MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2022 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM OF THE BENTON CITY HALL LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAJN 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, NOVEMBER 14, 2022. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO PRESENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS ITEM (E) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF PETITION FILED BY JERRY HALL TO VACATE AN ALLEY. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT ALL PAPERWORK HAS BEEN DONE AND FEES HAVE BEEN PAID. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS ALLEY, LOCATED BEHIND 211 WEST WILLIAMS STREET, HAS BEEN
UNOFFICIALLY CLOSED FOR YEARS, AND THIS WOULD JUST MAKE IT AN
OFFICIALLY CLOSED ALLEY. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PETITION FILED BY JERRY HALL TO VACATE AN ALLEY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO PRESENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS ITEM (F) DISCUSSION ANO/OR APPROVAL OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION FILED BY DR. RAKESH CHANDRA. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THE ZONING BOARD HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION FILED BY DR. CHANDRA FOR 117 AND 119 EAST SMITH STREET. MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED
WHAT THE HEIGHT OF THE FENCE WOULD BE AT THIS LOCATION. DR. CHANDRA STATED THAT THE FENCE WOULD BE 4 FOOT TO 6 FOOT IN HEIGHT AND THAT THE FENCE WOULD BE SEE THROUGH. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR DR. RAKESH CHANDRA AT 117 AND 119 E SMITH STREET FOR AN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER
COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED RICK LINTON TO DISCUSS ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF “DAY TRIP” PROPOSAL. MR. LINTON STATED THAT THE HE IS STILL RESEARCHING SOME ITEMS TO DO WITH THIS PROPOSAL AND WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO TABLE THIS AT THIS TIME. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF “DAY TRIP” PROPOSAL WITH RICK LINTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED RICK AND BARB LINTON TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE UPCOMING S3DA PROPOSAL. MR. LINTON INTRODUCED JACKIE TAYLOR FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS. MS. TAYLOR STATED THAT THE S3DA TOURNAMENT HELD LAST YEAR WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND THAT THE CORPS WAS EXCITED TO BE HOSTING AGAIN THIS YEAR. BARB LINTON STATED THAT THE CORPS REALLY STEPPED UP AND MADE THIS EVENT HAPPEN LAST YEAR AND DONATED MONETARILY TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE COMPLETED. MS. LINTON STATED THAT THE CORPS GAVE THE MONEY AS A ONETIME DONATION AND SO THEY NEED SPONSORS TO STEP UP THIS YEAR. MS. LINTON STATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THE CITY OF BENTON TO BE A “HOST CITY” FOR THIS EVENT. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE DONATING $1,000.00 TO THE S3 DA TOURNAMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00085 TO SCHAEFFER’S SPECIALIZED LUBRICANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $I,343.80 FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. 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 #00666 TO BEN’S LAWN SERVICE FOR A 20-FOOT HEAVY DUTY TRAILER IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,512.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS T AKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRJTZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORT, HOWEVER, HE COULD GIVE A BRIEF VERBAL REPORT. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL WATER LEAKS. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY REPAIRED 15 SERVICE LEAKS THIS MONTH AND ARE WORKING ON 6 MORE. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM ALSO STATED THAT THE IOWA STREET PROJECT IS ALMOST COMPLETE.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00232 TO BENTON ONE TIRE FOR FOUR FIRESTONE G663 10 R22.5 TIRES IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,145.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE A WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORT, BUT COULD GIVE A BRIEF VERBAL REPORT.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE CONCRETE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR THE YEAR. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN TRIMMING TREES AROUND TOWN FOR THE LAST WEEK AND WILL BEGIN REPLACING MISSING STREET AND TRAFFIC SIGNS AFTER THAT.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR RFQ’S FOR THE WASTENA STREET PROJECT THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE SPRING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAY ALIA 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 #00069 TO MODERN OFFICE FOR A KYOCERA TASKALFA 308CI WITH SERVICE PLAN OF $33.00 A MONTH IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,488.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCK.RUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE DID NOT HA VE A DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THIS MEETING. HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT AS HE WALKED INTO THE MEETING, HE RECEIVED A REPORT THAT THERE WERE SOME KIDS PAINTING STOP SIGNS ON THE CORNER OF GARDNER AND NINTH. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE WANTED TO THANK THE STREET DEPARTMENT, CRAIG MILES, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE MAYOR FOR WHAT THEY DID TO MAKE SURE “A HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS” HAPPENED.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR BILLS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED NOVEMBER 23, 2022 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,589.68 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,045.97 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE AMOUNT OF $96,635.65. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #22-05, TAX LEVY ORDINANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,196,984.00. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THIS REPRESENTED A 5% INCREASE FROM THE LAST TAX LEVY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRJTZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO SHOW STATE HER APPRECIATION FOR THE BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS AND LENNIE SHELTON WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR HELPING WITH “A HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS”. THE BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS DECORATED POLES, PLANNED GAMES, AND MADE NUMEROUS BASKETS TO BE RAFFLED. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPEARHEADED THE VENDORS FOR THE EVENT. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE ALSO WANTED TO THANK CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG FOR ALWAYS BEING BEHIND THE SCENES PULLING THE STRINGS TO MAKE SURE ALL CITY EVENTS HAPPEN.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS MEETING.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS NARCOTICS COMPANIES BEING SUED AND HE BELIEVES THIS COULD IN TURN BE GOOD FOR THE CITY. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE
WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE CITIZENS TO PLACE THEIR TRASH CANS BACK OFF THE STREET AFTER PICK UP. ATTORNEY THOMAS MALKOVICH STATED THAT
MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE PRINTED ON THE WATER BILLS.
NO OLD BUSINESS. NO NEW BUSINESS. IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED IF THE COUNCIL KNEW WHETHER THE FENCE AT THE OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEAL TH FACILITY WILL BE CHAIN LINK OR NOT. THE COUNCIL STATED THAT AT THIS TIME, THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE FENCE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED OF.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER
MESSERSMITH COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY,
COMMISSIONER GARA VALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
6:52 P.M.
