MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY APRIL 24, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM OF THE BENTON CITY HALL LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.
IN THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR KONDRITZ, FINANCE COMMISSIONER CATHY GARAVALIA CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. MAYOR KONDRITZ WAS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2023. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THIS MEETING, BUT THAT GROUND STORAGE IS BEING DRAINED TO BEGIN REPAIRS AFTER PARTS ARRIVE. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE IS WAITING ON A QUOTE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ROOF TO BE ABLE TO DO THE NECESSARY REPAIRS ON THAT BUILDING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HIRING OF A NEW EMPLOYEE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN WORKING ON CORRECTING SIGNS, THE DRIVE AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND GETTING READY FOR THE UPCOMING MFT PROGRAM.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2023-11 FOR CROSS INTERSTATE 57 AT PETROFF ROAD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING. IN WAY OF A DEPARTMENT REPORT, COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY BUSY ON THE INTERSTATE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ONE TRUCK DOWN AND IT WOULD COST $12,000.00 TO FIX THIS TRUCK.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION APPROVE ORDINANCE #2023-03, AMENDMENT TO THE LATERAL HIRE ORDINANCE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS CHANGES THE TIME WORKED AT ANOTHER DEPARTMENT FROM 3 YEARS DOWN TO 18 MONTHS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LATERAL HIRE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE MERIT BOARD HELD TESTING FOR THE POLICE LIST ON THE PREVIOUS SATURDAY. HE STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE APPLICANTS THAT TESTED.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,483.20. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 04/14/2023 FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $67,654.35 AND WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,574.14 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $91,228.49. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE #2023-03 FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 BUDGET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES.
IN THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT, THERE WERE NO UPDATES AND NO PURCHASE ORDERS.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO HANDLE ITEM (9C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEMBERS. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO PLACE HIMSELF ON THIS COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO PLACE BRIAN CALCATERRA ON THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
- CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO PLACE JOE SPRAGUE ON THIS COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO PLACE JOE SPRAGUE ON THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
- CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO PLACE LESLIE COX ON THIS COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO PLACE LESLIE COX ON THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
- CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO PLACE MATT WYNN ON THIS COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO PLACE MATT WYNN ON THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
- CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO PLACE GARY KRAFT ON THIS COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO PLACE GARY KRAFT ON THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE AND ATTORNEY MALKOVICH HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH 5 HINMAN HOLDINGS, LLC (618 FIXMYRV) TO FORM A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THE CITY OF BENTON. THIS WOULD BE FOR 60% REIMBURSEMENT. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 60% REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LIFE OF THE IJRL TIF. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PRESENTED THREE PROCLAMATIONS FOR VOLUNTEER AWARENESS MONTH.
THE FIRST PROCLAMATION WAS FOR HAYDEN SMITH. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION FOR VOLUNTEER AWARENESS MONTH FOR HAYDEN SMITH. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
THE SECOND PROCLAMATION WAS FOR LOGAN SMITH. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION FOR VOLUNTEER AWARENESS MONTH FOR LOGAN SMITH. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
THE THIRD PROCLAMATION WAS FOR THE BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION FOR VOLUNTEER AWARENESS MONTH FOR THE BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED COMMISSIONER COCKRUM IF PREFERENCE WOULD BE SHOWN WHEN HIRING THE NEW EMPLOYEE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT IF THEY WERE FROM BENTON, IF THEY WOULD HAVE PREFERENCE SHOWN FOR HAVING EXPERIENCE, AND IF A WATER LICENSE WOULD BE REQUIRED AS THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE HELP WANTED AD. ANGIE MESSERSMITH ASKED COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA WHY THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE GIVEN PROCLAMATIONS. SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THEY DID TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THESE BOYS SHOWED UP AT THE FALL FEST, HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS, AND EASTER EGG HUNT AND WORKED THE ENTIRE EVENTS.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
5:25 P.M.
