MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2024 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 KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKUP, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER STOREY WAS ABSENT.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED RICK LINTON TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. MR. LINTON STATED THAT FREDCO IS DISSOLVING. MR. LINTON HANDED THE COUNCIL A LIST OF FREDCO ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WELL AS A FRANKLIN COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY. MR. LINTON STATED THAT HE WAS HERE TO BRING A CHECK BACK TO THE CITY FROM SEED MONEY USED TO START FREDCO. MR. LINTON PRESENTED THE COUNCIL WITH A CHECK FOR $6,000.00 AND HE ASKED THAT THE CITY CONSIDER GIVING MONEY TOWARDS THE S3DA TOURNAMENT BEING HELD IN JUNE.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024, HELD AT 5 P.M. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. NAYS: 0. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 5, 2024 AT 9:30 A.M. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR OTHER BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS AND NO POOL ADJUSTMENTS.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER FOR LOTS 46 AND 47 FROM FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE TO LEMUEL GAGE AND CHARLOTTE GAGE. COMMISSIONER KAYS SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.
IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER STOREY, ATTORNEY THOMAS MALKOVICH HANDLED THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THERE WERE UPDATES OR DEPARTMENT REPORTS.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00398 FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO CLOUD PCR FOR EMS REPORTING SOFTWARE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,188.00. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00399 FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO IAMRESPONDING FOR ANNUAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SOFTWARE IN THE AMOUNT OF $660.00. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00400 FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO LEO ELLEBRECT FOR 3 SETS OF REPLACEMENT BUNKER GEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,402.01. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. IT WAS NOTED THAT THIS BILL WAS FROM DECEMBER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00401 FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SCBAS INC. FOR REPAIR OF SCBA COMPRESSOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $593.08. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION, BUT NOTED THAT THIS BILL IS FROM AUGUST 24, 2023. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER KAYS.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00402 FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO IFSI FOR COMPANY FIRE OFFICER CLASSES FOR FIREFIGHTER WARREN AND FIREFIGHTER NEFF IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000.00. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION, BUT NOTED THAT THESE CLASSES WERE STARTED IN OCTOBER AND THE INVOICE IS FROM DECEMBER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00403 FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO AMERICAN TEST CENTER FOR ANNUAL LADDER TESTING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,136.00. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00404 FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO NOVACOM FOR 7 MOTOROLA RADIOS, 7 SPEAKER MICS, AND 7 LEATHER CASES IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,092.00. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION, BUT NOTED THAT THIS INVOICE WAS FROM DECEMBER AS WELL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DONATION OF SURPLUS BICYCLES TO BCHS AND THAT THEY WOULD FIND A LETTER FROM BOB HAGERMAN REQUESTING THE SURPLUS BICYCLES IN THEIR PACKETS. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DONATION OF SURPLUS BICYCLES TO BCHS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 02/02/2024 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,434.66 AND WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,170.69 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $107,605.35. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS FOR PAYMENT ON 02/12/2024 IN THE AMOUNT OF $558,348.70 WHICH INCLUDED BILLS FORM IJRL TIF IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,822.34 AND MFT IN THE AMOUNT OF $121,888.46. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES FOR THIS MEETING.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THE I5 BIKE PLAN RECOMMENDATION. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THERE WILL BE AN OPEN HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 27, 2024 AT CAFÉ BLOOM FROM 5 P.M. TO 7 P.M. HE STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD THE PROPOSED BIKE PLAN IN THEIR FOLDERS TO LOOK OVER. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED THAT THE OSLAD GRANT THAT WAS APPLIED FOR BY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA IN THE AMOUNT OF $43,720.00 HAS BEEN APPROVED AND WORK WILL BEGIN ON MALKOVICH PARK ONCE WE GET THE NOTICE TO PROCEED. AS A FINAL UPDATE, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE DATES ON THE PURCHASE ORDERS APPROVED TONIGHT ARE VERY FRUSTRATING AND THIS NEEDS SOME WORK.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO HANDLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT BY CHARLES AND SHIRLENE CAPPS TO OWN AND OCCUPY AN EXISTING DOUBLE WIDE MOBILE HOME LOCATED AT 1210 ANNA STREET. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD ACTUALLY APPROVED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT ON THIS PROPERTY A FEW MONTHS BACK, BUT THE SALE DID NOT GO THROUGH. HE STATED THAT IT WAS HIS RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THIS PERMIT. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM HAD A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT BY CHARLES AND SHIRLENE CAPPS TO OWN AND OCCUPY AN EXISTING DOUBLE WIDE MOBILE HOME LOCATED AT 1210 ANNA STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY MATT WAYMAN REGARDING A SPONSORSHIP FOR THE SI COMIC CON COMING TO THE BENTON CIVIC CENTER ON APRIL 27, 2024. MR. WAYMAN HAS REQUESTED A SPONSORSHIP OF $500.00. DISCUSSION WAS HELD REGARDING THIS. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE BUDGET HAS A LINE ITEM OF $500.00 PER MONTH THAT COULD BE USED FOR DONATIONS SUCH AS THIS AND IT HAS NOT BEEN USED UP TO THIS POINT. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO DO A SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.00. COMMISSIONER KAYS ASKED IF HE WAS SURE HE WANTED TO GIVE $1,000.00 AS THEY HAD ONLY REQUESTED $500.00. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM WITHDREW HIS MOTION OF DONATING $1,000.00. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO DONATE $500.00 TO SI COMIC CON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (E) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL TO RELEASE LIEN ON REAL ESTATE LOCATED ON BEATRICE STREET. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN CONTACTED REGARDING THIS HOME. HE STATED THAT THE OWNERS WILL TEAR DOWN THIS HOME IN EXCHANGE FOR THE CITY RELEASING ALL LIENS ON THE REAL ESTATE. ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE NORMALLY WOULD NOT BE FOR RELEASING A LIEN, HOWEVER, IT IS WORTH DOING IN EXCHANGE FOR THE CITY NOT BEING OUT THE EXPENSE OF TEARING THIS HOME DOWN ITSELF. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO RELEASE THE LIEN ON REAL ESTATE LOCATED ON BEATRICE STREET CONTINGENT UPON CLEANUP OF THE DELAPIDATED HOUSE.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
IN NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THE BODYCAMS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SECURITY CAMERAS BOTH WILL NEED NEW CONTRACTS SOON.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
5:30 P.M.
