MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, JUNE 28, 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 AS PRESENTED THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 ON JUNE 12 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 10-17 AMENDING THE NO PARKING ORDINANCE ON EAST WEBSTER STREET TO NO PARKING ON EITHER SIDE OF EAST WEBSTER STREET FROM SOUTH MAIN TO SOUTH COMMERCIAL STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT PRESENTED A QUOTE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,300.00 FROM D AND S TREE SERVICE FOR TRIMMING OR REMOVING TREES AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 411 NORTH COMMERCIAL STREET - $150.00; BEHIND BEN’S LAWN SERVICE - $200.00; WATER BARN - $100.00; OLD WATER PLANT - $100.00; WASTENA STREET - $150.00; OAK BY YELLOW HOUSE NEAR TWIN OAKS - $300.00; AND OAK BY TWIN OAKS - $300.00. THE TREES CANNOT BE REMOVED BY THE STREET DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF POWER LINES. THE BREAKDOWN OF THE TOTAL INCLUDES $500.00 FOR THE STREET DEPARTMENT AND $800.00 FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WYANT UPDATED THE COUNCIL ON THE NORTH DUQUOIN STREET PROJECT AND REPORTED THAT THE BID LETTING FOR THE OIL AND CHIP PROGRAM WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 29. WORK WILL BEGIN AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY.

COMMISSIONER MILLER REPORTED ON THE STATUS OF A PREVIOUS PURCHASE ORDER. TWO NEW VEHICLES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DELIVERED.

COMMISSIONER MILLER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THAT THE COUNCIL GIVE HIM AUTHORITY TO RESEARCH THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING A NEW POSITION FOR THE CITY OF BENTON, DIRECTOR OR ADMINISTRATOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE PERSON IN THIS POSITION WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND WOULD REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. MILLER WILL REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 22 WITH AN UPDATE ON THIS RESEARCH.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED AND MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE A BILL FROM RUZICH ENGINEERING FOR SERVICES ON THE NORTH DUQUOIN STREET PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,680.00 FOR LABOR AND $535.50 FOR MILEAGE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER PRESENTED PAYROLL PAYABLE JUNE 25 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,252.69; THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,766.74; AND AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $750.00. 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 A SEWER ADJUSTMENT APPLICATION FOR C AND D CONSULTANTS AT 442 ½ WEST CHURCH STREET, APARTMENT C. 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 POOLS FOR JULIE HAMMOND AT 902 EAST WEBSTER; STEPHANIE CLARK AT 707 OLD ORCHARD DRIVE; KEITH CHAMNESS AT 1112 NORTH MAPLE; RACHEL MITCHELL AT 1108 SOUTH MAIN; LAURA PRATHER AT 607 SOUTH MAIN; SANDRA HAYS AT 309 WEST PARK; GARY GRANT AT 403 SOUTH STOTLAR; AND CATHERINE JERRELLS AT 403 EAST BOND. 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 THE PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCE 10-18 AS REQUIRED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 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 ORDINANCE 10-19 AMENDING RATES FOR WATER SERVICE. 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 ORDINANCE 10-20 AMENDING RATES FOR SEWER SERVICE FOR MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS. 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 ORDINANCE 10-21 AMENDING RATES FOR SINGLE-UNIT SEWER SERVICE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0. THIS INCREASE WILL GO INTO EFFECT WITH THE BILLS DUE IN SEPTEMBER. THE LAST TIME THESE RATES WERE INCREASED WAS JANUARY 2006.

MAYOR KRAFT REPORTED THAT IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO REBID THE DEMOLITION PROJECT AT 1503 NORTH MAIN STREET TO INCLUDE DEMOLITION OF THE BARN AS WELL AS THE HOUSE. COMMISSIONER WEBSTER MADE THE MOTION FOR THE BIDS RECEIVED TO DATE TO REMAIN CLOSED AND BE REJECTED. THOSE BIDDERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE CHANGE AND NEW BIDS WILL BE OPENED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 12. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES FOR THE JUNE 21 MEETING. COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

UNDER MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR KRAFT EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO THE LADIES OF THE GARDEN CLUB WHO WORK VERY HARD ON THE FLOWERS AT THE PARKS ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE. MAYOR KRAFT ALSO EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO JEANITA SPILLMAN FOR COORDINATING THE RECENT COUNTRY NIGHTS AT CAPITOL PARK.

COMMISSIONER WEBSTER REPORTED THAT NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE ILLINOIS LABOR RELATIONS BOARD THAT CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST THE CITY BY FORMER STREET DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE JOEY SMITH HAVE BEEN DENIED AND DISMISSED.

UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER MILLER SAID THAT HE WILL RESEARCH FORMER FIRE CHIEF MICKEY MARSHALL’S CONCERNS REGARDING UNPAID DAYS FROM THE CITY AND REPORT TO THE COUNCIL AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

POLICE CHIEF CHARLSON INFORMED THE COUNCIL THAT AN OUTING IN HONOR OF RETIRING ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DENNIS LAMPLEY WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 1 AT JACK RUSSELL FISH COMPANY.

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

TIME: 7:25

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: 7:38

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

TIME: 7:38

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE THE MOTION TO CONTINUE THE REGULAR SESSION UNTIL JUNE 29 AT 8:30 A.M. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WEBSTER. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONERS BAUMGARTE, WYANT, MILLER, WEBSTER AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.

TIME: 7:39

Laura Auten, City Clerk