North Egypt News

City of Benton City Council met Jan. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled Benton City Council Meeting Held Monday January 8, 2024 At 10 A.M. In The Benton Municipal Building Located At 1403 South Main Street Benton, Illinois.

Commissioner Kays Called The Meeting To Order. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum Were Present For Roll Call. Commissioner Storey And Mayor Messersmith Were Absent.

Commissioner Kays Asked For A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting Held On Friday, December 22, 2023, Held At 10 A.M. Commissioner Garavalia Made This Motion. Seconded By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting. Commissioner Garavalia Also Stated That She Had Received The Water Usage Report For Twin Oaks And There Has Been A Lot Of Usage. She Stated That There Appears To Be A Leak, But We Have Now Turned Off The Water For The Winter And Will Begin Looking For The Issue Once Spring Gets Here.

Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders, No Pool Adjustments, And No Lake Lot Lease Transfers For This Meeting.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve The Perry Ridge Non-Hazardous Waste Service Agreement. Commissioner Cockrum Stated This Is A Standard Agreement And Nothing Has Been Modified Since The Last Time The City Entered Into This Agreement. Commissioner Kays Seconded This Motion. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

In The Absence Of Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays Handled The Public Health And Safety Report. Commissioner Kays Stated That There Were No Purchase Orders, Updates, Or Department Reports.

Commissioner Kays Stated That He Had Been Approached By Fire Chief Shane Cockrum Regarding Creating A Lateral Transfer Ordinance For The Fire Department. Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve The Creation Of A Lateral Transfer Ordinance For The Fire Department. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve Payroll For January 5, 2024 For The General Fund In The Amount Of $79,973.17 And The Water And Sewer Fund In The Amount Of $27,168.44 For A Total Payroll In The Amount Of $107,141.61. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Kays Stated He Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting And That The Meeting Will Need To Be Continued For The Payment Of Bills.

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve Resolution #24-01 For The Line Of Credit With People’s National Bank For The Water Main Project To Industrial Park Ii. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

Attorney Malkovich Was Not Present For The Meeting.

In The Absence Of Mayor Messersmith, Commissioner Kays Handled The Public Affairs Report. Commissioner Kays Stated There Were No Updates And No Purchase Orders For Approval. Commissioner Kays Asked Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra To Handle Items (C), (D), (E), And (F).

Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra Stated That He Had Received A Petition To Vacate An Alley Located In 1st Addition. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That It Was He And The Zoning Board’s Recommendation To Approve This Alley Vacation. Mr. Calcaterra Asked For A Motion To Approve Ordinance #24-01 Vacating An Alley Located In Reed’s 1st Addition. Commissioner Cockrum Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra Stated That It Would Be Hand The Zoning Board’s Recommendation To Approve The Special Use Permit Application Made By April Wilkins To Operate A Body And Fender Works Business Located At 605 North Main Street. Mr. Calcaterra Mentioned That He Did Receive 1 Letter In Opposition Of This Special Use Permit. Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve The Special Use Permit Application Made By April Wilkins To Operate A Body And Fender Works Business Located At 605 North Main Street. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra Stated That It Was He And The Zoning Board’s Recommendation To Approve The Special Use Permit Application Made By April Wilkins To Operate And Automobile Sales Business Located At 605 North Main. Commissioner Cockrum Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Kays. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra Stated That It Was His Recommendation That The City Make A Motion To Pass Ordinance #24-02 Defining Shipping Containers And Prohibiting The Use Of Shipping Containers As A Primary Or Principal Structure, Accessory Building, Storage Building, Garage, Living Unit, Or Other Similar Purpose. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That The Zoning Board Voted 2-2 On This Subject. Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve Ordinance #24-02 Defining Shipping Containers And Prohibiting The Use Of Shipping Containers As A Primary Or Principal Structure, Accessory Building, Storage Building, Garage, Living Unit, Or Other Similar Purpose. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

No Miscellaneous Business.

No Old Business., Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra Stated That He Had Scheduled 6 Interviews For The Position Of Code Enforcement Officer. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That Unfortunately, 2 Of The Interviewees Were No Call, No Show.

In New Business, Commissioner Kays Stated That He Sat In On A Meeting With Axon Regarding Body Cameras And Renewing Our Contract With Them. Chief Funkhouser Stated That The Cameras In The Interview Room Needed To Be Updated As Well. More Information Will Come At A Later Meeting Regarding These Items.

In Matters From The Public Audience, Mr. Tom Carter Asked If The City Would See A Savings On A Lateral Hire In The Fire Department. Commissioner Kays Stated That They Do Still Have To Go To The Fire Academy, But He Said We Would See A Saving By Having Less Overtime Because The Lateral Transfer Would Not Have To Be On A Shift With Another Fireman For As Long. Mr. Carter Also Questioned Where The Leak At Twin Oaks Is And If It Is Going Into The Stool. He Said That If It Is Running A Large Amount Of Water Through The Septic Tank, It Will Kill All The Good Bugs Off. Commissioner Garavalia Stated That It Does Not Appear To Be A Problem With The Stools. Mr. Carter Also Asked If The Perry Ridge Agreement Stated Whether Or Not They Would Be Using Forever Chemicals And If They Are Periodically Testing. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That As Far As He Knows They Are No Using Forever Chemicals, But That He Will Talk With Shannon Toigo And Craig Miles About This. Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Would Set Up A Time To Meet With Mr. Carter After Getting These Answers.

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Continue The Meeting To Friday January 12, 2024 At 9:30 A.M. To Pay Bills. Seconded By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Commissioner Cockrum. Nays: 0.

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