MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2008 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 BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. COMMISSIONER WYANT ABSENT.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED DENA KIRK AND LARA COX FROM SOUTHERN ILLINOIS HEALTHCARE. THEY INTRODUCED A PROGRAM ON WORKCARE. THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS TO HELP EVALUATE EMPLOYEES BEFORE RETURNING BACK TO WORK AFTER AN INJURY. THE PROGRAM WILL HELP IN WORK COMPENSATION CASES AND PRE EMPLOYMENT WELLNESS PROGRAMS.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED TO THE MERCHANTS WHAT THE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA IS, AND WHAT BENEFITS THEY COULD RECEIVE FROM THIS PROGRAM. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE MERCHANTS WERE NOT INTERESTED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED GLORIA ATCHISON WITH THE CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY BOARD. MRS. ATCHISON PRESENTED THAT THE NEGATIVE ARTICLES IN THE NEWSPAPERS ON THE CIVIC CENTERS PROBLEMS WITH FINANCE AND SURVIVAL. THIS HURTS THE CIVIC CENTER WHEN TRYING TO BOOK EVENTS. MRS. ATCHISON PRESENTED THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE CIVIC CENTER AND KIWANIS HALL BOOKED LAST YEAR WAS A TOTAL OF 221 PRIVATE EVENTS AND 21 CIVIC CENTER SPONSORED EVENTS. THOSE EVENTS BRING IN PEOPLE FROM A 200 MILE RADIUS AND PRODUCE A FANTASTIC ATTENDANCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE PROMS, GRADUATIONS, HONORS NIGHT, FFA BANQUET, POLICE TRAINING, AUCTIONS, AND WEDDINGS. MOST WEDDINGS ARE BOOKED THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE. WHEN THERE IS NEGATIVE ISSUE THAT COMES UP ABOUT THE CIVIC CENTER THEY LOOSE BOOKINGS.

DAVID ALLEN PRESIDENT OF THE BENTON COMMUNITY PARK BOARD EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAVE ESTIMATED THE CIVIC CENTER NEEDS $250,000.00 IN REPAIRS TO KEEP IT GOING. MR. ALLEN EXPLAINED THAT LAST YEARS REVENUE WAS $84,500.00 WITH EXPENSES OF $80,533.00. THE EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT SHOWN IS THE TIME PUT IN BY THE PARK EMPLOYEES. WHEN THE EMPLOYEES ARE AT THE CIVIC CENTER WORKING THE PARK IS GETTING IGNORED. (THE PARK BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CIVIC CENTER ON EXPERIMENTAL BASES TO SEE HOW IT WOULD WORK OUT.) MR. ALLEN SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO JEOPARDIZE THE PARK BY PUTTING ALL OUR TIME AND MONEY IN THE CIVIC CENTER. THE PARK CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THE UPGRADES THE CIVIC CENTER NEEDS. THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY BOARD ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO KEEP THE CIVIC CENTER OPEN. MR. ALAN SAID THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE; WE ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS AND SUPPORT FROM THE CITY ON HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND KEEP THE CIVIC CENTER OPEN. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TOWN MEETING AND SEE HOW THE PEOPLE OF BENTON FEEL ABOUT THE CIVIC CENTER AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY. HOPEFULLY, WITH THESE MEETINGS, WE CAN COME UP WITH IDEAS TO HELP PROLONG THE LIFE OF THE CIVIC CENTER. MAYOR KRAFT ASKED THE CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY BOARD AND THE PARK BOARD TO CALL A MEETING AT THE CIVIC CENTER AND INVITE ANYONE THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN COMING TO THE MEETING.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED AN OPTION FOR THE CITY THAT AN ELECTRIC SERVICE COULD BE SUPPLIED THROUGH GLACIAL ENERGY LP AT A SAVINGS OF 12% THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO $13,077.00 ON OUR LAST YEAR BILLING. THIS WILL BE FOR A THREE MONTH TRIAL. AFTER THAT THEY WANT A SIX MONTH CONTRACT. GLACIAL ENERGY HAS AGREED TO GO WITH BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS. INFORMATION WILL BE SUPPLIED TO THE NEWSPAPER SOON AS WE GET IT. MAYOR KRAFT TOLD THE COUNCIL TO LOOK OVER THE INFORMATION FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JANUARY 14, 2008 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER 2104 TO HD SUPPLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,160.00 FOR METER HOODS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED A DISPUTE BETWEEN ROSE MILLER AND THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT ON A WATER BILL. MRS. MILLER BELIEVES THE WATER BILL WAS CREATED BY THE WATER DEPARTMENT BY A MISTAKE IN JUDGMENT. MRS. MILLER WAS UNAWARE HOW HER WATER GOT TURNED ON AFTER HAVING THE HOUSE WINTERIZED. MRS. MILLER ORDERED HER WATER TO BE SHUT OFF ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. CRAIG MILES FOLLOWED THAT ORDER BY TURNING THE WATER OFF. MRS. MILLER HAD MR. BERRONG HIRED TO WINTERIZE THE HOUSE. MR. BERRONG CLAIMS HE SHUT THE WATER OFF AND TAGGED THE METER TO LET THE CITY KNOW IT WAS SHUT OFF. CRAIG MILES AND BOB BRITTON SAID THERE WAS NO TAG ON THE METER WHEN THEY TURNED THE WATER OFF. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE TOLD MR. BERRONG THAT IT IS AGAINST CITY ORDINANCE FOR A PERSON, OTHER THAN A CITY EMPLOYEE, TO TURN OFF WATER AT A METER. MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD DISCUSS THIS AND GIVE MRS. MILLER AN ANSWER SOMETIME TUESDAY MORNING.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL FOR THE GENERAL FUND PAYABLE JANUARY 25, 2008 IN THE AMOUNT OF $54,931.17 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT PAYABLE JANUARY 25, 2008 IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,242.05 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL FOR THE AUXILIARY POLICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $598.76 AND THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $187.22 PAYABLE JANUARY 25, 2008 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL AND MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING; KINDRA K. FLETCHER AT 705 GLENDALE, REATTA BARNFIELD AT 502 CLEARVIEW, MARVIN GATES AT 208 E REED, TERRY RHODY AT 403 W. HUDELSON, ARETTHA HESTER AT 626 N BUCHANAN, SCOTT CHOISSER AT 1301 S. MAIN, AND JOE AND MARY KIMMEL AT 1202 E. RUTH. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL AND MADE A MOTION TO HAVE DALE KING MOVED FROM A TEMPORARY TO A PERMANENT EMPLOYEE IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT AS OF FEBRUARY 01, 2008. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL AND MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 08 – 02. THIS IS TO PAY BACK THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT FOR A SEWER LINE AS AN INCENTIVE TO ANNEX ADJOINING PROPERTIES. THIS WILL EXPAND OUR REAL ESTATE AND SALES TAX BASE. WE WILL PAY BACK TO THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT 75% WHAT WAS EXPENDED. THERE ARE EIGHT PIECES OF PROPERTY LISTED THAT WE WOULD PAY BACK $2,500.00 A YEAR ON THOSE PARCELS AND $2,000.00 A YEAR FROM THE SALES TAX FROM ACE HARDWARE. THESE WILL BE PAYABLE UNTIL THE $75,000.00 IS PAID. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PRESENTED WE HAVE HEARD FROM UNION PACIFIC AND THE ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION. AS OF JANUARY 15, 2008 THEY HAVE GRANTED KEEPING 1ST STREET OPEN.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PRESENTED THAT HE FINISHED THE PAPER WORK FOR THE LIBRARY GRANT.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH PRESENTED THAT HE SENT A LETTER TO MR. HENDRICKSON AT THE CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILROAD CONCERNING THE SOUTH DUQUOIN UNDER PASS TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO PROCEED WITH.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT TWO NEW MEMBERS TO THE CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD AND TAKE TWO MEMBERS OFF THE BOARD. BEING REPLACING ARE DARIN GALLOWAY AND REBECCA WHITTINGTON. THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS ARE JOHN GULLEY AND TOM MALKOVICH. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED THAT HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ICC AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING PLACING BENTON ON THE AGENDA FOR THE 2009 – 2013 PROJECT LIST FOR SOUTH DUQUOIN STREET.

JASON MILES AND GARY WYANT VOICED THEIR OPINION ON THE CITY OF BENTON’S NEW INSURANCE PLAN. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER TOLD THEM TO TALK TO JOHN AIKEN, THE AGENT, FOR OUR INSURANCE.

DAVID ATCHISON REPRESENTING THAT THE BENTON/WEST CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ASKED THE COUNCIL IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER PUTTING IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR $2,000.00 TO $2,500.00 FOR CHRISTMAS DECORATION.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 8:58 P.M.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO GO OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 9:38 P.M.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT AFTER HEARING BOTH SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT ON MRS. MILLERS WATER BILL THAT HE WILL STAND FIRM AND THAT NO ADJUSTMENT WILL BE GIVEN. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE STATED THAT HIS EMPLOYEE DID HIS JOB. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH WILL CALL MRS. MILLER TUESDAY MORNING AND LET HER KNOW THE OUTCOME.

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

ADJOURNMENT:

TIME: 9:59 P.M.

Ken Walker, City Clerk