Veteran’s Memorial Ceremony Slated for January 21
Toni Wargo from the library visited the council meeting on January 9th to update the council on the work being done. The project started in September of 2011 and is “almost complete,” Wargo said of the work. The library has been a mess the entire time the work has been underway and it is still a mess, according to Toni. “I would like to tell you all that Jim Savant has been a huge help to us,” Toni informed the council, “He worked there and he was always there when we called for advice or input.”
The project at the library started at $29,000 and finished with a total bill of $69,000. A nice donation came from the Frank Bertetti Foundation, which was very helpful. “The job got complicated because they kept finding things wrong,” Wargo explained. They started out by putting 13 piers under the library on the parking lot side. That worked out fine, so they were going to do some grouting and mud-jacking. That work would have cost $29,000.

Mike Hedricks questions Andy Hopper about his new business.
When the crew started digging, there were voids under the floor of the library. “Big voids,” Toni clarified. Helitech went back to the drawing board from there and came back with some unfortunate news. “We don’t think the building will hold,” Wargo said of Helitech’s thoughts. Of course, they do not know for sure, but it was not safe.
After that, the library changed their mind and opted for better grouting and more grouting. After starting that grouting, they came back with some more unfortunate news. “They wanted us to use permeation grouting now,” Wargo explained, “Which is grouting that you put in after you already grout so it fills the smaller cracks and crevices.” The library decided that move would be the best, so they did it on the back half of the building because there was a basement there. In the spring, the library will undergo some tuck-pointing on the side next to the parking lot.
Mary Newman, head librarian, filed for a grant about a year and a half ago for the amount of $25,000. The library received the grant, but has been unable to use it due to all the other ongoing problems. Since the work has been finished, a painter has came in and painted the whole place while a laminate floor was installed. The library is going to replace the back door with a brand new one and replace the locks on the front door. All the windows will have a sun screen shade. A new circulation desk will be purchased if funds are still available from the grant.
Toni Wargo went on to say that the library is in need of a new sidewalk. Most of the sidewalk was already torn up, so the rest was torn out and the area was leveled. Rock was brought in and leveled on top off the ground. Wargo went on to ask if the city could help with the new sidewalk or decide to purchase parking blocks for a summer job. “It is something that needs to be done and anything the city could do to help would be appreciated,” Wargo closed.

Mickey Robinson explains that the emergency exit lights are required to light up.
Vickie Laughlin invited all the aldermen and the mayor to come visit the library. “It is really a nice place,” Laughlin said. The library will order a book if you need one and can have it in about three days. There is a lot of things going on at the library and all the helpers are proud of it.
Lynn Fralle from Build Benld advised the council that the Veteran’s Memorial Sign was installed in Veteran’s Park in front of the tank on Benld Main Street. The press conference for the sign is scheduled on Saturday, January 21 at 11:00am. Fralle went on to ask if a notice of completion of new improvement be handed out with the building permit and returned to the city clerk of Benld or sent to the SOA office in Carlinville. “They are not getting that information and by right, they are supposed to be getting it,” Fralle explained.
Andrew Hopper then spoke the council about getting a business license for a business he is wishing to start. The business would be at his property on 8th street and it would be just an automotive repair shop inside of his single care detached garage. Hopper explained that it would be something he would do on the weekends. No cars would be sitting outside, according to Hopper, and all cars would be properly tagged. The fairly big workstation would be used to repair one or two cars at a time. After much speculation, the city passed the business license with a 6-0 vote.
The only committee report came from Mickey Robinson. Robinson opened with an abandoned house on North 5th Street. Mickey went on to show pictures of the property and asked if a city building inspector would check it out. After discussion from the council, Hedricks advised Mickey that the property is on Walnut Street and not 5th Street. Bernot went on to advise Robinson that the pictures were dated back from 2005.
Robinson then went on to say that the civic center has 27 tables in “operating condition.” He has a few organizations that would donate a total of $500 to purchase about 10 new tables for the center. “The table would be a strong, sturdy table that would be in good condition,” Robinson stated. A motion was passed 6-0 that Robinson could purchase tables pending donations from civic organizations.
In other property news, the emergency exit light bulbs in the civic center were replaced. Robinson would like to see a buffer and scrubber rented to “get the center in running condition for the main usage season.” There has been a few stains that have been spotted and a few spots were bubble gum is stuck to the floor. Since then, a required deposit will be collected for rental of the civic center. The deposit will be refunded if nothing is wrong, but the organization will not get their money back if the center is not in the same condition it was prior to the organization entering.
In closing, the council accepted resignation of part-time police officer Eric Howard 6-0 effective 12-12-2011.
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