City updates office equipment

After a few laughs and a short delay to get a motion, the Benld city council approved the city’s Halloween hours during their October business meeting held on Monday evening, October 20. “Can we have it from 6:05 to 6:25,” one alderman joked. The motion was later unanimously approved to have trick-or-treat hours on both October 30 and 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The council went on to unanimously approve the purchase of new office equipment. The council purchased a new computer preloaded with Windows 7 software and the updated version of Microsoft Office along with a software update for the second computer located in the clerk’s office.

The council then approved a motion to purchase a new scan/copy/fax machine to replace their current machine that does not have a scanner. “The current printer will go to the police department,” Mayor Gloria Sidar explained. “We need a scanner. Right now, I take anything that needs scanned home to my house. I scan it and then email it back so we can have it on the computer.” The office equipment motions totaled $3,434.98.

Old/New Business

Mayor Sidar reported the police car put out for bids has been purchased and paid for, but the individual has yet to pick up the car. “If you see it sitting there, it’s sold,” Sidar laughed. “He just hasn’t come to pick it up yet.”

Sidar also reported the three bike racks are ready to be picked up from the Route 66 committee. The racks were given to the city at no charge, but the city is responsible for installation.

Three library board appointments expire in January of 2015, but Mayor Sidar reappointed board members Donna Hubert, Vicki Laughlin and Toni Wargo to the library board effective January 2015.

Recognized Guests

The council unanimously approved a business license for Bobby Keller to locate his new business at 211 East Central Avenue, the building where Ancient Arts is currently located. Keller, owner of Central Truckers Choice Brokerage, said the business is all office work. “It’s freight brokerage,” he said. “We get freight from shippers and find a truck to haul it. We are an acting agent for a firm out of Alabama.”

Committee Reports

Alderwoman Teresa Tucker reported under city property that the light shining on Benld’s the south side of the entrance sign is faulty and needs replaced. “I suggest we install two lights there so one can shine on the statue as well,” Tucker suggested. She went on to report that the light shining on the city hall’s flag is also faulty and needs replaced.

Tucker continued by presenting the council with a request from the post office who wants to split the cost of a flag pole, flag and light with the city. The council decided not to take any action on the matter, but explained the post office’s contract is approaching negotiation.

Lastly, Tucker explained a vandal busted a window out of the small corner building resting on Main and East Central Avenue. She said Ed Saracco climbed through the window, unlocked the building and replaced the lock so the city would have a key to the building. Saracco also had the glass repaired. “What do you want to do with that building, I like the location,” Tucker told the council. The council decided not to sell the building, but try to find a business to lease the location.

Under maintenance/sewer/water, Alderman Jim Kelly requested approval on a $600.41 quote from Triple H Automotive for new tires and break work for the maintenance department’s red Dodge pickup truck. He also requested approval to purchase $2,930 in culvert pipe and $4,600 for a new backhoe bucket. The council unanimously approved all of Kelly’s bids.

Kelly went on to report the maintenance department is currently working on culverts and ditches and Mayor Sidar commented on Kelly’s topic by saying the city had a problem last week with one of their newest installations. Sidar said the maintenance department repaired the culvert, but then the property owner burned in the ditch, which melted the culvert pipe causing it the pipe to be blocked up again.

“That cannot happen and people cannot burn in the ditches,” Kelly explained. He reminded residents who are doing yard work to take their yard waste to the drop off location on 4^th Street, but come to city hall first to get the key, put the yard waste out with your trash or burn the waste in your yard. “Do not burn in the ditches,” Kelly closed.

City Attorney’s Report

Rick Vertichio, city attorney, informed the council that payment was not received on the Walnut street property, so his office has put publication in the paper and the public sale is scheduled for December 4. “We have a credit bid of $10,000 or so for our expenses,” Vertichio explained.

He went on to report that both Flack and Russio have been served, but the defendants have 60 days to respond. He intends to file a default on December 3 and a hearing will be scheduled on December 10 for cleanup. “We can’t do it an earlier than that,” he confirmed.

Lastly, Mayor Sidar referred a class action notice to Vertichio regarding the sale of municipal derivatives. “I’ve looked at it and talked to them,” he told the council. “We are going to have to go back and do research.” He explained major banks rigged bids, according to the allegation in the class action suit, and any municipality who bought bonds to fund a project or renegotiated bonds is entitled to a portion of the hundreds of million dollars set aside.

“We have already been identified as a municipality who qualifies,” Vertichio closed. “I just need help from the clerk’s office to identify when we would have bought or renegotiated bonds.”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – –

There are plenty of ways to keep up on BenGil news:

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter

Follow us on Twitter for the fastest breaking news updates and score updates

Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take

Comments

comments