North Egypt News

City of Benton City Council met Sept. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Minutes Of The Special Called Benton City Council Meeting Held Monday, September 9, 2024 At 5:00 P.M. In The Campbell Building Located At 901 Public Square Benton, Illinois.

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

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting Held On Monday August 26, 2024 At 5 P.M. In The Campbell Building Located At 901 Public Square In Benton, Illinois. Seconded By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Had No Purchase Orders Or Updates For This Meeting.

Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders For This Meeting.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve The Pool Adjustment For Severin At 303 West Boling As It Meets The Criteria Set Forth In The Ordinance.  Second By Commissioner Storey.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 3. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.  Commissioner Kays Abstained.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Deny The Pool Adjustment For Kubow At 11139 Sam Pyle Bridge Road As It Does Not Meet The Criteria Set Forth In The Ordinance.  Second By Commissioner Storey.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 3. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays: 0.  Commissioner Kays Abstained.

Commissioner Cockrum Stated That There Were No Lake Lot Lease Transfers For This Meeting.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve The Resolution Closing Certain Streets For The Annual Homecoming Parade On September 27, 2024 From 1:30 P.M. To 2:15 P.M.  Second By Commissioner Garavalia.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

Commissioner Cockrum Asked City Engineer Rodney Potts To Speak To The Council.  Mr. Potts Stated That He Had Distributed A Map Explaining What Areas Would Be Receiving A New Water Line With The CDAP Grant As Well As A Bid Tabulation For The Project.  The Only Bid Received Was From Wiggs Excavating In The Amount Of $1,589,611.00.  Mr. Potts Stated That This Was Higher Than What The City Was Prepared To Pay.  Mr. Potts Stated That After Speaking With Public Works Director Craig Miles, A Change Order Will Be Done On Which Sidewalks Are Being Replaced And Replacement Of These Sidewalks Will Be Done Through The MFT Program.  Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve Accepting The Bid From Wiggs Excavating Pending Approval From The Administrators Of The CDAP Grant.  Second By Commissioner Kays.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

Commissioner Storey Stated That He Had No Purchase Orders Or Bills For This Meeting.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Allow The Merit Board To Begin The Process Of Hiring A Firefighter Off The Current Eligibility List.  Second By Commissioner Garavalia.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

Commissioner Storey Stated That In The Month Of August The Police Department Handled 600 Calls And The Fire Department Handled 90 Calls.  Commissioner Storey Also Stated That The Police Department Has Found A New Square Car In The Amount Of $42,320.00 From Morrow Brothers Ford That They Will Be Purchasing.  

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve Payroll For August 30, 2024 From The General Fund In The Amount Of $85,927.96 And Water And Sewer Fund In The Amount Of $21,780.05 For A Total Payroll Of $107,708.01. Commissioner Garavalia Seconded This Motion. Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve Payroll For September 13, 2024 For The General Fund In The Amount Of $78,447.47 And The Water And Sewer Fund In The Amount Of $22,880.86 For A Total Payroll Of $101,328.33.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve Bills From The Ap Fund In The Amount Of $225,937.59, From MFT In The Amount Of $177,143.36, From IJRL TIF In The Amount Of $44,413.84, And From Downtown Tif In The Amount Of $23,242.77 For A Total Amount Of $467,737.56.  Second By Commissioner Storey.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

City Attorney Malkovich Had No Updates.

In Updates For Public Affairs, Commissioner Kays Stated That He Would Like To Thank The Young Americans Club For Putting Out 3,000 Flags On The High School Lawn In Memorial Of 9/11.  Commissioner Kays Also Stated That The Fire Department Will Be Putting Out Their Large Flag Over West Main To Honor Those Lost In The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.  Commissioner Kays Stated That Fire Chief Shane Cockrum Had Told Him That Engine 803 Is Back In Service, But That Engine 801 Is Not Finished Yet.  Finally, Commissioner Kays Stated That The Airport Will Be Having Its Final Food Truck Fly In On September 14, 2024 And That It Should Be Noted That The Airport Car Is Down And A New Vehicle Is Being Sought.

Commissioner Kays Stated That There Were No Purchase Orders To Approve For Public Affairs At This Time.

Commissioner Kays Stated That There Is A Possible Housing Grant Coming Up That Will Be Administered By Crosswalk.  In The Past The City Has Made A Matching Contribution Of $5,000.00 Towards This Grant.  Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve A Resolution For A $5,000.00 Matching Contribution To The Upcoming CDAP Grant.  Second By Commissioner Cockrum.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

Commissioner Kays Asked Brian Calcaterra To Address The Council Regarding Item (D) Discussion And/Or Approval Of The Petition To Vacate An Alley Within The Corporate Boundary Of The City Of Benton.  Mr. Calcaterra Stated That This Property Is Overgrown With No Access To It From The Street.  Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Has Heard From The Neighbors And There Are No Objections.  Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Recommended The Council Approve The Petition To Vacate An Alley For Tyler And Bethany Sink And Raymond Dow And Marilyn Jo Smith In The McFall And Dimond’s Addition Of The City.  Commissioner Kays Made This Motion.  Second By Commissioner Storey.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4.  Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

Commissioner Kays Asked Mr. Brian Calcaterra To Handle Item (E) Discussion And/Or Approval Of The Resignation Of Adrienne Mason From The Zoning And Planning Commission.  Mr. Calcaterra Stated That Ms. Mason Had Not Been Attending The Meetings And The Board Chairman Contact Her Regarding Whether Or Not She Was Still Willing To Serve On This Board.  Mr. Calcaterra Stated That Ms. Mason Let The Board Know That She Was No Longer Interested In Serving On This Board Through A Text Message.  Attorney Malkovich Stated That The Resignation Will Need To Be Received In Writing.  Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve The Resignation Of Adrienne Mason From The Zoning And Planning Commission Pending Receipt Of Resignation Letter.  Second By Commissioner Cockrum.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

In Miscellaneous Business, Commissioner Kays Stated That The Water Department Billing Has Been Relocated To The Campbell Building And That Bills Can Be Paid In Person There Beginning On Wednesday, September 11, 2024.  Commissioner Kays Also Stated That The Paystar Application Is Going Well And A Lot Of Citizens Are Using It To Pay Their Bills.  Also Under Miscellaneous Business, Zoning Administrator Brian Calcaterra Stated That The Oslad Grant Has Finally Been Approved To Begin Work On Malkovich Park.   

No Old Business.

No New Business.

No Matters From The Public Audience.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Adjourn.  Second By Commissioner Garavalia.  Vote Was Taken.  Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, And Commissioner Garavalia.  Nays:  0.

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