MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 AT<\/p>\n
6:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 REGULAR SESSION MEETING.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 SPECIAL MEETING.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS: \u00a00. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE ABSTAINED.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD ALLOW RICK CAMPBELL TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING A BOOKLET OF FREE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE CITY OF BENTON.\u00a0 MR. CAMPBELL STATED THAT WITH THE COUNCIL\u2019S APPROVAL HE WOULD PRINT 5,000 OF THESE BOOKLETS.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW MR. CAMPBELL TO MOVE FORWARD.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001517 TO ALAN ENVIRONMENTAL FOR GREASE GOBLIN IN THE AMOUNT OF $928.62.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT HE HAD NO BUSINESS TONIGHT.\u00a0 AS AN UPDATE COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT 95% OF THE 2016 OIL AND CHIP PROGRAM IS COMPLETED WITH APPROXIMATELY 4 BLOCKS LEFT.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER WYANT ALSO STATED THAT HE IS STILL WAITING ON A BID FOR THE OVERLAY PROJECT.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED CAREER FIREFIGHTER MATT CARPENTER HAD SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION AFTER TAKING A POSITION WITH THE EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS FIRE DEPARTMENT.\u00a0 FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM STATED THAT MR. CARPENTER HAD BEEN A FIVE YEAR CAREER FIREFIGHTER WITH THE CITY OF BENTON AND HAD BEEN A VOLUNTEER FOR 2 YEAR PRIOR TO THAT, GIVING HIM A TOTAL OF 7 YEARS WITH THE BENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF CAREER FIREFIGHTER MATT CARPENTER WITH HIS LAST DAY BEING OCTOBER 10, 2016.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO HIRE JOHN OWENS AS A TEMPORARY FULL TIME FIREFIGHTER FOR 60 DAYS WITH A START DATE OF 10\/11\/16.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS 4:\u00a0 COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 1. COMMISSIONER MILLER.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW THE FIRE AND POLICE MERIT BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS OF HIRING A FULL TIME CAREER FIREFIGHTER. \u00a0SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BEGINNING TO RAISE MONEY FOR A K9 UNIT IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000.00.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THIS COST WOULD INCLUDE THE DOG, THE TRAINING, AND THE EQUIPMENT.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW POLICE STATION IS SLATED TO BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH A COMPLETION DATE TENTATIVELY SET AS MARCH 1, 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 09\/23\/16 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,058.69, FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,252.1, AND PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,276.19 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE AMOUNT OF $103,587.03.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR CAROL OVERBEY OF 310 NORTH MCLEANSBORO AND SUE DIRKS OF 401 EAST BOND AS THEY BOTH MEET THE CRITERIA SET FOR IN THE ORDINANCE.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO SET TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS ON OCTOBER 29, 2016 FROM 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH STATED THAT WE NEEDED TO AMEND THE SIMPLIFIED TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX ORDINANCE CHANGING THE DATE OF FIRST COLLECTION FROM JANUARY OF 2017 TO FEBRUARY OF 2017.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #16-22 AMENDING THE SIMPLIFIED TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX COLLECTION DATE.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT ON OCTOBER 10, 2016 CINNAMON SMITH, AN EXPERT ON SOLAR ECLIPSES, WILL BE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TO EDUCATE US ON THE UPCOMING SOLAR ECLIPSE.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WANTS TO OFFER TO SELL TO THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER THE CITY OWNED LOTS ON HUDELSON STREET FOR $10,500.00, REPRESENTING THE CITY\u2019S EXPENSE.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION AUTHORIZING LEGAL COUNSEL TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY BOARD REGARDING THE SALE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY ON HUDELSON STREET.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 3. COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 2. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE AND COMMISSIONER STOREY.<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT WALKER\u2019S BLUFF WANTS SUPPORT FROM NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES REGARDING BUILDING A RESORT AND CASINO.\u00a0 MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THIS WILL CREATE OVER 1,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS DURING A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD AND 726 PERMANENT JOBS ONCE COMPLETED.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION APPROVING RESOLUTION 16-11 SUPPORTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RESORT AT WALKERS BLUFF.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT A LETTER HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE EPA STATING THAT WE HAVE MET ALL STANDARDS AND WE NOW WAIT 30 DAYS TO SEE IF ANYONE CONTESTS THIS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT A SURVEY IS BEING DONE ON THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY ON STUYVESANT STREET.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE CHAMBER AFTER HOURS EVENT AT CITY HALL WENT VERY WELL.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE WOULD NOW LIKE TO WORK ON A CITIZEN OPEN HOUSE THAT WILL LIKELY BE HELD BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3 P.M. TO 5 P.M. OR 3 P.M. TO 6 P.M.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEEK BIDS TO HAVE THE DIGITAL SIGN CURRENTLY LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN MOVED.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MILLER ALSO STATED THAT A FLU CLINIC HAS BEEN SET UP WITH KUMMEL CHAPLAIN PHARMACY.\u00a0 THIS CLINIC WILL TAKE PLACE AT KUMMEL CHAPLAIN PHARMACY ON OCTOBER 18, 2016 FROM 9 A.M. TO 11 A.M.\u00a0 THIS WILL BE OPEN TO EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS CITIZENS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NO NEW BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JERRY WIGGS STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE RIGHT AWAY ON HIS PROPERTY HAS NOT BEEN MOWED.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE LOOKED INTO.\u00a0 MR. WIGGS ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THE CITY STANDS ON THE BURNOUT LOCATED ON GLENDALE STREET.\u00a0 CITY ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH STATED THAT THIS WAS CURRENTLY ON THE CITY\u2019S LIST FOR DEMOLITION.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NELSON HENRIETTO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY FOR THE CLEANUP OF 2 MOBILE HOMES ON SOUTH MCLEANSBORO STREET.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED TONY LANG IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY PROGRESS ON HIS ISSUES OF FLOODING IN HIS YARD.\u00a0 MR. LANG STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO PROGRESS MADE.\u00a0 THE MAYOR TOLD MR. LANG THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING INTO THIS FURTHER.\u00a0 MR. LANG ALSO QUESTIONED BRINGING OTHER CABLE TV PROVIDERS TO THE CITY OF BENTON.\u00a0 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH EXPLAINED THAT THE CITY HAS A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT CURRENTLY WITH NEWWAVE COMMUNICATIONS FOR CABLE TV.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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6:58 P.M.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.\u00a0 MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 THOSE PRESENT WERE … Continue reading