MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 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.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 ON SEPTEMBER 28 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER 2452 TO JOHN DEERE COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,896.50 FOR LEASE OF A TRACTOR FOR THE TERM OF 9/15/2010 TO 5/15/2011 FOR SLUDGE INJECTION AT THE SEWER PLANT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER 1522 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A 12 X 6 TRAILER WITH A FOLD DOWN GATE FROM MARK REED. WYANT SAID THE TRAILER IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND WILL BE USED TO HAUL CONCRETE FORMS, TOOLS, ETC. AND TO STORE ALL SUPPLIES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR CONCRETE PROJECTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED THAT RECENT TESTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED TO CREATE AN ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE TO DIRECT THE FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSION BOARD TO HIRE TWO FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERS FROM THIS LIST PRESENTED AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2009. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER STATED THAT IN PRIOR DISCUSSION HE HAD ONLY GIVEN APPROVAL FOR ONE HIRING AT THIS TIME AND WOULD NEED TO DETERMINE IF FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRING OF A SECOND FIREFIGHTER. COMMISSIONER MILLER AMENDED HIS CURRENT MOTION TO HIRE ONE FIREFIGHTER AT THIS POINT PENDING FURTHER REVIEW OF FINANCES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL PAYABLE OCTOBER 2 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,499.45; THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,372.18; AND CROSSING GUARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $306.36. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED MONTHLY BILLS FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $81,910.92; THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,908.74; AND OTHER FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $63,602.49. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR RICHARD GILLIAM AT 1201 SOUTH LICKLITER AND DOLORIS WILLMORE AT 411 NORTH BROWN STREET AND TO DISALLOW A SEWER ADJUSTMENT FOR KELLI LEWIS AT 800 HIGHLAND AS THE WATER LOSS WAS DUE TO A LEAKING STOOL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH REPORTED THAT HE HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY BILL BONAN REGARDING TIF REIMBURSEMENTS DUE FOR THE WOOD BUILDING AND THE NICKY T BUILDING. BONAN HAS PROVIDED COPIES OF PAID TAX BILLS AND THE TAX DISTRIBUTION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH WILL MEET WITH TREASURER STEARNS TO ENSURE THAT PROPER REIMBURSEMENTS ARE MADE.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE REPORTED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HALLOWEEN EVENT FOR ADULTS TO BE HELD AT CAPITOL PARK NEXT WEEKEND. BAUMGARTE IS CONCERNED THAT IT WILL APPEAR THAT THE COUNCIL IS BACKING A PARTICULAR SHERIFF’S CANDIDATE AND MAYOR KRAFT ASSURED HIM THAT NO CAMPAIGNING OR OTHER POLITICAL ACTIVITY WILL TAKE PLACE. MAYOR KRAFT EXPLAINED THAT THE CHILDREN’S EVENTS WERE CANCELLED BECAUSE VENDORS HAVE BACKED OUT. HE SUGGESTED THAT FUTURE QUESTIONS BE DIRECTED TO DOWNTOWN BENTON INC. WHO IS THE ORGANIZER OF THE EVENT.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REMINDED THE COUNCIL THAT FLU AND PNEUMONIA VACCINATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL CITY EMPLOYEES ON TUESDAY MORNING AT 10:00 AT CITY HALL.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT TREASURER STEARNS HAS RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FROM A LAW FIRM THAT WOULD REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING VARIOUS CITY POLICIES SUCH AS FMLA, ADA, MILITARY LEAVE, AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE HIRING THE FIRM FOR THIS SERVICE BUT WITHDREW THE MOTION AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH WILL SEE IF SIMILAR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.

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

TIME: 7:25

Laura Auten, City Clerk