MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JULY 25, 2022 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM OF THE BENTON CITY HALL LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM WAS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 11, 2022. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. MAYOR KONDRITZ ABSTAINED. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES FOR THIS MEETING AND NO PURCHASE ORDERS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PRESENT THE REST OF THE ITEMS UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD FIND A MEMO IN THEIR PACKETS WITH SPECIFIC DATES FOR FILMING IN THE MAYOR’S OFFICE FOR THE REALITY SHOW. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION APPROVING THESE SPECIFIC DATES. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN ON ITEM (D), DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AIRPORT GROUND LEASE TO GRUENINGER AVIATION.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO SPEAK REGARDING ITEM (E), DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF LEASING THE FARM LAND KNOWN AS “AIRPORT FARM” AFTER THE CURRENT LEASE EXPIRES. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THERE ARE 110 (MORE OR LESS) ACRES OF FARM LAND AND THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS TO HANDLE LEASING OF THIS PROPERTY. MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED PRIOR ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DAVID GARAVALIA TO ALSO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A PUBLIC BID AND THAT CASH RENT IS RECOMMENDED, BUT, COST SHARE OF 2/3 -1/3 IS ANOTHER WAY TO GO ABOUT LEASING THIS PROPERTY. MR. GARAVALIA EXPLAINED PROS AND CONS OF BOTH SCENARIOS. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD RECOMMEND NOT INCLUDING A PORTION OF INDUSTRIAL II IN THIS LEASE. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM AND REVISIT AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
THERE WAS NO PUBLIC PROPERTY REPORT.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE OIL AND CHIP PROGRAM IS ONGOING.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CHANGING THE DATE FOR CHRISTMAS IN JULY TO JULY 29TH. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 22-10 TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC SQUARE FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF CHRISTMAS IN JULY AND LIGHTING OF THE SQUARE ON AUGUST 6, 2022. THIS IS RESOLUTION #22-10. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ADDING AN ADA PARKING SPOT ON THE CORNER OF WEST MAIN AND PINE STREET. THIS IS NEXT TO THE FEDERAL COURT HOUSE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00375 TO EVAPAR FOR STATION BACKUP GENERATOR AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,796.20. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR MONTHLY BILLS.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED JULY 22, 2022 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $71,762.49 AND WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,058.68 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $97,821.17. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION THAT CAN EMPTYING ON THE SQUARE IS NOT BEING HANDLED IN A GOOD MANNER. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES AND TRY TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF TWICE A WEEK.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
6:26 P.M.
