MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 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.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR SESSION AT 7:00 ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. ABSTAINED: 1. COMMISSIONER MILLER. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE CONTINUED SESSION AT 8:30 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 17, 2008 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER 2124 TO H. D. SUPPLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,364.40 FOR METERS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED BIDS FOR A DUMP TRUCK FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT. TWO BIDS WERE OPENED FROM TRUCK CENTERS, INC. IN TROY AND FORD SQUARE IN MT. VERNON. ACTION ON THE BIDS WAS TABLED UNTIL FURTHER REVIEW CAN TAKE PLACE.

COMMISSIONER WYANT STATED THAT THE AGENDA ITEM REGARDING REMOVAL OF TREES AT MALKOVICH PARK WAS INTENDED TO APPROVE PAYING THE BILL FOR THAT SERVICE. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER WILL PRESENT THIS UNDER MISCELLANEOUS BILLS.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE TO SELL A 1989 DODGE TRUCK AND A 1954 SEAMAN FROM THE STREET DEPARTMENT AND TAKE BIDS THROUGH THE DECEMBER 22 MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED A CHANGE ORDER ON THE 2007 OVERLAY PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF A CREDIT FOR $11,676.97 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 WYANT THEN PRESENTED THE FINAL PAYMENT ON THE 2007 OVERLAY PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,138.51 TO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ASPHALT AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. THIS AMOUNT REFLECTS THE CREDIT GIVEN FOR REPAIRS ON JOPLIN STREET COMPLETED THIS SUMMER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING MISCELLANEOUS BILLS AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE: D & S TREE SERVICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $465.00 FOR TREE REMOVAL AT MALKOVICH PARK AND TIMBERMARK INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $843.17 FOR COMMISSION ON TIMBER SALE AT 20 ACRES OF PROPERTY RECENTLY PURCHASED NEAR INDUSTRIAL PARK II. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL PAYABLE NOVEMBER 14 FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $48,017.33 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 PAYABLE NOVEMBER 14 FROM THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,650.71 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 PAYABLE NOVEMBER 14 FOR CROSSING GUARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $295.01 AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE A POOL SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR SCOTT SIMPSON AT 716 OLD ORCHARD DRIVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL THAT CHRISTMAS BONUSES IN THE AMOUNT OF $100.00 FOR ACTIVE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AND $25.00 FOR ACTIVE AUXILIARY POLICE/FIRE PERSONNEL AND CROSSING GUARDS BE ISSUED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED THE APPOINTMENT OF SHELLEY INGRAM TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT ASKED FOR A DECISION REGARDING THE 4SIWI PROPOSAL DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO UTILIZE THE NORTH WATER TOWER DUE TO CONCERNS REGARDING INTERFERENCE WITH POLICE TRANSMISSIONS. ANY FURTHER PROPOSALS WILL BE CONSIDERED IF PRESENTED.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH REPORTED THAT ATTORNEYS CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BENTON AND BENTON SQUARE DEVELOPMENT LLC. AND IT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS TIME. DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL WILL BE TABLED UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

UNDER MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR KRAFT REPORTED THAT FOUR TOW SERVICES ARE NOW AVAILABLE AND SOME HAVE REQUESTED TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE CITY FOR IMPOUNDS, ACCIDENTS, ETC. DISCUSSION WAS HELD REGARDING WHETHER ONE COMPANY SHOULD BE USED EXCLUSIVELY OR A POLICY FORMED REGARDING A ROTATION SCHEDULE. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS WERE ALSO DISCUSSED. COMMISSIONER MILLER WILL MEET WITH CHIEF O’NEILL AND PRESENT A RECOMMENDATION AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

UNDER NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT A BOND ATTORNEY MUST BE HIRED FOR THE UPCOMING 2.1 MILLION BOND PROJECT. CHUCK JARIK OF CHAPMAN AND CUTLER IS ONE THE CITY HAS WORKED WITH PREVIOUSLY AND HIS FEE ON A BOND ISSUE OF THIS AMOUNT IS $6,200.00 PLUS MINIMAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE HIRING CHUCK JARIK AS BOND ATTORNEY FOR THIS PROJECT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC, MARY ALICE SIMS WAS IN ATTENDANCE TO GIVE A REPORT REGARDING ACTIVITIES OF THE TWIN OAKS COMMITTEE.

BRIAN EDMISON REPORTED THAT HE HAS AROUND 100 LOADS OF DIRT AVAILABLE TO DONATE TO THE CITY. THIS WILL BE USED BY THE STREET DEPARTMENT AND AS FILL AT INDUSTRIAL PARK II LOTS.

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

TIME: 7:45 P.M.

Laura Auten, City Clerk