City adopts new logo

BENTON — The City of Benton has created a new logo to use as a marketing tool for its website and correspondence.
"We thought with us moving and making some changes as far as moving to the new city hall a new logo would be in the best interests of the city," said Mayor Fred Kondritz.
"When we move to the new city hall, everything is going to change, as far as the decals and things of that nature. This is just to freshen our logo."
This new logo does not replace the current "city seal," but rather is an additional city logo to be utilized for certain marketing campaigns and projects.
The logo has a maroon background with the word "Benton" in the center, with a heart in the background. The theme of the logo is "Small town, big heart." The shape of the sign was taken from the Park District sign.
Chris Flener, the city's zoning administrator, said he and Rick Litton of the Franklin County Economic Development Corp. (FREDCO) designed the logo.
"The mayor always talks about how we're small town America. We came up the theme, small town, big heart as a way to bring the community of Benton together, to talk about how we work together and that type of thing," he said.
"We utilized the maroon for the high school colors, put the heart in the background and when Benton was established in 1841.
"The idea is not to replace the city seal, it's much more of a marketing tool. We'll be able to use it on our website, on Facebook and if we wanted to we can use it on business cards for those that want that."
Flener said it's not necessary for the logo to be used on city trucks or police cars.
"It's just a good way to promote the city in a little different way," he said.
The logo was designed at no cost to the city.
"If we decide we want to put a welcome sign on the north or south ends of the city, we can always do that for the cost of the sign. Cost on this is very minimal."
Kondritz said he wants a fresh, new sign at the new city hall location on South Main Street — in the former Benton Grade School District 47 building.
Following an executive session at its Jan. 25 meeting, the city accepted the transfer of the school property, with the understanding that the closing date and possession of the property be 30 days apart.
The city purchased the school property for $550,000.