MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2024 AT 8:30 A.M. IN THE CAMPBELL BUILDING LOCATED AT 901 PUBLIC SQUARE BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND DIRECTED ROLL TO BE CALLED. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR THE ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY DECEMBER 9, 2024 AT 5 P.M. IN THE CAMPBELL BUILDING LOCATED AT 901 PUBLIC SQUARE IN BENTON, ILLINOIS. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.
IN UPDATES, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD SOME CITIZENS INTERESTED IN PLACING PERSONALIZED BRICKS AT CAPITAL PARK. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAS BEEN RESEARCHING THIS TOPIC.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00860 TO AMAZON FOR A POST MOUNT MAILBOX AND A POST MOUNT FOR THE MAILBOX IN THE AMOUNT OF $224.98 TO BE USED AS A DROP BOX FOR WATER PAYMENTS AT THE CAMPBELL BUILDING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THERE WERE NO POOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THERE WERE NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, UPDATES, OR DEPARTMENT REPORTS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED RECEIVED A WRITTEN SET OF STANDARDS OF OPERATION GUIDELINES ON THE BENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVING A FACILITY ANIMAL. THESE GUIDELINES INCLUDED DISCUSSION OF INSURANCE, GROOMING, STATION UPKEEP, FOOD PURCHASING, AND VET BILLS. THE GUIDELINES STATED THAT THE CITY AND ITS ANNUAL BUDGET WILL INCUR NO COST FOR MAINTENANCE, UPKEEP, OR MEDICAL OF THE BENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICE ANIMAL. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALLOWING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HOUSE A FACILITY ANIMAL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED POLICE CHIEF CHRIS FUNKHOUSER TO ADDRESS THE FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEM PRESENTATION. CHIEF FUNKHOUSER STATED THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD BE INSTALLED ON DUQUOIN AND WEST MAIN, ROUTE 37 AND ILLINOIS AVENUE, BAILEY LANE AND NORTH MAIN, AND EAST MAIN AND MCLEANSBORO STREETS. THE CAMERAS WOULD BE USED TO IDENTIFY LICENSE PLATES AND CARS THAT HAVE BEEN UPLOADED INTO THE SYSTEM AS BEING SEARCHED FOR. A CAMERA WILL ALSO BE PLACED AT CERTAIN CITY PROPERTIES. THE SYSTEM WILL COST $21,235.50 INITIALLY AND THEN ANOTHER $15,000.00 AT A LATER DATE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL, FOR DECEMBER 20, 2024, AS PRESENTED. PAYROLL TOTALS FOR THE GENERAL FUND WERE $89,315.44 AND FOR WATER AND SEWER WERE $25,015.19 FOR A COMBINED TOTAL OF $114,330.63. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE GOAL TO GET EVERYONE ONBOARDED TO ADP IS FEBRUARY 1, 2024. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT TIME IN THE TREASURER’S OFFICE WILL BE BETTER UTILIZED WITH THIS TRANSITION.
CITY ATTORNEY MALKOVICH HAD NO UPDATES.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE CONCRETE AT MALKOVICH PARK HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH PRESENTED A PURCHASE ORDER TO N.O.F. INC, FOR 3 PEDESTAL TABLES IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,110.00 FOR MALKOVICH PARK. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO ADDRESS ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AN EXTENSION OF THE FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT ONE 1 BUSINESS TOOK PART IN THE PROGRAM LAST YEAR, HART AND CANTRELL LAW. THERE HAS BEEN $40,000.00 SET ASIDE IN THE DOWNTOWN TIF FOR 2024 WITH ONLY $5,000.00 BEING USED SO HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO ROLL THE REMAINING $35,000.00 OVER FOR 2025. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT IF YOU HAVEN’T, YOU SHOULD GO SEE THE RANGERS PLAY BASKETBALL. HE STATED THAT THERE IS A HIGHLIGHT REEL THAT RUNS ON THE COURT AND IS VERY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE. HE STATED THAT GIRLS ARE HOSTING A CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT AND THE BOYS WILL BE PLAYING IN THE DUSTER THOMAS CLASSIC AT PINCKNEYVILLE.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
8:46 A.M.
