In a relatively brief meeting, the Benld City Council on Monday night accepted a $16,785 bid to replace the sidewalk around the Benld City Hall, agreed to a one-time plan to pick up storm debris from residences, and dealt with a minor controversy over the purchase of five concrete planters.
City Property Chair John Balzraine’s motion to accept the low bid of Gillian Concrete, Glen Carbon, to replace the sidewalks on the south and west sides of the City Hall/Civic Center was unanimously approved. Balzraine said the bid includes installation of concrete ramps for disabled persons for access to the Civic Center. Iron railings for the ramps will be installed at an additional cost.
According to Balzraine, city workers will be responsible for removing the old sidewalk. He said work would start initially at the front of City Hall to avoid interfering with ongoing work inside the Civic Center, which is currently under renovation. Balzraine will request replacement parking stops for the west side of the building at a later date.
In a somewhat related matter, Balzraine announced that a sale to dispose of surplus property from the Civic Center is set for 10 a.m., July 9, in the City Park. Among the items offered for sale will be used tables and chairs, along with other miscellaneous city-owned equipment that is no longer needed. Most items will be priced by city officials for sale but a vintage Coke Cola cooler, considered a collector’s item, will be offered via a silent auction.
STORM DEBRIS PICKUP
After several minutes of discussion, the council agreed to authorize city workers to pick up debris from last Friday’s windstorm on a date to be set by the Maintenance Department. Mayor Jim Kelly said he had received calls from residents after the City of Gillespie announced it would sponsor a pickup program for downed limbs stacked or piled at the curb.
Ald. Dustin Fletcher worried that residents would assume the branch pick-up would be a permanent service after any storm. “I don’t think we want to make a habit of it,” he said.
Veteran alderman Mickey Robinson said past practice has been to pick up storm debris after major storms on a case-by-case basis.
“It’s a courtesy thing,” Robinson said. “In the past, after a big storm like we had last Friday, we picked it up.”
“I don’t have a problem with it as long as it’s a one-time thing,” Ald. Jerry Saracco commented.
Ultimately, Flectcher’s motion to approve the pick-up program with a date to be set by the Maintenance Department was approved. Residents wishing to take advantage of the program should have downed branches stacked at the curb prior to the pick-up date. In the meantime, residents who want to haul their own debris can get a key for the city dump from City Hall to take branches to the dump.
The pickup date wasn’t available at the time of publication but will be updated when available.
PLANTERS CONTROVERSY
The council took specific action to authorize payment of an $800 bill from Community Feed and Seed, East Alton, for five concrete planters submitted by Ald. Jim Tilashalski. Previously, the council approved a motion to spend up to $2,500 to replace planters damaged by vandalism. Acting under the authority of that motion, the City Property Committee purchased four concrete planters from Community Feed and Seed for $500.
Tilashalski claimed he believed he had authority to purchase the additional planters because the original purchase fell short of the amount authorized. He disputed City Clerk Terri Koyne’s assertion that Tilashalski’s original motion, recorded in the official minutes, applied only to replacing damaged planters.
“That was not my motion,” Tilashalski said.
Balzraine alleged Tilashalski purchased the five new planters without authorization. At the Mayor’s suggestion, the council approved a motion to pay the bill with Ald. Robinson voting “no.”
Mayor Kelly reported that Woody’s Municipal Supply has acquired a tractor with a side-mounted mower for rent. The city has been on the waiting list to rent such equipment for two years. The equipment is used for mowing brush along the bike trail, around the lagoon and next to the creek. He said the city will remain on the waiting list until the equipment becomes available. The unit rents for $2,800 per week, plus $1.60 per mile for delivery and pick-up.
Kelly also reported that HMG Engineers plans to hold a pre-bid meeting with contractors in July at the Benld City Hall to discuss specifications for the upcoming sewer improvement project on the city’s east side.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Approved a business license for Mama Said Sew & More, a new business dealing in handsewn crafts and supplies to be operated by Sherry Monroe in the 200 block of East Chestnut Street next door to Stan’s Barber Shop.
- Voted to declare property at 110A North Main Street as a public nuisance, an action which authorizes the city attorney to contact the owners with a demand to abate the nuisance.
- Authorized the City Clerk to pay the bill from Republic Sanitation as a routinely approved expenditure as long as the monthly bill does not exceed $10,000. City Clerk Terri Koyne said Republic has changed its billing cycle, making it impossible to include the bill in the monthly warrants report without incurring late fees.