MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING OF THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY MARCH 23, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 500 WEST MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.
COMMISSIONER MILLER CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ROLL WAS TAKEN. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, BURNETT, AND MILLER. MAYOR KRAFT WAS ABSENT.
IN MAYOR KRAFT’S ABSENCE, FINANCE COMMISSIONER DENNIS MILLER LED THE MEETING.
COMMISSIONER MILLER INVITED JENNIFER PARKHILL FROM REPUBLIC SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. MS. PARKHILL STATED THAT SHE REPRESENTED REPUBLIC SERVICES, FORMERLY CWI AND MIDWEST WASTE. MS. PARKHILL STATED THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD THE CITY’S WASTE REMOVAL CONTRACT WAS SOON TO EXPIRE AND WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID FOR THE NEXT CONTRACT. THE COUNCIL TOLD MS. PARKHILL THAT A DECISION ON WASTE REMOVAL CONTRACTS WOULD BE MADE AFTER THE NEW COUNCIL HAS BEEN ELECTED.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 9, 2015 COUNCIL MEETING AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND ACCEPT THE CONTINUED MINUTES OF MARCH 13, 2015 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #002578 TO SPECTRA TECH FOR LINING A MANHOLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,206.25. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED A LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER FROM JAMES KENNETH SWOFFORD TO NATHAN AND AMY MINOR FOR LOTS #102 AND #103 AT LAKE BENTON. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED A LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER FROM KIM MITCHELL TO THE CITY OF BENTON FOR LOTS #2 AND #3 AT LAKE BENTON. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001373 TO BEST ONE TIRE FOR 2 BACKHOE TIRES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,190.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR MARCH 9, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 22, 2015. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD 4 FIRST RESPONDER CALLS, 5 SERVICE CALLS, 4 FALSE ALARMS, 3 STRUCTURE FIRES, AND 1 BRUSH FIRE FOR A TOTAL OF 17 CALLS. THE REPORT STATED THAT THERE WAS 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER LOSS. ALL ENGINES ARE IN SERVICE WITH REPAIRS COMPLETED. THE EMERGENCY STORM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IS OPERATIONAL WITH NO MALFUNCTIONS.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR MARCH 5, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 18, 2015. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 182 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE. THESE INCLUDED 10 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, 14 TRAFFIC STOPS, 10 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 6 THEFT REPORTS, AND SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED A TOTAL OF 51 WRITTEN REPORTS.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #000907 TO KBC GRAPHIX FOR LETTERING ON THE TAHOE, TRUCK, AND TRAILER IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,125.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #000908 TO AMERICAN TEST CENTER FOR A LADDER TEST ON ENGINE #805 IN THE AMOUNT OF $970.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED RESOLUTION #15-05 FOR THE REND LAKE WATER FESTIVAL PARADE AND CELEBRATION TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE. COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED PAYROLL DATED 03/27/2015 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,117.95, FOR WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,847.16, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $850.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $84,815.11. COMMISSIONER MIILER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PAYROLL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT HE HAD AN ITEM FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IN THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR GARY KRAFT, COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED RESOLUTION #15-06 IN SUPPORT OF THE METHAMPHETAMINE TREATMENT PROGRAM AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. COMMISSIONER MILLER ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #15-06 IN SUPPORT OF THE METHAMPHETAMINE TREATMENT PROGRAM AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MIILER PRESENTED RESOLUTION #15-07 TO ALLOCATE AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $22,930.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR THE SELECTED ARCHITECTS PROOPSED SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THE CITY HALL PROJECT. COMMISSIONER MILLER ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION BE MADE. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #15-07 TO ALLOCATE AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $22,930.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR THE SELECTED ARCHITECTS PROOPSED SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THE CITY HALL PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD TABLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION OF FIRE DEPARTMENT LABOR RELATIONS ISSUE.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER BURNETT PUBICALLY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE NEWSPAPER TO DO INDEPENDENT INTERVIEWS WITH THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS TO INVESTIGATE THE CLAIMS MADE IN THE “NO CONFIDENCE” LETTER PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT TO THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THERE IS A DRAFT PREPARED OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE FOR VIEWING BY THE CITY COMMISSIONERS OR MAYOR.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, CHRIS LOWERY, FROM REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BRADLEY’S OFFICE, STATED THAT REPRESENTATIVE BRADLEY WILL BE HOLDING SATELLITE OFFICE HOURS AT THE BENTON CITY HALL ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015 FROM 8:30 AM. TO 11:30 A.M. HE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO BRING ANY CONCERNS THEY HAD TO DISCUSS.
RICHARD DALE ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE NEW SEWER PLANT TO COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. MR. DALE ALSO STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS COMPOSED OF COMPETENT, HARD WORKING FIRE FIGHTERS AND THAT HE ALSO BELIEVED COMMISSIONER BURNETT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN HIS POSITION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM (B) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE AND/OR PENDING LITIGATIONS. SECOND BY COMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
7:30 P.M.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGRATE MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
7:35 P.M.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #15-08 CLOSING EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FROM 07/14/2014 TO 02/09/2015. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND COMMISSIONER MILLER. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, BURNETT, AND MILLER. NAYS: 0.
TIME: 7:40 P.M.
