MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2023 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS¸ COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED PAUL TART, WITH TAKE ACTION TODAY, TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. MR. TART STATED THAT TAKE ACTION TODAY IS OPENING A WARMING AND RESOURCE CENTER IN WHAT USED TO BE THE EDISON ROOM. THE CENTER WILL BE OPEN FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. AS A RESOURCE CENTER AND WARMING CENTER. THE CENTER WILL BE CLOSED FROM 5 P.M. TO 7 P.M. AND THEN REOPEN AT 7 P.M. UNTIL 7 A.M. PEOPLE WILL BE SCREENED AND A BACKGROUND CHECK WILL BE DONE BEFORE ENTRY IS ALLOWED. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA REGARDING A POSSIBLE DONATION TO THIS PROGRAM.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2023, HELD AT 5 P.M. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAS ORDERED SOME CHEMICALS TO SPRAY AROUND THE CITY OWNED BUILDINGS TO HELP WITH BUGS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO PUT TOGETHER A QUESTIONNAIRE AND PORTFOLIO FOR EACH CITY OWNED BUILDING TO HELP KEEP UP MAINTENANCE AND SUCH.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #000996 TO RESSLER ASSOCIATES FOR A CLARIFIER GEAR BOX AND MOTOR FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,187.26. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THERE ARE NO POOL ADJUSTMENTS OR LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS TO APPROVE AT THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT BACKFILLING AND DIRT WORK IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE ON WASTENA STREET. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM SAID THE ROAD IS ANTICIPATED TO BE OPENING BACK UP SOON.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, UPDATES, OR DEPARTMENT REPORTS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 11/22/2023 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,827.56 AND WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,762.50 FOR A TOTAL OF $105,554.06. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR BILLS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO STREAM ALL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS BEGINNING AT THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY 2024. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE ACTUARIAL FOR POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO THE CITY. HE STATED THAT THE FUNDS ARE FUNDED APPROPRIATELY. THE ACTUARIAL WERE DONE BY THE STATE THIS YEAR AS OPPOSED TO LAUTERBACH AND AMEN AS IN THE PAST. COMMISSIONER KAYS ALSO NOTED THAT THE CITY’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT FUND HAS INCREASED FROM 7.84% TO 8.70%.
NO UPDATES FROM ATTORNEY MALKOVICH FOR THIS MEETING.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND THE VOLUNTEER GROUPS FOR ALL THE HELP THEY PROVIDED WITH PUTTING ON THE HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS EVENT ON THE SQUARE. THIS SENTIMENT WAS ECHOED BY THE COUNCIL.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00496 TO THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE FOR 25 ROLLS OF FOREVER STAMPS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,650.00. CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG STATED THAT THIS PURCHASE WAS DUE TO POSTAGE INCREASING IN 2024. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE IDENTIFYING HOME RULE CONFLICTS WITH CERTAIN STATE LAW REGARDING PAID LEAVE FOR ALL WORKERS ACT. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GET A MOTION APPROVING THE CREATION OF THIS ORDINANCE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THE MOTION TO HAVE ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PREPARE AN ORDINANCE IDENTIFYING HOME RULE CONFLICTS WITH CERTAIN STATE LAWS REGARDING PAID LEAVE FOR ALL WORKERS ACT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE AMENDING DIVISION XI – ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE ONLY AMENDMENT TO THIS ORDINANCE IS MAKING BOTH POSITIONS FULLTIME POSITIONS. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE ##2023-19 AMENDING DIVISION XI-ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 2. COMMISSIONER KAYS AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY DONATES $2,400.00 A YEAR TO RECYCLING AND HE BELIEVES THAT IS A GREAT THING. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE ALSO WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO DONATE $2,400.00 TO THE WARMING CENTER TAKE ACTION TODAY IS OPENING AND OPERATING. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THEY WILL BE SOLVING A PROBLEM THAT WE, AS A CITY, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ABOUT USING FUNDS FROM THE OPIOID ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR THIS INITIAL $2,400.00 DONATION. CHIEF FUNKHOUSER WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND SAID THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES AS TO WHAT THE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR AND HE WILL LOOK INTO IT. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DONATION OF $2,400.00 TO THE TAKE ACTION TODAY WARMING CENTER FROM THE OPIOID ACCOUNT PENDING ANY RESTRICTIONS PREVENTING THIS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (F) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AMENDING 29-1-20 OF THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THIS WILL BE AMENDING THE PRICING OF INSPECTIONS DONE BY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION DIRECTION ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING 29-1-20 OF THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
THERE WAS NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
THERE WAS NO OLD BUSINESS.
THERE WAS NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO MATTERS OF FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
5:38 P.M.
