MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY MARCH 9, 2015 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 BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. COMMISSIONER MILLER WAS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT MADE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 23, 2015 REGULAR MEETING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER WYANT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #002255 TO ERA FOR MISCELLANEOUS LABORATORY ITEMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $529.89. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
AMENDING CHAPTER 24 – MOTOR VEHICLE CODE BY AMENDING SCHEDULE K – NO PASSING ZONE ON EAST FOREST STREET FROM SOUTH MCLEANSBORO STREET TO KENNETH STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 19, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2015. THE BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDLED A TOTAL OF 157 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE. THESE INCLUDED 3 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, 18 TRAFFIC STOPS, 9 DOMESTIC DISPUTES, 1 THEFT REPORT, AND SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED A TOTAL OF 43 WRITTEN REPORTS.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT PRESENTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 23, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 8, 2015. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 13 CALLS WHICH INCLUDED 2 FIRST RESPONDER CALLS, 4 SERVICE CALLS, 3 FALSE ALARMS, AND 1 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDDENT/FIRE. ALL 3 FIRE ENGINES ARE IN SERVICE. THE EMERGENCY STORM SIRENS ARE OPERATIONAL WITH NO MALFUNCTIONS. UNDER ITEMS TO REPORT, REVOLUTION RECYCLE HAS CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE RECYCLING DUMPSTER. THEY ARE REQUESTING THAT THE DUMPSTER POSSIBLY BE MOVED DUE TO TROUBLE BEING ABLE TO EMPTY IT. THE COUNCIL SAID THEY WOULD MAKE A DECISION ON THIS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
COMMISSIONER BURNETT STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE FOR THE POSITION OF A FIRE CHIEF. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL, THIS MATTER WAS TABLED. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE PROCESS OF HIRING A NEW FIRE CHIEF WOULD BE HANDLED BY THE NEXT SEATED COUNCIL.
IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER MILLER, COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE HANDLED MATTERS FOR THE ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 02/27/2015 FOR A TOTAL GENERAL FUND PAYROLL OF $60,409.99, WATER AND SEWER OF $26,822.85, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER OF $850.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $88,082.84. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 03/13/2015 FOR A TOTAL GENERAL FUND PAYROLL OF $57,376.77 AND WATER AND SEWER OF $29,308.41 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $86,685.18. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN: YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE PRESENTED SEWER ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS FOR LINDA ALVAREZ OF 607 EAST JOPLIN, RICHARD EUBANKS OF 207 WEST SIXTH, SHANE CASEY OF 311 SOUTH POPE, AND JOHN JOHNSON OF 509 SOUTH LICKLITER. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY THOMAS MALKOVICH PRESENTED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 LIQUOR CODE, ARTICLE II – LICENSE CLASS “A” – LIMITING THE NUMBER OF LICENSE FROM 9 (NINE) TO 7 (SEVEN). MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #15-7 WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION BOARDS NEEDED BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED. MAYOR KRAFT ASKED TO APPOINT BROOK CRAIG TO THE POLICE PENSION BOARD. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO APPOINTMENT BROOK CRAIG TO THE POLICE PENSION BOARD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WYANT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT ASKED TO REAPPOINT LISA MENO TO THE FIRE PENSION BOARD. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT LISA MENO TO THE FIRE PENSION BOARD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THAT THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD HAD RECEIVED A LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM VICKEE COCKRUM. MAYOR KRAFT STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO STATE HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THAT MRS. COCKRUM HAD DONE SINCE BEING PLACED ON THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF CIVIC CENTER BOARD MEMBER VICKEE COCKRUM. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT ASKED TO APPOINT JOELLEN BAUER AS A NEW MEMBER TO THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT JOELLEN BAUER TO THE CIVIC CENTER BOARD. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT PRESENTED A RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROTECT FULL FUNDING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTIVE FUND REVENUES. COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION, #15-4. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KRAFT STATED THE COUNCIL WOULD TABLE ITEM (F) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION TO EXPEND MONIES FOR CITY HALL PROJECT.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC, JOHN OWENS, A PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTER WITH THE CITY OF BENTON, ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL. MR. OWENS READ A LETTER DRAFTED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE LETTER STATED THAT THERE WERE 18 FIRE FIGHTERS “YES” VOTES AND 1 ABSTAIN VOTE STATING THEY HAD NO CONFIDENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER BURNETT. JULIE PAYNE HUBLER ADDRESSED COMMISSIONER BURNETT AND STATED SHE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING AT THE BENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONER WYANT MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE COUNCIL MEETING TO FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 AT 8:30 A.M. TO PAY BILLS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER BAUMGARTE, COMMISSIONER WYANT, COMMISSIONER BURNETT, AND MAYOR KRAFT. NAYS: 0.