MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH BEGAN THE MEETING WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN RESPECT TO THE THREE BENTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO DIED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT SEPTEMBER 16, 2023.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS¸ AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER STOREY WAS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2023. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER STOREY, ATTORNEY MALKOVICH HANDLED THE PUBLIC PROPERTY REPORT. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THERE WERE NO POOL ADJUSTMENTS, PURCHASE ORDERS, OR LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT AS AN UPDATE, HE WANTED THE COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT MONY KASH HAD SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE ACCEPTING THE RFQ FOR THE WATER MAIN GRANT PROJECT FROM PSC CIVIL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RFQ FROM PSC CIVIL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING. AS AN UPDATE COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THE 2023 OIL AND CHIP PROGRAM HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE OVERLAY PROJECT ON WHISPER WAY WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM ALSO STATED THAT THE WASTENA STREET PROJECT IS PROGRESSING.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR DEPARTMENT REPORTS. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE WAY THEY HANDLED THE RECENT TRAGIC ACCIDENT. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ECHOED THIS SENTIMENT. FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND STATED THAT ON BEHALF OF HIS FAMILY, WHO WERE PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THIS ACCIDENT, HE WANTED TO THANK THE CITY FOR ALL THAT THEY DID TO HELP AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CADET PROGRAM IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THERE IS NO PAYROLL TO APPROVE AT THIS MEETING AS TWO PAYROLLS WERE APPROVED AT THE LAST MEETING. COMMISSIONER KAYS ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO BILLS TO BE APPROVED AT THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDING AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING PENALTIES TO BE APPLIED TO TRASH BILLS THAT ARE NOT PAID BY THE DUE DATE. CURRENTLY 10% PENALTY IS APPLIED TO WATER BILLS THAT ARE NOT PAID BY THE 15TH OF EACH MONTH EXCLUDING TRASH. THIS AMENDMENT WILL APPLY A 10% PENALTY TO THE ENTIRE BILL INCLUDING TRASH IF NOT PAID BY THE 15TH OF EACH MONTH. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
NO UPDATES FROM ATTORNEY MALKOVICH FOR THIS MEETING.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #00484 TO MID-SOUTH STEEL PRODUCTS, INC. FOR A FUEL PUMP FOR THE AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,806.19. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #00491 TO BRANDON SMITH FOR REPAIRS TO THE CODE OFFICIAL CAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $337.00. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
IN NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS REGARDING SWITCHING OF OUR EMAIL SERVER. HE STATED THAT A NEW ALIAS EMAIL ADDRESS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO GETTING WORK PHONES FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS TO AVOID PERSONAL PHONES BEING USED FOR CITY BUSINESS. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THIS MAY BE A BIGGER CONVERSATION AS HE BELIEVES THERE ARE SOME EMPLOYEES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS AS WELL.
IN MATTERS OF FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER STATED THAT HE AGREED WITH THE PENALTY BEING CHARGED ON TRASH RATES AS WELL. HOWEVER, MR. CARTER STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG APOLOGIZED TO MR. CARTER AS THE INCORRECT AGENDA HAD BEEN SET ON THE TABLE. MR. CARTER WAS ASSURED THAT THE CORRECT AGENDA IS ON THE CITY’S FACEBOOK FOR VIEWING AS WELL AS POSTED ON THE FRONT DOORS OF CITY HALL.
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.
5:17 P.M.
