MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY NOVEMBER 23, 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 STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA WAS VISUALLY PRESENT, BUT THERE WAS NO AUDIO ON THE ZOOM CALL FROM COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 9, 2020 REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 13, 2020 CONTINUED CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00623 TO SMITH AND LOVELESS FOR ONE MICROLOGIX 1400 PLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,757.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE INVOICE #11 TO CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES FOR THE I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,341.30. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ABSTAINED BECAUSE HER AUDIO JOINED AFTER THE MOTION HAD BEEN MADE.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00033 TO MID AMERICA FIRE AND SAFETY FOR 3 BUNKER JACKETS, 3 BUNKER PANTS, AND 3 SUSPENDERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,011.02. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00034 TO EVAPAR FOR AN EMERGENCY BACKUP GENERATOR CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,753.86. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00647 TO REED HEATING AND COOLING FOR 2 PREMIER ONE UV GERMICIDAL AIR PURIFIER UNITS, 1 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND 1 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,900.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO REMOVE PAID ON CALL FIREMAN BILL BENNETT. MR. BENNETT IS RETIRING AFTER 16 YEARS OF SERVICE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADD ALBERTO PONCE, DYLAN PALMER, AND MATTHEW WARREN TO THE PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER ROSTER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PLANS FOR A BUILDING ADDITION AT THE BENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE THIS TO GO BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD BEFORE PROCEEDING AND BECAUSE NO DETAILS WERE GIVEN IN REGARDS TO THIS PROJECT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. COMMISSIONER PERKINS AUDIO WAS NOT ON AND HE DID NOT VOTE.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00646 TO TERMINIX FOR A ONE-TIME TREATMENT TO FUMIGATE FOR BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS AT CITY HALL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED NOVEMBER 13, 2020 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,243.74 AND WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,637.21 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $87,780.95. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE INSTALLATION OF A BULLETPROOF WINDOW IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,064.09 TO BE PAID FOR UNDER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WHERE THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY BUDGETED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE EMPLOYEES A BONUS TO SHOW THE COUNCIL’S APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION SHOWN OVER THE LAST YEAR. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO PURCHASE A SWEATSHIRT WITH THE CITY LOGO AND A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR SAVE-A-LOT FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 2. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH AND COMMISSIONER PERKINS.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE HEALTH INSURANCE RATES FOR 2021 IN THE AMOUNT OF $783.67 PER MONTH PER EMPLOYEE. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THIS IS A SAVINGS OF $17,227.68 PER YEAR AND IS THE LOWEST RATE THE CITY HAS HAD SINCE 2016. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER PERKINS ABSTAINED.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED HE HAD NO UPDATES.
MAYOR KONDRITZ HAD NO UPDATES OR PURCHASE ORDERS.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED THE COUNCIL HOW THEY WERE PLANNING ON LABELING THE BONUSES SINCE IN THE PAST IT WAS STATED THAT “CHRISTMAS BONUSES” SHOULD NOT BE PAID THROUGH TAX PAYER FUNDS. MR. CARTER ALSO STATED THAT HE, AS A CITIZEN, WAS AGAINST BULLETPROOF GLASS BEING PUT IN AT CITY HALL AS HE THOUGHT IT WAS NOT NEEDED.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:00 P.M.
