MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JANUARY 9, 2023 AT 5:00 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, DECEMBER 22, 2022. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. 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 CONTINUED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT WE WOULD BE GOING OUT OF ORDER OF THE AGENDA TONIGHT. MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO ADDRESS PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION FOR ZONING CHANGE BY BEN’S LAWN SERVICE AND TRAILER SALES TO RE-ZONE THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1503 NORTH MAIN STREET FROM B-6 TO B2. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THE COUNCIL DEALT WITH A FEW WEEKS AGO FOR THE AREA WHERE HUCKS IS LOCATED. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ZONING CHANGE FROM B-6 TO B2 FOR 1503 NORTH MAIN. 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 MR. CALCATERRA TO ADDRESS ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT MADE BY BEN’S LAWN SERVICE AND TRAILER SALES TO OPERATE A BUSINESS IN THE B2-ZONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELLING AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT WITH LITTLE TRACTOR PURCHASING BEN’S LAWN THERE WERE WILL AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS FOR SALE AS WELL. MR. CALCATERRA INTRODUCED JEFF RUSH AND G. DAVID GREEN TO THE COUNCIL AT THIS TIME. MR. GREEN HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH HELPING LITTLE TRACTOR ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY AND MR. RUSH IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF LITTLE TRACTOR. MR. RUSH STATED THAT OF ALL THE PLACES LITTLE TRACTOR HAS BEEN IN, HE FEELS THAT BENTON ACTUALLY WELCOMES THEIR BUSINESS. MR. RUSH ALSO STATED THAT THERE WILL BE A GREAT INCREASE IN REVENUE FROM SALES TAX WITH THEIR BUSINESS. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR BEN’S LAWN SERVICE AND TRAILER SALES TO OPERATE A BUSINESS IN THE B-2 ZONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELLING AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 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 THAT ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA ADDRESS ITEMS (E) DISCUSSION OF CLARIFICATION OF THE TERMS OF THE NON-DOWNTOWN TIF FAÇADE PROGRAM THAT WAS PASSED APRIL 11, 2022 AND (F) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF FAÇADE GRANT APPLICATION MADE BY KEVIN EDWARDS AT 504 PUBLIC SQUARE. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THE TWO FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAMS WERE INTENDED TO RUN CONCURRENT WITH BOTH HAVING THE SAME END DATE. HOWEVER, THE DOWNTOWN TIF FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND THE END DATE FOR THE NON-DOWNTOWN TIF GRANT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT OF THE APPLICATION. THE COUNCIL AGREED THAT THE NON-DOWNTOWN TIF FAÇADE PROGRAM SHOULD BE A YEARLONG PROGRAM AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT END UNTIL APRIL 11, 2023. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION THAT THE NON-DOWNTOWN TIF FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM WILL HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE OF APRIL 11, 2023. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
- CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FROM KEVIN EDWARDS AT 504 PUBLIC SQUARE FOR THE FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM. GENERALLY, THIS ADDRESS WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THE DOWNTOWN TIF FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM. HOWEVER, AS THIS PROGRAM HAS ENDED, HE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ALLOWING MR. EDWARDS TO HAVE HIS APPLICATION APPROVED UNDER THE NON-DOWNTOWN TIF FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FAÇADE GRANT APPLICATION BY KEVIN EDWARDS AT 504 PUBLIC SQUARE IN THE NON-DOWNTOWN TIF FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT AS A DEPARTMENT REPORT, THERE WERE NUMEROUS WATER LEAKS THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN FIXING.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00477 TO CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS FOR A BLOCK OF 50 HOURS OF TECH SUPPORT FOR USE BY THE ENTIRE CITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,975.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT FOR A DEPARTMENT REPORT, HE WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING ALL CHRISTMAS DÉCOR AND PUTTING THE DÉCOR AWAY IN THE NEW BUILDING THE CITY PURCHASED. COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED WHERE THIS BUILDING WAS LOCATED. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE BUILDING IS AT THE STREET DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH BFW ENGINEERING FOR THE WASTENA STREET PROJECT AFTER REVIEW OF THEIR RFQ. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2023-01 FOR THE 2023 MFT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $730,000.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION OF DEVELOPING A POSITION FOR PUBLIC WORKS/CODES/CITY WORKER. HE ASKED IF EACH COMMISSIONER WOULD CREATE A LIST OF WHAT THEY ENVISIONED THE POSITION OR POSITIONS TO INCLUDE. HE ASKED THAT THESE LISTS BE TURNED OVER TO CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG SO THAT A MASTER LIST COULD BE COMPILED AND THEN THE COUNCIL COULD MEET AND DISCUSS THIS FURTHER. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO RESEARCH THIS POSITION OR POSITIONS AS WELL. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ACTION WAS HELD ON THIS MATTER AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR DEPARTMENT REPORTS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TEMPORARY 60-DAY APPOINTMENT OF RYAN EATON IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT A RATE OF $16.55 PER HOUR. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A MEMO FROM CHIEF FUNKHOUSER STATING THAT HE WAS RECOGNIZING INVESTIGATOR KYLE MELVIN AS THE 2022 OFFICER OF THE YEAR. THE MEMO ALSO STATED THAT OFFICER JEREMY WATKINS WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HAVING THE MOST ARREST IN 2022. OFFICER MICHAEL CAIN AND OFFICER JEREMY WATKINS WERE RECOGNIZED FOR MAKING THE MOST DUI ARREST OF 2022. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE WAS VERY PROUD OF THIS DEPARTMENT. MAYOR KONDRITZ ECHOED THIS SENTIMENT.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS IN THE GENERAL FUND AND WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $445,587.34, FOR TIF IN THE AMOUNT OF $198,234.58, AND FOR MFT IN THE AMOUNT OF $22,972.58 FOR A TOTAL BILL AMOUNT OF $666,794.50. 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 PAYROLL FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $79,984.18 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,038.63 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $107,022.81. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE COUNCIL COULD FIND A COPY OF THE MOST RECENT TAX DISTRIBUTION RECEIVED ON DECEMBER 29, 2022, IN THEIR PACKETS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE TOTAL WAS $767,911.45.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE OPENING AN ACCOUNT FOR PUSH TAX MONIES THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN RECEIVING. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DEPOSITED. COMMISSIONER STOREY SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD AGREED TO INCREASE THE SALARY OF BRIAN CALCATERRA TO KEEP HIM WITH THE CITY OF BENTON. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WAS AWARE THAT IF THEY HAD TO HIRE SOMEONE TO DO THE JOB THAT MR. CALCATERRA WAS DOING, IT WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY COST MORE THAN THE INCREASE THAT MR. CALCATERRA ASKED FOR. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO HER ATTENTION THAT IN THE PAST THE BASE SALARY OF THE CITY CLERK WAS THE SAME AS THE TREASURER’S BASE SALARY AND THIS WAS CHANGED AT SOME POINT. SHE STATED THAT THE CITY CLERK HANDLES MORE ITEMS NOW AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA WANTED TO OPEN UP A DISCUSSION AS TO HOW THE COUNCIL FELT ABOUT INCREASING THE CITY CLERK’S SALARY TO THE SAME BASE AS THE TREASURER’S SALARY. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE FELT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR DISCUSSION AS HE BELIEVED SHE DID DESERVE THE SAME BASE PAY. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAY RESOLUTION #2023-02. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MATTHEW HARRISON SPOKE ABOUT HAPPENINGS AT THE AIRPORT. MR. HARRISON STATED THAT THE AIRPORT HAD $60,000.00 IN FUEL SALES AND 35 USES OF THE COURTESY CAR. MR. HARRISON STATED THAT OF THOSE 35 USES OF THE COURTESY CAR, 20 WERE TO EITHER FISH CO OR SEASONING BISTRO. MR. HARRISON STATED THAT HE HAS APPLIED FOR A $440,000.00 FFA GRANT FOR THE APRON, A $16,000.00 AVIATION FUEL TAX GRANT, AND THAT THE HANGAR IS FULL WITH A WAIT LIST AT THIS POINT. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO FINISH THE LIGHTING NEXT AT THE AIRPORT AND WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO A COMMUNITY HANGAR. COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED WHAT THE AIRPORT PROFITS OFF OF FUEL AND MR. HARRISON STATED THAT IT IS APPROXIMATELY $0.10 A GALLON. FINALLY, MR. HARRISON STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR ALL THEIR THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, AND THE PLANT DURING THE RECENT LOSS OF HIS MOTHER. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND MR. HARRISON ON HOW WELL HE DOES WITH STAYING ON TOP OF EVERYTHING AT THE AIRPORT.
IN OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WANTED TO PUBLICLY STATE THAT SHE APPRECIATED CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG FOR ALL SHE DOES FOR THE CITY. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WANTED TO THANK THE CLERK FOR ALSO BEING SO LOYAL TO THE CITY.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JEFF RUSH STATED THAT HE REALLY APPRECIATES BRIAN CALCATERRA FOR ALL THAT HE DID TO HELP LITTLE TRACTOR IN THEIR RELOCATION TO BENTON. MR. RUSH ALSO STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THIS BUSINESS WILL BRING TREMENDOUS REVENUE INTO THE CITY. G. DAVID GREEN ECHOED THESE COMMENTS AND THANKED THE COUNCIL. TOM CARTER ASKED IF A TIME STUDY HAS BEEN DONE ON THE NEW POSITION TO BE CREATED AND IF THERE IS AN EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR THIS POSITION. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THIS MAY JUST BE A PART TIME POSITION AND THAT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE ON ANYTHING REGARDING THIS POSITION AT THIS TIME. MR. CARTER ALSO ASKED IF WITH THE PASSING OF THE NEW RESOLUTION, WILL THIS BE A DOMINO EFFECT WITH RAISES. FRED STATED THAT HE IS LOSING MONEY AS BEING THE MAYOR. CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG TOLD MR. CARTER HE COULD STOP BY CITY HALL AND SHE WOULD PROVIDE HIM WITH A COPY OF THE PAY RESOLUTION.
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.
6:05 P.M.
