MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 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 AND DIRECTED ROLL TO BE CALLED. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.
MAYOR KRAFT INTRODUCED MR. MARK SOOTER FROM WOOLSEY ENERGY II, LLC. MR. SOOTER DISCUSSED THE LETTER THAT SEVERAL CITIZENS RECEIVED REGARDING NOTIFICATION OF GEOPHYSICAL SEISMIC OPERATIONS. MR. SOOTER EXPLAINED THE PROCESS AND THEN ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE. PAMPHLETS AND BUSINESS CARDS WERE LEFT BY WOOLSEY ENERGY.
MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED AUXILIARY FIRE FIGHTER KEVIN SMITH WITH A PLAQUE RECOGNIZING HIS 24 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE BENTON AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT. MR. SMITH IS RETIRING.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 10, 2014 REGULAR MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER WYANT AND COMMISSIONER BURNETT ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 14, 2014 CONTINUED MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER WYANT ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE YEARLY BID FROM ILLINOIS METER IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,156.65. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT ON JANUARY 27, 2014 HE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001369 IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,310.00 FOR AN 8 FOOT WESTERN PRO SNOW PLOW TO KNAPHEIDE TRUCK EQUIPMENT FOR $5310.00. COMMISSIONER WYANT CALLED THIS IN THE NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED THE COMPANY WOULD CALL HIM BACK IN 2 HOURS AND TO THIS DAY THEY HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM. THEY HAVE GONE TO THE SECOND LOWEST BIDDER AT THIS TIME AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO MATCH THE SAME PRICE. WOODY’S MUNICIPAL SUPPLY OUT OF EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS. THE PLOW IS THE SAME WITH THE EXCEPTION TO THIS PLOW BEING 7 ½ FOOT INSTEAD OF 8 FOOT. FAST TRUCK AND TRAILER WILL MOUNT THE PLOW ON OUR FORD TRUCK. TOTAL COST IS $5,260. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS PURCHASE ORDER, #001370, IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,260.00 AND VOID PURCHASE ORDER #001369 TO KNAPHEIDE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED A BEELMAN TRUCKING COMPANY BID FOR MFT ROCK FOR 2014 AT $10.79 PER TON FOR A TOTAL OF $21,580. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THIS BID. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT READ A MEMO FROM CHIEF ANDREWS INFORMING THE COUNCIL KNOW THAT AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICER JAMES WILLIS HAS RESIGNED. MR. WILLIS HAS BEEN WITH THE BENTON AUXILIARY POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE AUGUST OF 2006.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FOR FEBURARY 6, 2014 THROUGH FEBRUARY 19, 2014. THE BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 181 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE. THESE INCLUDES 18 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, 19 TRAFFIC STOPS, 10 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 2 DISORDERLY CONDUCT CALLS, 6 THEFT REPORTS, AND SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 52 WRITTEN REPORTS TO INCLUDE 14 INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY THE INVESTIGATORS AND CHIEF.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT READ THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2014 THROUGH FEBRUARY 24, 2014. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 8 INCIDENTS WHICH INCLUDED 2 FIRST RESPONDER/SERVICE CALLS, 4 FALSE ALARM, 1 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, AND 1 BRUSH FIRE. NO WATER LOSS REPORTED ENGINE 801 HAS A MINOR AIR LEAK, BUT THE TRUCK IS STILL IN SERVICE. STORM SIRENS ARE OPERATIONAL. CHIEF FAIRES STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A THANK YOU LETTER FOR RESPONDING TO A MAN IN A WELL.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 02/14/2014 FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,829.86 AND GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,895.14 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $80,725.00. 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 SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR LARRY BIGGS, 301 W CHURCH; EVELYN GUGIN, 307 N BUCHANAN; JACKI HIGGERSON, 1304 BAILEY LANE; ROSEMARY WEAVER, 710 OLD ORCHARD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT SAID THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE ON 1002 E WEBSTER HAS AGREED TO DEED THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY OF BENTON. THE COUNTY HAS AGREED TO WAIVE PROPERTY TAXES. MAYOR KRAFT ASKED THAT A MOTION BE MADE TO APPROVE THIS ACQUISITION AND TAKE BIDS TO HAVE THIS HOUSE DEMOLISHED. MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.
UNDER NEW BUSINESS COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT DISPOSING OF UNUSED PROPERTY STORED AT CITY HALL. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE WOULD BE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISPOSE.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
TIME: 8:15 P.M.
