS ASKED COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH TO PRESENT ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF EXCAVATION PERMIT DURING HIS REPORT.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF BID FOR BUSH HOG FOR THE AIRPORT AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO DIRECT ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR AN EXCAVATION PERMIT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF $2,091.81 TO CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DUQUOIN STREET BRIDGE OVER SUGAR CREEK. 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 THE SIDEWALK PROJECT IS STILL GOING TO TAKE PLACE, BUT A ONE (1) YEAR EXTENSION ON THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN GRANTED. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT A CONTRACTOR WILL STILL NEED TO BE SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00015 TO ALAN ENVIRONMENTAL FOR DISINFECTANT AND WASH IN THE AMOUNT OF $497.17. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #00016 TO THE FIRE STORE FOR A HELMET TO REPLACE 005 HELMET IN THE AMOUNT OF $358.38. 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 #00017 TO THE DOOR DOCTOR OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FOR EMERGENCY DOOR REPAIR, AS THE DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $399.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY PRESENTED A MEMO FROM POLICE CHIEF MIKE ANDREWS ANNOUNCING THE RESIGNATION OF OFFICER MARK WILKEY AS THE K9 HANDLER. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DONATION OF THE BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT K9 TO THE SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT. ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH ASKED COMMISSIONER STOREY TO PRESENT THE COUNCIL WITH A LETTER FROM THE SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT STATING THAT THEY WOULD ACCEPT THE DONATION OF THE BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT K9. COMMISSIONER STOREY THEN MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE DONATION OF BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT K9 PENDING A LETTER FROM ACCEPTING THE DONATION FROM THE SPARTA 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 APPROVE FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM’S CONTRACT FOR THREE (3) YEARS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONTRACT THAT SHE HAD NOT HAD ANSWERED AT THIS POINT AND WOULD NOT BE VOTING YES ON THE CONTRACT AT THIS TIME. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH SECONDED THAT HE FELT THE CONTRACT HAD SOME ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND WOULD BE VOTING NO AT THIS TIME AS WELL. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 2. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR SPLIT CREWS IN EACH DEPARTMENT. 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 FOR 05/15/2020 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,165.84, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,365.24, AND FOR THE AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $89,631.08. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE BUDGET AND IT WOULD BE A “FLAT” BUDGET. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HISTORICALLY DURING A “FLAT” BUDGET MUNICIPALITIES WERE GIVEN LESS MONEY THAN WHAT WAS IN THE BUDGET FOR THEM TO RECEIVE.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AND CODE ENFORCER DAVID GARAVALIA TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT HE HAD A PROPOSAL FROM CHRIS MENCKOWSKI FOR CLEAN AND HAUL AWAY OF CONCRETE AND ROCK PILES FROM PARCEL #07-13-100-022 LOCATED IN THE BENTON INDUSTRIAL TIF. MR. MENCKOWSKI’ S PROPOSAL WAS FOR $13,000.00. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE $13,000.00 PROPOSAL FROM CHRIS MENCKOWSKI FOR CLEANUP AND HAUL AWAY OF CONCRETE AND ROCK PILES FROM PARCEL 07-13-100-022 LOCATED IN THE BENTON INDUSTRIAL TIF. 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 DISCUSS ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF WORKFORCE REDUCTION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED MR. GARAVALIA TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AGAIN REGARDING ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF ALLEY AGREEMENT WITH KIRKPATRICK MOTORS. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT MR. JORDAN KIRKPATRICK WOULD LIKE TO ASPHALT A PORTION OF AN ALLEY THAT RUNS ADJACENT TO HIS CAR LOT AND MAKE THE LOT LOOK CLEAN AND UNIFORM. COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO ENTER INTO AN ALLEY AGREEMENT WITH KIRKPATRICK MOTORS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. 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 PAYMENT OF INVOICE #9 TO CHASTIN AND ASSOCIATES FOR THE I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $54,382.81. THIS MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. 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 IN RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER ORDERING ENTRANCE TO STAGE OF THE RESTORE ILLINOIS PLAN, HE WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE THE USE OF MALKOVICH PARK, CAPITAL PARK, MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS, AND ANY OTHER CITY OWNED PROPERTY FOR OUTDOOR DINING PURPOSES. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
IN OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT CITY HALL WOULD BE OPENING TO THE PUBLIC ON FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 ALLOWING ONE (1) PERSON IN THE LOBBY AT A TIME AND REQUIRING FACE MASKS BE WORN.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER STATED THAT HIS NEIGHBORS HAD SOME SEWER ISSUES AND HE WANTED TO THANK THE WATER DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING AND STATED THAT THEY DID A GOOD JOB. MR. CARTER ALSO ASKED IF ANYONE IN THE CITY WAS TAKING THE IMRF BUYOUT. MR. CARTER WAS TOLD THAT MORE INFORMATION NEEDED TO BE GATHERED AT THIS TIME BEFORE THE CITY COULD RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION. MR. CARTER ALSO ASKED WHO HAS CONTROL IN REGARDS TO SPLIT SHIFTS. THE COUNCIL STATED THAT IN THE FUTURE THIS SHOULD BE A COUNCIL DECISION.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM (C) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY, INCLUDING HEARING TESTIMONY ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR AGAINST LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO DETERMINE ITS VALIDITY.
7:05 P.M.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO GO OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:40 P.M.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO LAYOFF THE NONESSENTIAL POSITION OF COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR, RACHEL GARTNER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. ALL OF THE COUNCIL STATED THAT THIS WAS A REGRETFUL DECISION.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
TIME 7:45 P.M.
