MINUTES OF THE BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MAY 8, 2006 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 AND DIRECTED ROLL TO BE TAKEN: THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. COMMISSIONER MOORE WAS ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 24, 2006. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.
COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 28, 2006. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS PRESENTED TWO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR PAYMENT. THE FIRST PURCHASE ORDER WAS TO REBUILD A 10 H P PUMP FOR THE DIAL STREET LIFT STATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,599.25. THE SECOND PURCHASE ORDER WAS FOR AN ULTRASONIC LEVEL TRANSMITTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $792.00. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THESE PURCHASE ORDERS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER FROM DON MANDRELL TO MARSHA AND DAVID SCHULTZ. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.
COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ENGINEERS FROM LIPE AND ASSOCIATES TO BEGIN WORK ON THE TWIN OAKS BUILDING. THIS WORK WILL BE DONE THROUGH A GRANT THAT SENATOR FORBY HELPED OBTAIN AND THROUGH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. THE GRANT IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,120.00. 10% – 15% OF THE GRANT MONEY CAN BE USED FOR ENGINEER FEES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.
COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A PAY ESTIMATE IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,708.72 PAYABLE TO WIGGS EXCAVATING FOR WORK ON MCLEANSBORO STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED PICTURES OF THE BREAK ROOM ON GRAND STREET. THE BUILDING IS IN NEED OF SOME EXTERIOR SIDING. THE COST OF SIDING THE BUILDING WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $450.00. THE STREET DEPARTMENT WORKERS WILL DO THE WORK.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT ORDINANCE #06-27 TO INSTALL A STOP SIGN FOR BOTH NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON EADS STREET AT THE INTERSECTION OF BLAKE STREET AND EADS STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE A PURCHASE ORDER FOR CONCRETE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,733.00 PAYABLE TO ODOM’S CONCRETE FOR THE CAPITOL PARK. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR THE CITY OF BENTON GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $47,534.65 PAYABLE MAY 5, 2006. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,279.31 AND PAYABLE MAY 5, 2006. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL FOR THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $136.16 PAYABLE MAY 5, 2006. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $77,565.74. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED THE BILLS FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,107.93 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED THE OTHER FUND BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $172,921.73 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT AN ENERGY GRANT FOR STOP LIGHTS. THE GRANT IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,680.00 AND THE CITY HAS 30 DAYS TO ACCEPT THIS GRANT OR TURN IT DOWN. THE CITY WILL HAVE ONE YEAR TO SPEND THE MONEY AND MIKE MCCOLLUM WITH F. W. ELECTRIC WILL HELP THE CITY SPEND THE MONEY FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO LIMIT GARY EBERHARDT THE ATTORNEY FOR ENVIROPOWER TO 30 HOURS OF WORK. THE COST FOR THE 30 HOURS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $10,00.00 AND NO OTHER LEGAL FEES WOULD BE EXPENDED. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER ALSO REQUESTED THAT GARY EBERHARDT WOULD BE THE ONLY ATTORNEY WORKING ON THIS MATTER. ATTORNEY WHITTINGTON SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNCIL REQUEST A REPORT AT THE END OF 20 HOURS.
COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS SECOND THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE 30 HOURS OF WORK. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BID FROM TERRY BAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,500.00. THE BID WILL INCLUDE THE REMOVAL OF THE TREES AND STUMPS AT THE CORNER OF CENTRAL STREET AND MINE 24 ROAD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

BEN FROM BEN’S LAWN SERVICE PRESENTED THE COUNCIL WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT BIDS FOR A LAWN MOWER FOR TWIN OAKS.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO TABLE THESE BIDS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

ATTORNEY WHITTINGTON INFORMED THE COUNCIL THAT SHE HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE CONTRACTS FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE CHIEFS AND THE WATER SUPERINTENDENT. SHE SAID THE CONTRACTS COULD BE TALKED ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MAYOR KRAFT WANTED TO THANK SENATOR FORBY FOR OBTAINING A GRANT FOR THE CAPITOL PARK IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000.00. MAYOR KRAFT SAID THE MONEY WOULD BE WELL SPENT.
HE ALSO WANTED TO THANK ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD AT THE CAPITOL PARK. CINDY LEGGANS HAS PLANTED ALL OF THE TREES AND FLOWERS AROUND THE SQUARE AND HOW NICE EVERYTHING LOOKS. ROBERTA KEARNEY HELPED LAY BRICKS AT THE CAPITOL PARK, THERE HAD BEEN OVER 2,200 BRICKS LAID IN ONE WEEKEND.
MAYOR KRAFT REPORTED THAT THEIR HAS BEEN 23 EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THE BILLY GRAMMER SHELTER THIS YEAR AND THAT THEIR WERE AN ESTIMATED 500 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE DURING THE FIRST EVENT WHICH WAS BILLY GRAMMER AND THE OTHER 2 EVENTS WERE ON VERY COLD DATES BUT THEIR WERE APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 150 PEOPLE AT THOSE EVENTS.

MAYOR KRAFT ASKED HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE ON THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD, HE DID NOT KNOW IF THERE WERE 7 OR 9 MEMBERS. HE SAID HE WOULD TALK WITH THE CITY CLERK TO FIND OUT.

THE COUNCIL RECEIVED ONE BID FROM W W CONCRETE IN PINCKNEYVILLE FOR CONCRETE WORK TO BE DONE AT THE CAPITOL PARK. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THE BID. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4.
COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO SUBMIT NAMES TO THE COUNTY BOARD FOR THE E-911 APPOINTMENTS. THOSE NAMES ARE MICKEY MARSHALL, J. R. MOORE, MIKE O’NEILL AND BRAD PIOVESON. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS
0.

MAYOR KRAFT DISCUSSED THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST TO THE VILLAGE OF WEST CITY. THE MAYOR STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THE VILLAGE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, HE REALLY HATED TO SEE THINGS GO THIS FAR. ATTORNEY REBECCA WHITTINGTON RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY OF BENTON SUBMIT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST TO THE VILLAGE OF WEST CITY, ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND FRANKLIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS MADE THE MOTION TO SUBMIT THIS REQUEST. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS SAID THAT HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE MOWING THAT HAD BEEN DONE BY MR. MONTGOMERY AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY.
THE MAYOR AND BOB REA ARE HAVING DAVE SEVERIN AT ALL STARS – N- STITCHES MAKE 2 SIGNS FOR THE CEMETERY. THESE SIGNS WOULD BE PUT ON 4 X 4 POSTS AND WOULD BE MORE DURABLE THAN THE OLD SIGNS. THESE SIGNS SHOULD BE UP BY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THE SECOND SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS ON SOUTH MAIN STREET. THESE TRACKS ARE OWNED BY UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AND ARE IN GREAT NEED OF REPAIR.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER ASKED COMMISSIONER WYANT IF HE HAD ANY ESTIMATES ON THE DITCH AREA ON WEST BOND. HE STATED THAT IS AN EYESORE AND NEEDED TO BE ATTENDED TO. COMMISSIONER WYANT SAID HE WAS WORKING ON ESTIMATES FOR THIS PROJECT AND SHOULD HAVE THOSE BY NEXT MEETING.

ERNIE DUCKWORTH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE FARMERS MARKET WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING. HE INFORMED THE COUNCIL THAT THE FARMERS MARKET WOULD BEGIN THURSDAY, MAY 18 TH. KEN BOWLIN APPLIED FOR AND HE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE STATE IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000.00. THIS MONEY PAID FOR THEIR ADVERTISING. THEY HAVE HAD AS MANY AS 26 VENDORS AND AS FEW AS 14 VENDORS. MR. DUCKWORTH SAID THE ONE THING HE REQUIRES IS THAT THE SELLER MUST BE THE GROWER.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OR TO HEAR TESTIMONY ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE TO DETERMINE ITS VALIDITY, THREATENED AND/OR PENDING LITIGATION.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

TIME 7:40

TIME 8:25

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE THE MOTION TO GO BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION #2006-10 AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE SUIT AGAINST THE VILLAGE OF WEST CITY AND ANY OTHER ENTITIES THAT MAY BE NECESSARY PARTIES TO ENFORCE THE FREE TRAFFIC ON CENTRAL STREET TO AND ACROSS THE CITY OF BENTON BORDER AS IT CONNECTS WITH INTERSTATE TRAVEL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS 4. COMMISSIONER CLEMENTS, WYANT, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS 0.

TIME 8:26

ADJOURNMENT:

Michael Malkovich, City Clerk