MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE CAMPBELL BUILDING LOCATED AT 901 PUBLIC SQUARE BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND DIRECTED ROLL TO BE CALL. COMMISSIONER
COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, 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 MONDAY OCTOBER 14, 2024 AT 5 P.M. IN THE CAMPBELL BUILDING LOCATED AT 901 PUBLIC SQUARE IN BENTON, ILLINOIS. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING. UNDER UPDATES, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO NEW NUMBERS TO REPORT AT THIS TIME REGARDING 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS NOTICED A LOT OF SIGNS BEING PLACED IN PLACES THEY SHOULD NOT BE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE CITY. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS ALREADY BEGUN GETTING THIS TAKEN CARE OF.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00711 TO VELODYNE FOR A PUMP FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,612.92. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR A SWIMMING POOL FOR 727 OLD ORCHARD DRIVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER KAYS ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED SUBLETTING OF LOTS 53 AND 54 IN LAKE BENTON PUBLIC PARK, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 53 LEWIS LANE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO REINSTATE THE EXCESSIVE WATER SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR WATER BILLS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE BELIEVES AN INSPECTION SHOULD BE DONE TO PROVE THAT THE WATER DID NOT TRAVEL THROUGH OUR SEWER SYSTEM. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS AND AGREED WITH HER. COMMISSIONER STOREY SECONDED COMMISSIONER COCKRUM’ S MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00422 TO FENIEX INDUSTRIES FOR A REPLACEMENT LIGHT BAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,383.83. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOVING THE SUCCESSFUL CADET CANDIDATE, RIVER STILLEY, FROM CADET TO PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER STATUS. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT MR. STILLEY HAS COMPLETED ALL THAT WAS REQUIRED OF HIM AS A CADET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADDITION OF TYLER JENNINGS, DAKOTAH REED, AND ANDREW KELLY TO THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER ROSTER. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT MR. JENNINGS IS A RETIRED UNITED STATES MARINE FIREFIGHTER, MR. REED IS A CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTER HAVING PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN BENTON, AND MR. KELLY IS A TRANSPLANT FROM THE PINCKNEYVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER KAYS SECONDED COMMISSIONER STOREY’ S MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR OCTOBER 25, 2024 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $77,284.65 AND THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,7119.70 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $103,004.35. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISCONTINUATION OF THE USE OF ILLINOIS E-PAY FOR WATER PAYMENTS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
CITY ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNION HAVE REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING THIS EVENING AND SO HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS ITEM. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (B) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF FOP AGREEMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
UNDER UPDATES FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR MESSERSMITH PRESENTED PASSION TO ACTION AND BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS WITH CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE FEELS THAT THE VOLUNTEER GROUPS HAVE SPARKED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND HE WANTED TO STATE HOW MUCH HE APPRECIATED ALL THEY DO. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED THAT WE HAVE HAD WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENING IN BENTON. HE STATED THAT FOOTBALL IS HEADED TO THE PLAYOFFS, GOLF GOT 2ND IN STATE, CROSS COUNTRY ARE REGIONAL CHAMPS, AND WE JUST HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL FALL-O-WEEN EVENT THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACQUISIT5ION OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 503 NORTH MCLEANSBORO STREET. ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA PROVIDED THE COUNCIL WITH PICTURES OF THIS DILAPIDATED PROPERTY THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO THE CITY. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 503 NORTH MCLEANSBORO STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE A MOTION APPROVING ENTERING INTO A GRANT WRITING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HEARTLAND MEDIA MANAGEMENT. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE SOMEONE EMPLOYED FOR THE CITY THAT HAS THE TIME NEEDED TO SEARCH FOR AND WRITE GRANTS AND THIS WOULD SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT AS IT IS NOW, THE CITY IS LEAVING A LOT OF MONEY FROM GRANTS OUT THERE THAT WE COULD BE PUTTING TO GOOD USE. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ENTERING INTO A GRANT WRITING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HEARTLAND MEDIA MANAGEMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED COLE BUCHANAN AND PARKER JOHNSON, STUDENTS FROM BENTON CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL, TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE REASON THEY ARE ASKING FOR A SPONSORSHIP FOR THE EDGE PROGRAM. MR. JOHNSON AND MR. BUCHANAN STATED THAT THEY, ALONG WITH OTHER STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, ARE IN THE EDGE PROGRAM THIS YEAR. THEY DESCRIBED THE PROGRAM AND WHAT IT DOES FOR THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS. MR. JOHNSON AND MR. BUCHANAN ASKED FOR A SPONSORSHIP OF $750 FROM THE CITY TO HELP WITH SETTING UP THEIR BUSINESSES FOR THE CLASS. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $750.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ABSTAINED AS HE IS THE INSTRUCTOR FOR THIS PROGRAM.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE IS SO HAPPY TO SEE ALL THE LEADERSHIP COMING FROM OUR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS. SHE STATED THAT HER “HEART IS EXPLODING” FROM ALL OF THIS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED COMMISSIONER KAYS WHEN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WILL BE PAID OFF. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE PAYOFF DATE IS MAY 1 OF 2038. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE CITY IS MONEY AHEAD BY PAYING THE BOND OFF THE WAY IT IS SCHEDULED BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST RATE WE ARE GETTING. MR. CARTER ALSO THANKED COMMISSIONER COCKRUM FOR REINSTATING THE EXCESSIVE WATER LOSS SEWER ADJUSTMENTS.
JUDY COURTER ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH SCOUTS FOR MANY YEARS. SHE STATED THAT IT TAKES $85 TO REGISTER A SCOUT AND $400 FOR THEM TO GO TO CAMP. SHE STATED THAT IT IS DIFFICULT FOR MOST OF THE KIDS TO COME UP WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY. SHE WANTED THE COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT OUR LOCAL SCOUT GROUP HAS WON A REGIONAL AWARD FOR SCOUTING 3 TIMES AND THAT IT TAKES 300 HOURS PER YEAR PER SCOUT TO DO THIS. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED MS. COURTER TO PLEASE APPROACH THE COUNCIL WITH NEEDS THEY MAY HAVE SO THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
6:00 P.M.
