City Of Benton City Council Met Sept. 26.
Here Are The Minutes Provided By The Council:
Mayor Kondritz Called The Meeting To Order. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz Were Present For Roll Call.
Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled City Council Meeting Of September 12, 2022. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Commissioner Storey To Present First At The Meeting
Commissioner Storey Asked Chief Funkhouser To Address The Council. Chief Funkhouser Stated That He Would Like To Add Two Sergeants To The Night Shift. He Stated That A Lot Of Times When An Officer Searches A Vehicle Or Responds To A Call, The Person Will Ask To Speak With A Supervisor. Chief Funkhouser Stated That Most Of The Departments In Southern Illinois Have A Chain Of Command And A Front-Line Supervisor, But Benton Does Not. He Stated That These Positions Would Be Part Of The Union Contract As A Side Bar. He Stated These Positions Would Have A Pay Increase. The Sergeant Shifts Would Be S P.M. To 3 A.M. And He Was Thinking The Pay Increase Should Be 3 12% Off The Base Pay Per Year. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Move Forward With Beginning The Process Of Creating These Positions. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 1. Commissioner Messersmith.
Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Would Like More Information Before Acting On This Motion.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Brian Calcaterra To Present To The Council.
Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Would Like To Get Estimates To Remove Trash, Debris, Junk, And Inoperable Vehicles On The Property Located At 1312 East Anna Street. Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Get Estimates To Remove The Trash, Debris, Junk, And Inoperable Vehicles On The Property Located At 1312 East Anna Street. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Would Like To Implement A New Building Permit Fee Schedule. The Fee Schedule Is The Same As Previous With The Addition Of Anything Over $1,000,000.00 Would Be A Base Of $5,000.00 And $1,000.00 Per Each Additional Million. Commissioner Storey Made The Motion To Approve The Establishment Of A Building Permit Fee Schedule. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting
Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had No Lake Lot Lease Transfers For This Meeting.
Under Departmental Report, Commissioner Cockrum Stated That The Material For The Iowa Street Water Line Project Has Been Ordered. Commissioner Cockrum Also Stated That The Bore Under 1-57 Has Been Done.
Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had Been Approached By Water Clerk/Deputy City Clerk Damien Wilburn Regarding Purchasing Of Tables For Twin Oaks As Some Of The Tables Are In Disrepair. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That Damien Had Done Some Research And Gained Some Prices, But That He Felt He Could Purchase These Tables At Sam's Club Cheaper. Commissioner Cockrum Asked If He Should Make A Motion To Do This. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That As Long As The Purchase Price Was Less Than $500.00, He Should Go Ahead And Get The Tables That Are Needed.
Commissioner Cockrum Presented A Letter To The Council From Mony Kash. Mr. Kash Has Requested A Leave Of Absence From The Water Department Following An Illness. Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve This Leave Of Absence. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting.
Under Departmental Report, Commissioner Messersmith Stated That The South Mcleansboro Street And Joplin Street Milling And Overlay Project Has Been Completed. Commissioner Messersmith Also Stated That There Are Some Sidewalks Being Worked On At This Time As Well. Commissioner Messersmith Also Reported To The Council That The New Hire, Kevin Sample, Being Loaned To The Street Department From The Water Department, Is Doing A Great Job.
Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00379 To Lake Of Egypt Fire Protection District For Erdi Certification For Matt Warren And Eric Davis In The Amount Of $1,570.00. Second By
Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00380 To The American Test Center For Annual Ladder Testing On Aerial Ladder #805 In The Amount Of $1,584.00. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Storey Stated That His Departmental Reports For Both The Police And Fire Departments Were In The Council Packets.
The Benton Police Department Report Was For August 22, 2022 Through September 22, 2022. There Were 14 Traffic Accident Reports Completed, 29 Traffic Stops, And 2 Traffic Citations Issued For A Total Of 43 Total Traffic Crashes And Traffic Stops. There Were 13 Total Criminal Arrests. The Police Department Responded To 13 Alarm Calls, 2 Ambulance Calls, 1 Armed Person Call, 4 Assault/Battery Calls, 23 Disorderly Conduct Calls, 28 Domestic Dispute Calls, 4 Fight-In Progress Calls, 12 Juvenile Problem Calls, 2 Missing Juvenile Calls, 2 Prowler Calls, 45 Suspicious Person Calls, 20 Theft Calls, 27 Welfare Checks, And 346 Other Calls For A Total Of 530 Dispatch Calls.
The Benton Fire Department Report Was For The Dates Of September 1, 2022 Through September 26, 2022. The Fire Department Responded To 8 Incidents Of Fire; 1 Overpressure Rupture, Explosion, Overeat With No Fire; 19 Rescue And Emergency Medical Service Calls: 4 Hazardous Conditions With No Fire; 5 Service Calls: 3 Good Intent Calls; And 2 False Alarm And Falls Calls. The Fire Department Responded To 42 Total Incidents.
Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Had No Purchase Orders Or Monthly Bills For This Meeting.
Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve Payroll Dated September 16, 2022 For The General Fund In The Amount Of $67,372.83 And For The Water And Sewer Department In The Amount Of $24,689.25 For A Total Payroll In The Amount Of $92,062.08. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Pay The Event Insurance For The Benton Area Volunteer Trunk Or Treat To Take Place On 10/29/2022. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That This Will Be The City's Participation In This Event. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Garavalia Stated That In May Of 2020 The City Of Benton Employees Voluntarily Took A Pay Freeze In Anticipation Of Issues From Covid. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Would Like To Use A Portion Of The Arpa (American Rescue Plan Act) Funds To Present Those Employees With A Bonus. Commissioner Storey Stated That The Street Department Was Off For Two Weeks With Pay During This Time And He Also Believes That Lynsey Hopkins And Rachel Gartner Should Receive A Bonus. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She And Treasurer Lisa Meno Would Divide The Employees Into Categories And The Bonus Would Be Given Dependent On Time Worked During The Time Period Of May Of 2020 Through May Of 2022. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That There Would Be Three Categories: Employees Who Were Employed In May Of 2020 And Have Retained Their Employment, Employees Who Were Employed In May Of 2020 And Retired Having Fulfilled Their Obligation To The City, And Employees Who Were Not Employed As Of May 2020 But Were Employed As Of May 1, 2022. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That The Bonus Would Be Prorated By Time. Commissioner Garavalia Made This Into A Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Attorney Malkovich Stated That He Had No Items For Discussion At This Meeting.
Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Had No Updates For This Meeting.
Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting
Mayor Kondritz Stated That Item (C) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Contract With Age For Renewal Of Electric Aggregation On Residential Electric Accounts Would Need To Be Tabled At This Time. Commissioner Cockrum Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Attorney Malkovich To Present Item (D) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Accepting Donation Of Real Estate Located At 806 North Madison Street. Attorney Malkovich Stated That It Was His Recommendation To Not Accept This Donation. Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Deny Accepting The Donation Of Real Estate Located At 806 North Madison Street. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Attorney Malkovich To Present Item (H) Assignment A Redevelopment Agreement With Secure Lock/Si Storage And Rentals. Attorney Malkovich Stated That Secure Lock Previously Had A Redevelopment Agreement With The City Of Benton And Has Sold Their Business To Si Storage And Rentals. Attorney Malkovich Asked For A Motion To Enter Into A Redevelopment Agreement With Si Storage And Rentals. Commissioner Garavalia Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Would Like To Officially Hire Airport Manager Matthew Harrison For Administrative Duties At The Benton Municipal Airport At $1,000 Per Month. Commissioner Cockrum Made
This Motion. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
In Miscellaneous Business, Mayor Kondritz Stated That The City Has A Lot Of Volunteers That Make Things Happen In The City Of Benton And He Is Very Thankful For That. He Also Stated That David Booker Did An Excellent Job On Mowing Nuisance Properties This Year Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Would Like To Entertain The Idea Of Hiring Someone For Public Property Maintenance In The Future.
No Old Business.
In New Business, Commissioner Storey Stated That We Are Going To Have To Hire More Officers.
In Matters From The Public Audience, Tom Carter Asked Commissioner Cockrum If There Was A Timetable For Work Under 1-58. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That We Are Waiting For Materials. Mayor Kondritz Asked Commissioner Cockrum If The Materials Could Be Borrowed And Commissioner Cockrum Stated That They Could Be Borrowed If They Could Be Found.
Mr. Carter Stated That The City Did Have A Sergeant In The Past. He Stated That Arthur Dobresnski Was A Sergeant For The Benton Police Department In The Past.
Mr. Carter Stated That He Had A Problem With The Bonus If Rachel Gartner Was Not Going To Receive One. Mr. Carter Stated That Rachel Was Laid Off And So She Should Get The Full $1,500.00. Cath Stated That This Was Not The Way She Felt. Mr. Carter Stated That He Did Not Feel This Was Fair.
Mr. Carter Also Questioned The Council On The Redevelopment Agreement For Si Storage And Rentals. Mr. Carter Asked If This Would Be Under The Same Application. Attorney Malkovich Stated That Everything Would Stay The Same And That The Business Is Employing 2-3 Employees.
Mr. Carter Asked If The Airport Manager Matthew Harrison Would Be Responsible For Mowing With His Monthly Salary. Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Would Not, But The Hours That He Puts In Would More Than Make Up For The Time He Would Have Been Mowing. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That The Budget Can Support Both Mowing And Paying Mr. Harrison A Salary.
Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Adjourn. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z4G-ekigrJas4SUXZwc73YHRULIQO1arkUD_urSewtQ/edit
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