North Egypt News

City of Benton City Council met May 28.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Kondritz Called The Meeting To Order. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz Were Present For Roll Call. Commissioner Garavalia Was Absent.

Mayor Kondritz Asked For A Motion To Be Made On The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled City Council Meeting Of May 13, 2019. Commissioner Storey Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins Stated That There Were A Lot Of Projects Happening In Benton Currently. He Stated That On North Main Street Should Be Completed Within A Week. Commissioner Perkins Stated That He Does Get A Lot Of Complaints Because Of The Smell From The Sewer Plant And He Stated That Some Of The Systems Have Been Modified. Commissioner Perkins Stated That The Complaints Are Better And That He Has Been Told The Smell Has Improved.

Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Advertise The Position For Water Clerk/Deputy City Clerk. Commissioner Storey Asked Where The Pay For This Position Would Be Taken From. Commissioner Perkins Stated That This Position Would Be Paid For From Water Department/Sewer Department On A 50/50 Basis. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Stated That Over The Past Two Weeks He Has Been Out Getting To Talk To Citizens And He Believes Communication With The Citizens Will Help With A Lot Of The Issues The City Has Had In The Past. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That A Lot Of Projects Are Coming Up And He Believes That By Fall The City Of Benton Will Look Visually Different.

Commissioner Messersmith Stated That One Of The Walls Of A Bridge At Lake Benton Has Finally Collapsed And Therefore Some Rip Rap Was Ordered On An Emergency Basis. Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Retroactively Approve Purchase Order #001149 For 150 Tons Of Rip Rap In The Amount Of $3,375.00 From Arondelli Trucking In Christopher, Illinois. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Stated That The Fire Department Had Received Three (3) Bids On Repair Or Replacement Of The Roof On The Fire Department Building. The First Bid Was For Repair Of The Roof From Erwin Builders In The Amount Of $10,326.00. The Second Bid Was From Erwin Builders For Replacement Of The Roof In The Amount Of $32,690.00. The Third Bid Was From Joiner Sheet Metal And Roofing For Replacement Of The Roof In The Amount Of $46,322.00. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve The Bid For Replacement Of The Roof From Erwin Builders In The Amount Of $32,690.00. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Commissioner Messersmith Asked Where The Funds To Replace This Roof Would Be Taken From And Commissioner Storey Stated That The Funds Were In Capital Improvements. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Establish The Benton City Hall As An Emergency Heating And Cooling Center Monday Through Friday Between The Hours Of 8 A.M. And 5 P.M. This Will Only Be On Regular Workdays And On An Emergency Basis Only. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Resolution #19-06 Closing The Benton Square For The Farm City Day’s Celebration Between The Hours Of 3 P.M. And 8 P.M. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Resolution #19-07 Closing The Benton Square For The Farm City Day’s Parade Between The Hours Of 2 P.M. And 5 P.M. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

In The Absence Of Commissioner Garavalia Attorney Malkovich Asked For A Motion Approving Payroll Dated 05/17/2019 For General Fund In The Amount Of $70,057.84, Water And Sewer In The Amount Of $27,264.92, And Airport Manager In The Amount Of $1,100.00 For A Total Payroll Of $98,422.76. Commissioner Perkins Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Attorney Malkovich Stated Sewer Adjustments For Kathee Frailey Of 605 Mckinley, Scott Montoya Of 803 North Mcleansboro Street, And Phyllis Piazza Of 308 North Ninth Street Were Received By The City Of Benton. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve These Sewer Adjustments As They Meet The Criteria Set Forth In The Ordinance. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Under City Attorney Updates, Attorney Malkovich Presented Ordinance #19-08 Allowing The Sale Of Alcohol With All Liquor License On Sundays In The City Of Benton For A Fee Of $1,200.00 Per Year. Commissioner Storey Made This Motion. Commissioner Messersmith Asked If License Holders Would Still Be Able To Purchase Up To 12 Sunday Permits At A Cost Of $50.00 Per Use. Attorney Malkovich Stated At This Time The Option Would Be To Purchase All Sundays Or None. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Attorney Malkovich Presented Ordinance #19-09, Which Is A Class I Liquor License Commonly Known As A Parlor License With A Cost Of $1,350.00 Per Year. Commissioner Storey Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 1. Commissioner Messersmith.

Mayor Kondritz Invited David Harp Of Chastain And Associates To Present Information Regarding The I-57 Interchange Project. Mr. Harp Stated That The City Is Currently In The Design Phase, Phase 1 Of Engineering. Mr. Harp Stated That Over The Next 30 Days There Will Be A Kick Off Meeting With Idot And The City Of Benton.

Under Updates For Public Affairs, Mayor Kondritz Stated That The City Is In The Process Of Having Microphones And Cameras Installed To Allow City Council Meetings In The Future To Be Broadcast On A Youtube Channel, Facebook, And The City’s Website. Mayor Kondritz Also Added That This Will Be Done At No Extra Charge To The City Through “Refresh” Dollars That Have Been Earned Through Complete Technology System, Who Manages The City’s Phone System.

Mayor Kondritz Asked Rachel Gartner To Speak To The Council Regarding The Moving Of Fall Fest To The Benton City Park. Ms. Gartner Stated That She Had Presented This Option To The Park Board And Pending Some Conversations With The City’s Insurance Carrier, The Park Board Has Approved This Move. Ms. Gartner Stated That This Would Allow The City Of Benton To Not Have To Close The Square Down During The Event And Therefore Alleviating The City Of Any Extra Costs By Adding Overtime In The Police Department.

Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Would Like To Have Severin Landscaping Work On The Landscaping At City Hall. Commissioner Storey Stated He Would Like To Accept Bids On This Matter. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Accept Bids On Landscaping At City Hall. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Stated That The Council Could Find A Price Sheet For 1, 2, 3, And 4 Year Contracts With Get M.O.S.T. For Mosquito Abatement. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve A 1 Year Contract With Get M.O.S.T. For $10,380.00 And Also Stating That He Would Like Someone From The City To Become Licensed And The City Take Care Of Mosquito Abatement Itself In Future Years. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Stated That In The Packets, The Council Would See A Contract From Lisa Keener Of Keener’s Cleaners Regarding Cleaning Of The Police Department, City Hall, And Twin Oaks. Commissioner Storey Stated That He Felt The Cost Was A Little High And Would Like To Obtain Bids From Other Cleaners As Well. Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Bid The Cleaning Of The Police Department, City Hall, And Twin Oaks Buildings. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Stated That Item (I) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Amending Job Title/Contract For Public Information Coordinator And Item (J) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Contract For Fire Chief Were To Be Discussed In Executive Session.

No Miscellaneous Business.

No Old Business.

No New Business.

No Matters From The Public Audience.

Commissioner Storey 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. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

6:53 P.M.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Return To Open Session. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

7:55 P.M.

Attorney Malkovich Stated That We Need A Motion To Amend The Current Job Description Of Public Information Coordinator To Community Relations Director To Be Prepared In The Form Of An Ordinance. Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Create This Ordinance. Second By Commissioner Storey Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins A Motion To Continue The Council Meeting To Address The Contracts Of The Community Relations Director And A Contract For A Fire Chief. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

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