MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 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 BEGAN THE MEETING WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN RESPECT TO THE THREE BENTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO DIED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT SEPTEMBER 16, 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS\u00b8 AND COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER STOREY WAS ABSENT.\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 SEPTEMBER 11, 2023.\u00a0 SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER STOREY, ATTORNEY MALKOVICH HANDLED THE PUBLIC PROPERTY REPORT.\u00a0 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THERE WERE NO POOL ADJUSTMENTS, PURCHASE ORDERS, OR LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.\u00a0 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT AS AN UPDATE, HE WANTED THE COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT MONY KASH HAD SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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ATTORNEY MALKOVICH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE ACCEPTING THE RFQ FOR THE WATER MAIN GRANT PROJECT FROM PSC CIVIL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RFQ FROM PSC CIVIL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL AT THIS MEETING.\u00a0 AS AN UPDATE COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THE 2023 OIL AND CHIP PROGRAM HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE OVERLAY PROJECT ON WHISPER WAY WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM ALSO STATED THAT THE WASTENA STREET PROJECT IS PROGRESSING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR DEPARTMENT REPORTS.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE WAY THEY HANDLED THE RECENT TRAGIC ACCIDENT.\u00a0 MAYOR MESSERSMITH ECHOED THIS SENTIMENT.\u00a0\u00a0 FIRE CHIEF SHANE COCKRUM WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND STATED THAT ON BEHALF OF HIS FAMILY, WHO WERE PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THIS ACCIDENT, HE WANTED TO THANK THE CITY FOR ALL THAT THEY DID TO HELP AFTER THE ACCIDENT.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CADET PROGRAM IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THERE IS NO PAYROLL TO APPROVE AT THIS MEETING AS TWO PAYROLLS WERE APPROVED AT THE LAST MEETING.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO BILLS TO BE APPROVED AT THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDING AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING PENALTIES TO BE APPLIED TO TRASH BILLS THAT ARE NOT PAID BY THE DUE DATE.\u00a0 CURRENTLY 10% PENALTY IS APPLIED TO WATER BILLS THAT ARE NOT PAID BY THE 15TH<\/sup> OF EACH MONTH EXCLUDING TRASH.\u00a0 THIS AMENDMENT WILL APPLY A 10% PENALTY TO THE ENTIRE BILL INCLUDING TRASH IF NOT PAID BY THE 15TH<\/sup> OF EACH MONTH.\u00a0\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NO UPDATES FROM ATTORNEY MALKOVICH FOR THIS MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MAYOR MESSERSMITH PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #00484 TO MID-SOUTH STEEL PRODUCTS, INC. FOR A FUEL PUMP FOR THE AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,806.19.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MAYOR MESSERSMITH PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #00491 TO BRANDON SMITH FOR REPAIRS TO THE CODE OFFICIAL CAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $337.00.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NO OLD BUSINESS.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n IN NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS REGARDING SWITCHING OF OUR EMAIL SERVER.\u00a0 HE STATED THAT A NEW ALIAS EMAIL ADDRESS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO GETTING WORK PHONES FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS TO AVOID PERSONAL PHONES BEING USED FOR CITY BUSINESS.\u00a0 MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THIS MAY BE A BIGGER CONVERSATION AS HE BELIEVES THERE ARE SOME EMPLOYEES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS AS WELL.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n IN MATTERS OF FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER STATED THAT HE AGREED WITH THE PENALTY BEING CHARGED ON TRASH RATES AS WELL. HOWEVER, MR. CARTER STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.\u00a0 CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG APOLOGIZED TO MR. CARTER AS THE INCORRECT AGENDA HAD BEEN SET ON THE TABLE.\u00a0 MR. CARTER WAS ASSURED THAT THE CORRECT AGENDA IS ON THE CITY\u2019S FACEBOOK FOR VIEWING AS WELL AS POSTED ON THE FRONT DOORS OF CITY HALL.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.\u00a0 SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH.\u00a0 NAYS: 0.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5:17 P.M.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 AT 5 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS. MAYOR MESSERSMITH BEGAN THE MEETING WITH A MOMENT OF … Continue reading