North Egypt News

City of Benton City Council met Nov. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

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

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting Held On Tuesday November 12, 2024 At 5 P.M. In The Campbell Building Located At 901 Public Square In Benton, Illinois With The Change Of Clothing Allowance Going Up From $650.00 To $700.00 Instead Of $600.00 To $700.00. Seconded By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Garavalia Stated That She Had No Purchase Orders For Approval At This Meeting.

Under Updates, Commissioner Garavalia Stated That Malkovich Park Has Concrete Pouring Going On. She Also Stated That An Electrician Is Checking The Lights Around The Square To Make Sure They Are All In Working Order Before The Hometown Christmas Event.

Commissioner Garavalia Asked Jennie Ren To Come Before The Council To Give Her Presentation. Miss Ren Presented A Plan To Place Free Mini Libraries In 3 Places Around Town. She Stated That She Was Not Asking For Funding, But For Permission For The First Free Mini Library To Be Placed At Malkovich Park. Miss Ren Stated That She Had 1,000 Books To Donate To The Project And Was Happy To Fund The Building Of Each Mini Library On Her Own At A Cost Of Approximately $150.00 Per Library. She Stated That She Wanted To Do This Project Because Upon Research She Learned That Reading Proficiency In Our Area Is 2 Times Lower Than State Levels. Commissioner Kays Told Miss Ren That The City Would Like To Fund Her First Library And Then She Can Fund The Next. A Motion To Pay For The Building Of One Mini Library At A Cost Of Approximately $150.00 Was Made By Commissioner Storey. Second By Commissioner Kays. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

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

Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had No Pool Adjustments For This Meeting.

Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Had No Lake Lot Lease Transfers For This Meeting.

Commissioner Cockrum Stated That He Would Like To Skip Item (D) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Resolution For The CDBG Water Main Project Until Later In The Meeting.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Allow Brian Calcaterra And Attorney Malkovich To Proceed With Amending The Ordinance For Sewer Bill Adjustments Due To Leaks. Second By Commissioner Kays. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve Purchase Order #00424 To Rural King For The Purchase Of An Air Compressor For The Engine Bay At The Fire Department In The Amount Of $1,903.96. Commissioner Storey Stated That The Existing One Housed At The Fire Department Had The Motor Seize. Second By Commissioner Kays. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Stated That He Would Like To Taken No Action On Purchase Order #00423 To The Epson Store For A Projector In The Amount Of $2,430.63 As The City Owns A Projector Already. He Asked That The Fire Department Try Out The City’s Projector Before Buying One. No Further Action Was Taken On This Matter At This Meeting.

In Updates, Commissioner Storey Stated That Engine 801 Is Back In Service. He Stated That The Rear Airbags Are Out Though And This Is Not Covered By Insurance. Commissioner Kays Stated That At This Time, 100% Of Fire Department Units Are Back In Service Again.

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Approve Payroll Dated November 22, 2024 For The General Fund In The Amount Of $86,844.17 And For The Water And Sewer Fund In The Amount Of $23,391.10 For A Total Payroll Of $110,235.27. Commissioner Kays Also Noted That This Total Contains A Pay Period For Paid On Call Fire In The Amount Of $8,630.44. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Kays Stated That He Has No Bills For Approval For This Meeting.

City Attorney Malkovich Stated That He Has No Updates For This Meeting.

Under Updates, Mayor Messersmith Stated That He Was Very Proud Of The Ranger Football Team For Making It To The Elite 8. He Also Stated That There Will Be A Recognition Of A Number Of Athletes To Come In The Future. Mayor Messersmith Also Reminded Everyone That Hometown Christmas Is Slated For Saturday, November 30, 2024 From 4 P.M. To 7 P.M.

Mayor Messersmith Invited Parker Johnson To Speak To The Council. Mr. Johnson Stated That He Is The Youth Governor And Is At The Council Meeting Representing The Illinois YMCA Youth And Government. Mr. Johnson Stated That It Costs An Average Of $430.00 Per Student To Attend The Events Including Their Meals And Attire. Mr. Johnson Stated That He Is Requesting A Sponsorship Of $500.00 From The City Council To Help Send A Student To The Events. Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Sponsor The Illinois YMCA Youth And Government In The Amount Of $500.00. Second By Commissioner Kays. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Mayor Messersmith Asked Brian Calcaterra To Address Item (D) Discussion And/0r Approval Of Removing Adrienne Mason From The Zoning And Planning Commissioner For Absenteeism. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Was Verbally Given A Resignation From Ms. Mason, But Had Asked Her To Put It In Writing So The Board Could Approve It. At This Time, Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Has Never Received A Written Resignation And She Has Not Attended Another Meeting. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That He Believes She Has Actually Moved From The Area. Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Remove Adrienne Mason From The Zoning And Planning Commissioner. Second By Commissioner Kays. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Mayor Messersmith Asked Mr. Calcaterra To Also Handle Item (E) Opening Sealed Bids For Demolitions Identified By The City And Discussion And/Or Approval Of Accepting The Low Bid. Mr. Calcaterra Stated That Only One Bid Was Received And It Was From Chris Mencowski. The Bid Was For $5,800.00 For Taylor Street, $3,800.00 For Madison Street, And $5,950.00 For North McLeansboro. Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Accept This Bid. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Mayor Messersmith Asked For A Motion To Table Item (F) Discussion And/Or Approval Of Entering Into A One-Year Agreement With Darby Beasley-Piatek For Grant Writing Services As He Has Not Had A Chance To Review The Proposal. Commissioner Kays Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Garavalia. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Mayor Messersmith Asked For A Motion To Approve The Proposal For Three Feasibility Studies From Architechniques Limited In The Amount Of $5,000.00. Commissioner Storey Made This Motion. Second By Commissioner Kays. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Mayor Messersmith Stated That There Had Been An Oversight In Zoning Administrator/Economic Development Director Brian Calcaterra’s Contract. Mayor Messersmith Stated That Brian Should Have Been Receiving More Vacation Time Than He Currently Is And He Would Like To See This Amended. Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Amend Mr. Calcaterra’s Contract To Read As The Water, Sewer, And Street Contract Does For Vacation Time. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0. Commissioner Kays Abstained.

No Miscellaneous Business.

In Old Business, Commissioner Kays Stated That He Has Been Researching Into The Conflict Of Interest Ordinance. Commissioner Kays Also Stated That He Is Currently Working On The Tax Levy And Will Have It Ready For Inspection At The Next Meeting.

No New Business.

No Matters From The Public Audience.

Mayor Messersmith Stated That He Needed To Pause The Meeting For A Public Hearing. Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Go Into A Public Hearing. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

5:30 P.M.

Commissioner Garavalia Made A Motion To Return To The Regular Council Meeting. Second By Commissioner Cockrum. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

5:31 P.M.

Commissioner Cockrum Made A Motion To Approve Resolution #24-10 As A Commitment Of Local Funds In The Amount Of $391,131.00. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Kays Made A Motion To Adjourn. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 5. Commissioner Cockrum, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Kays, Commissioner Garavalia, And Mayor Messersmith. Nays: 0.

5:34 P.M.

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