Council Minutes — November 24, 2014

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2014 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.

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

MAYOR KRAFT ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EXTENET TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION. AFTER THE PRESENTATION COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION FOR MAYOR KRAFT TO SIGN THE PAPERWORK ALLOWING EXTANET TO BEGIN WORKING IN BENTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT ASKED REG ANKROM FROM SIMEC TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. MR. ANKROM GAVE HIS PRESENTATION ON RESIDENTIAL AGGREGATION. HE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO SIGN A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY FOR RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL COMMERCIAL RETAIL CUSTOMERS WHO DO NOT OPT OUT OF SUCH A PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO SIGN RESOLUTION 14-11. 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 WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVAL THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 27, 2014 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 STATED HE HAD SOMETHING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ONLY.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A BID OF $9,720.00 FROM ILLINI ASPHALT TO FILL IN THE CRACKS ON NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD, THUS PROLONGING THE LIFE OF THS ROAD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE ABSTAINED.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR OCTOBER 27, 2014 THROUGH NOVEMBER 10, 2014. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 3 INCIDENTS WHICH INCLUDED 1 SERVICE CALL AND 2 FALSE ALARMS. ALL 3 FIRE ENGINES ARE IN SERVICE. THE EMERGENCY STORM SIRENS ARE 100% IN SERVICE. CHIEF FAIRES’ REPORT NOTED THAT THE UNDERGROUND FUEL TANKS ARE SHCEDULED TO BE REMOVED STARTED NOVEMBER 17, 2014 AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER 21, 2014.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR OCTOBER 23, 2014 THROUGH NOVEMBER 4, 2014. THE DEPARTMENT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 197 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE. THESE INCLUDED 3 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND 30 TRAFFIC STOPS, 8 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 9 THEFT REPORTS, AND SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED A TOTAL OF 48 WRITTEN REPORTS.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #002290 TO ILLINOIS PROSECUTOR SERVICES FOR THE CASE OF THE MONTH SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $550.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #002291 TO RAY O’HERRON FOR A RAZOR LEVEL II EVOLUTION CARRIER WITH VEST IN THE AMOUNT OF $775.00. 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 PURCHASE ORDER #002038 TO ANDERSON OVERHEAD DOOR FOR A BAY DOOR ASSEMBLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $825.00. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY REPAIR. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED HAZMAT MONIES FOR THE HAZMAT INCIDENT IN WEST FRANKFORT ON JULY 9, 2014. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO USE THESE MONIES TOWARDS PURCHASE ORDER #002039 TO ROEDA SIGNS FOR A 36” X 36” LAMINATE SIGN FOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $846.59. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT THE ARSON TRAINING FIREFIGHTER JEFF SHEW WAS TO ATTEND HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO PAY BILLS FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $63,277.28, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,906.88, AND FOR OTHER FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $85,084.06 FOR A TOTAL OF $208,268.22. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEASE: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 11/07/2014, TOTAL GENERAL FUND PAYROLL OF $55,539.62 AND WATER AND SEWER OF $26,377.60 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $81,917.22. 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 SEWER ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS FOR LEONARD BURNETT OF 903 ENTERPRISE, GARY JONES OF 1101 E BOND, DANIEL YOUNGER OF 318 MCFALL, AND JOHN AND JANET KOLISEK OF 613 MITCHELL. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS FOR SEWER ADJUSTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED A POOL ADJUSTMENT FOR RANDALL FLOWERS OF 408 E BOND. HE STATED THAT THIS APPLICATION COMPLIES WITH THE ORDINANCE. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ADJUSTMENT. 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 DENY THE SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR KATHLESS SHEA OF 430 W WEBSTER DUE TO THE TOILET RUNNING. 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 THE CITY HAD RECEIVED 2 PROPOSALS FROM WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROVIDERS. ILLINOIS PUBLIC RISK FUND’S PROPOSAL CAME IN AT $255,083.00 FOR A YEARLY PREMIUM. THIS WAS THE LOWEST OF THE TWO PROPOSALS. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INSURANCE PROPOSAL FROM IPRF. SECOND BY COMMISIONER
WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED PAPERWORK SHOWING THAT BILL BONAN HAD TRANSFERRED HIS MORTGAGE TO SOURTHERN BANK FROM FARMER’S BANK. MR. BONAN IS REQUESTING HIS TIF COLLATERAL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE BANK WHO NOW HOLDS HIS NOTE. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO TRANSFER THE TIF COLLATERAL TO SOUTHERN BANK. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THE CITY HAS TWO DEMOLITIONS COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THESE WILL BE ON COMMERCIAL STREET AND AIKEN STREET. THE CITY IS WAITING ON UTILITIES TO BE REMOVED FROM THESE PROPERTIES BEFORE DEMOLITION BEGINS.

MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT A NEW BUSINESS IS MOVING INTO INDUSTRIAL PARK II. TJ INTERNATIONAL, A BIT BUSINESS, HAS PURCHASED LOTS #9 AND #10 IN INDUSTRIAL PARK II. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THIS WOULD PRODUCE 4-5 NEW JOBS IN BENTON.

MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT WELLS FARGO HAS OBTAINED THE PROPERTY AT 210 NORTH BUCHANAN STREET. WELLS FARGO HAS CONTACTED MAYOR KRAFT TO LET HIM KNOW THEY ARE DONATING THIS PROPERTY BACK TO THE CITY OF BENTON AFTER THE HOUSE HAS BEEN TORN DOWN.

UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO SET UP A TIME TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE AND THE MAYOR TO TALK ABOUT THE PLANS FOR THE NEW SEWER PLANT. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE. MR. CARTER ALSO STATED HE HAD READ ABOUT A NEW STATE IMPOSED SEWER TAX TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE COUNCIL FELT ABOUT THIS. THE COUNCIL HAD NOT BE NOTIFED OF SUCH AND STATED THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER.

ROCKY MORRIS ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TIF AND HOW THE PROCESS WORKS. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH AND THE COUNCIL ADDRESSED MR. MORRIS’ QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
FOR (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 MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

7:45 P.M.

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

8:05 P.M.

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

TIME: 8:10 P.M.