Benld City Hall

The Benld City Council on Monday night approved an amendment to the fiscal 2017 appropriations ordinance to bring it into alignment with actual spending for the fiscal year that ends on April 30, and learned that salvaging the Contratto Building facade on Central Avenue would be cost prohibitive. Council members also heard a report indicating that about half required number of income surveys have been collected to determine whether the city is eligible to apply for federal grant money to fund a major sewer renovation project.

Finance Committee Chair Ald. Peyton Bernot presented the amended appropriations ordinance, noting there had been unexpected expenses in some areas of the city government, primarily the Police Department. The amended appropriation ordinance was approved unanimously on a motion by Ald. Jim Tilashalsky, seconded by Bernot. The original ordinance, covering expenditures from May 1, 2016, through April 30, 2017, was approved last June. Bernot also reported that the Finance Committee is starting to work on the fiscal 2018 ordinance (May 1, 2017, through April 30, 2018), which will be presented for approval later this year.

Bernot characterized the amendment as a matter of routine housekeeping.

“We did this last year,” he said.

[pullquote]The appropriation ordinance sets spending ceilings restricting the amount of money the city can spend from specific funds.[/pullquote]

The appropriation ordinance sets spending ceilings restricting the amount of money the city can spend from specific funds. Under the amended ordinance, the General Fund appropriation is increased by $896, while the appropriation for Proprietary Funds (water, sewer and trash) is reduced by more than $21,000 and the Motor Fuel Tax appropriation is increased by nearly $14,000.

Within the General Fund appropriation, the spending limit for the Police Department is increased by nearly $35,000, primarily to cover the cost of a new squad car and other equipment earlier in the fiscal year. The appropriation for Unemployment Taxes is increased by slightly more than $1,000, while the Maintenance appropriation is increased by slightly more than $6,000. Those increases are substantially offset, however, by reductions in the appropriations for Administration, City Property, Legal Fees and Parks. The total General Fund appropriation increased from $497,003 to $497,899.

Within the Proprietary Funds Appropriation, the appropriation for trash hauling increased from $101,400 for the fiscal year to $111,000. That increase is more than offset by a $26,000 reduction in the Water Department appropriation. The appropriation for sewers remains unchanged at $238,233. The Proprietary Funds total appropriation is deceased from $644,374 to $628,205.

The Motor Fuel Tax appropriation was increased from $30,000 to $43,744 to reflect actual expenditures in that amount.

[pullquote]Bernot also reported that as of April 12, the city has spent $479,018 in General Fund monies—about $47,000 more than the city had spent at this time last year.[/pullquote]

Bernot also reported that as of April 12, the city has spent $479,018 in General Fund monies—about $47,000 more than the city had spent at this time last year. As the same time, Bernot said, General Fund revenues are down by about $17,000.

“We’re not at a deficit at this point,” he said. “We have about $17,000 left before we go into a deficit.”

CONTRATTO BUILDING

Without taking formal action, the council abandoned the concept of razing the rear of the Contratto Building, located across the street from City Hall, while preserving the building’s facade. City Property Committee Chair Brian Frensko reported that he had talked with several contractors and determined that the cost of such a project could range from $15,000 to $40,000. Moreover, since the building is attached to a building located immediately to the west, the project probably could not be accomplished without also razing the adjacent building.

“They suggested that we buy that building and do both of them at the same time,” Frensko said.

“So we’re looking at the cost of buying the building, plus $15,000 to $40,000?” Ald. Collin Obermeyer commented.

The Contratto Building is the subject of a condemnation suit brought by the city to acquire the property for the purpose of abating a nuisance. While the facade appears to be intact from the street, the roof of the building reportedly has collapsed, rendering the building unsalvageable. Council members last month discussed the possibility of preserving the facade to avoid leaving a totally vacant lot on the city’s main street. The suit has been continued several times and a Macoupin County judge recently entered an order giving the city until December to decide what it wants to do with the building. With no plan for dealing with the derelict property, one option would be for the city to dismiss the complaint, City Attorney Rick Verticchio has advised the city.

[pullquote]It’s kind of a moot point since we don’t own the other building.[/pullquote]

“It’s kind of a moot point since we don’t own the other building,” Mayor Jim Kelly said, deferring a decision on the property’s future for another time.

“You have until December to decide,” Verticchio advised.

Following a 20-minute executive session to discuss litigation, personnel and real estate, the council took action to authorize the clean-up of the so-called Baima property, bounded by Central Avenue, Spruce Street and First Street, and took action to demand payment on a mowing bill associated with a property located at 301 West Park Street. The Baima Property reportedly is being sold and the sellers apparently wanted to confirm the status of a platted alley running through the property before proceeding with the clean-up. Though platted, the alley reportedly is nonexistent and is properly included as part of the real estate parcel. The owners of the West Park property reportedly have accumulated a mowing bill of $2,000 and Monday night’s action requires the owners to start making regular payments toward satisfying the bill to avoid legal action.

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SEWER GRANT SURVEY

Mayor Kelly and City Clerk Terri Koyne reported that 80 income surveys were returned by mail last week from residents within areas of the city affected by a proposed sewer improvement project, and an unspecified number of surveys were returned to City Hall on Monday. Koyne said 275 surveys were mailed with water bills earlier in April. Under requirements for the federal grant, the city must collect responses from 75 percent of the affected residents—about 210 responses—to document that more than half of the residents are low to moderate income residences.

“We’re about half-way there,” Koyne said.

If the city doesn’t receive the minimum number of responses by mail, city officials will go door-to-door to households that have not responded in an effort to collect the necessary information.

“By the end of the week, we’ll be in a better position to know how many homes we’re going to have to contact,” Kelly commented. He reiterated that financial information supplied by respondents is confidential and is exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests.

Results of the survey will determine whether the city is eligible to apply for a $450,000 Community Development and Assistance Program (CDAP) grant to cover 75 percent of the cost of an estimated $600,000 sewer improvement project. The project tentatively includes plans to replace two sewer lines on the northeast side of the city, renovating two lift stations and improving up to 20 manholes.

CLEAN-UP DAY

Mayor Kelly again announced the city is planning a city-wide clean-up day for May 20. Persons planning to participate should have refuse on the curb in front of their homes by 6 a.m. Kelly recommended putting out trash for pick-up the night before to ensure it is on the curb when Flowers Sanitation begins picking up refuse as 6 a.m. Items for pick-up must fit into an area not to exceed four feet wide by eight feet long and six feet in height. Landscape waste, bricks, cement, masonry, paint, batteries, tires and electronics are among the items that will not be accepted.

After May 20, Kelly said, the city will step up enforcement of nuisance ordinances regarding accumulations of refuse.

“We’re going to be looking very close at nuisance ordinance violations,” he said.

Kelly also reported that he determined it will not be necessary to seek bids to repair a fence at the city baseball fields. After looking at the damage, he said, it was discovered that no more than one post, a post cap and some tie-downs will be needed to make the repair.

“We will get that done,” he said. “I can get enough volunteer labor.”

NEW POLICE CAR

Police Committee Chair Ald. Teresa Tucker reported the city recently acquired a surplus police car from the city of Wood River for a token price of $1.

“We got a new police car from Wood River at a very good price,” she said. Ald. Obermeyer reportedly located the vehicle and arranged for the transfer.

The vehicle is an unmarked 2006 Ford Crown Victoria with 93,000 miles on the odometer. Before going into service the city plans to install a new radio and have the vehicle checked out mechanically.

In further discussion, Ald. Bernot asked about the possibility of rotating police cars among officers to control mileage accumulating on individual vehicles.

“I think we need to do that,” he said.

Mayor Kelly formally thanked the City of Wood River for transferring the vehicle to Bend.

MAINTENANCE REPORTS

The council referred to committee the issue of requiring monthly maintenance reports from the Maintenance Department after Ald. Bernot asked about the possibility of the department providing such reports.

“That’s probably not going to happen,” said Ald. Obermeyer.

“Why not?” Bernot asked.

“I could tell them to do it,” Obermeyer responded. “But they could come back through their union and want more money because we would be adding to their work.”

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Bernot said he isn’t looking for a detailed report, but a more general report to keep aldermen informed about what projects the department is working on and what projects they have completed.

“I get accused of not knowing what they’re doing,” he said, “and most of the time, I don’t know.” He said a generalized report would be helpful and asked Verticchio if such reporting could be covered under the “rights of management” terms in the union contract.

Ultimately, the issue was referred to committee for further investigation.

VERIZON CONTRACT

Mayor Kelly told the council that aldermen will need to vote in June on whether or not to continue with a Verizon contract that provides computer linkages for the police department. He said the basic cost of the service is only $35 per month, but data charges can quickly mount up. Last month’s bill, for example, topped $4,000, he said.

“It doesn’t take much of a hiccup for those gigabyte charges to mount up,” he said.

Kelly said the service is probably needed through May and into June, a time period that includes the annual Italian-American Days Festival. But the council could reconsider the contract at its regular June meeting. He referred the issue to committee for a recommendation for the June meeting.

ITS TRAIL RESOLUTION

Acting on a request from the ITS Bike Trail Committee, the council approved a resolution renewing the city’s support of the committee’s efforts to develop the trail. Committee member William Vogt appeared at the March meeting of the council to ask the city to approve the resolution. The committee is working on development of a walking/biking trail along the former alignment of the Illinois Traction System railway. The trail already has been completed between Edwardsville and Staunton, and the committee now hopes to extend the trail from Staunton to Benld where it would link up with the Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail.

SCOPEL DEPARTURE

Before adjourning, Mayor Kelly recognized retiring City Treasurer Mary Ann Scopel who chose not to seek re-election in the most recent Consolidated Election. She has served as treasurer or city clerk for 20 years in the city.

“I want to thank Mary Ann Scopel for 20 years of service to the city,” Kelly said. “We’re going to miss you I’m sure.”

Cindy Crites, who was elected without opposition to the position of City Treasurer, will be sworn in during the May meeting of the city council.

OTHER ACTION

In other action, the council:

• Accepted a bid of $1,000 from Ruff ’n Tuff Tree Service to remove a dead tree from city property in the 200 block of Eighth Street. One other bid of $1,800 was received.
• Tabled action on accepting a bid to replace doors at the Civic Center to give the vendor time to confirm the price of the doors from his vendor.
• Approved payment of annual dues of $250 for membership in the Illinois Municipal League, plus $30 for a statewide municipal directory to be published in August.
• Directed the Public Works Committee to seek bids on a 52-inch zero-turn mower to be used in conjunction with a 61-inch zero-turn mower the city currently owns.
• Agreed to hire Larry Wright as a temporary grass cutter at an hourly rate of $8.25 to work until the end of the school year, after which Tim Wargo will resume duties as a temporary grass cutter at an hourly rate of $10.50 through the summer. Wright will resume his duties in the early fall when Wargo returns to school.
• Agreed to again offer a surplus 2001 Ford Ranger truck for sale via sealed bids. The city previously received no bids on the vehicle. For the second offering, the city is removing its $1,000 minimum bid requirement.

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