MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2024 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.<\/p>\n
MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JULY 22, 2024.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ABSTAINED.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR APPROVAL.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THERE WILL BE SOME PAINTING OF THE DOORS AND OTHER THINGS BEING UPDATED AT THE RESTROOMS AT CAPITAL PARK.\u00a0<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE HVAC WORK TO BE DONE AT CITY HALL AFTER STATING THAT MOLD HAD BEEN DETECTED UPON DUCT WORK SAMPLING.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS TO BE APPROVED AT THIS MEETING.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE POOL ADJUSTMENT MADE FOR 415 E BOND STREET AS IT MEETS THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4. \u00a0COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS ABSTAINED.\u00a0<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE POOL ADJUSTMENT 200 E BLACK STREET AT IT MEETS THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS ABSTAINED.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED HE HAD NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2024-06 CLOSING THE PUBLIC SQUARE FOR THE ANNUAL BENTON\/WEST CITY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAR SHOW.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00418 TO NOVACOM FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPEATER ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,500.00.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
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COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00159 TO LARRY J. FREDRICKS, LLC FOR 7 POINT BLANK BALLISTIC VEST PANELS, 7 GUARDIAN CARRIER BESTS AND THE FREIGHT CHARGE FOR DELIVERY IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,820.00 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR AUGUST 2, 2024 FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,940.19 AND FROM THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,578.36 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $96,518.55.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT ON 08\/12\/2024 FROM THE AP FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $470,637.40, FROM MFT IN THE AMOUNT OF $72,445.86, AND FROM OTHER FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,052.43 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $571,135.69.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES OR MATTERS FOR TONIGHT\u2019S MEETING.\u00a0<\/p>\n
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE CITY HAD SOME GREAT EVENTS ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024.\u00a0 MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE ATTENDED THE FLY IN\/DRIVE IN AT THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN THE MORNING AND THEN THE BACK TO SCHOOL BLOCK PARTY HOSTED BY BENTON AREA VOLUNTEERS IN THE AFTERNOON\/EVENING.\u00a0 HE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THAT WERE INVOLVED IN PUTTING ON BOTH EVENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.\u00a0<\/p>\n
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00503 TO ASCENT AVIATION GROUP, INC. FOR A TANKER FUEL LOAD OF AVIATION GASOLINE FOR RESALE AT THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,086.08COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND SET THE HOURS FOR TRICK OR TREATING FOR 2024.\u00a0 HE STATED THAT IN THE PAST THE CITY TRIED TO DO TRICK OR TREATING ON THE WEEKENDS, BUT THIS YEAR IT WOULD EITHER BE DONE TOO EARLY OR AFTER HALLOWEEN IF DONE ON A WEEKEND AND SO HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE HOURS SET FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2024 FROM 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE REAPPOINTING THE MEMBERS TO THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD MOST OF THE TERMS HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPIRED AND NOT BEEN REAPPOINTED.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTMENTS FOR 3 YEAR APPOINTMENTS AS LISTED BELOW.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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DAVID SNEED, EXPIRATION FEBRUARY 28, 2026\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LOMA BAXTER, EXPIRATION APRIL 14, 2026<\/p>\n
RICK KNIGHT, EXPIRATION APRIL 14, 2026\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ROBIN FRAILEY, EXPIRATION APRIL 8, 2025<\/p>\n
BRAD BURZYNSKI, EXPIRATION FEBRUARY 27, 2026\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ALLAN KIMBALL, EXPIRATION APRIL 9, 2022<\/p>\n
MARTY LEFFLER, EXPIRATION NOVEMBER 13, 2024\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 JEREMY YOUNG, EXPIRATION OCTOBER 14, 2025<\/p>\n
SHELLEY INGRAM, EXPIRATION DECEMBER 23, 2024<\/p>\n
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION APPROVING ORDINANCE #2024-12 REGULATING PUBLIC CAMPING WITHIN THE CORPORATE BOUNDARIES.\u00a0 ATTORNEY MALKOVICH REITERATED THAT THIS IS FOR CAMPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTIES.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR\/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING ITEM (F) DISCUSSION AND\/OR APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT MADE BY VOSBURGH HOLDINGS, LLC TO OPERATE AN INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS BUSINESS LOCATED AT 605 NORTH MAIN STREET.\u00a0 MR. CALCATERRA ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL AND INVITED MR. VOSBURG TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL WITH ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS BUSINESS.\u00a0 IT WAS STATED THAT MR. VOSBURG OWNS A TREE TRIMMING BUSINESS.\u00a0 MR. VOSBURG WOULD BE LEASING THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FORMER BEN\u2019S LAWN SERVICE BUSINESS.\u00a0 MR. VOSBURG STATED THAT HE WOULD BE DOING NO RETAIL BUSINESS IN THIS LOCATION, IT WOULD JUST BE A PLACE TO PARK HIS EQUIPMENT AND HE PLANNED ON ADVERTISING HIS BUSINESS ON THE SIGNAGE ALREADY IN PLACE.\u00a0 MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER RECOMMENDED TO APPROVE THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT, HOWEVER, MR. CALCATERRA DID NOT AGREE AND IT WAS HIS RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL NOT APPROVE THIS PERMIT AS HE FELT THAT THIS BUSINESS WAS BETTER SUITED FOR AN INDUSTRIAL PARK AREA IN TOWN.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT MADE BY VOSBURG HOLDINGS, LLC TO OPERATE AN INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS BUSINESS AT 605 NORTH MAIN STREET.\u00a0 THIS MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF SECOND.\u00a0<\/p>\n
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TABLE ITEM (G) DISCUSSION AND\/OR APPROVAL OF ALLOWING ROAD CLOSURE FOR A PRIVATE EVENT ON WASHINGTON STREET WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.\u00a0 HE STATED HE FEELS THE COUNCIL NEEDS ADDITIONAL INFO ON THIS EVENT BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH A MOTION.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
IN OLD BUSINESS, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY A LANDOWNER IN TOWN WHO WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO REVISIT THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR INSPECTIONS.\u00a0 MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED THE COUNCIL TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND HE STATED HE WOULD PLACE THIS ON A<\/p>\n
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FUTURE AGENDA.\u00a0 ALSO UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE CHECK FOR DOWN PAYMENT TO HELITEC FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE MAIL AND WORK SHOULD BE STARTING SOON.<\/p>\n
IN NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER KAYS ASKED THE COUNCIL TO NOT LET MOTIONS DIE.\u00a0 HE STATED THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE BETTER THAN THAT.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS REMINDED THE COUNCIL THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU SECOND A MOTION, THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO VOTE \u201cYES\u201d ON THE ROLL CALL VOTE.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE BELIEVES WE SHOULD BRING ITEMS LIKE THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO A VOTE.\u00a0<\/p>\n
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, JOHN METZGER CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.\u00a0 MR. METZGER STATED THAT HE FEELS THE CIVIL WAR CEMETERY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BETTER.\u00a0 MR. METZGER PROVIDED THE COUNCIL WITH PICTURES OF THE CEMETERY.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HIS DEPARTMENTS ARE AWARE OF THE DOWNED TREE AND OTHER ISSUES, BUT A FENCE NEEDS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO CLEAR THIS DEBRIS IN ORDER TO NOT TAKE EQUIPMENT OVER THE GRAVES.\u00a0 COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE WOULD SPEAK WITH PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CRAIG MILES ABOUT GETTING THIS AREA TAKEN CARE OF.\u00a0<\/p>\n
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.\u00a0 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS.\u00a0 VOTE WAS TAKEN.\u00a0 YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.<\/p>\n
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6:05 P.M.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2024 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS. MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER … Continue reading