MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY APRIL 27, 2020 AT 9:00 A.M. \u00a0\u00a0PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR\u2019S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ISSUED MARCH 16, 2020, THIS MEETING WAS HELD BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE AND COMPUTER ATTENDANCE ONLY.<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT VIA TELEPHONE\/COMPUTER FOR ROLL CALL.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER PERKINS JOINED THE CALL IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROLL WAS CALLED.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2020.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT AT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING A PURCHASE ORDER WAS APPROVED TO DAVIS AUTO FOR REPAIRS TO THE COURTESY CAR FOR THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS WERE CONTACTED AND DAVIS AUTO WAS THE LOWEST PRICE FOR THE REPAIRS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF $19,596.00 TO JOHN H. CRAWFORD FOR 100% OF THE DESIGN FOR THE SIDEWALK GRANT.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #2020-04 FOR PATRON ONLY PARKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 1.\u00a0\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #2020-05 DESIGNATING 15 MINUTE PICK UP AND DROP-OFF PARKING FOR ONE SPOT IN FRONT OF 601 PUBLIC SQUARE, ONE SPOT IN FRONT OF 506 PUBLIC SQUARE, AND<\/p>\n
TWO SPOTS IN FRONT OF 205 EAST MAIN STREET.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF FIREFIGHTER JEFF SHEW.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDING THE ORDINANCE SETTING IMPOUND FEES BY INCREASING THE FEES FROM $100 FOR FIRST OFFENSE, $200.00 FOR SECOND OFFENSE, AND $500.00 FOR THIRD OFFENSE TO $200.00 FOR FIRST OFFENSE, $400.00 FOR SECOND OFFENSE, AND $600.00 FOR THIRD OFFENSE.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISPATCH AGREEMENT WITH WEST CITY FOR A FEE OF $9,146.04 FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2019, $9,320.32 PER MONTH FROM MAY 1, 2020 TO MAY 1, 2021, AND $9,530.70 FROM MAY 1, 2021 TO OCTOBER 30, 2021.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 04\/17\/2020 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,806.48, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,509.02, AND FOR THE AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $92,475.68.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY SECONDED THIS MOTION.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO PLACE THE FISCAL YEAR 2020\/2021 CITY OF BENTON BUDGET ON DISPLAY FOR A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET BEFORE FINAL APPROVAL.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #2020-06 DISCONTINUING SEWER ADJUSTMENTS UNLESS THE CITY IS FOUND TO BE AT FAULT.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2020-05 FOR A \u201cMOW TO OWN\u201d PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF BENTON REGARDING CITY OWNED VACANT PROPERTIES.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ASKED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE RETURN OF ALL EMPLOYEES TO WORK IMMEDIATELY UNLESS ON FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT, VACATION, PERSONAL, OR SICK TIME.\u00a0 DISCUSSION WAS HELD REGARDING HOW TO BRING ALL EMPLOYEES BACK TO WORK WHILE MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCE. CHIEF COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD MASKS AVAILABLE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG HAD MASKS AVAILABLE IN HER OFFICE AS WELL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE BARGAINING UNITS WERE STILL IN NEGOTIATION.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND\/OR APPROVAL OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, WOULD NEED TO BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR\/CODE ENFORCER DAVID GARAVALIA TO DISCUSSION ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND\/OR APPROVAL OF PURCHASING REAL PROPERTY FROM THE FRANKLIN COUNTY TAX AGENT AT 511 EAST SMITH STREET.\u00a0 MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN MOWING THIS PROPERTY AND WE CAN PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AT THIS TIME FOR $815.00.\u00a0 MR. GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE ASBESTOS REMOVED, THE STREET DEPARTMENT COULD DEMOLISH THIS HOME.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO PURCHASE 511 EAST SMITH STREET FOR $815.00 AND PROCEED WITH ASBESTOS REMOVAL OF THIS PROPERTY BEFORE DEMOLITION BY THE STREET DEPARTMENT.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE HAD RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM THE ILLINOIS LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION STATING THAT ALL STATE LIQUOR LICENSE SET TO EXPIRE IN MARCH, APRIL AND MAY OF 2020 WOULD BE EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 1, 2020.\u00a0 MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW THE STATE GUIDANCE.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO EXTEND CITY LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWAL DATES TO JULY OF 2020.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NO OLD BUSINESS<\/p>\n
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NO NEW BUSINESS.<\/p>\n
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UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED WHERE THE BUDGET WOULD BE ON DISPLAY.\u00a0 CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG STATED THAT SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS POSTED ON THE CITY WEBSITE.\u00a0 MR. CARTER ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY GET AN EMA PLAN TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING IN THE NATURE OF THE COVID-10 PANDEMIC.\u00a0 JULIE PAYNE HUBLER STATED SHE HATED TO SEE A WORKFORCE REDUCTION AT THE CITY, BUT UNDERSTOOD THAT IT MAY BE NECESSARY.\u00a0 MS. HUBLER STATED SHE THOUGHT THE \u201cMOW TO OWN\u2019 PROGRAM WAS A GREAT IDEA AND WANTED TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ON THIS IDEA. MS. HUBLER ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY THE STREET DEPARTMENT WAS HANDLED DURING THIS PANDEMIC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM (C) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY, INCLUDING HEARING TESTIMONY ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR AGAINST LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO DETERMINE ITS VALIDITY.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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10:35 A.M.<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO GO OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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11:40<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND CRAIG MILES TO EXPLORE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS POSITION AND REPORT TO THE COUNCIL ON 05\/11\/2020.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 3. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 1.\u00a0\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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TIME 11:40 A.M.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY APRIL 27, 2020 AT 9:00 A.M. \u00a0\u00a0PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR\u2019S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ISSUED MARCH 16, 2020, THIS MEETING WAS HELD BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE AND COMPUTER … Continue reading