MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JANUARY 23, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM OF THE BENTON CITY HALL LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY WAS ABSENT.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. \u00a0COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED KEYSTONE ENERGY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL FIRST.\u00a0 ANTHONY FOTOPOULOS INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO THE CITY COUNCIL STATING THAT HE IS A CO-FOUNDER OF KEYSTONE POWER HOLDINGS, LLC AND FOCUSES ON PARTNER MANAGEMENT, DUE DILIGENCE, DEAL PLACEMENT, AND FINANCING.\u00a0 MR. FOTOPOULOS HANDED OUT BINDERS TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING A PROPOSAL TO PLACE SOLAR POWER WITHOUT CAPITAL INVESTMENT AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.\u00a0 IN THE PROPOSAL AN ESCALATOR AND A FLAT RATE CALCULATOR OF SAVINGS WERE LAID OUT.\u00a0 WITH THE ESCALATOR THERE WOULD BE A NEW RATE EVERY YEAR STARTING AT $0.0349FOR ELECTRICITY WITH A TOTAL SAVINGS AT THE END OF 30 YEARS IN THE AMOUNT OF $980,613.00.\u00a0 WITH THE FLAT RATE THE CITY WOULD PAY A RATE OF $0.0449 AND THE ESTIMATED ELECTRICAL SAVINGS OVER 30 YEARS WOULD BE $1,105,322.00.\u00a0 ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA STATED THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO PAY REAL ESTATE TAXES ON THIS PROPERTY IF SOLAR WAS INSTALLED THEREFORE THE SAVINGS WOULD ACTUALLY BE LESS AND NOT START TO BE SEEN UNTIL YEAR 4 OF THE PROGRAM.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL A FURTHER DATE.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. \u00a0COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING, NO LAKE LOT LEASES, AND NO WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORT.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD WATERMAIN BREAK TODAY ON EAST MAIN STREET AND THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN REPAIRING NUMEROUS WATER LEAKS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS AND NO WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORT.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAD PATCHED EAST MAIN STREET IN FROM OF THE JAIL AND THAT THEY WERE PREPARING OF THE WINTER WEATHER THAT HAS BEEN FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY WAS NOT PRESENT FOR THE MEETING AND THEREFORE ATTORNEY MALKOVICH HANDLED THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00073 TO FABICK CAT FOR LEVEL 2 MAINTENANCE SERVICE ON THE FABICK CAT GENERATOR LOCATED AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $785.56.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. \u00a0COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.<\/p>\n
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ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00072 TO NOVACOM FOR AN IN-CAR VIDEO CAMERA SYSTEM AND TESTING IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,115.00.\u00a0 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ALSO STATED THAT THIS PURCHASE WOULD BE MADE FROM THE DUI FUND.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. \u00a0COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS AND NO MONTHLY BILLS TO APPROVE AT THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 01\/20\/2022 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,686.28 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,036.99 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $106,723.27.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. \u00a0COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.<\/p>\n
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ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES AND NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO HANDLE ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND\/OR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF).\u00a0 MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THE CITY OF BENTON HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION OF UNDERPERFORMING AREAS WITH THE CITY AND THAT THE CITY RECOGNIZES THAT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING IS A MEANS TO ADDRESS AREAS OF BLIGHT, SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTE LOCAL JOB CREATION AND RETENTION.\u00a0 MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD REQUEST THAT A MOTION BE MADE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2023-02 IN SUPPORT OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4. \u00a0COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.<\/p>\n
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MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO HANDLE ITEM (E) DISCUSSION AND\/OR APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE OF A 2019 FORD FUSION FOR THE ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR.\u00a0 MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE HAS RESEARCHED A LOT OF CARS AND FOUND A 2019 FORD FOCUS, BLACK WITH FOUR DOORS, FROM CARMAX OUT OF FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,110.00.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT A NEW CHEVY VOLT COULD BE PURCHASED FOR $23,000, BUT WOULD VOTE YES ON THIS PURCHASE.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.<\/p>\n
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NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NO OLD BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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IN NEW BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SIT-DOWN TALK WITH THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY THAT HOUSED THE OLD LINCOLN SCHOOL BUILDING.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CRAIG MILES FOR MAKING THE HEART FOR THE VALENTINE\u2019S PROJECT AT CAPITAL PARK.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS HAVE PLACED A HEART AT CAPITAL PARK FOR CITIZENS TO TIE BOWS AND RIBBONS TO FOR VALENTINE\u2019S DAY REPRESENTING THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE THE \u201cHEART\u201d OF OUR COMMUNITY.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA INVITED ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROJECT.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER STATED THAT THE CITY HAS AGREED TO HIRE A NEW POLICE OFFICER AND GAVE TWO PAY RAISES AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.\u00a0 MR. CARTER ASKED IF WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE INCREASE IN PAYROLL.\u00a0 MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE CITY OF BENTON IS FAR FROM BROKE AND THAT WE WERE WORKING IN THE POSITIVE AND IN GOOD SHAPE.\u00a0 MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT WE ARE WORKING WITHIN OUR BUDGET AND THAT THE TREASURER WATCHES THE MONEY VERY CLOSELY.\u00a0 MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE IS PROUD OF THE CITY OF BENTON\u2019S BUDGET.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THINGS WOULD LOOK A BIT DIFFERENT IN THE BUDGET, BUT THAT THE CITY IS DEFINITELY OPERATING WITHIN THE BUDGET.\u00a0 MR. CARTER ASKED FOR A DOLLAR AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE CITY HAS.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE THAT AT THIS TIME, BUT THAT SHE WOULD GET THAT NUMBER FOR HIM.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS:\u00a0 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.\u00a0 NAYS:\u00a0 0.<\/p>\n
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5:45 P.M.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JANUARY 23, 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 … Continue reading