North Egypt News

City of Benton City Council met April 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

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

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled City Council Meeting Held On Monday, April 11, 2022. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Asked Commissioner Garavalia To Present Item (C) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Fy 2022-2023 Budget Because City Treasurer Lisa Meno Was In The Audience. Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve The Fy 2022-2023 Budget. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00671 From Lensing Building Specialties For Two Magic Force Single Auto Operator Doors, Installed, For A Total Of $7,995.00. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That This Will Make The Entry Doors At City Hall Ada Compliant. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had No Lake Lot Lease Transfers For This Meeting.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve The Bid From Wyant Construction For A Window And Wall In The Water Department In The Amount Of $12,500.00. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Commissioner Garavalia Brought A Motion To The Floor To Table This Item. Commissioner Cockrum Asked Attorney Malkovich If The Motion Made By Commissioner Garavalia Was Able To Happen. Attorney Malkovich Stated That Unfortunately For Commissioner Cockrum, The Second Motion Is The Active Motion And Must Be Acted Upon First. Commissioner Storey Then Seconded The Motion To Table This Item. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0. Commissioner Cockrum And Commissioner Messersmith.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve Funding For The Vactor Sewer Truck From State Bank Of Whittington In The Amount Of $300,000.00 With A 3.5% Interest Rate. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That Treasurer Lisa Meno And Commissioner Garavalia Will Be Signers On This Account. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve Purchasing Materials For The Parrish Street Water Main Project. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Approve The Façade Program For Non-Downtown Tif Business Owners Within The City Limits. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Approve Resolution #22-05 For The Bchs Graduation Parade. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Hire Logan Darr In The Street Department. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That This Position Will Mainly Be For Mowing And That Mr. Darr Will Start On 05/09/22 Pending Mr. Darr Passing His Pre-Employment Testing. Commissioner Messersmith Also Stated That Mr. Darr Would Start At $17.40 Per Hour. Commissioner Cockrum Seconded This Motion. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Table Accepting The Low Bid For The Mft Rock Bid As The Bid Tabulation Had Not Been Received. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00056 To Morrow Brothers Ford For Two 2022 Ford Explorer Police Interceptors In The Amount Of $73,160.00. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Stated That No Action Would Be Taken At This Meeting On Item (B) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Continuing Union Negotiations For The Fire Department.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Table Item (C) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Appointing Chris Funkhouser As Police Chief With A 15-Month Contract Since Officer Funkhouser Had A Death In His Family And Had Not Had Time To Go Over The Contract. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Did Not Think We Should Wait To Approve This. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 1. Commissioner Messersmith.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Allow The Merit Board To Start The Interviewing Process For Lateral Hiring In The Police Department. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Allow The Merit Board To Start The Testing Process For The Police Officer Eligibility List. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve Bills In The Amount Of $35,044.65. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve Payroll For April 14, 2022 For The Police And Fire Departments In The Amount Of $40,163.50 And For All Other Departments In The Amount Of $43,237.03 For A Total Payroll Of $83,400.53. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve Payroll For April 29, 2022 For The Police And Fire Departments In The Amount Of $53,456.54 And For All Other Departments In The Amount Of $45,683.04 For A Total Payroll Of $99,139.55. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve A Pay Resolution For Non-Contract/Non-Union Employees Giving The City Treasurer, City Clerk, Billing Clerk, Water Clerk, And Zoning Administrator A $2,100 Raise To Their Base Salary One Time And A 2% Increase In Fy 2023-2024. Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Discuss This Item In Executive Session Under 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: 3. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 2. Commissioner Garavalia And Commissioner Storey.

City Attorney Thomas Malkovich Stated That He Had No Updates For This Meeting.

Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Has Spoken With The New Owners Of The Lake Hamilton Lots And That They Are Very Happy.

Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting.

Attorney Malkovich Stated That Grueninger Aviation Was Not Ready To Move Forward With The Aviation Lease. Mayor Kondritz Asked For A Motion To Table Item (C) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Airport Ground Lease To Grueninger Aviation. Commissioner Cockrum Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

Mayor Kondritz Asked For A Motion Approving Brown And Roberts As The Airport Sponsor. Commissioner Garavalia Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

In Miscellaneous Business, Commissioner Storey Stated That The Land Owner At Lake Benton, Where The Storm Siren Is Located, Has Stated That He Would Like To Have This Siren Relocated. Commissioner Storey Stated That If This Is Relocated, It Will Be Moved To City Hall To Help With Storm Notifications On The South End Of Town.

Also, In Miscellaneous Business, Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Would Like To Give An Update For The Public Works Department. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That Mowing For The City Of Benton Had Begun, There Were 11 Service Leaks Fixed, Numerous Sink Holes Filled, Electrical At The Street Barn Has Been Completed, There Was A Power Outage At The Water Barn That Has Been Taken Care Of. Commissioner Cockrum Also Stated That The Parrish Street Water Main Replacement Will Begin In June, The Water Department Is Waiting On Equipment For Ground Storage, And When School Lets Out The Damaged Fire Hydrant In Front Of The High School Will Be Removed And Capped As There Are Fire Hydrants On Both Ends Of The Property Even After This Has Been Removed. Commissioner Cockrum Also Stated That Rodney Potts With John H. Crawford And Associates As Applied For The Water Permits For West Main Street, Duquoin Street, And Maple Street.

No Old Business.

No New Business.

In Matters From The Public Audience, Mr. Tom Carter Asked If The New Employee In The Street Department Will Be Grader Certified. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That At This Time, Majority Of This Position Will Be For Mowing. Mr. Carter Asked Commissioner Cockrum If The Vacuum Truck That Is Being Purchased Is The Same As What The City Already Has And If Anyone Has Seen A Demonstration Of This Machine. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That Public Works Director Craig Miles Has Seen A Demonstration And That This Is The Same Machine, But More Modern. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That The Capabilities Of This Machine Have Increased.

Also, In Matters From The Public Audience, City Treasurer Lisa Meno Stated That She Hoped That The Non-Contract/Non-Union Employees Pay Resolution Would Not Be Denied As Collateral Damage Due To A War Amongst The Commissioners.

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

6:55 P.M.

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

8:00 P.M.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve An Increase In Pay For The Treasurer, City Clerk, Billing Clerk, Water Clerk, And Zoning Administrator Of $40 Per Week For Fy 2022-2023 In Lieu Of Passing A Pay Resolution. Commissioner Garavalia Then Stated That She Did Not Feel Good About Doing The Increase This Way And Would Immediately Like To Withdraw Her Motion. Commissioner Garavalia Then Made A Motion To Adopt Pay Resolution #22-06 For Fiscal Year 2022-2023 And 2023-2024. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 2. Commissioner Cockrum And Commissioner Messersmith.

Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Adjourn. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.

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