City Council Meeting Minutes — March 14, 2022

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MARCH 14, 2022 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS, 62812.

 

IN THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR KONDRITZ, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH LED THE MEETING.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND COMMISSIONER STOREY PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE ABSENT. 

 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  3.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND COMMISSIONER STOREY.  NAYS:  0. 

 

COMMISSIONER COCKRUM PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #001781 TO MCCOLLUM ELECTRIC FOR REWIRING OF THE STREET DEPARTMENT AND NEW LIGHTS.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  3.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND COMMISSIONER STOREY.  NAYS:  0. 

 

COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE LOW BID OF BOOKER’S MOWING SERVICE FOR THE 2022 MOWING BID AT THE RATES LISTED BELOW.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  3.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND COMMISSIONER STOREY.  NAYS:  0. 

 

 

 

 

BOOKER’S MOWING SERVICE

 

 

TWIN OAKS

$260.00/MOW

 

AIRPORT

$200.00/MOW

 

CITY HALL

$40.00/MOW

 

POLICE DEPT.

$40.00/MOW

*1 FREE MOW PER PROPERTY IN

MAY IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY

 

 

 

COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A UTILITY TRACTOR WITH OLD EQUIPMENT TRADE IN FROM H&R AGRI-POWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,500.00 FOR THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  3.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND COMMISSIONER STOREY.  NAYS:  0. 

COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE REND LAKE CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  3.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND COMMISSIONER STOREY.  NAYS:  0. 

 

COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE REPLACING THE DRIVEWAY AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE MAPLE STREET ENTRANCE.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  3.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND COMMISSIONER STOREY.  NAYS:  0.

 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING. 

 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ARRIVED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:07 P.M. 

 

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00371 TO DAVE SCHMIDT TRUCK SERVICE FOR REPAIRS ON ENGINE #803 IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,067.65.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  NAYS:  0. 

 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING. 

 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $294,669.14.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  NAYS:  0.

 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR MARCH 4, 2022 FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $48,770.16 AND ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,653.32 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $89,423.48.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  NAYS:  0.

 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR MARCH 18, 2022 FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,121.59 AND ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $43,913.80 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $84,035.39.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  NAYS:  0.

 

ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH WAS ABSENT AND NO UPDATES WERE LEFT FOR THE COUNCIL FOR THIS MEETING. 

 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT A MOTION WOULD BE NEEDED TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY’S STRONG COMMUNITIES’ PROGRAM.  ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA STATED THAT THIS GRANT WOULD BE FOR $27,353.16.  CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG STATED THIS WOULD BE RESOLUTION #22-04.  COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  NAYS:  0.

 

IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT IS DOING A GREAT JOB ON THE WHEELCHAIR RAMP BEING BUILT AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

 

NO OLD BUSINESS. 

 

NO NEW BUSINESS. 

 

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, ROB WILMING FROM REPUBLIC SERVICES ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL.  MR. WILMING STATED THAT THE HEAD DRIVER FOR THE CITY OF BENTON’S TRASH DISPOSAL HAS A HEALTH CONDITION THAT HAS CAUSED HIM TO MISS SOME WORK.  HE STATED THAT THE COMPANY IS TRYING TO GET THINGS BACK ON TRACK AND EXPECTS THEM TO BE BACK TO NORMAL VERY SOON. 

 

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.  YEAS:  4.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  NAYS:  0. 

 

 

6:15 P.M.