MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY NOVEMBER 14, 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 COCKRUM COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2022. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY CONTINUED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER STOREY ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO LAKE LOT TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THIS MEETING. HE DID STATE THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE WATER DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK DURING THE RECENT REPAIR OF A LEAK. THIS RECOGNITION WAS ECHOED BY THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD NO DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THIS MEETING. HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT HAS FINISHED POURING SIDEWALKS AND CONCRETE FOR THE SEASON AND HAS SINCE MOVED ON TO DITCHING. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORKING ON THE ENTRANCE TO CITY HALL AND THE PARKING LOT SOON.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #22-12 TO CLOSE THE BENTON SQUARE FOR “A HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS” ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022 AT 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00383 TO AMSOIL FOR OIL CHANGES IN UNITS #801 AND #803 IN THE AMOUNT OF $789.90. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00384 TO WALLACE INDUSTRIAL FOR 2 SUPER-SAWZALL RESCUE SAWS IN THE AMOUNT OF $968.76. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00068 TO GALLS FOR 1 INTOXIMETER ALCO SENSOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $575.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW SERGEANTS TO REMAIN IN THE POLICE BARGAINING UNIT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF ADDING/REMOVING PAID ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MONTH.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $358,456.49. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED NOVEMBER 11, 2022 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,357.16 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,424.84 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE AMOUNT OF $91,782.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO OPEN A LINE OF CREDIT FOR THE WATER MAIN PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RENEWING THE LINE OF CREDIT AT STATE BANK OF WHITTINGTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CHRISTMAS BONUSES EQUATING TO LESS THAN $100 PER EMPLOYEE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS GROUP. SHE STATED THAT THEY DID A REALLY GREAT JOB WITH THE FALL FEST AND SHE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH “A HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS”.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS MEETING.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES FOR THIS MEETING.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF “DAY TRIP” PROPOSAL WITH RICK LINTON WOULD NEED TO BE TABLED AT THIS TIME. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PRESENT ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF SETTING MEETING DATES. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THERE IS A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 27, 2022 AT 6 P.M. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED THE COUNCIL IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THIS MEETING DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THIS MEETING TO DECEMBER 22, 2022, AT 10 A.M. THIS MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT A MOTION WOULD NEED TO BE MADE SETTING ALL THE DATES FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN 2023. MAYO9R KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE MEETING TIME TO 5 P.M. ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAYS OF EACH MONTH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DECEMBER 22, 2023 BEING A 10 A.M. MEETING DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS GROUP. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WAS SHOCKED AND VERY PLEASED AT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WILLING TO DONATE THEIR TIME TO MAKE EVENTS IN THE CITY OF BENTON HAPPEN.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
IN NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THERE IS A TREE AT 508 WEST PARRISH STREET IMPEDING EMERGENCY VEHICLES FROM REACHING THE RESIDENCE. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CRAIG MILES WAS RECENTLY APPROACHED BY FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM REGARDING REMOVAL OF THIS TREE. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THIS TREE REMOVAL WILL BE LESS THAN $500.00, BUT WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THIS SITUATION. ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREED THE TREE SHOULD BE REMOVED.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED COMMISSIONER STOREY WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT THE CITY OF BENTON HAS WITH WEST CITY REGARDING FIRE PROTECTION. MR. CARTER ASKED IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THE RUMOR IS THAT BENTON IS NOT HONORING THEIR MUTUAL AID TO WEST CITY. MR. CARTER ALSO ASKED IF THE CITY OF BENTON IS PLANNING ON VOIDING THE CONTRACT. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE CONTRACT WILL NOT BE VOIDED. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE CONTRACT WILL NOT BE VOIDED.
- CARTER ASKED CATHY IF THE LINE OF CREDIT WOULD BE $1,000,000.00 OR $500,000.00. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ANSWERED “YES”.
ROBERT AND MICHELLE CZUPRYNSKI ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL. THE CZUPRYNSKI’S STATED THAT THEY LIVE AT 607 ELECTION AND THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NEIGHBORS AT 603 ELECTION STREET. ACCORDING TO THE CZUPRYNSKI’S THE YARD IS UNKEMPT AND THERE ARE LOTS OF MOSQUITOS AND SNAKES BECAUSE OF THIS. THEY STATED THAT THE BACK YARD IS LIKE “A JUNGLE”. MRS. CZUPRYNSKI STATED THAT CITY HALL HAS BEEN INVOLVED AS WELL AS BICOUNTY, BUT THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT WE CAN TAKE THE FAMILY TO COURT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOTHING SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER THE RULING IN THE COURT. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA SUGGESTED THAT THE CZUPRYNSKI’S TRY GETTING A HOLD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
LINDA KLEINE OF 409 WEST SIXTH STREET ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL. MS. KLEINE STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT SHE CALLED A “SLUMLORD”. MS. KLEINE SHOWED PICTURES OF HER ELECTRICAL BOX AND STATED THAT MCCOLLUM REAL ESTATE WAS HER LANDLORD AND THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX HER ISSUES. MS. KLEINE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT HER NEIGHBOR STATING THAT THEY DO NOT PICK UP DOG FECES, THEY PARK IN THE STREET, AND STALK THE OTHER NEIGHBORS. MS. KLEIN ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OFFICER CORN. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE INCIDENT THAT MS. KLEIN WAS SPEAKING OF AND THAT HE HAS WATCHED BODY CAM FOOTAGE OF THIS INCIDENT. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE DOES NOT FEEL OFFICER CORN HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG.
- ROCKY MORRIS ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL. MR. MORRIS STATED THAT HE IS LOOKING INTO FLIPPING SOME HOUSES OR CONDOS IN THE AREA. MR. MORRIS ASKED WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SIDEWALKS AND WHERE LIABILITY WOULD LIE. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE CITY AND HOMEOWNER SPLIT THE COST 50/50. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT IF A SIDEWALK GOES THROUGH A DRIVEWAY, THE APPROACH WILL BE REPOURED. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED THAT IF DAMAGE IS DONE TO THE HOMEOWNER’S PERSONAL SIDEWALK, THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THINGS BACK IN WORKING ORDER.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
6:55 P.M.
