MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 AT 8:30 A.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 PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE A BILL FROM DIEBOLD IN THE AMOUNT OF $316.96 FOR REPAIRS TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT DRIVE-UP WINDOW. THIS BILL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT BILLS IN ERROR. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED MONTHLY BILLS AS FOLLOWS: GENERAL FUND BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $72,140.46; WATER AND SEWER FUND BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,895.29; AND OTHER FUND BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $97,711.25. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED A DRAFT COPY OF THE PROPOSED 2010-11 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE MAJOR LINE ITEM CHANGES. WEBSTER ASKED FOR THE COUNCIL TO LET HIM KNOW OF ANY QUESTIONS OR CHANGES AND PLANS TO PRESENT THE FINAL BUDGET FOR APPROVAL AT THE MARCH 22 COUNCIL MEETING.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED A LETTER FOR COMMISSIONERS TO POST IN ALL DEPARTMENTS, REQUESTING THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE ANTICIPATES BEING OFF WORK FOR MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE WORK DAYS FOR ILLNESS OR A FAMILY MATTER TO NOTIFY TREASURER STEARNS SO THAT IT CAN BE DETERMINED IF FMLA BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REMINDED THE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A LIST OF EQUIPMENT FOR EACH DEPARTMENT THAT THE CITY PROVIDES AT TIME OF ORIGINAL HIRE OR FOR SAFETY. THIS IS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE WHEN INVOICES ARE TURNED IN WHETHER IT IS A CLOTHING ALLOWANCE PURCHASE OR TO BE PAID FOR BY THE CITY.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED ON THE TWO WEST CITY RESIDENTS THAT WERE ON THE CITY SEWER SYSTEM. ONE HAS NOW SWITCHED OVER TO THE WEST CITY SEWER SYSTEM, BUT THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE CITY HAS NOT. THE RESIDENT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ALLOWED A TIME EXTENSION AND WILL BE SENT A LETTER TO REMIND HIM OF THE DATE WHEN THE SWITCH NEEDS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT PER ADVICE RECEIVED IN THE PAST FROM GRANT CONSULTANT ROY ADAMS AT LIPE AND ASSOCIATES, HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING ASIDE FUNDS IN RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS FOR SOME OF THE LARGE PROJECTS THE CITY HAS PLANNED. THE RESTRICTION WOULD ENABLE THE CITY TO BETTER QUALIFY FOR GRANT FUNDING AND MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR SO IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE ANNUAL AUDIT. THE FUNDS ARE SET ASIDE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE BY RESOLUTION AND PLACED IN A SEPARATE ACCOUNT. THE MONEY CAN BE UNRESTRICTED BY RESOLUTION IF THE FUNDS ARE NEEDED FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER HAS ALSO DISCUSSED THIS WITH JALYANE LUCKETT FROM CITY AUDIT FIRM GRAY HUNTER STENN. THE NECESSARY RESOLUTIONS WILL BE PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL AT AN UPCOMING MEETING.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE HAS SENT A BULLETIN THAT LEGISLATION IS BEING CONSIDERED TO REDUCE THE STATE INCOME TAX RETURNED TO MUNICIPALITIES BY THIRTY PERCENT OR BY $23.10 PER CAPITA. THIS REDUCTION COULD AMOUNT TO APPROXIMATELY $175,000.00.
COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT AG ENERGY HAS BEEN DOING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL IN REPORTING AS REQUIRED HOW GRANT FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT. THEY ARE REPORTING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN RETURNING THE BUSINESS TO FULL OPERATION.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE DISCUSSED THE NEED TO APPOINT A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT. THIS WILL BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN THE CONTINUED SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
TIME:
Laura Auten, City Clerk
