MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY AUGUST 10, 2020 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS. 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 AS WELL AS IN PERSON.
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 WAIVE READING AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED JULY 17, 2020 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED. 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 WAIVE READING AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 27, 2020 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT HE WANTED EVERYONE TO KEEP THE MILES FAMILY IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AFTER WATER DEPARTMENT LEADMAN JASON MILES SON, CODY MILES, HAD A RACECAR ACCIDENT AND IS RECOVERING AT HOME.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER OF LOT #123 FROM DARRUL JONES TO MARK KUPSKY AND EDWARD PURDY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ASKED DAVE HARP OF CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. MR. HARP STATED THAT WE ARE STILL WAITING ON A DATE FOR THE FIRST VIRTUAL MEETING CONCERNING THE I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT, BUT THAT HE WOULD KEEP THE COUNCIL INFORMED.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE MFT BID HAS CAME IN, THE SUMMER ROAD PROGRAM HAS BEGUN, AND THAT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS THE CITY WILL RECEIVE BIDS FOR THE EAST MAIN PARKING LOT AND THE SIDEWALK PROJECT.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT AT THIS TIME THE AP DEPARTMENT WAS STILL RECEIVING STATEMENTS FOR THE MONTH AND THEREFORE BILLS WERE NOT READY TO BE APPROVED. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS MEETING FOR THE APPROVAL OF BILLS ANY OTHER MATTERS NEEDED UNTIL FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020 AT 9 A.M. 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 DATED 08/07/2020 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,020.22 AND WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,666.67 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $88,686.89. 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 INFORMATION REGARDING A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE AP SYSTEM. SHE STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT AN UPGRADE THE CITY CHOSE, BUT WAS ONE THE CITY HAD TO COMPLETE IN ORDER TO STILL USE THE SOFTWARE THEY CURRENTLY HAVE. COMMSISIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE SOFWARE UPGRADE WOULD COST $19,287.00 FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF SERVICE AND IF WE CHOSE TO GO WITH ANOTHER COMPANY THE COST WOULD RANGE FROM $40,000.00 TO $50,000.00 JUST TO SWITCH THE SYSTEMS OVER. THE COUNCIL HELD A DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ASKED IF A DECISION COULD BE MADE REGARDING THIS UPGRADE AT THE CONTINUED MEETING ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AGREED. NO MOTION WAS ENTERTAINED.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CITIZENS COMPLETING THE 2020 CENSUS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN A “10 FOR 10” CAMPAIGN WHERE A CITIZEN WOULD CALL 10 PEOPLE TO REMIND THEM TO DO THE CENSUS TO BE COUNTED FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG STATED THAT COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND HERSELF WOULD BE AT THE FARMER’S MARKET ON AUGUST 20, 2020 AND THE CHAMBER CAR SHOW ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 TO HELP CITIZENS FILL OUT THEIR CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRES.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD A MATTER FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. @@@@@@@
UNDER CITY ATTORNEY UPDATES, THOMAS MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD EACH FIND A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN THEIR MAILBOXES CONCERNING A ONE (1) YEAR EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT POLICE DEPARTMENT BARGAINING AGREEMENT. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CAN BE VOTED ON AT THE NEXT MEETING.
UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WANTED TO STATE HOW PROUD HE WAS OF CY NORMAN, A 15-YEAR-OLD BENTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, FOR BEING THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S GOLD CUP HELD AT THE BENTON COUNTRY CLUB. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT CY NORMAN IS THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO EVER WIN THE GOLD CUP.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION HAS EXTENDED RENEWAL DATES FOR LIQUOR LICENSE TO DECEMBER 31, 2020. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE CITY OF BENTON WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE SAME GUIDANCE AS THE STATE ON THIS MATTER.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF COMBINATION LIQUOR LICENSE UNTIL A LATER DATE. 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 STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF PAY ESTIMATE #2 TO MIDWEST PETROLEUM AND EXCAVATING FOR THE NEW TERMINAL AT THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYING PAY ESTIMATE #2 TO MIDWEST PETROLEUM AND EXCAVATING IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,200.00. 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 HE WOULD LIKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AER 303 SPONSOR CERTIFICATION TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH 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.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED THE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE THE FRANKLIN COUNTY GAZETTE WITH THE MATERIAL REGARDING THE COSTS THAT WILL BE INCURRED FOR THE NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH RICK HAYES REGARDING THIS PAPERWORK. ALSO UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT, FREDA BROADWAY PRESENTED COMMISSIONER DON STOREY WITH A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FOR HELPING WITH FLAG REMOVAL AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY. MRS. BROADWAY STATED THAT SHE HAD PRESENTED FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM WITH A SIMILAR CERTIFICATE EARLIER IN THE DAY AS HE WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE COUNCIL MEETING. MRS. BROADWAY ALSO INVITED THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE STANLEY MCCOLLUM POST #280 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 2020. MRS. BROADWAY ASKED MAYOR KONDRITZ TO PREPARE A PROCLAMATION FOR THIS CEREMONY AND HE STATED HE WOULD BE THERE TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
