MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JANUARY 25, 2016 AT
6 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 11, 2016 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER WYANT ABSTAINED.
MAYOR KONDRITZ INVITED MICHAEL WYANT, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AIRPORT, TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND GIVE UPDATES. MR. WYANT STATED THAT THE AIRPORT HAD A STUDY DONE BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION DEPARTMENT IN 2011 AND THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY SHOWED THERE WERE 8,000 OPERATIONS AT THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN 2011. MR. WYANT STATED THAT AN OPERATION CONSISTS OF EITHER A TAKEOFF OR A LANDING. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD STATING THAT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THESE NUMBERS TO BE TRUE AS THAT WOULD BE 22 TAKE OFFS OR LANDINGS PER DAY. MR. WYANT STATED THAT THE FLIGHT SCHOOL AT SIU DOES TOUCH DOWNS AT THE BENTON AIRPORT AND THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE NUMBERS. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FARMED AIRPORT LAND BID OUT IN THE FUTURE. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THEY ALSO DO NOT FEEL THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE PAYING ANY PART OF THE GRANTS THAT THE AIRPORT MAY RECEIVE. MR. WYANT STATED THAT ANY “LOCAL SHARE” OWED ON GRANTS IS PAID OUT OF THE AIRPORT BUDGET. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE AIRPORT MOVED AS HE BELIEVES IT IS ON PRIME REAL ESTATE THAT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED.
UNDER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MAYOR KONDRITZ INVITED JERE SHAW, PREVIOUS REND LAKE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. MR. SHAW STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THE FUNDS ARE BEING MISHANDLED AT RLCD. MR. SHAW STATED THAT FUNDS FROM WATER ARE BEING USED TO PAY FOR GOLF CARTS INSTEAD OF FUNDS FROM RECREATION. MR. SHAW RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY LOOK INTO THESE ACTIONS. MR. JIM RIPPY, A BOARD MEMBER OF THE RLCD, ALSO SPOKE AND AGREED WITH THE STATEMENTS MADE BY MR. SHAW. TODD THOMAS, THE CITY’S APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER ON THE REND LAKE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT BOARD, THEN ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL. MR. THOMAS STATED THAT EVERYTHING THE BOARD HAS DONE HAS BEEN LEGAL AND ETHICAL. MR. THOMAS ALSO STATED THAT MR. SHAW AND MR. RIPPY HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUED THE RLCD AND LOST. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT IF ANYONE HAD ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. THOMAS, THEY NEEDED TO CONTACT HIM AT THE RLCD MEETING.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #002583 TO HD SUPPLY FOR 2 SENSUS BARCODE SCANNER HAND READERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,600.00 FOR WATER METER READING. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO DIRECT CITY ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CURRENT ORDINANCE FOR NO PARKING/30 MINUTE LOADING ZONE/VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WEST CHURCH FROM SOUTH MAIN TO CENTER DRIVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO DIRECT CITY ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING 24-6-8, PARKING VIOLATIONS, TO RAISE THE FINE FROM $10.00 TO $50.00 FOR ANY TICKETS, PLUS COURT COSTS WHEN APPLICABLE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THE CITY’S CURRENT STREET SWEEPER IS 16 YEARS OLD AND IS REQUIRING MANY COSTLY REPAIRS. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO SEEK A PRICE ON A NEW STREET SWEEPER FROM KEY EQUIPMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MOORE PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #000928 TO “I AM RESPONDING” FOR A ONE (1) YEAR ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO DISPATCH SOFTWARE IN THE AMOUNT OF $850.00. COMMISSIONER MOORE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MOORE PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #000929 TO MID-AMERICA FIRE SAFETY FOR 1 SENSIT GOLD CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,787.00. COMMISSIONER MOORE STATED THAT IN NOVEMBER OF 2015 MARATHON OIL GIFTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH A FIRST RESPONDER GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,240.00 AND THAT THE COST OF THIS CO2 DETECTOR WOULD BE DEDUCTED FROM THIS GRANT. COMMISSIONER MOORE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 01/15/2016 FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,966.11 AND FROM THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,197.38 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $98,163.49. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED A SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR LINDA VOLZ OF 711 CARBON STREET. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS SEWER ADJUSTMENT AS IT MET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD A MATTER FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT ZONING ADMINISTRATOR/CODE ENFORCER CHRIS FLENER BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION THAT WE NEEDED TO UPDATE OUR ORDINANCE OF BUILDING CODES FROM BOCA TO ICC. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO DIRECT CITY ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 6, BUILDING REGULATIONS, IN THE REVISED CODE OF ORDINANCES 98-03. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT ZONING ADMINISTRATOR/CODE ENFORCER CHRIS FLENER HAS BEEN WORKING WITH RICK LINTON ON PREPARING A NEW CITY LOGO. MR. FLENER STATED THAT THE LOGO HAD A SIMILAR BACKGROUND TO THE SIGN AT THE ENTRY OF THE BENTON PARK WITH A BACKGROUND DONE IN MAROON AND A RED HEART. THE LOGO STATES THE PHRASE “SMALL TOWN BIG HEART!”. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW THE USAGE OF A NEW CITY LOGO. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO (2) 4-TON HEATING/AIR CONDITIONERS AT THE BOY SCOUT CABIN. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN WITH JERRY MCCANN AND HE TOLD COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE UNITS AT A COST OF $500.00. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE BELIEVED THAT THE PIANO, APPLIANCES, AND ANY OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS COULD REMAIN IN THE SCOUT CABIN AND BE PART OF THE SALE PROCESS. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW JERRY MCCANN TO REMOVE THE HVAC UNITS FROM THE SCOUT CABIN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
ALSO UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT WE ARE STILL WAITING ON A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE FORMATION OF A TWIN OAKS COMMITTEE IS UNDERWAY AND HE WILL BE PRESENTING THAT TO THE COUNCIL SOON.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN OTHER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, ED FINLEY SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING A BROKEN SEWER TAP. MR. FINLEY STATED THAT TO FIX THIS ISSUE IT COST HIM $3,985.00 AND WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO REIMBURSE HIM AS HE BELIEVED THIS TO BE THE CITY’S ISSUE. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE EXPLAINED TO MR. FINLEY THAT THE CITY DOES NOT OWN THE SEWER TAP, THE CUSTOMER DOES.
JULIE PAYNE HUBLER SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL AND VOICED HER OPINION THAT EVEN IF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AIRPORT ARE PAID FROM THE AIRPORT BUDGET, THIS IS STILL TAX PAYER MONEY. SHE STATED SHE WAS NOT OKAY WITH THIS.
JACK SCHANZ ASKED IF WATER METERS WERE BEING READ OR ESTIMATED. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT WEATHER PERMITTING, ALL METERS WERE READ ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM (A) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACQUISITION AND/OR SALE OF REAL ESTATE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:15 P.M.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO OPEN SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:20 P.M.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY AGREEMENT CONCERNING 1403 SOUTH MAIN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOORE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MOORE, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
7:28 P.M.
