MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 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 COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MARCH 25, 2024 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 S MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS. 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 HAD NO BUSINESS FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #000995 TO C AND C PUMPS AND SUPPLY FOR A VERTICAL MULTISTAGE PUMP IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,769.97. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00238 TO BUMPER AND BUMPER FOR AN AIRCAT IMPACT WRENCH WITH 8” EXTENDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $511.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00708 TO SCHAEFFER’S FOR SYNTHETIC OIL IN THE AMOUNT OF $737.20. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SWIMMING POOL SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR REBECCA REED OF 910 EAST WEBSTER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER OF LOT #30 FROM LINDA MUSULIN TO HUTCHINS PROPERTIES II, LLC. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER OF LOT #31 FROM LINDA MUSULIN TO HUTCINS PROPERTIES II, LLC. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2024 MFT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $785,000.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00408 TO EVAPAR FOR REPAIR OF EMERGENCY GENERATOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $757.95. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00409 TO LEO ELLEBRACHT COMPANY FOR 2 SETS OF BUNKER GEAR TO REPLACE EXPIRED SETS IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,673.13. CHIEF COCKRUM STATED THAT HE IS JUST ASKING FOR APPROVAL, BUT WILL NOT PURCHASE UNTIL THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMOVAL OF ROGER MABRY, TYLER CARROL, WARREN SMOTHERS, AND DANIEL HOLLOWAY FROM THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER ROSTER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADD JACOB KINSMAN TO THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER ROSTER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW JR ERWIN TO INSTALL ALL NEW LIGHT FIXTURES AND REMOVE BALLASTS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,482.00. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT MR. ERWIN HAS PRODUCED HIS INSURANCE FOR THIS PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PLACING A $200,000.00 BID ON A 2020 FORD F-550 MINI PUMPER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PAYROLL OR BILLS TO APPROVE AT THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO AMEND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS IN CHAPTER 1 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ALIGN WITH THE WATER, SEWER, AND STREET UNION CONTRACT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION FROM ANYONE THIS EVENING REQUIRING ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CONFERENCE UPDATES FROM 2023.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE WRITING OFF OF BAD DEBT FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PLACING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 BUDGET ON DISPLAY ON APRIL 12, 2024. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
CITY ATTORNEY MALKOVICH HAD NO UPDATES.
IN UPDATES, MAYOR MESSERSMITH THANKED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE VOLUNTEER GROUPS, AND EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN PUTTING ON THE “PARTY IN THE PATH” ECLIPSE EVENT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024. AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT 43 PLANES LANDED AT THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TO WATCH THE ECLIPSE AND THAT DAY THERE WAS $3,700.00 OF FUEL SALES MADE.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00685 TO BENTON CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL FOR A $500.00 SPONSORSHIP FOR THE HALL OF FAME EVENT. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE REPAIRS TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE THROUGH BRANDON SMITH IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,249.36. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT CITY ENGINEER RODNEY POTTS IS INVESTIGATING ANY UPDATES AND PLANS TO DO WITH THE I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT. HE STATED THAT THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY UNOFFICIALLY PAUSED.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT 8 CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR INTERVIEWS FOR THE POSITION OF TREASURER.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, POLICE CHIEF CHRIS FUNKHOUSER STATED THAT ZACK ANDREWS IS IN THE PROCESS OF TESTING AND HIS HIRING IS CONTINGENT UPON PASSING ALL THE TESTING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO 04/15/2024 AT 9:30 A.M. FOR PAYMENT OF BILLS. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
5:45 P.M.
