South West Illinois News

The Benton City Council met Aug. 22 to hire a new police officer.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the council:

The City of Benton City Council is located at 500 W Main St, Benton, IL

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY AUGUST 22, 2016 AT

6:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.

MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 8, 2016 REGULAR SESSION MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 12, 2016 CONTINUED SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 17, 2016 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001512 TO ALAN ENVIRONMENTAL FOR GREASE GOBLIN IN THE AMOUNT OF $928.62. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT HE HAD NO BUSINESS TONIGHT.

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR HELP WITH THE MOVE.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO HIRE JEREMY WATKINS FROM THE CURRENT ELIGIBILITY LIST AS A NEW POLICE OFFICER SUBJECT TO BACKGROUND CHECK AND FURTHER TESTING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO HIRE CURT ERWIN CONSTRUCTION TO CONSTRUCT A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT USING ORDINANCE #10-29 WITHOUT THE NEED FOR BIDDING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE NEW FIRE TRUCK WILL BE FINISHED IN MARCH. HE STATED THAT THERE WILL NEED TO BE FOUR (4) TRIPS MADE TO OKLAHOMA TO CHECK ON PROGRESS.

COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE RAILROAD AND THAT THE PROBLEM CAUSING TRAINS TO STOP IN BENTON WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF THIS YEAR. THE RAILROAD TOLD COMMISSIONER STOREY THAT WIRING IS BEING REPLACED FROM BENTON TO INA.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 08/12/16 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $69,158.67 AND FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,298.36 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE AMOUNT OF $99,457.03. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE GIS MAPPING TO BE DONE FOR THE CITY OF BENTON BY SHAWNEE ENGINEERING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO TERMINATE CLEANING SERVICES WITH CENTERSTONE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2016. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO HIRE LISA KEENER OF KEENER’S CLEANERS TO CLEAN 1403 SOUTH MAIN ONCE A WEEK. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO HIRE SEVERIN’S LANDSCAPING TO TRIM THE SHRUBS AT CITY HALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $785.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER WYANT.

ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAS A MEETING WITH THE UNION TO DISCUSS THE CONTRACT FOR THE WATER, SEWER, AND STREET DEPARTMENTS THIS COMING THURSDAY.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MARTY LEFLER OVER MOVING THE MONUMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT 500 WEST MAIN. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT MASONIC AND ODD FELLOWS HAVE OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE POURING OF THE CONCRETE PADS FOR THE MONUMENTS IF THE MONUMENTS ARE MOVED TO MONUMENT CIRCLE AT THE CEMETERY. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MOVING OF THE MONUMENTS AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET TO MASONIC AND ODD FELLOW’S CEMETERY BY J.W. REYNOLDS MONUMENT COMPANY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE ASKED WHAT THE PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY AT 500 WEST MAIN WERE TO BE AFTER THE NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE PROPERTY IS FOR SALE.

UNDER NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT EMPLOYEE INSURANCE WILL BE UP FOR RENEWAL IN OCTOBER AND THAT HE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A FLU CLINIC TO BE DONE AT CITY HALL. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT HE THINKS THE FLU CLINIC IS A GREAT THING DONE BY THE CITY.

UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER STATED THAT THE BUILDING AT THE AIRPORT IS IN NEED OF SOME REPAIRS. MR. CARTER STATED THAT HE HAD GOTTEN AN ESTIMATE AND THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $17,500.00. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT A NEW TERMINAL IS TO BE BUILT NEXT YEAR AND HE WAS NOT SURE WE SHOULD PUT $17,500.00 INTO A BUILDING WHEN A NEW ONE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN A YEARS’ TIME.

MR. CARTER ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE INTERIOR DOORS AT THE NEW CITY HALL ARE LOCKED AND WHY HE IS NOT ALLOWED IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE CLERK, MAYOR, OR ZONING. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE LOCKED DOORS ARE A NEW SECURITY MEASURE AND THAT THE CITY OF BENTON IS BEING PROACTIVE WITH SAFETY MEASURES. COMMISSIONER MILLER ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS A PHONE IN THE LOBBY THAT CAN BE ACCESSED TO CALL EMPLOYEES. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO INTERRUPT MEETINGS THAT ARE ONGOING AT CITY HALL.

ROCKY MORRIS QUESTIONED THE COUNCIL AS TO WHERE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR 1403 SOUTH MAIN CAME FROM. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE CITY HAD SET MONEY ASIDE FOR THE PURCHASE AND THAT NO LOAN WAS TAKEN OUT ON THE PURCHASE OF THE NEW CITY HALL.

TONY LANG STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIMENT THE COUNCIL FOR THE TIRE PROJECT THAT WAS DONE IN THE SPRING. MR. LANG ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THE CITY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT HIS PROPERTY AND THE FLOODING THAT OCCURS AFTER A RAIN. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE AND WYANT STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THIS. ZONING OFFICER DAVID GARAVALIA TOLD MR. LANG HE WOULD COME LOOK AT THE PROPERTY AS WELL.

JULIE PAYNE-HUBLER ASKED THE COUNCIL IF ANY PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE ON THE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES. SHE WAS TOLD THAT AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NOTHING NEW TO REPORT.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM (B) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE AND/OR PENDING LITIGATION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE.

6:58 P.M.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

7:20 P.M.

NO ACTION TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.