City Council Meeting Minutes — February 13, 2023

MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY FEBRUARY 13, 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, JANUARY 23, 2023.  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, NO LAKE LOT LEASES, AND NO WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORT.  HE STATED HE WOULD TRY TO GET A WRITTEN REPORT FOR THE NEXT MEETING, BUT THAT CRAIG MILES HAS JUST BEEN VERY BUSY AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GET ONE DONE. 

 

COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT IT IS TIME TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOWING FOR THE 2023 MOWING SEASON.  COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAS SPOKEN WITH DAVID BOOKER, WHO MOWED FOR THE CITY LAST YEAR.  MR. BOOKER HAS AGREED TO DO THE MOWING FOR THE CITY OF BENTON AT THE SAME RATE THAT HE DID FOR THE 2022 MOWING SEASON.  COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONTRACTING DAVID BOOKER FOR MOWING OF CITY PROPERTIES FOR THE 2023 MOWING SEASON.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

 

COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ITEM (E) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF TWIN OAKS FLOOR REFINISH.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

 

COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (F) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE REND LAKE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT.  HE STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE TABLED UNTIL AFTER A MEETING WITH THE REND LAKE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT HAS BEEN HELD.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT BEFORE WE MOVED ON, HE WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM KEITH THOMASON WITH THE RLCD AND MR. THOMASON STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS A ONE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY WITH A RATE CHANGE. 

 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS AND NO WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORT.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN PREPARING FOR THE 2023 MFT PROGRAM.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED THAT CREWS ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH MCLEANSBORO STREET AND EAST MAIN AND THAT IT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 2-3 WEEKS BEFORE ALL WORK IS COMPLETED IN THIS AREA. 

 

COMMISSIONER MESSERMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2023-03 FOR THE 2023 MFT PROGRAM.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED SOME OF THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL REPLACE RESOLUTION #2023-02.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

 

COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED THAT JUST AS A POINT OF INFORMATION FOR THE COUNCIL, HE STATED THAT ANTHONY BRYAN HAS DECIDED TO GIVE UP THE MECHANIC ROLL IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT.  THIS POSITION HAS BEEN INTERNALLY BID AND WILL BE FILLED BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THIS POSITION DOES CARRY A $0.70 AN HOUR INCREASE IN PAY. 

 

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00074 TO FABICK CAT FOR REPAIR OF THE ELECTRIC POWER GENERATOR BY REPLACING THE FUEL LIFT PUMP AND REPLACING A 5-YEAR-OLD BATTERY IN THE AMOUNT OF $982.65.  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 APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00386 TO IAMRESPONDING.COM FOR RENEWAL OF ANNUAL DISPATCHING SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $660.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.  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 #00385 TO FIRE APPARATUS AND SUPPLY TEAM FOR ANNUAL PUMP TESTING FOR ENGINES #801, #803, AND #805 IN THE AMOUNT OF $655.00.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

 

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORTS FOR THIS MEETING. 

 

COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER CONTRACT AMENDMENT.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THIS IS IN REGARDS TO PLACING A GUN SAFE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR USE BY THE SRO.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THIS AGREEMENT WOULD REITERATE THAT THE CITY HAS ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS GUN SAFE.  COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS AMENDMENT.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.  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 APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING. 

 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $255,683.31, MFT IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,786.03, AND OTHER FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $41,744.44 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF BILLS TO BE PAID IN THE AMOUNT OF $302,213.78.  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 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $68,931.57 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,547.44 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $96,479.01.  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 BEEN UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IN THE PAST THE CITY HAD PURCHASED A TABLE FOR THE HOSPITAL AUXILIARY DINNER.  SHE STATED THAT SHE HAS SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE MAKING A MOTION TO PURCHASE A TABLE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL AND OUR CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT THAT RAISES MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS CONTINUING EDUCATION INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD. 

 

COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY MATT WAYMAN FOR A SPONSORSHIP FOR SI COMIC CON IN THE AMOUNT OF $500.00.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE THINKS ANY AMOUNT THE CITY COULD GIVE FOR A SPONSORSHIP WOULD BE GREAT AS THIS EVEN BRINGS A LOT OF PEOPLE TO OUR AREA.  THE EVENT WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON APRIL 1, 2023 AT THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO DO A $300.00 SPONSORSHIP TO THE SI COMIC CON.  MOTION DIED FROM LACK OF SECOND. 

 

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES. 

 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES AND NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING. 

 

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED DYLAN YOUNG OF LITTLE EGYPT PEST CONTROL TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.  MR. YOUNG STATED THAT HE JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO THE COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND.  MR. YOUNG STATED THAT HE WILL BE HONORING THE CONTRACT PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO BY THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE FORMER OWNER.  MR. YOUNG PLANS ON BEING IN BENTON ONCE A MONTH FOR 8 HOURS A DAY.  THE PREVIOUSLY AGREED UPON AMOUNT WAS $15,000.00 FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.  MR. YOUNG THANKED THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING HIM TO DO BUSINESS IN OUR CITY. 

 

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF LETTER OF INTENT – SOLAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT FROM KEYSTONE POWER HOLDINGS, LLC FOR THE BENTON WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME UNTIL ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA COULD BE IN ATTENDANCE.  COMMISSIONER COCKRUM 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.

 

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED FOR ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (E) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF DESIGNATING THE LAND SURROUNDING THE SEWER PLANT AS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND HOLDING AN AUCTION TO SELL CITY SURPLUS PROPERTY.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE A MOTION TO APPROVE DESIGNATING THE LAND SURROUNDING THE SEWER PLANT AS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND HOLDING AN AUCTION TO THE SURPLUS PROPERTY AS WELL AS ADVERTISE DOING THIS.  COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

 

MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (H) 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 1502 NORTH MAIN STREET FROM B-3 TO B-2.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.  COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE THIS MOTION.  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 FOR ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (G) 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 B-2 ZONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELLING AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT.  THIS MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  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 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO DISCUSS ITEM (H) DISCUSSION OF RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL AGGREGATION PRICING.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT IN MARCH OF 2022 THE CITY GAVE THE MAYOR PERMISSION TO SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BENTON FOR OUR ELECTRICAL AGGREGATION BROKER (SIMEC) TO GO TO MARKET FOR A NEW RATE.  ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THIS HAPPENED LAST THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023.  THE NEW RATE FOR THE CITY’S ELECTRICAL AGGREGATION WILL BE 11.3¢ PER KILOWATT HOUR AND WILL BEGIN IN JULY OF 2023 AND RUN THROUGH JUNE OF 2024. 

 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A RESIGNATION FROM THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER BOARD FROM BENITA COFFEL.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT MRS. COFFEL HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB WHILE ON THE BOARD.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT HER RESIGNATION.  MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.  VOTE WAS TAKEN.   YEAS:  5.  COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.  NAYS:  0.

 

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR BRAD BURZYNSKI TO BE APPOINTED TO THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER BOARD.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THIS WOULD BE A GOOD ADDITION AND WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF BRAD BURZYNSKI TO THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER BOARD.  THIS MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.  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 HAD SEEN THE ALBINO DEER WHILE HE WAS TRAVELING ON POPE STREET.  MAYOR KONDRITZ ALSO STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING POPE STREET HE WITNESSED CHARLES RUFFINO PICKING UP TRASH ALONG THE ROAD.  HE STATED THAT MR. RUFFINO PICKED UP 2 OR 3 40-GALLON TRASH BAGS FULL OF GARBAGE.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK MR. RUFFINO FOR VOLUNTEERING TO HELP KEEP BENTON CLEAN. 

 

NO OLD BUSINESS. 

 

NO NEW BUSINESS. 

 

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED WHAT KIND OF RATE MR. THOMASON HAD STATED TO MAYOR KONDRITZ REGARDING THE RLCD AGREEMENT.  MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE RATE MR. THOMASON DISCUSSED WAS 5%.  MR. CARTER STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD THAT IF THE CITY HAD NOT PURCHASED THE NEW METERING SYSTEM, THEY COULD HAVE BOUGHT THE SOLAR STUFF ON THEIR OWN, MADE MONEY ON THE OVERAGE, AND RECEIVED A GRANT FOR THE METERS.  HE ASKED THAT IF THE CITY WOULD, IN THE FUTURE, SIT DOWN AND REALLY GO THROUGH ALL AVENUES BEFORE MAKING PURCHASES LIKE THIS. 

 

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.

 

5:45 P.M.