MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 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. THOSE PRESENT WERE COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT.

ATTORNEY RICHARD HART WAS IN ATTENDANCE REPRESENTING DAN BROWN AND ANDY GRABEL OF ST. LOUIS, WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING THE BAPTIST CAMP PROPERTY AT LAKE HAMILTON FOR THE PURPOSE OF STARTING A SUMMER CAMP. BROWN AND GRABEL PROPOSE TO LEASE OR RENT THE TWIN OAKS LODGE FOR THE PERIOD OF MARCH THROUGH SEPTEMBER FOR FIVE YEARS, WITH AN OPTION TO PURCHASE. THEY INTEND TO USE THE BUILDING FOR MEALS FOR THE CAMP AND BRING IN PORTABLE COOKING EQUIPMENT THAT WILL NOT ALTER THE BUILDING DURING THE RENTAL OR LEASE PERIOD. MAYOR KRAFT ASKED THAT THE FACILITY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR DESIGNATED WEEKENDS DURING THE RENTAL PERIOD. HART WILL CONTACT BROWN AND GRABEL TO SET UP A MEETING WITH MAYOR KRAFT AND ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO FURTHER DISCUSS DETAILS.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 ON SEPTEMBER 14 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER WYANT ABSTAINED.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER 2451 TO H. D. SUPPLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,271.00 FOR 20 METER HEAD RETROFITS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE TO AMEND A PRIOR MOTION FROM THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE ALLEY VACATION AT 703 WEST WASHINGTON FROM 6:30 ON OCTOBER 12 TO THE SAME TIME ON OCTOBER 26. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT REPORTED THAT HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING SALT AND CINDERS FOR THE WINTER SEASON.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE TO SET TRICK OR TREAT HOURS FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, FROM 5:00 TO 8:00 P.M. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL PAYABLE SEPTEMBER 18 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $53,167.84; THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,408.01; AND CROSSING GUARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $323.38. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE A SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR SHERRY SUMMARY AT 810 NORTH COMMERCIAL AND A POOL SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR SHARON ELLIS AT 404 GRAND STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH REPORTED THAT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE HAS SENT A LETTER STATING THAT THEY HAVE ACCEPTED OUR REVISED ORDINANCE IMPOSING THE ONE-QUARTER PERCENT SALES TAX INCREASE UNDER HOME RULE. COLLECTION OF THE NEW TAX WILL BEGIN ON JANUARY 1, 2010.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED A LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER BILL RABY AND A LETTER OF REQUEST BY RICK KNIGHT FOR REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER LONNIE HART DUE TO NONATTENDANCE OF MEETINGS. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO REMOVE BILL RABY PER HIS RESIGNATION LETTER AND LONNIE HART FOR NEGLECT OF DUTY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED VICKEE COCKRUM AND GLORIA ATCHISON AS REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE CIVIC CENTER AUTHORITY BOARD. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. MAYOR KRAFT REQUESTED FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE THINKING OF PEOPLE TO APPOINT TO THE BOARD AS THERE ARE THREE OTHER OPENINGS AT THIS TIME.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL LONG TERM CARE RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS WEEK FROM OCTOBER 4-10. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION FOR ILLINOIS ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH IN OCTOBER. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED AN APPLICATION FROM BETTY MOORE OF JACK RUSSELL FISH COMPANY LLC FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO SELL BEER ONLY AT CAPITOL PARK DURING THE EVENING OF THE DOWNTOWN BENTON INC. FALL FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 17. THE CAPITOL PARK EVENT WILL INCLUDE MUSIC AND A COSTUME CONTEST FOR ADULTS THAT IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE AFTER ALL CHILDREN’S EVENTS AT THE FESTIVAL ARE FINISHED. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

UNDER NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS OF AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICERS PER MEMO FROM CHIEF O’NEILL: ANGELA L. DONOVAN, MATTHEW D. PRIBBLE, JAMES W. KEARNEY, AND JONATHAN R. KNEPP. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT, ATTORNEY MALKOVICH AND OTHERS REPORTED ON INFORMATION LEARNED AT SESSIONS OF THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CONFERENCE AND TIF CONFERENCE THAT WERE ATTENDED THE PRIOR WEEK.

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

TIME: 7:55

Laura Auten, City Clerk