{"id":6124,"date":"2024-02-20T20:34:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T20:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/?p=6124"},"modified":"2024-02-20T20:34:57","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T20:34:57","slug":"city-council-meeting-minutes-january-22-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/?p=6124","title":{"rendered":"City Council Meeting Minutes &#8212; January 22, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JANUARY 22, 2024 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER KAYS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE ABSENT.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2024, HELD AT 5 P.M.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA SECONDED THIS MOTION. \u00a0VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVED THE CONTINUED CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 12, 2024 AT 9:30 A.M.\u00a0\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PARTICIPATION IN THE COZY CLUB PROGRAM THROUGH RSP HEATING AND COOLING FOR THE CITY HALL AND TWIN OAKS BUILDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $24.95\/MONTH PER SYSTEM.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, NO POOL ADJUSTMENTS, AND NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PARTIAL PAY ESTIMATE #1 TO WIGGS EXCAVATING FOR THE 8\u201d WATER MAIN PROJECT ON PETROFF ROAD IN THE AMOUNT OF $290,005.20.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER STOREY, ATTORNEY THOMAS MALKOVICH HANDLED THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT.\u00a0 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PURCHASE ORDERS, UPDATES, OR DEPARTMENT REPORTS.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD FIND A LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM OFFICER ROGER BRENT ERTHALL THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO CHIEF CHRIS FUNKHOUSER.\u00a0 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS RESIGNATION.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION, WITH REGRET, TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF OFFICER ROGER BRENT ERTHALL EFFECTIVE MAY 24, 2024.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 01\/19\/2024 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,976.68 AND WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,949.10 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $111,925.78.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR MONTHLY BILLS FOR THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A CATASTROPHIC EVENT POLICY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.\u00a0 THIS POLICY ESTABLISHES UNIFORM GUIDELINES FOR PROVIDING PAID TIME OFF TO EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BENTON FOR ABSENCES RELATED TO A CATASTROPHIC CASUALTY LOSS SUFFERED DUE TO A FIRE, NATURAL DISASTER, OR TERRORIST ATTACK.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES FOR THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>IN THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR MESSERSMITH, ATTORNEY MALKOVICH HANDLED THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00673 TO ALLEGION FOR A 5-YEAR SERVICE CONTRACT FOR THE AUTOMATIC DOORS AT CITY HALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $116.00 PER YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF $1,160.00.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE SUNDAY LICENSE OPTIONS.\u00a0 MAYOR MESSERSMITH WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW TWO OPTIONS FOR SUNDAY LIQUOR PERMITS.\u00a0 FIRST OPTION WILL BE TO PAY $1,200.00 AND BE ALLOWED TO BE OPEN EVERY SUNDAY.\u00a0 THE SECOND OPTION IS TO PAY $50.00 PER SUNDAY YOU WISH TO BE OPEN.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO AMEND THE SUNDAY LICENSE OPTIONS.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD FIND A LETTER FROM THE LADY\u2019S AUXILIARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION IN THEIR PACKETS.\u00a0 THE LADY\u2019S AUXILIARY HAS ASKED FOR A DONATION OF $500.00 OR WHATEVER PLEASES THE COUNCIL TO PURCHASE NEW FLAGS TO PLACE AROUND TOWN.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO DONATE $500.00 TO THE LADY\u2019S AUXILIARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION FOR THE PURCHASE OR FLAGS.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT WE NEEDED A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (E) DISCUSSION AND\/OR APPROVAL OF HIRING CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE CITY WILL BE DONATING TWO GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR WEEKDAY RENTALS TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THEIR ANNUAL DINNER SILENT AUCTION.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>NO OLD BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>NO NEW BUSINESS.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THERE WAS A GOOD CROWD AT THE BENTON INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THIS WAS GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON MULTIPLE LEAKS AROUND TOWN.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.\u00a0\u00a0 SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 3.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>5:15 P.M.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JANUARY 22, 2024 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS. &nbsp; COMMISSIONER KAYS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/?p=6124\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]"},"categories":[2,28],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6124"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6124"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6125,"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6124\/revisions\/6125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}