MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2010 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 JANUARY 25 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. 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 NUMBER 1868 TO MISSOURI MACHINERY IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,165.00 FOR MOTORS FOR PUMPS AT THE SEWER PLANT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. 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 NUMBER 2460 TO S & S MUFFLER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,300.00 FOR FOUR BACKHOE TIRES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE DISCUSSED REQUESTS FOR USE OF THE SCOUT CABIN FOR FUNDRAISERS BY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE REGULAR RENTAL FEE WOULD BE PAID AND THIS USE WILL BE PERMITTED, WITH ONE EXCEPTION BEING FOR RUMMAGE SALES.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 10-02 ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL FROM DORRIS TRUCKING TO FURNISH ROCK AT $10.23 PER TON FOR THE 2010 MFT PROGRAM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER 295 TO MIDAMERICA FIRE AND SAFETY LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,677.00 FOR BUNKER GEAR, BOOTS AND HELMETS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER STATED THAT THE MEETING WILL NEED TO BE CONTINUED IN ORDER TO PAY BILLS.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL PAYABLE FEBRUARY 5 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $48,062.10; THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,547.99; AND CROSSING GUARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $300.69. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. 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 ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS FOR SHERRY JOHNSON AT 121 JOPLIN STREET AND GEORGE SCHRAM AT 302 WEST STOTLAR. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT HE HAD A CALL FROM A RESIDENT WHO SAID THAT A CITY EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE BEEN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. A STATE LAW BANNING THIS ACTIVITY WENT INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1 AND A COPY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO EMPLOYEES.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH REPORTED ON A PREVIOUS DISCUSSION WITH AMEREN REPRESENTATIVE MIKE HUMPHRIES REGARDING CREDIT THE CITY RECEIVED IN KILOWATT HOURS PRIOR TO THE CITY’S SWITCH OF ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS. AMEREN HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE THIS CREDIT AS A DOLLAR AMOUNT SINCE THE CITY NO LONGER RECEIVES ELECTRICITY FROM THEM. MALKOVICH PRESENTED ORDINANCE 10-01 AMENDING ORDINANCE 686 TO COMPENSATE THE CITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,900.00 ANNUALLY IN LIEU OF THE KILOWATT HOUR CREDIT. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 10-01. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

ATTORNEY MALKOVICH REPORTED ON CONTINUED DISCUSSION WITH THE PURCHASERS OF THE BAPTIST CAMP ON THE RENTAL TERMS FOR TWIN OAKS LODGE. IT WAS DECIDED TO PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING TERMS IN RESPONSE: TOTAL FEES OF $4,500.00 FOR THE MONTHS OF JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST WOULD BE REDUCED BY $50.00 FOR EACH DAY TWIN OAKS IS USED BY ANOTHER RENTER; THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO RENEGOTIATE THE AGREEMENT AT THE END OF THREE YEARS; THE CITY WOULD NOT OBJECT TO THE TRANSFER OF THE LAKE LOT LEASE DATED JANUARY 9, 1990 TO THE CAMP SUBJECT TO PAYMENT OF THE $150.00 TRANSFER FEE; AND THE LANDS SURROUNDING TWIN OAKS WOULD REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO USE. MALKOVICH WILL PRESENT THIS PROPOSAL AND REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED A REQUEST FROM FREDCO FOR 2010 FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,000.00. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE TO PAY THIS AMOUNT IN TWO INSTALLMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE REPORTED THAT HE HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CTS REGARDING SECURITY AT TWIN OAKS BUT HAS NOT MET WITH THEM YET. HE WILL ALSO TRY TO CONSULT WITH ADT AND SECURITY ALARM CORPORATION AND REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

UNDER NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER REPORTED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR INTERNET SERVICE. CONCEPTE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE AT CITY HALL AND IT WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE TO CORRECT. INTERNET SERVICE IS SENT FROM AN ANTENNA AT THE POLICE STATION TO THE FIRE STATION. MILLER WILL CONTACT OTHER INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO INQUIRE ABOUT INSTALLING A DSL CONNECTION FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REQUESTED THAT COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT AND MILLER PROVIDE TO HIM A LIST OF SAFETY GEAR AND NEW HIRE UNIFORMS/GEAR THAT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE TO EACH EMPLOYEE SO THAT THE TREASURER CAN DETERMINE WHICH PURCHASES TO APPLY TO CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT IN RESPONSE TO A RECENT LETTER TO THE EDITOR HE IS CHECKING IN TO BENTON SALES TAX CHARGES LISTED ON A LONG DISTANCE PHONE COMPANY BILL. WEBSTER WILL CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO DETERMINE HOW THE CITY IS RECEIVING THIS TAX AND WHAT IT IS BEING APPLIED TO.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF: DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACQUISITION AND/OR SALE OF REAL ESTATE AND DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY, INCLUDING HEARING TESTIMONY ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR AGAINST LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO DETERMINE ITS VALIDITY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 7:37

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

TIME: 8:00

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

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPORT IS PURSUING A PROJECT TO TEAR DOWN THE OLD HANGARS AND BUILD A HANGAR THAT HOLDS TEN PLANES. THIS IS A $950,000 PROJECT THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR BY FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS EXCEPT FOR APPROXIMATELY $75,000.00. A NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING PROJECT WILL ALSO BE PURSUED UNDER THE SAME PROGRAM WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO.

COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE THE MOTION TO CONTINUE THE REGULAR SESSION UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 11, AT 8:30. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 8:05

Laura Auten, City Clerk