MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING OF THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY APRIL 27, 2015 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 AND ROLL WAS TAKEN. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER AND MAYOR KRAFT.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT OF ORDER AND ALLOW RED SCHOCKLY TO SPEAK. MR. SHOCKLEY STATED THAT HE IS IN CHARGE OF THE CAR SHOWS ON THE SQUARE AND WOULD LIKE PERMISSION FROM THE COUNCIL TO USE THE OUTSIDE OF THE SQUARE DURING THESE CAR SHOWS. MR. SCHOCKLY STATED THAT HE HAD ALREADY OBTAINED PERMISSION FROM THE COUNTY FOR USE OF THE INSIDE OF THE SQUARE. THE COUNCIL TOLD MR. SHOCKLEY THEY WOULD GIVE PERMISSION FOR USE OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE SQUARE DURING THE CAR SHOWS.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 13, 2015 COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED. 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 #002579 TO HD SUPPLY FOR 24 5/8 I PEARL METERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,432.00. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED AN APPLICATION FOR LAKE LOT TRANSFER FROM GREGORY S. SWINNEY AND KIMBERLY ANN SWINNEY, LOTS #67 AND #68, TO GREGORY S. SWINNEY. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS LAKE LOT TRANSFER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED ROCK BIDS FOR THE 2015 MFT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED BY BEELMAN LOGISTICS IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,580.00 AND FREEDOM TRANSPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $22,060.00. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LOW BID OF $21,580.00 FROM BEELMAN LOGISTICS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO HIRE A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT FOR MOWING. COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE J.R. MOCABY, THE SAME EMPLOYEE HE HIRED LAST SUMMER. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO HIRE J.R. MOCABY AS A TEMPORARY, 120 DAY HIRE AT 20 HOURS PER WEEK BEGINNING ON 05/04/2015. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO REHIRE DAVID BOOKER AS THE WILL CALL MOWER. COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT MR. BOOKER HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN THE WILL CALL MOWER FOR THE CITY OF BENTON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ASH STREET AND MCFALL STREET A FOUR-WAY STOP. AT THE PRESENT TIME THIS INTERSECTION IS A TWO-WAY STOP ONLY. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO HAVE ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PREPARE AN ORDINANCE MAKING THE INTERSECTION OF ASH STREET AND MCFALL STREET A FOUR-WAY STOP. 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 SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 26, 2015 FOR A POSSIBLE ALLEY CLOSING AT NORTH TENTH TO STOTLAR STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR APRIL 2, 2015 THROUGH APRIL 22, 2015. THEY HAD A TOTAL OF 264 CALLS INCLUDING 10 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, 16 TRAFFIC STOPS, 15 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 9 THEFT REPORTS, AND SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE. THEY HAD A TOTAL OF 62 WRITTEN REPORTS.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #002298 TO THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MTU TRAINING FOR 10 POLICE OFFICERS AND 7 AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,020.00. COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. 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 RESOLUTION #15-09 FOR THE 25TH ANNUAL REND LAKE CAR SHOW TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2015. COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #15-09. 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 THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR APRIL 13, 2015 THROUGH APRIL 26, 2015. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD A TOTAL OF 7 CALLS. ALL FIRE ENGINES ARE IN SERVICE. THE EMERGENCY STORM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IS OPERATIONAL WITH NO MALFUNCTIONS.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #001001 TO CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS FOR A BLOCK OF 50 HOURS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,350.00. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. 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 PAYROLL DATED 04/24/2015 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $63,613.14, FOR WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,224.22, AND FOR AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $850.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $92,687.36. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PAYROLL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROSEMARY CAVALLARI OF 508 CLEARVIEW PLACE AND PHYLLIS PIAZZA OF 308 NORTH NINTH. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET ON MAY 11, 2015.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE CITY HAS A LOCAL FRANCHISE CONTRACT WITH NEWWAVE COMMUNICATIONS. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD REQUESTED A 4-MONTH EXTENSION ON THE CURRENT CONTRACT ALLOWING THE NEW COUNCIL TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS NEEDED. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO MAKE A MOTION APPROVING THIS CONTRACT EXTENSION. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW MAYOR KRAFT TO SIGN THE CONSENT AND APPROVAL OF LOCAL FRANCHISING AUTHORITY FOR EXTENSION OF CATV FRANCHISE WITH NEWWAVE COMMUNICATIONS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED ORDINANCE #15-08 AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ACCOMPANYING MAP THERETO KNOWN AS ORDINANCE 1062. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER. THIS IS A CHANGE FROM B6 TO B2. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #15-08. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE LAST 12 YEARS OF THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT WHEN HE BECAME MAYOR THE CITY OF BENTON HAD APPROXIMATELY $450,000.00 OF DEBT. THE COUNCIL, AT THAT POINT, MADE A VERY PAINFUL DECISION AND DISBANDED THE CITY’S DISPATCH SERVICE. THIS SAVED THE CITY ALMOST $300,000.00 A YEAR. SOON AFTER THIS, THE CITIZEN’S OF BENTON VOTED IN HOME RULE AND WITH THAT EXTRA REVENUE, ANY FUTURE LAYOFFS WITH THE CITY OF BENTON WERE STOPPED. SOON AFTER THAT TIF DISTRICTS WERE FORMED. THE TIF FORMATION WAS PAID FOR BY THE DEVELOPER, BUT IT DID SAVE THE CITY ABOUT $750,000.00. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THE DEMOLITION OF THE WOOD BUILDING. THE OTHER TIF DISTRICT THAT WAS FORMED WAS THE STATE’S LAST JOBS RELATED TIF DISTRICT. THIS WAS LOCATED AT INDUSTRIAL PARK II. THIS SAVED THREE BUSINESSES FROM RELOCATING TO MARION AND APPROXIMATELY 60 JOBS. THE CITY HAS AQUIRED $5,000,000.00 OF GRANT MONEY WITH INDUSTRIAL PARK I, INDUSTRIAL PARK II, DURING THE LAST 12 YEARS AT NO COST TO THE CITY. DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE WAS A $400,000.00 GRANT AND DID NOT COST THE CITY ANY MONEY. OUR SHARE CAME OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN TIF POOL. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT HE HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE TWO MUSEUMS IN TOWN. MAYOR KRAFT STATED HE CARES FOR THIS CITY AND HE STATED IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE CITY FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT HE WISHED THE CITY OF BENTON NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN THE FUTURE.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, PRESENTED MAYOR KRAFT WITH A CLOCK ENGRAVED WITH HIS DATES OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF BENTON. THE COUNCIL THANKED MAYOR KRAFT FOR HIS SERVICE AND INVITED THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE TO JOIN IN A RECEPTION HONORING MAYOR KRAFT.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JOHN HUFFMAN THANKED MAYOR KRAFT FOR ALL THE WORK HE HAS DONE WITH THE CITY.
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: 7:20 P.M.
