MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MARCH 24, 2014 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET, BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR KRAFT CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND DIRECTED ROLL TO BE CALLED. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO RECORD THE MEETINGS HIMSELF TO SAVE ON HIS PAPERWORK. HE STATED HE TALKED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS MATTER AS WELL AS HE GOT AN OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. ATTORNEY TOM MALKOVICH STATED THAT THIS WAS GENERALLY ACCEPTED DURING A REGULAR MEETING, BUT THAT IF THERE WAS A CLOSED SESSION OR A HEARING, IT COULD NOT BE RECORDED. COMMISSIONER BURNETT ACKNOWLEDGED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH’S COMMENTS AND STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL USE.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT HE DISAPPROVED OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AND STATED THAT HE FELT THAT THEY SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE APPROVAL. COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO DENY APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF MARCH 10, 2014 AND TO AMEND THE MINUTES. MAYOR KRAFT ASKED FOR THE REASON BEHIND THE DENIAL. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT THE MINUTES DID NOT INCLUDE THE RESEARCH THAT HE HAD DONE ON THE MATTER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RANKING SYSTEM. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE MINUTES TO SHOW THAT HE DENIED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S REQUEST FOR RANKING BASED ON HIS RESEARCH WITH IFPA, FEMA, AND NIMS AS WELL AS CITY ORDINANCES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER MILLER ABSTAINED.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED MEETING ON MARCH 14, 2014. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE ABSTAINED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT PRESENT AT THAT MEETING.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION FOR PERMISSION TO SEEK BIDS FOR A NEW PICKUP TRUCK FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO UNRESTRICT THE RESTRICTED ROAD FUNDS FOR DUQUOIN STREET AND TO INCLUDE MADISON STREET FROM JOPLIN TO COPPLE STREETS. THE AMOUNT IS APPROXIMATELY $43,000.00. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #002023 FOR 454.4 GALLONS FROM SOUTHERN FS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1734.85. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #002021 TO MES ILLINOIS FOR TURNOUT GEAR FOR AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE MARK MCMANAWAY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1612.95. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER # 000973 TO EMERY COMMUNICATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1500.00 FOR STORM SIREN MAINTENANCE IN 2014 AND 2015. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT THE COST FOR 2014 WAS $900, BUT IF WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT FOR 2015 AS WELL THE COST FOR 2015 WOULD ONLY BE $600.00. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED WE WILL ABSOLUTELY NEED THE SERVICE IN 2015 EITHER WAY SO THE BEST DEAL IS FOR THE 2 YEAR CONTRACT. THIS INCLUDES REGULAR MAINTENANCE WITH INSPECTIONS THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY, AND THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER. ANY WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS A REPAIR OR MALFUNCTION WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE. COMMISSIONER WYANT SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR MARCH 6, 2014 THROUGH MARCH 20, 2014. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 178 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE INCLUDING 13 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, 33 TRAFFIC STOPS, 4 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 7 DISORDERLY CONDUCT CALLS, 3 THEFT REPORTS, AND SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED A TOTAL OF 63 WRITTEN REPORTS TO INCLUDE 10 INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY INVESTIGATORS.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 14-02 FOR THE BENTON/WEST CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REND LAKE PARADE ON 05/10/14 FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 14-03 FOR THE BENTON/WEST CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAR SHOW ON 09/06/14 FROM 4 P.M. TO 9 P.M. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS NOT IN HIS BOX WHEN HE CAME IN TO PICK HIS FOLDER UP. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD PRESENT THIS AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 03/28/14 FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,504.56, FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,225.82, FOR THE AUXILIARY FIRE AND POLICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,905.40, AND FOR THE AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $850.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $84,485.78. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR BILLY MELVIN OF 604 N MCLEANSBORO STREET, LINDA ALVAREZ OF 1212 E GRAYSON, CAROLYN COOKSTON OF 218 ELECTION, AND JOYCE ATCHISON OF 208 S DUQUOIN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT AMEREN IS GOING TO BE CUTTING TREES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HE STATED THAT THE DOCUMENTS SHOWING THE LOCATIONS ARE IN THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THE CITY HAD RECEIVED FOUR BIDS FOR DEMOLITION OF 1002 E WEBSTER. THREE OF THE FOUR BIDS CAME SEALED AND ONE CAME OVER FAX AND SO WE WILL NOT USE THE BID OVER FAX AS IT WAS NOT A SEALED BID. COMMISSIONER MILLER OPENED A BID FROM AP EXCAVATING FOR $4,800.00. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE OPENED A BID FROM JOPLIN SALVAGE FOR $2,950.00. MAYOR KRAFT OPENED A BID FROM EARTH SERVICES FOR $5,236.00. THE MAYOR STATED THAT THE CITY WOULD ACCEPT THE LOW BID IF IT MET THE BID CRITERIA.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT WE HAD REQUESTED BIDS FOR AN ARCHITECT AND THAT WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED WAS RFQS. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT WE COULD DO. ONE WOULD BE TO USE AN ARCHITECT THAT WE ARE NORMALLY ACCUSTOMED TO USING, WHICH WE HAVE ONE, OR WE COULD ASK FOR RFQS FROM THE FIRMS THAT SENT BIDS. WE WOULD THEN LOOK OVER ALL THE RFQS AND GRADE THEM USING A NUMBER SYSTEM. YOU WOULD THEN PICK ONE BY QUALIFICATIONS. THE MAYOR REQUESTED WE TABLE THIS MATTER UNTIL A FURTHER TIME.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014, WE WILL BE RUNNING A TRIAL RUN ON THE DIRECT DEPOSIT SOFTWARE FOR TWO EMPLOYEES. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT IF THERE ARE NO GLITCHES IN THE SYSTEM, WE WILL HAVE ALL EMPLOYEES THAT REQUESTED DIRECT DEPOSIT ON THE FIRST PAYROLL IN APRIL.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE SPOKE ON THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH THE ROOF. HE STATED WE HAVE LOOKED INTO OPTIONS FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM INCLUDING HIRING AN ARCHITECT TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE BUILDING. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT MAYOR KRAFT CONTACTED A CONTRACTOR, BUT NEVER HEARD BACK FROM HIM. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE THEN CONTACTED BIEBEL ROOFING WHO CAME TO LOOK AT THE ROOF. BIEBEL ROOFING STATED THEY COULD MOP THE ENTIRE ROOF AND IT WOULD LAST APPROXIMATELY 1-2 YEARS FOR THE COST OF $8,000.00. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A BID OF $8,000.00 TO MOP THE ENTIRE ROOF OF CITY HALL FROM BIEBEL ROOFING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE CARPET CLEANING OF CITY HALL WILL BE DONE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014. THE COST FOR THIS IS $210.00. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO GETTING THIS DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS, POSSIBLY EVERY 6 MONTHS, TO CUT DOWN ON THE DIRT AND DUST IN CITY HALL.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED HE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT COMP TIME. HE STATED THIS WAS SPECIFICALLY PERTAINING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT THE STATE STATUTE SAID COMP TIME WAS DEFINED AS ANY TIME WORKED BY OR CREDITED TO AN EMPLOYEE THAT COUNTS TO ANY MINIMUM WORK TIME REQUIREMENT IMPOSED ON HIM OR AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT HE DID NOT OBJECT TO COMP TIME, BUT HE WONDERED IF THERE WAS A LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT OF COMP TIME THAT COULD BE ACCUMULATED. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED HE WOULD BE SPECIFIC, HE STATED HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE FIRE CHIEF. IN THE FIRE CHIEF’S CONTRACT IT STATES THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO COMP TIME, BUT COMMISSIONER BURNETT WANTS TO KNOW HOW MUCH HE CAN ACCUMULATE. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT THE FIRE CHIEF WAS ABIDING BY THE CONTRACT, BUT HE WAS CONCERNED AS TO IF ANYONE IS KEEPING TRACK OF THE AMOUNT OF COMP TIME. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO MAKE A REQUEST TO THE FIRE CHIEF THAT HE PUT HIS COMP TIME IN WRITING SO THAT THAT HE MAY SIGN OFF ON IT. COMMISSIONER MILLER ASKED IF THE FIRE CHIEF HAD A TIME SHEET TO FILL OUT LIKE THE REST OF THE FIREMEN HAVE. COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT THE FIRE CHIEF DID NOT HAVE A TIME SHEET. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO MONITOR THE USE OF TIME.
MITCH GARRETT FROM SHAWNEE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WAS AT THE COUNCIL MEETING AND GAVE A REPORT ON THE EDA PROJECT, PETROFF/CENTRAL STREET. HE STATED THAT THE PROJECT IS WELL UNDER BUDGET. HE STATED THAT THEY DID AN AUDIT ON THE MFT PROGRAM AND HAD TO GIVE THE CITY A CHECK FOR $4,395.00 DUE TO A DOUBLE BILLING ISSUE. HE STATED THAT THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING PERMISSION SOON TO OBTAIN BIDS FOR THE CDAP WATER CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN GRANTS. THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF REPLACING THE EXISTING LINES NEAR THE HIGH SCHOOL. MR. GARRETT SAID THEY WOULD COORDINATE DATES WITH STEVE SHOULTZ AND RONNIE BAUMGARTE ON THIS PROJECT. HE STATED THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN PROPOSALS TO STEVE SHOULTZ TO UPDATE CITY HALL’S WATER AND SEWER MAPS AS WELL AS DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GROUND WATER STORAGE TANKS. MR. GARRETT SAID HE APPRECIATES THE CITY OF BENTON USING THE SERVICES OF SHAWNEE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
BRAD GESELL WAS IN THE AUDIENCE AND ASKED TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. HE STATED THAT HE WAS IN THE OIL BUSINESS. CHARLIE WILLIAMS WITH THE ILLINOIS PETROLEUM RESOURCES BOARD WAS ALSO IN ATTENDANCE. HE SPOKE ON THE ISSUE OF FRACKING AND OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT. THEY LEFT BROCHURES AND INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
TIME: 8:05 P.M.
