MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY OCTOBER 27, 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. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 13, 2014 REGULAR MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON HIS TRIP TO CHICAGO. HE STATED THAT HE DEALT WITH ALL THE FEDERAL AND STATE PEOPLE AND THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE WANTED THE CITIZENS OF BENTON TO KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO ACQUIRE FUNDS. HE ALSO STATED THAT GARY FORBY GOT THIS PROCESS STARTED WITH A GRANT FOR $740,000.00. HE STATED THAT THE CITY HAS $2,000,000.00 OF ITS OWN MONEY.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #14-10 FOR A 2-WAY STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF EADS AND SCOTT STREET FOR THE NORTH AND SOUTH BOUND TRAFFIC ON EADS STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #14-11 FOR A 20-MPH SPEED LIMIT SIGN ON SCOTT STREET ON SOUTH MCLEANSBORO STREET TO WILSON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. 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 OCTOBER 9, 2014 THROUGH OCTOBER 22, 2014. THE DEPARTMENT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 188 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE. THESE INCLUDED 8 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND 28 TRAFFIC STOPS, 11 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 3 THEFT REPORTS, AND SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED A TOTAL OF 48 WRITTEN REPORTS.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 13, 2014 THROUGH OCTOBER 27, 2014. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 21 INCIDENTS WHICH, 4 MEDICAL, 10 FALSE ALARMS, 2 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS WITH FIRE, 2 STRUCTURE FIRES, 1 ILLEGAL BURN, AND 2 HAZMAT CALLS. ALL 3 FIRE ENGINES ARE IN SERVICE. THE EMERGENCY STORM SIRENS ARE 100% IN SERVICE.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED HE HAD A REQUEST FROM THE POLICE CHIEF TO SEND 2 POLICE OFFICERS, CHRIS FUNKHOUSER AND MIKE MCDANIEL, TO TRAINING FOR 2 DAYS IN URBANA, ILLINOIS. THIS IS PERTAINING TO THE DAYTIME/NIGHTTIME CAMERAS FOR THE INVESTIGATORS. COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED A PURCHASE ORDER FOR 2 DAYS TRAINING FOR OFFICER FUNKHOUSER AND OFFICER MCDANIEL IN THE AMOUNT OF $600.00 TO BE PAID OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING FUND. 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 HAD ENGINE #803 REFURBISHED. HE STATED THAT THE WORK COULD HAVE EXTENDED THE LIFE 10-15 YEARS. THIS FIRE TRUCK WAS ORDERED UNDER FIRE CHIEF PAUL ROGERS. COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO DEDICATE ENGINE #803 IN MEMORY OF FORM FIRE CHIEF PAUL ROGERS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THERE ARE TIMES THE COUNCIL MEETING HAS TO BE EXTENDED TO PAY BILLS. COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT STARTING THIS MONTH, ALL BILLS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK’S OFFICE BY THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH IN ORDER TO BE PAID. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO NOT HAVE TO EXTEND THE MEETINGS FOR PAYING BILLS.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 10/24/2014, TOTAL GENERAL FUND PAYROLL OF $56,775.16, WATER AND SEWER OF $27,194.12, FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $83,969.28. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PAYROLL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED SEWER ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS FOR RONNIE WALDEN OF 305 N MCLEANSBORO, RICHARD DALE OF 414 LAMBERSON, AND SETH EDWARDS OF 914 N MCLEANSBORO. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS FOR SEWER ADJUSTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO DENY THE SEWER ADJUSTMENT FROM WILLIAM YOUNG AT 506 PUBLIC SQUARE DUE TO THE TOILET RUNNING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT IN THE PACKETS THERE WAS A PAMPHLET FROM ALPHA HOME HEALTHCARE FOR A PREFERRED VENDOR PROGRAM. THE MAYOR STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH THE OWNER AND GO OVER THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THIS PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER STATED THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 25 PARTICIPANTS AT THE FLU CLINIC AT CITY HALL. THE PROVIDER WAS PLEASED WITH THIS AND IS WILLING TO PUT ON A FLU CLINIC HERE AT CITY HALL AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
UNDER NEW BUSINESS MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THE RESIDENTIAL AGGREGATION IS EXPIRING NEXT MARCH AND THE BROKERS ARE READY TO START THIS PROCESS. AT THIS POINT SIMEC AND SELECT ARE APPROACHING THE CITY.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD A LIST OF PROPERTIES IN THEIR PACKETS. THESE PROPERTIES ALL HAVE LIENS PLACED ON THEM BY THE CITY. THE COUNTY IS SELLING THESE PROPERTIES AND GIVING THE NEW OWNER A TAX DEED. IF THE OWNER THEN COMES UP TO CITY HALL TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT, THEY CANNOT OBTAIN THIS BECAUSE OF THE LIENS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE PROPERTY. THE MAYOR ASKED IF THE COUNCIL WAS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE FOR A LESSER AMOUNT ON THE LIENS AND GET THEM BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS. THE MAYOR ASKED THE COUNCIL TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND HE STATED HE WOULD PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR A LATER MEETING.
UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, DON STOREY STATED HE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HUNTING ON THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY AT THE AIRPORT. THE MAYOR STATED THAT HE WENT THROUGH IDNR TO GET A 90-DAY PERMIT FOR HUNTING THE DEER AT THE AIRPORT. THE DEER ARE GETTING ON THE RUNWAYS AND BECOMING A NUISANCE. THE GENTLEMAN DOING THE HUNTING IS FROM EWING AND MAYOR KRAFT STATED HE EATS EVERYTHING HE KILLS. MR. STOREY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITIZENS OF BENTON GET A CHANCE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THIS COULD BE ROTATED AROUND IF THERE WAS INTEREST.
JULIE HUBBLER STATED THAT HER HUSBAND CALLED SENATOR ENYART’S OFFICE. THE OFFICE STAFF ASSURED HIM THAT THEY WERE DOING ALL THEY COULD TO HELP BENTON.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
TIME: 7:40 P.M.
