MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MARCH 22, 2021 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 AS WELL AS IN PERSON.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER IN THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR KONDRITZ. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER STOREY AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE NOT IN ATTENDANCE.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON MONDAY MARCH 8, 2021 AT 5:45 P.M. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ASKED MR. BOB REA TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY JAIL MUSEUM. MR. REA STATED THAT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY JAIL MUSEUM HAS LOTS OF VISITORS EVERY YEAR AND BRINGS PEOPLE IN TO TOWN OFF THE INTERSTATE. MR. REA STATED THAT IN THE PAST THE CITY COUNCIL HAS GIVEN THE FRANKLIN COUNTY JAIL MUSEUM A MONTHLY STIPEND OF $500.00 TO HELP WITH OPERATING COSTS, BUT IT WAS PULLED FROM THE CITY’S BUDGET LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS. MR. REA STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY PUT THIS BACK IN THIS NEXT BUDGET. COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO BEGIN PAYING THE FRANKLIN COUNTY JAIL MUSEUM A MONTHLY STIPEND OF $500.00 A MONTH BEGINNING IN MAY OF 2021. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO WAIT ON THIS AND LET THE COUNCIL THINK IT OVER AND THAT SHE WOULD LIKE FOR COMMISSIONER STOREY AND MAYOR KONDRITZ TO BE PRESENT WHEN THIS APPROVED. THIS MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF SECOND.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DAVID GARAVALIA TO PRESENT ITEMS (C) AND (D) UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT.
ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATION FOR BAIN AND ASSOCIATES, LLC, AT 314 SOUTH MAIN STREET. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE WORK TO BE DONE WOULD BE AROUND $5,000.00 AND THEREFORE THE CITY WOULD REIMBURSE $2,500.00. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATION FOR BAIN AND ASSOCIATES, LLC AT 314 SOUTH MAIN STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATION FOR KIMMEL INSURANCE, 104-106 WEST WASHINGTON STREET. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE WORK WILL ACTUALLY BE AROUND $36,000.00, BUT THE REIMBURSEMENT WILL ONLY BE ON UP TO $10,000.00 SO THIS REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE $5,000.00. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATION FOR KIMMEL INSURANCE AT 104-106 WEST WASHINGTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ADVERTISING THAT THE CITY OF BENTON WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED BIDS FOR MOWING AT THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS ASKED AIRPORT MANAGER MATTHEW HARRISON TO GIVE A REPORT. MR. HARRISON STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GET FUEL ORDERED FOR SALE AT THE AIRPORT. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE 2ND SATURDAY FLY INS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 10, 2021. MR. HARRISON STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK OVER THE BIDS FOR THE AIRPORT MOWING BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE BY THE COUNCIL.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO PURCHASE TWO 2021 1500 SIERRA CREW CAB SHORT BED TRUCKS FROM WEEKS CHEVROLET BUICK GMC IN BENTON IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,100.00. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT ONE OF THESE TRUCKS WILL BE FOR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CRAIG MILES AND THE OTHER TRUCK WILL BE FOR THE STREET DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THESE TRUCKS WILL BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE HOME RULE GAS TAX FUND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00091 TO CUSTOM CAGE FOR TWO SINGLE-CELL PARTITIONS FOR SQUAD VEHICLES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,210.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00094 TO TASER ACCREDITED SECURITY FOR TWO YELLOW TASERS AND 2 CARTRIDGE CASES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,277.98. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 03/19/2021 FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,258.88 AND FOR ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $48,557.57 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $94,816.45. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT THE INSTALLATION OF A WALK-UP WINDOW IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO FINDING A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE ROUTE FOR INSTALLATION. COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH AND COMMISSIONER PERKINS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF 4,000 GALLONS OF FUEL FOR RESALE AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $15,000.00. AIRPORT MANAGER MATTHEW HARRISON STATED THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE PURCHASE BEFORE THE COST OF FUEL RISES AGAIN AS IT HAS GONE UP $0.50 SINCE WE INITIALLY LOOKED INTO THE PURCHASE. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
IN NEW BUSINESS COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE IS IN DISCUSSION WITH MIDWEST TIRE ABOUT HAVING A RESIDENTIAL TIRE COLLECTION.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED IF WE WILL BREAK EVEN ON THE FUEL. MATTHEW HARRISON STATED THAT WE SHOULD SEE A PROFIT. MR. CARTER ALSO ASKED WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL BE USED FOR THE MOWING OF THE AIRPORT PROPERTY AND MR. HARRISON STATED THAT THE WINNING BIDDER WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT. MR. CARTER STATED THAT IF THE CITY IS CONSIDERING A WALK-UP WINDOW, THEY SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER AN AWNING.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
7:05 P.M.
