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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREETS, BENTON, ILLINOIS.

MAYOR KRAFT CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 23, 2013 REGULAR MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #002242 FOR THE SEWER DEPARTMENT TO VANDEVANTER ENGINEERING FOR A FLOW METER BOARD AND LABOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $1509.87. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO LAYOFF TEMPORARY STREET DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE CHAD O’BRIGHT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 31, 2014 AT 4 P.M. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE BELIEVED TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY END WITHOUT A LAYOFF. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER MILLER.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR DECEMBER 20, 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 13, 2014. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 22 INCIDENTS WHICH INCLUDED 11 FIRST RESPONDER/SERVICE CALLS, 3 FALSE ALARMS, 2 STRUCTURES FIRES, 3 BRUSH FIRES, AND 3 MUTUAL AID CALLS (1 STRUCTURE FIRE, 1 AUTO FIRE, 1 STATION COVERAGE. THERE WAS NO WATER USAGE/LOSS FOR DECEMBER 2013. ENGINE 801 IS WAITING TO GET INTO F.A.S.T. TRUCK AND TIRE UNTIL AFTER WORK ON 803 AND 805 IS COMPLETED. COMPUTER CIRCUIT AND AIR PRESSURE FAILURE ISSUES. ENGINE 803 WAS AT F.A.S.T. GETTING ELECTRICAL REPAIRS. ENGINE 805 HAS HAD THE REAR DRIVE REPAIRED. THE FOUR REAR TIRES HAVE ARRIVED AT S&S AND WILL BE INSTALLED WHEN 803 IS BACK IN SERVICE. THE REPORT ALSO MENTIONED THEIR IN-HOUSE TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR 2014 COMPLETED INCLUDING IFSI CORNERSTONE CLASSES.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR DECEMBER 18, 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 8, 2014. THEY HANDLED A TOTAL OF 217
DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE. THESE INCLUDED 7 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND 22 TRAFFIC STOPS, 11 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 5 DISORDERLY CONDUCT CALLS, 3 FIGHT IN PROGRESS CALLS, 2 THEFT REPORTS, AND SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED A TOTAL OF 59 WRITTEN REPORTS TO INCLUDE 20 INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY INVESTIGATORS AND CHIEF. THE REPORT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ON DECEMBER 13, 2013 THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED $400.10 REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRAINING AND STANDARDS FOR OFFICER WILKEY’S CONTROL AND ARREST INSTRUCTOR TRAINING.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #002015 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO S&S MUFFLER FOR 4 TIRES FOR THE FIRE TRUCK IN THE AMOUNT OF $2577.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW FIRE CHIEF SEAN FAIRES, TREASURER LISA STEARNS, AND CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG TO SIGN THE APPROPRIATE PAPERS TO CHANGE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CREDIT CARD INTO CHIEF FAIRES’ NAME. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED A NO-COST, IN-HOUSE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THE COUNCIL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN TO SIGN UP FOR THESE CLASSES. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT ONE OF THE CLASSES INCLUDED TRAINING THE FIREMEN ON HOW TO DEAL WITH AN ETHANOL FIRE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY WITH THE ETHANOL PLANT UP AND RUNNING IN INDUSTRIAL PARK II.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,434.97 FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, $72,994.97 FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND $119,920.34 FROM OTHER FUNDS FOR A TOTAL OF $253,350.28. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 01/03/2014 FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,574.86, AUXILIARY POLICE AND FIRE IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,654.65, AND GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,359.96 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $83,589.47. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR DEAN SEVERIN, 402 LAYMAN, AND TAMMY TUCKER, 403 W CHURCH. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED THE COUNCIL WITH A TRAVEL EXPENSE FORM THAT HE THOUGHT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN KEEPING TRACK OF EXPENSES TO BE TURNED IN FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HE RECOMMENDED THAT THIS FORMAT BE USED IN THE FUTURE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL THROUGH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

UNDER NEW BUSINESS MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THE ETHANOL PLANT IS UP AND RUNNING, MAKING ETHANOL. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY 7 EMPLOYEES AND THAT THE COMPANY PLANS ON HIRING MORE SOON.

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
TIME: 7:30 P.M.