North Egypt News

City of Benton City Council met Nov. 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled Benton City Council Meeting Held At 6:00 P.M. Pursuant To The Governor’s Executive Order In Response To Covid-19 Issued March 16, 2020, This Meeting Was Held By Telephone Conference And Computer Attendance Only.

Mayor Kondritz Called The Meeting To Order. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz Were Present For Roll Call. Commissioner Garavalia Attended The Meeting Via Zoom And All Other Commissioners And The Mayor Attended In Person.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled City Council Meeting Of October 26, 2020. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Asked Bob Rea Of The Franklin County Historic Preservation Society To Speak To The Council Regarding The Historic Jail Museum. Mr. Rea Showed The Council Numerous Samples Of Shingles He Would Like To Use To Replace The Roof On The Jail Museum. He Stated That The Recommendation From The Roofer Was To Go With A Color Called Black Pearl And He Stated That This Would Match The New Courthouse. Zoning Administrator And Code Enforcer David Garavalia Recommended That The Council Approve To Repair The Roof And Tuck Pointing On The Historic Jail Museum In The Amount Of $35,215.00 To Be Paid From The Downtown Tif Fund. Commissioner Perkins Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Asked Dave Harp From Chastain And Associates To Provide An Update Regarding The I-57 Interchange. Mr. Harp Stated That The Project Is Moving A Little Slower Because Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, But Assured The Council That Things Are Still Moving Along.

Mayor Kondritz Asked Airport Board Member And Manager Matthew Harrison To Give An Update On The Airport. Mr. Harrison Stated That He Had Business Cards Made To Pass Out So That People Would Know How To Get A Hold Of Him And He Passed These Out To The Council. Mr. Harrison Reported That He Is Currently Working With Board Member Garrett Collier To Set Up An Airport Website. Mr. Harrison Stated That He Would Like To Have An Open House For The New Terminal In April, Which Will Coincide With The 75th Birthday Of The Airport As Well. Mr. Harrison Also Provided The Council With Minutes From The Last Airport Board Meeting.

Mayor Kondritz Stated That He And Commissioner Messersmith Had Toured The Wastewater Treatment Plant Earlier In The Day. Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Was Really Impressed With The Wastewater Treatment Plant And Commissioner Messersmith Agreed.

Mayor Kondritz Spoke On The Tier 2 Resurgence Mitigations Placed By The Governor. Mayor Kondritz Urged Our Citizens To Limit Gatherings And Wear Their Masks. The Mitigations Have Been Placed On The City’s Website For Review.

Mayor Kondritz Presented Purchase Order #00645 To Heartland Office Supply For Touchless Hand Sanitizer Dispensers, Dispenser Stands, And Hand Sanitizer For Each City Building In The Amount Of $3,253.46. This Will Be Reimbursed By The Cares Act. Motion To Approve This Was Made By Commissioner Storey. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Presented Purchase Order #00642 To Rsp Heating And Cooling For Two Carrier Opti-Clean Negative Air Machines To Be Installed At City Hall In The Amount Of $12,227.00. The Cost Of These Machines Will Be Reimbursed Through The Cares Act. Commissioner Messersmith Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Presented Purchase Order #00640 To Concepte Of Illinois For 2 Lenovo Laptops With Windows 10 And Microsoft Office 2019 In The Amount Of $2,920.00. These Laptops Will Be Available In Case Work Needs To Be Done From Home. This Cost Will Be Reimbursed By The Cares Act. Motion Was Made By Commissioner Garavalia. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Would A Motion To Pass The Ordinance Prohibiting The Use Of Atv’s On City Owned Properties. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Ordinance 20-13 Prohibiting Atv Usage On City Owned Properties. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 2. Commissioner Messersmith And Commissioner Perkins.

Mayor Kondritz Asked Zoning Administrator And Code Enforcement Officer David Garavalia To Speak To The Council Regarding Using Tif Funds To Repair The Roof At The 1910’s Franklin County Garage Museum. Mr. Garavalia Stated That He Would Like To Repair The Roof On The Car Museum For A Cost Of $38,101.00 To Be Paid From The Downtown Tif Fund. Commissioner Perkins Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Asked Zoning Administrator And Code Enforcement Officer David Garavalia To Discuss The Rezoning Of 123-127 North Frisco Street From R2 To I-1. Mr. Garavalia Stated That This Was The Recommendation Of The Zoning Board And That This Made Sense. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve This Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Table Item (B) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Lake Lot Lease Transfer For Lot #7. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Approve Resolution 20-08 Unrestricting Funds From The Wastewater Treatment Plant. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Approve Pay Estimate #2 To Wiggs Excavating For The Route 37 Watermain Relocation In The Amount Of $30,533.80. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Approve Pay Estimate #5 To Midwest Petroleum And Excavating For The Airport Terminal Project In The Amount Of $86,965.20. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Pay Invoice #5 To Brown And Roberts For The Airport Terminal Project In The Amount Of $12,795.91. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Approve An Increase To The Airport Terminal Project In The Amount Of $12,310.00. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00622 To F.W. Electric For A Battery Backup For The Traffic Lights At The Intersection Of North Main And Illinois Avenue In The Amount Of $2,000.00. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That This Will Correct The Flashing Lights That Have Been Happened Repeatedly Over The Past Month. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Close Industrial Park Drive From Bailey Lane To East Illinois Avenue For The Third Annual Spirit Of Christmas Light Parade Hosted By The Benton Elks. The Road Closure Would Be From 5:30 P.M. To 7:00 P.M. On December 19, 2020. Mayor Kondritz Stated He Did Not Feel That This Road Should Be Closed Down. Commissioner Garavalia Seconded The Motion Made By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, And Commissioner Garavalia. Nays: 1. Mayor Kondritz.

Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Would Like To Discuss Donation Of Surplus Barricades To The Elks So They Could Use Them During Events Such As The Light Parade. Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Thinks The Barricades May Be Of Better Use At Twin Oaks. Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Table This Item Until Further Research Into The Use Of The Barricades Could Be Done. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Approve Payment Of Sidewalk Inspection Partial Payment In The Amount Of $7,500.00 To John H. Crawford. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Pay The Partial Pay Estimate #2 To B.C. Contracting For The Sidewalk Replacement Project In The Amount Of $110,442.60. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Wanted To Let The Council Know That Samron Would Begin Working On The East Main Parking Lot On Wednesday, November 11, 2020. Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Was Glad To Get This Update.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Purchase #00032 To Iamresponding.Com For Annual Software Agreement In The Amount Of $735.00. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00092 To Sicjtp For Mtu-15 Training Dues In The Amount Of $960.00. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Raise The Purchase Order Amount From $250.00 To $500.00. Commissioner Storey Stated That He And Chief Cockrum Have Called Around And No One Else In Southern Illinois Requires A Purchase Order Be Filled Out For Such A Small Amount Of Money And He Stated That This Makes It Hard For His Departments To Be Able To Purchase Anything. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That The Requirement For Filling Out A Purchase Order Is To Keep Department Heads Accountable For The Taxpayer Money That Is Being Spent. Commissioner Garavalia Also Stated That The Auditors Have Mentioned That There Does Not Seem To Be Enough Documentation On The Spending Of Money. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Would Be Willing To Increase The Purchase Order Amount On A Trial Basis For 90 Days And That If The Purchase Orders Were Not Being Filled Out, That The Amount Would Stay At $250.00. Commissioner Storey Agreed To Raising The Amount On A Trial Basis. Commissioner Messersmith Then Seconded The Motion. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 1. Commissioner Garavalia.

Commissioner Storey Stated That The Foreign Fire Board Would Like Permission To Construct An Out Building At The Fire Station. Chief Shane Cockrum Stated That If They Were Allowed To Build This Building, It Would Clear Up A Lot Of Room Being Using To Store Equipment In The Bay. Chief Cockrum Stated That The Firemen Are Planning To Do All Labor On The Building Themselves To Save On Costs And That If There Is Any Concrete Work, They Hope To Be Able To Use The Street Department Workers For Help With This. Zoning Administrator And Code Enforcer David Garavalia Stated That This Building Needs To Comply With All Zoning Requirements And Would Like To See A Building Plan. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Allow The Foreign Fire Board To Get Plans On Building This Outbuilding. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Asked Chief Cockrum To Speak On Item (D) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Moving The Fire Department Boar To Surplus And Preparing For A Sealed Bid. Chief Cockrum Stated That Mabas Will Be Providing The Benton Fire Department With A New Rescue Boat And He Would Like To Move The Current Boat To Surplus Once The New Boat Has Been Received. Commissioner Storey Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Perkins. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00644 To The Illinois Municipal League In The Amount Of $825.00 For Annual Membership Dues. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve Payroll For The General Fund In The Amount Of $59,815.14 And For The Water And Sewer Department In The Amount Of $26,905.95 For A Total Payroll Of $86,721.09. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Attorney Malkovich Stated That A Counter Proposal On Bargaining Unit Negotiations For The Water, Sewer, And Street Departments Had Been Received And He Would Like To Discuss This In Executive Session.

No Miscellaneous Business.

No Old Business.

No New Business.

No Matters From The Public Audience.

Commissioner Perkins 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 Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Return To Regular Session. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Perkins Made A Motion To Continue Negotiations With Local 318. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Continue The Meeting Until 9 A.M. November 13, 2020 For Payment Of Bills. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Perkins, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

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