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MINUTES

REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2013 AT 7:00 P.M.
BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING – 500 WEST MAIN, 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 NOVEMBER 25, 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 MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR TAKING BIDS TO SELL THE OLD AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING UNITS FROM CITY HALL THAT ARE BEING STORED AT THE WATER BARN. 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 APPROVE THE 2014 MFT PROGRAM, RESOLUTION 13-16. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.  NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR STOP SIGNS TO BE PLACED ON SKYLANE DRIVE AT PETROFF ROAD AND AT OLD BEN 24 ROAD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.  NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FOR NO PARKING IN DESIGNATED PARKING SPOTS EXCEPT BY THE DESIGNATED INDIVIDUALS AT CITY HALL DURING BUSINESS HOURS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT INTRODUCED CHIEF SEAN FAIRES TO THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE. CHIEF FAIRES WAS SWORN IN AT 8:00 A.M. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2013.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 25, 2013 THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2013. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 6 INCIDENTS WHICH INCLUDED 2 FIRST RESPONDERS, 1 FALSE ALARM, 1 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, AND 2 STRUCTURE FIRES. WATER USAGE/LOSS REPORT SHOWED 100,000 GALLONS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT STATED THAT THEY ARE STILL WAITING ON TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTICS FOR ENGINE 801 AND STILL AWAITING REAR AXLE DIAGNOSTICS ON ENGINE 805. ENGINE 803 HAS HAD THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REPAIRED BY F.A.S.T. TRUCK AND TRAILER. THE REPORT STATED THAT THEY ARE STILL WAITING ON TWO 14-FOOT LADDERS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $250.00 EACH. THE BEAMS HAVE BECOME TWISTED ON THESE LADDERS AND ARE NO LONGER SAFE FOR FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE POLICE REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 21, 2013 THROUGH DECEMBER 3, 2013. THE DEPARTMENT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 122 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE. THESE INCLUDED 5 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND 13 TRAFFIC STOPS, 6 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 5 DISORDERLY CONDUCT CALLS, 3 FIGHT IN PROGRESS CALLS, 5 THEFT REPORTS, AND SEVERAL CALLS FOR SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED A TOTAL OF 43 WRITTEN REPORTS TO INCLUDE 9 INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY INVESTIGATORS AND CHIEF.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR DECEMBER 6, 2013, FOR GENERAL FUND, WATER & SEWER, AND AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $87,045.58. 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 THE SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR SHERRI MARTIN AT 901 N MADISON. 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 THE SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR AMANDA WILLIAMS AT 205 S WARD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO DENY THE SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR AMY BROWN AT 208 KIRSCH. 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 THE POOL ADJUSTMENT FOR MARK MORMINO OF 506 W FIFTH STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0

COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT CREDIT CARD. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS OF CITY CLERK/DEPUTY CITY CLERK WOULD BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT LISA STEARNS TO THE POLICE PENSION BOARD AND BROOK CRAIG TO THE FIRE PENSION BOARD. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THESE APPOINTMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5 COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: COMMISSIONER WYANT COMPLIMENTED THE STREET DEPARTMENT ON THE HANDLING OF THE RECENT SNOW AND SUBSEQUENT CLEANING OF THE ROADS. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE COMPLEMENTED THE WATER DEPARTMENT ON THE HANDLING OF AN AFTER-HOURS WATER MAIN BREAK THIS PAST FRIDAY EVENING IN THE COLD TEMPERATURES.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM (C): DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY, INCLUDING HEARING TESTIMONY ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR AGAINST LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO DETERMINE ITS VALIDITY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 7:20 P.M.

TIME: 7:25 P.M.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO GO BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT BROOK CRAIG AS CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF BENTON, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 9, 2013, WITH A BEGINNING COMPENSATION OF $38,686.40. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT PAULA GALLOWAY AS DEPUTY CITY CLERK, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 9, 2013. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.

MAYOR KRAFT SWORE IN BROOK CRAIG AS CITY CLERK AND PAULA GALLOWAY AS DEPUTY CITY CLERK.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO 8:30 A.M. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2013, TO PAY BILLS AND ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MIGHT COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.

TIME: 7:30 P.M.