City of Benton City Council met Feb. 27.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled Benton City Council Meeting Held Monday February 27, 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 To Order. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz Were Present For Roll Call. City Attorney Thomas Malkovich Was Not Present For This Meeting.
Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled City Council Meeting Of Monday, February 13, 2023. 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 We Would Begin With The Public Health And Safety Report From Commissioner Storey.
Commissioner Storey Stated That He Had 1 Purchase Order. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00079 To Newman’s For Ammunition In The Amount Of $3,453.00. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commisisoner Storey Stated That He Had No Department Reports To Present.
Commissioner Storey Introduced Shane Petrigrew Of The Southern Illinois Drug Task Force And Asked Him To Present To The Council. Mr. Petigrew Stated That The Illinois State Police Has Had A Drug Task Force In Our Area Since 1980. Mr. Petigrew Stated That They Work In Surrounding Communities Within Franklin County And That There Has Recently Been An Opening In The Task Force That They Would Like To Offer To The City Of Benton Police Department. If The City Agrees To Participate, The Task Force Would Pay The City Of Benton $51,000.00, Provide A Car For The Officer On The Task Force, Pay For Training Of This Officer, And Pay For Fuel For This Officer As Well. Chief Funkhouser Stated That This Officer Would Be Working For The Drug Task Force Full Time In The City Of Benton And Participation Would Allow The City To Collect Forfieture On These Drug Busts As Well As Give Himself A Seat On The Board. Chief Funkhouser Stated That He Has A Letter Of Agreement For Participation That The Attorney Can See It If He Would Like To. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Participation With The Drug Task Force. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Would Second This Motion Pending Attorney Malkovich’s Review And Approval Of The Agreement. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Will Vote Yes Pending Approval From The City Attorney. Commissioner Cockrum And Commissioner Garavalia Also Voted Yes Pending Attorney Approval. Commissioner Storey And Mayor Kondritz Voted Yes. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Storey Presented The Council With A Memorandum From Chief Funkhouser Regarding Raising The Base Pay For The Administrative Assistant In The Police Department. Chief Funkhouser Stated That Mrs. Kraft Is Being Paid Below What He Feels Is Acceptable For The Expected Responsibilities And Her 12 Years Of Dedication To The City Of Benton. Chief Funkhouser Stated That On May 1, 2022, Mrs. Kraft Received A $5,000.00 Raise, But This Was Not Added To Her Base Pay And He Believes That It Should Have Been. Chief Funkhouser Also Stated That On May 1, 2022, All Nonunion Employees Other Than Mrs. Kraft Received A $2,100.00 Raise. Chief Funkhouser Stated That When Researching Salaries Of Comparable Positions, He Found That In Harrisburg The Same Position With Only 3 Years Of Experience Was Making $46,000.00 And In West City The Same Positionwith Only 5 Years Of Experience Was Making $44,000.00. Chief Funkhouser Stated That Mrs. Kraft Is His Right Hand And He Believes She Deserves To Be Paid On The Same Level As Other Departments. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Would Like To Wait And Discuss This When The Attorney Can Be Present And She Believes The Council Should Go Into Executive Session To Discuss This Further. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve A Base Pay Increase For Christine Kraft To $45,000.00. Motion Died For Lack Of Second. Commissioner Messersmith Made A Motion To Table This Item Until A Resolution Can Be Written And Show The Actual Steps In The Pay Increase. This Motion Was Seconded By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Cockrum, And Commissioner Garavalia. Nays: 2. Commissioner Storey And Mayor Kondritz.
Mayor Kondritz Had No Updates Or Purchase Orders For This Meeting.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra To Present Item (C) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Resolution Authorizing The Sale Of Surplus Real Estate. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Has Prepared A Resolution #23-04 Auctioning 13 Acres South Of The Wastewater Treatment Plant On April 13, 2023 In The Benton City Council Room At 9 A.M. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That State Statute Allows The City To Auction This Property At 80% Of The Appraised Value. Mr. Calcaterra Asked For A Motion To Approve This Resolution. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Resolution #23-04. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Calcaterra Stated That At The Same Time Of The Auction For The Above Mentioned Property, He Would Like To Sell Some Surplus Real Estate That The City Has Not Had Success In Selling In The Past. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Has Prepared A Resolution For The Auction Of 109 North Ninth Street, 308 North Buchanan Street, And 511 East Smith Street. Mr. Calcaterra Asked For A Motion To Approve The Auction Of These Three Lots. Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve Resoltuion #23-05 Auctioning Surplus Real Estate At 109 North Ninth, 308 North Buchanan, And 511 East Smith. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Rick And Barb Linton To Address The Council. Mr. Linton Presented The Council With Some Handouts Regarding The Upcoming S3da Tournament On June 15-18, 2023. Mr. Linton Stated That Last Years’ Tournament Was A Huge Success And He Believes This Year Will Be Better. Mrs. Linton Stated That Because Of The Success Of The Tournament, The College Nationals May Also Be Looking To Our Area For A Tournament In September Of 2023. The Lintons Stated That They Just Wanted To Tell The City Council “Thank You” For All The Support They Have Provided.
Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders, Lake Lot Leases, Or Department Reports For This Meeting.
Commissioner Messersmith Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting.
Commissioner Messersmith Stated The Street Department Has Been Working On Whisper Way, Doing Ditch Work, And Filling Potholes. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That The Work On McLeansboro Street And McCan Street Will Be Finished Up In The Next Few Weeks As Other Entities Finish Their Work In These Areas As Well. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That Greater Egypt Regional Planning Is Working On A Master Bike Plan For Route 37, Road Work Will Begin On East Main @@
Commissioner Messermith Made A Motion To Approve Resolution #2023-03 For The 2023 MFT Program. Commissioner Messersmith Stated Some Of The Numbers Have Changed And This Resolution Will Replace Resolution #2023-02. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Messersmith Also Stated That Just As A Point Of Information For The Council, He Stated That Anthony Bryan Has Decided To Give Up The Mechanic Roll In The Street Department. This Position Has Been Internally Bid And Will Be Filled Before The Next Council Meeting. Commissioner Messersmith Stated That This Position Does Carry A $0.70 An Hour Increase In Pay.
Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00074 To Fabick Cat For Repair Of The Electric Power Generator By Replacing The Fuel Lift Pump And Replacing A 5-Year-Old Battery In The Amount Of $982.65. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. 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 #00386 To Iamresponding.Com For Renewal Of Annual Dispatching System In The Amount Of $660.00. 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 #00385 To Fire Apparatus And Supply Team For Annual Pump Testing For Engines #801, #803, And #805 In The Amount Of $655.00. 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 He Had No Written Department Reports For This Meeting.
Commissioner Storey Asked Attorney Malkovich To Handle Item (C) Discussion And/Or Approval Of The High School Student Resource Officer Contract Amendment. Attorney Malkovich Stated That This Is In Regards To Placing A Gun Safe In The High School For Use By The SRO. Attorney Malkovich Stated That This Agreement Would Reiterate That The City Has All Responsibility For This Gun Safe. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve This Amendment. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. 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 Approval At This Meeting.
Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Approve Monthly Bills For The General Fund In The Amount Of $255,683.31, MFT In The Amount Of $4,786.03, And Other Funds In The Amount Of $41,744.44 For A Total Amount Of Bills To Be Paid In The Amount Of $302,213.78. 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 The General Fund In The Amount Of $68,931.57 And For The Water And Sewer Department In The Amount Of $27,547.44 For A Total Payroll Of $96,479.01. Second By Commissioner Messersmith. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Had Been Under The Impression That In The Past The City Had Purchased A Table For The Hospital Auxiliary Dinner. She Stated That She Has Since Found Out That This Was Not The Case. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Would Not Be Making A Motion To Purchase A Table, But Would Like To Encourage The Council And Our Citizens To Support This Event That Raises Money For Scholarships For Students Continuing Education Into The Medical Field.
Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Had Been Approached By Matt Wayman For A Sponsorship For Si Comic Con In The Amount Of $500.00. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Thinks Any Amount The City Could Give For A Sponsorship Would Be Great As This Even Brings A Lot Of People To Our Area. The Event Will Be Taking Place On April 1, 2023 At The Benton Civic Center. Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Do A $300.00 Sponsorship To The Si Comic Con. Motion Died From Lack Of Second.
Attorney Malkovich Stated That He Had No Updates.
Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Had No Updates And No Purchase Orders For Approval At This Meeting.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Dylan Young Of Little Egypt Pest Control To Address The Council. Mr. Young Stated That He Just Wanted To Introduce Himself To The Council And Talk About His Background. Mr. Young Stated That He Will Be Honoring The Contract Previously Agreed To By The City Council With The Former Owner. Mr. Young Plans On Being In Benton Once A Month For 8 Hours A Day. The Previously Agreed Upon Amount Was $15,000.00 For The Entire Season. Mr. Young Thanked The City Council For Allowing Him To Do Business In Our City.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Attorney Tom Malkovich To Handle Item (D) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Letter Of Intent – Solar Power Purchase Agreement From Keystone Power Holdings, LLC For The Benton Wastewater Treatment Plant. Attorney Malkovich Stated That He Would Like To Table This Item At This Time Until Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra Could Be In Attendance. 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 Attorney Tom Malkovich To Handle Item (E) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Designating The Land Surrounding The Sewer Plant As Surplus Property And Holding An Auction To Sell City Surplus Property. Attorney Malkovich Stated That He Would Like A Motion To Approve Designating The Land Surrounding The Sewer Plant As Surplus Property And Holding An Auction To The Surplus Property As Well As Advertise Doing This. Commissioner Cockrum Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Mayor Kondritz Asked Attorney Tom Malkovich To Handle Item (H) Discussion And/Or Approval Of The Application For Zoning Change By Ben’s Lawn Service And Trailer Sales To Re-Zone The Property Located At 1502 North Main Street From B-3 To B-2. Attorney Malkovich Asked For A Motion To Approve This. Commissioner Messersmith Made This Motion. 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 For Attorney Malkovich To Handle Item (G) Discussion And/Or Approval Of The Application For A Special Use Permit Made By Ben’s Lawn Service And Trailer Sales To Operate A Business In The B-2 Zone For The Purpose Of Selling Agricultural Implements. Attorney Malkovich Asked For A Motion To Approve This Special Use Permit. This Motion Was Made By Commissioner Garavalia. 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 Attorney Malkovich To Discuss Item (H) Discussion Of Residential Electrical Aggregation Pricing. Attorney Malkovich Stated That In March Of 2022 The City Gave The Mayor Permission To Sign On Behalf Of The City Of Benton For Our Electrical Aggregation Broker (Simec) To Go To Market For A New Rate. Attorney Malkovich Stated That This Happened Last Thursday, February 9, 2023. The New Rate For The City’s Electrical Aggregation Will Be 11.3¢ Per Kilowatt Hour And Will Begin In July Of 2023 And Run Through June Of 2024.
Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Had Received A Resignation From The Benton Civic Center Board From Benita Coffel. Mayor Kondritz Stated That Mrs. Coffel Has Served On The Board For A Long Time And Has Done A Wonderful Job While On The Board. Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Would Need A Motion To Accept Her Resignation. Motion Was Made By Commissioner Cockrum. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Messersmith, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Received A Letter Of Recommendation For Brad Burzynski To Be Appointed To The Benton Civic Center Board. Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Believes This Would Be A Good Addition And Would Like Someone To Make A Motion Approving The Appointment Of Brad Burzynski To The Benton Civic Center Board. This Motion Was Made By Commissioner Garavalia. 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, Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Had Seen The Albino Deer While He Was Traveling On Pope Street. Mayor Kondritz Also Stated That While Traveling Pope Street He Witnessed Charles Ruffino Picking Up Trash Along The Road. He Stated That Mr. Ruffino Picked Up 2 Or 3 40-Gallon Trash Bags Full Of Garbage. Mayor Kondritz Stated That He Wanted To Publicly Thank Mr. Ruffino For Volunteering To Help Keep Benton Clean.
No Old Business.
No New Business.
In Matters From The Public Audience, Tom Carter Asked What Kind Of Rate Mr. Thomason Had Stated To Mayor Kondritz Regarding The Rlcd Agreement. Mayor Kondritz Stated That The Rate Mr. Thomason Discussed Was 5%. Mr. Carter Stated That He Would Like To Go On Record That If The City Had Not Purchased The New Metering System, They Could Have Bought The Solar Stuff On Their Own, Made Money On The Overage, And Received A Grant For The Meters. He Asked That If The City Would, In The Future, Sit Down And Really Go Through All Avenues Before Making Purchases Like This.
Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Adjourn. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Messersmith, Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Kondritz. Nays: 0.
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