MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JUNE 8, 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 FOR THE PUBLIC. THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL MET IN THE COUNCIL ROOM AT THE BENTON CITY HALL 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.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 26, 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 PURCHASE ORDER 001767 TO PREMIER PUMP AND POWER, LLC FOR A TRAILER PUMP IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,630.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT THE TIME AND PRODUCTIVITY SAVED BY USING THIS NEW PUMP WILL MORE THAN PAY FOR THE PUMP IN THE NEXT YEAR. 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 TRANSFER OF LAKE LOTS #93 AND #94 FROM MALLORY MARTIN AND MACKENZIE MARTIN TO CALLIE BROWN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #001768 TO KEY EQUIPMENT FOR FIVE (5) GUTTER BROOMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $800.00. 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 APPROVE ORDINANCE #2020-09, 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 STATED THAT THE SIDEWALK PROJECT WILL BE SEEKING BIDS TO SELECT A CONTRACTOR. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED THAT A SUMMER ROAD PROGRAM AND DITCHING PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00018 TO AMSOIL 40 GALLONS OF OIL FOR FIRE ENGINE OIL CHANGES IN THE AMOUNT OF $500.00. 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 TABLE ITEM (B) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF HIRING OF NEW FIREFIGHTER. 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 ADVERTISE THAT THE CITY OF BENTON WILL BE ACCEPTING BIDS FOR THE FEMA GRANT EXHAUST SYSTEM. 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 ADVERTISE THAT THE CITY OF BENTON WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED BIDS FOR THE K9 KENNEL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PLACED AT OFFICER WILKEY’S HOME. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #00614 TO GROWMAIL FOR A POSTCARD TYPE MAILER ADVERTISING THE CENSUS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,766.68. 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 PAYING BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $218,520.36. 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 05/28/2020 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $94,131.63 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,009.07 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $121,140.70. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
CITY ATTORNEY THOMAS MALKOVICH STATED THAT BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WERE CONTINUING WITH ALL THREE UNIONS.
UNDER UPDATES FROM PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR KONDRITZ CONGRATULATED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ON HIS MARRIAGE. MAYOR KONDRITZ ALSO STATED THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT ATTENDED TO A LEAK ON EAST MAIN STREET, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTENDED TO A FIRE AT THE COUNTY BARN, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE PRESENT DURING A PEACEFUL PROTEST ON THE BENTON SQUARE THIS PAST WEEK. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THESE DEPARTMENTS DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAS NOTICED MULTIPLE PEOPLE RIDING ATV AND FOUR-WHEELERS AT LAKE BENTON. HE STATED THAT HE WANTED TO REMIND OUR CITIZENS THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO OPERATE THESE VEHICLES ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY OR ROADS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF WORKFORCE REDUCTION. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION. 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 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO DISCUSS ITEM (E) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF USING PUBLIC PROPERTIES, INCLUDING SIDEWALKS, BUT BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, AND/OR BARS. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO PREPARE AN EMERGENCY ORDER STATING THIS. COMMISSIONER PERKINS 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.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR A MOTION APPROVING PAYMENT OF AN INVOICE TO BROWN AND ROBERTS FOR THE AIRPORT TERMINAL PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,469.42. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION. 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 FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00615 TO MIDWEST PETROLEUM AND EXCAVATING FOR PAYMENT #1 TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW TERMINAL BUILDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,152.00. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION. 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.
IN OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WANTED TO SAY SOME NICE THINGS ABOUT RACHEL GARTNER AS SHE FEELS THAT WAS LEFT OUT OF THE LAST MEETING. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT RACHEL WAS AN ASSET TO THE CITY OF BENTON WHILE SHE WORKED HERE. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE CITY HAS NOT COLLECTED LATE FEES OR DONE DISCONNECTION OF WATER DUE TO NONPAYMENT SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE CITY WILL BE GOING BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WANTED TO GIVE CUSTOMERS A HEADS UP SO THOSE THAT MAY BE BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT TWIN OAKS WILL BE OPERATED ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR’S ORDERS AND CAPACITY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER READS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA 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 6:50 P.M.
