South West Illinois News

City of Benton City Council met April 10.

Here is the minutes as provided by the Council:

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY APRIL 10, 2017 AT

6:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.

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

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 27, 2017 BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE B.A.T.S. BOARD WERE PRESENT TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE RECENT BASEBALL TOURNAMENT HELD AT THE BENTON PARK. CLINT BAUMGARTE AND SETH TATE ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL. THEY STATED THAT THE B.A.T.S. ORGANIZATION RECENTLY HELD THE FIRST B TOWN BASEBALL TOURNAMENT AND THIS TOURNAMENT HOSTED 37 BASEBALL TEAMS. THE GENTLEMEN STATED THAT THEY WANTED TO THANK THE CITY OF BENTON AND ALL OF ITS CITIZENS FOR THE VOLUNTEERISM THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THIS TOURNAMENT. THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE PLANNING ON HOLDING MULTIPLE TOURNAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE WATER AND SEWER SUPERINTENDENT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT FOR CRAIG MILES STARTING APRIL 10, 2017 WITH A BEGINNING SALARY FOR $65,000.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A CHANGE ORDER FOR THE NEW WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR REMOVAL OF UNSUITABLE SOILS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION AREA IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,357.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAY REQUEST #3 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $863,193.60. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO HIRE ANTHONY BRYAN AS A FULL-TIME STREET DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE PER CONTRACT WITH A START DATE OF APRIL 11, 2017. COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT MR. BRYAN HAS PASSED THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL, ESSENTIAL FUNCTION TESTING, AND DRUG TESTING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. MR. BRYAN STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN THROUGH THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT POST OFFERING TESTING REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF BENTON WITH SIH WORKCARE AND THAT HE BELIEVED IT WAS VERY THOROUGH.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE ASKED RODNEY POTTS WITH JOHN. H. CRAWFORD AND ASSOCIATES TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON THE WASTENA STREET PROJECT. MR. POTTS PRESENTED DIAGRAMS OF WHAT IS TO OCCUR WITH THE WASTENA STREET PROJECT. MR. POTTS STATED THAT WE ARE WAITING ON FUNDING TO BEGIN THE PROJECT. THE DIAGRAMS WERE LEFT FOR THE CITY.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001971 TO M&M LANDSCAPING FOR 2 TONS OF DECORATIVE ROCK, 34 FOOT OF BULLET EDGERS, 7 BURNING BUSHES, 7 BOXWOODS, AND LABOR CALCULATED WITH PREVAILING WAGE FOR A TOTAL OF $1,600.00. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THIS LANDSCAPING WILL BE DONE AT THE NEW POLICE STATION LOCATION ON WASHINGTON STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #000946 TO NOVACOM FOR STORM SIREN REPAIR AND LABOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $750.00. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THIS WAS FOR REPLACEMENT OF INOPERABLE POWER SUPPLY ON THE BENTON GRADE SCHOOL STORM SIREN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER STOREY PRESENTED A BILL FOR $283,739.00 TO PAY FOR THE CHASSIS OF THE NEW FIRE TRUCK. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THIS IS PART OF THE TOTAL PRICE OF $750,000.00 FOR THE FIRE TRUCK, BUT THAT THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THE CHASSIS SENDS A SEPARATE BILL AND IT IS TO BE PAID UPON COMPLETION OF THE CHASSIS. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO PAY THIS BILL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,010.66. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR APRIL 4, 2017 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,780.46 AND WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $43,729.99 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $104,510.45. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #17-05, FISCAL YEAR 2016/2017 BUDGET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO PROCEED WITH FINANCING THE NEW FIRE TRUCK THROUGH US BANCORP COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO FINANCE FOR 84 MONTHS AND HAD RECEIVED AN INTEREST FRATE FROM FIRST FINANCIAL BANK OF 3.25% AND FROM US BANCORP OF 2.41%. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT WE HAVE $150,000.00 AVAILABLE FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON THE NEW FIRE TRUCK. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO PUT $150,000.00 FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON THE FIRE TRUCK AND FINANCE $600,000.00 THROUGH US BANCORP. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE IDOT ACQUISITION FOR RIGHT AWAY CONCERNING 1403 SOUTH MAIN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BENTON AND THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY BOARD IN REGARDS TO THE HUDELSON STREET PROPERTY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

UNDER UPDATES, MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE HAS BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE AIRPORT BOARD IS A SEPARATE BOARD. MAYOR KONDRITZ REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE WE NEED AN AIRPORT AT THIS TIME.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ITEM (B) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF POUR LICENSE. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ PRESENTED THE NEW CITY LOGO, WHICH IS A “B” WITH MAROON AND GRAY COLORING. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT RICK LINTON HAD COME UP WITH THE NEW LOGO. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE ON NEW LETTERHEAD, THE CITY VEHICLES, AND USED ON CLOTHING IN THE FUTURE. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE NEW CITY LOGO. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT MOST TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL HAD SUBMITTED AN AGREEMENT FOR MOSQUITO ABATEMENT FOR 2017. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING MOSQUITO CONTROL AND WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL ALL QUESTIONS COULD BE ANSWERED. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THE APPROVAL OF THIS AGREEMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER MILLER ABSTAINED.

NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT WE HAD RECEIVED THE APPRAISAL ON THE LOGAN GRADE SCHOOL PROPERTY. THIS APPRAISAL CAME IN AT $70,500.00.

UNDER NEW BUSINESS, MAYOR KONDRITZ READ FROM THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL HANDBOOK REGARDING PUBLIC AUDIENCE SPEAKING AT COUNCIL MEETINGS. IT READ “ANY PERSON SHALL BE PERMITTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS PUBLIC OFFICIALS UNDER THE RULES ESTABLISHED AND RECORDED BY THE PUBLIC BODY. ALL PUBLIC BODIES THEREFORE MUST DEVELOP A PROCEDURAL RULE THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC BODY. WHILE THIS AMENDMENT PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS PUBLIC OFFICIALS, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO ENGAGE IN A DEBATE, TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE FOR ABUSIVE OR HARASSING BEHAVIOR BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, OR TO PROVIDE ON-THE-SPOT ANSWERS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THE TOPICS THAT ARE RAISED BY THE PUBLIC.” MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED ALL COMMENTS WOULD BE WELCOME, BUT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION HE WOULD ASK THAT AN APPOINTMENT IS MADE SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN HAVE TIME TO GATHER ANSWERS.

IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, ROCKY MORRIS REQUESTED A MEETING WITH LEGAL COUNSEL WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING THE AIRPORT. JULIE PAYNE HUBLER ALSO REMARKED ABOUT AIRPORT ACTIVITY.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR:

A.DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACQUISITION AND/OR SALE OF REAL ESTATE

B.DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE AND/OR PENDING LITIGATIONS

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 MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.

7:10 P.M.

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

7:35 P.M.

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

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

7:40 P.M.