Benton City Council Approves Purchase Orders for Street Department

http://www.bentongazette.com/news/council-approves-purchase-orders-for-street-department/article_4e260e32-5ee0-11e7-95ba-7b49f53f224b.html

BENTON, IL – (William McPherson, Benton Gazette.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Benton Streets and Improvements Commissioner Don Wyant had several purchase orders approved at last Monday’s meeting.

The council approved the purchase of a $6,700 jackhammer from Diamond Equipment. Wyant said that the cost of the jackhammer was to be shared by both the street and water departments. Also approved for purchase was a $1,400 hydraulic pump from FB McAfoo’s for one of the city’s mowers. Wyant first made a motion, which passed, to table purchase of a SM60 brush hog from FB McAfoo’s until October since, it being personally built to order, could not be delivered until September, but after some further discussion decided to purchase the mower now which saved the City $300 on the $8,430 purchase.

During audience comments, a citizen asked about the progress of the city’s tearing down of dilapidated lots and also inquired as to what the City was doing to attract the building of newer homes, suggesting tax breaks for new residential development. Mayor Kondritz responded that the City was working diligently to bring down the delinquent houses, and in many cases have been fighting long legal battles to gain the right to do so. As for the new construction, Kondritz said the key to that problem was the creation of new jobs. “There’s not anybody on this council who doesn’t lobby everyday for bringing in industry or bringing jobs in here,” Kondritz added. As for the tax break, the council added that the city’s portion of real-estate tax is minimal in comparison to the taxes levied at the County and State level. The Mayor also promoted the city’s TIF district and enterprise zone, citing the recent business addition of the new Cycle1 fitness center which Kondritz said utilized both. Kondritz also promoted the new sewer plant as part of the infrastructure which will set the stage for new business to develop

The City Council did take an executive session for discussion and possible action for a sale of real estate in which no action was taken..