MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, MARCH 10, 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 WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED JAMES QUILTER AND DAVID ROLLIN WITH GLACIAL ENERGY LP. THEY GAVE A PRESENTATION ON HOW THEY COULD SAVE THE CITY OF BENTON IN THE 10 PERCENT PLUS RANGE IN ELECTRIC COST. MR. QUILTER OFFERED A 90 DAY CONTRACT FOR BENTON TO TRY THEIR SERVICES. SAVINGS FOR THE CITY OF BENTON WOULD BE IN THE RANGE OF $13,000.00 PER YEAR.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 25, 2008 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE BID IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,370.00 FROM FREEDOM MATERIAL RESOURCES FOR 1,500 TON OF SURFACING MATERIALS FOR THE MFT FUND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER 2146 FOR A JASPER REMANUFACTURED ENGINE AND INSTALLATION FOR A 2003 DODGE INTREPID POLICE CAR. IN THE AMOUNT OF $4639.55. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE OF APPOINTING THREE AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICERS: TIMOTHY McGUIRE, MARTY INGRAM, AND CASEY WALKER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE OF GETTING AN IDOT PERMIT TO CLOSE THE BENTON PUBLIC SQUARE SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 06, 2008 FOR THE 18TH ANNUAL REND LAKE CAR SHOW. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SELLING THREE SURPLUS RADIOS FOR $600.00 TO FRANKLIN COUNTY EMERGENCY AGENCY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE THE MEETING FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2008 AT 8:30 AS THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET MONTHLY BILLS READY FOR APPROVAL

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL FOR THE GENERAL FUND PAYABLE MARCH 07, 2008 IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,820.82 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT PAYABLE MARCH 07, 2008 IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,957.37 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL FOR THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $119.14 PAYABLE MARCH 07, 2008 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL AND MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING: CARLEEN HINES AT 505 S. DuQUOIN, RON INGERSOLL AT 616 JOPLIN, AND TONY LANG AT 103 E, BOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL AND MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE KEEPING CLOSED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FROM JUNE 25, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 14, 2008. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL AND MADE A MOTION TO EXTENDING THE CITY CLERKS TIME FROM MARCH 28, 2008 TO APRIL 18, 2008. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE THE BACK GROUND CHECK INFORMATION BACK TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEW CITY CLERK AT THE CONTINUED MEETING FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2008.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL OF SUPPORT OF GO 21. THIS WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THE RAILROADS EXPANDING RAILROAD SYSTEM TO HANDLE MORE FREIGHT. THE HIGHWAYS WILL GET MORE CONGESTED ON LONG HAUL SHIPPING IN THE FUTURE. THIS WILL HELP IN THE COST OF SAVING OUR ROADS. THAT MEANS SAVING MONEY FOR CONSUMERS, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT IS LESS EXPENSIVE TO SHIP FREIGHT BY RAIL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF PENDING LITIGATIONS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 7:48 P.M.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO GO OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 8:45 P.M.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUED MEETING MARCH 14, 2008 AT 8:30 AM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 8:46 P.M.

Ken Walker, City Clerk