MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY OCTOBER 23, 2023 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.<\/p>\n
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MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS\u00b8 COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY OCTOBER 9, 2023, HELD AT 5 P.M.\u00a0 SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. \u00a0VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2023, HELD AT 8:30 A.M.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH ABSTAINED.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, POOL ADJUSTMENTS, OR LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PARTIAL PAY ESTIMATE #2 TO WIGGS EXCAVATING, INC. FOR THE DUQUOIN STREET FORCE MAIN IN THE AMOUNT OF $69,242.40.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FINAL PAY ESTIMATE TO MIDWEST EXCAVATING FOR PUMP HOUSE RENOVATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $306,860.16.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THE RENOVATIONS ARE STATE OF THE ART AND WILL ALLOW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CRAIG MILES TO BE ABLE TO RUN IT FROM AN APPLICATION ON HIS TELEPHONE.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THE WHISPER WAY MILLING AND OVERLAY PROJECT IS SET TO BEGIN IN THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEKS OF NOVEMBER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM ALSO STATED THAT THE WASTENA STREET PROJECT IS ON TRACK.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00117 TO THIN LINE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR 1 CUSTOM SIGNALS RAPTOR RP-1 POLICE RADAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,555.38.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA PRESENTED A DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DATES OF 09\/01\/2023 TO 09\/30\/2023.\u00a0 DURING THIS TIME THERE WERE 538 TOTAL DISPATCHED CALLS WHICH INCLUDED 21 ALARM CALLS, 3 AMBULANCE CALLS, 1 ASSAULT AND BATTERY CALL, 28 DISORDERLY CONDUCT CALLS, 16 DOMESTIC DISPUTE CALLS, 3 FIGHTS IN PROGRESS, 11 JUVENILE PROBLEM CALLS, 1 MISSING JUVENILE, 1 PROWLER CALL, 17 SUSPICIOUS PERSON CALLS, 18 THEFT CALLS, 14 WELFARE CHECKS, AND 414 OTHER CALLS.\u00a0 THE REPORT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE 13 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORTS COMPLETED, 32 TRAFFIC STOPS, AND 7 TRAFFIC CITATIONS ISSUES.\u00a0 THERE WERE ALSO 38 CRIMINAL ARRESTS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA PRESENTED A DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DATES OF 09\/01\/2023 TO 09\/30\/2023.\u00a0 THE REPORT INDICATED THAT THERE WERE 60 TOTAL CALLS.\u00a0 THESE CALLS INCLUDED 18 FIRES, 33 RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE CALLS, 6 HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, 3 SERVICE CALLS, 6 GOOD INTENT CALLS, AND 3 FALSE ALARM AND FALL CALLS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED 10\/13\/2023 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $72,895.47 AND WATER AND SEWER IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,576.10 FOR A TOTAL OF $100,471.57.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DO SOME RESEARCH INTO THE AMOUNT PER MONTH USING POSITIVE PAY SERVICES FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WOULD BE AND THEN RETURN TO THE COUNCIL FOR A VOTE ON USING THIS SERVICE.\u00a0 HE STATED THIS IS AN EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION IF THE CITY\u2019S CHECKING ACCOUNTS WERE TO BE HACKED INTO.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $80.00 AND $120.00 A MONTH.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NO UPDATES FROM ATTORNEY MALKOVICH FOR THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE EVENT ON THE SQUARE, FALL-O-WEEN, WENT VERY WELL.\u00a0 HE STATED THAT THIS WAS A TRUE COMMUNITY EVENT.\u00a0 HE STATED THAT PARTICIPATION FROM THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WAS PHENOMENAL AND HE BELIEVES THIS HELPED THE EVENT TO SUCCEED.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED BRIAN CALCATERRA TO PRESENT ITEMS (C) AND (D).\u00a0<\/p>\n
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ITEM (C):\u00a0 ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA STATED THAT IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS CHRIS SCROGGINS HAS COMPLETED THE CITY\u2019S ANNUAL COMPTROLLER\u2019S TIF REPORTS, BUT THIS YEAR DID NOT FEEL LIKE HE WAS ABLE TO DO SOME DUE TO SOME NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS.\u00a0 MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT IN THE PAST MR. SCROGGINS HAS CHARGED THE CITY $600.00 TO FILE THESE REPORTS.\u00a0 MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE MORAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO COMPLETE THE 2022-2023 FY ANNUAL COMPTROLLER\u2019S TIF REPORTS.\u00a0 MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT MORAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STATED THAT THEY THINK THE COST FOR PREPARING THESE REPORTS WILL BE $1,500.00.\u00a0\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE HIRING MORAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO COMPLETE THE ANNUAL COMPTROLLER\u2019S TIF REPORTS FOR FY 2022-2023.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
ITEM (D):\u00a0 ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CREATING AN ORDINANCE REGULATING BILLBOARDS WITHIN THE CORPORATE BOUNDARY.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS\/DUTIES.\u00a0 MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT WE ARE A FEW MONTHS IN TO THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND HE FEELS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A SHIFT AT THIS TIME.\u00a0 MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS OVER PUBLIC PROPERTIES AND PUBLIC SAFETY TO SWITCH DEPARTMENTS.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION AND COMMISSIONER STOREY SECONDED THIS MOTION.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE FELT LIKE COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA AND COMMISSIONER STOREY SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM THIS MOTION AS IT IS OVER THEIR DEPARTMENTS.\u00a0 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ABSTAINED.\u00a0 NAYS: 1.\u00a0\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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THERE WAS NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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IN OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE WAS A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION DUTIES.\u00a0 HE STATED THAT AGAIN, NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE ILLEGAL, BUT THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO KEEP THEIR HANDS ON THE TABLE.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD SWITCH EACH COMMISSIONER TO A NEW DEPARTMENT EVERY 6 MONTHS.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT TONIGHT\u2019S MOVE MADE THE COUNCIL LOOK INEPT AND THAT TONIGHT IS THE FIRST TIME HE HAS FELT KIND OF EMBARRASSED OF THE CITY COUNCIL SINCE BECOMING A MEMBER.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NO NEW BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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IN MATTERS OF FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE POLICY FOR KEEPING EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS IS THE SAME AS WHEN HE WORKED HERE.\u00a0 AT THAT TIME, MR. CARTER STATED, APPLICATIONS WERE KEPT FOR 6 MONTHS.\u00a0 MR. CARTER ALSO STATED THAT HE THINKS BENTON RESIDENTS SHOULD ALWAYS GET THE FIRST SHOT AT JOB OPENINGS.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT BECAUSE OF UNION RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS, THAT ISN\u2019T THE CASE.\u00a0 MR. CARTER THANKED CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG FOR LOOKING UP THE \u201cOPT OUT\u201d POLICY FOR RESIDENTIAL TRASH.\u00a0 MR. CARTER ASKED IF THE COUNCIL WAS PLANNING ON MAKING THE SIZE OF BILLBOARDS DIFFERENT IN THE NEW ORDINANCE OR ELIMINATING BILLBOARDS COMPLETELY.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.\u00a0 SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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5:30 P.M.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY OCTOBER 23, 2023 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS. MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, … Continue reading