MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, JULY 8, 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 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 MONDAY JUNE 24, 2024 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WILL BE SCHEDULING AN INSPECTION OF THE DUCT WORK AT CITY HALL.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00240 TO KEY EQUIPMENT FOR 2 SOLENOID VALVES IN THE AMOUNT OF $686.80. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00348 TO ENERGY CULVERT FOR PLASTIC TILES, ADAPTERS, AND BANDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,800.50. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00349 TO ENERGY CULVERT FOR TILE AND BANDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,129.32. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE POOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING HOMES.
- BAYLESS @ 311 NORTH BROWN
- THOMAS @ 1352 WHISPER WAY
- MILLIGAN @ 725 OLD ORCHARD DRIVE
- ATCHISON @ 403 EAST BOND
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER KAYS ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO DENY THE POOL ADJUSTMENT FOR ZETTLER AT 202 EAST CAPITAL STREET AS IT DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER KAYS ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THERE WERE NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ENTERING INTO A PLANNED MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH CUMMINS FOR THE GENERATOR AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE GUYS FROM BOTH OF HIS DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY WITH ALL OF THE ACCIDENTS AND SUCH.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR JULY 5, 2024 FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,718.38 AND WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $22,019.62 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $97,738.00. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED HE HAD NO BILLS OR PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE BCHS SRO AGREEMENT HAS EXPIRED AND THAT A NEW AGREEMENT IS BEING WORKED ON AT THIS TIME.
CITY ATTORNEY MALKOVICH HAD NO UPDATES.
IN UPDATES MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BCHS CHEERLEADERS FOR PLACING THE FLAGS DOWN MAIN STREET FOR THE 4TH OF JULY AND HE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE BENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR REMOVING THEM AFTER THE HOLIDAY.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAS NO PURCHASE ORDERS TO APPROVE.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT JOHN DAUGHERTY AS THE CITY OF BENTON TREASURER. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF JOHN DAUGHERTY AS THE CITY OF BENTON TREASURER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT JOHN DAUGHERTY TO THE POLICE PENSION BOARD. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF JOHN DAUGHERTY TO THE CITY OF BENTON POLICE PENSION BOARD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT JOHN DAUGHERTY TO THE FIRE PENSION BOARD. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF JOHN DAUGHERTY TO THE CITY OF BENTON FIRE PENSION BOARD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO SUSPEND PHASE 1 OF THE 1-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT AT THIS TIME. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO SUSPEND PHASE 1 OF THE I-57 INTERCHANGE PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO DISCUSS ITEM (G) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF THE PETITION TO VACATE A PORTION OF ROBIN DRIVE MADE BY RICHARD DARE AND AVA DARE WITH THE CITY OF BENTON. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT IT WOULD BE HIS RECOMMENDATION TO PROCEED WITH VACATING A PORTION OF ROBIN DRIVE AS STATED IN THE PETITION MADE BY RICHARD DARE AND AVA DARE. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT WHILE AT THE IML ANNUAL CONFERENCE LAST YEAR, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN CALCATERRA MET WITH RETAIL STRATEGIES, LLC. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MR. CALCATERRA TO ATTEND THEIR RETAIL ACADEMY FOR CONSULTING SERVICES AND RETAIL DATA KNOWLEDGE. THE COST OF THIS ACADEMY IS $25,000.00. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO REDIRECT SOME OF THE FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR THE I-57 PROJECT TO PAY FOR THIS ACADEMY. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THESE FUNDS WERE MEANT TO HELP WITH RETAIL GROWTH AND HE FEELS THAT THIS ACADEMY WILL BE USED FOR RETAIL GROWTH AS WELL. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THERE ARE MONIES IN OTHER FUNDS THAT COULD ALSO GO TOWARDS PAYING THIS TUITION. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BENTON AND RETAIL STRATEGIES, LLC FOR CONSULTING SERVICES AND RETAIL DATA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
IN OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE AUDIT NO RESULTS YET. COMMISSIONER KAYS ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS REQUESTED AN INVENTORY FROM ALL DEPARTMENTS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
5:20 P.M.
