South West Illinois News

City of Benton City Council met July 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

Minutes Of The Regular Benton City Council Meeting Held Monday July 10, 2017 At 6:00 p.m. In The Benton Municipal Building Located At 1403 South Main Street, Benton, Illinois.

In The Absence Of Mayor Kondritz, Acting Mayor, Commissioner Miller Called The Meeting To Order. Those Present Were Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte.

Commissioner Baumgarte Made A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The June 26, 2017 Regular Benton City Council Meeting. Second By Commissioner Wyant. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Wyant Made A Motion To Approve The Minutes Of The Special Called July 5, 2017 Benton City Council Meeting. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 3. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, And Commissioner Wyant. Nays: 0. Commissioner Baumgarte Abstained.

Commissioner Miller Stated That We Would Be Going Out Of Order Of The Agenda. Commissioner Miller Introduced Police Chief Kyle Melvin. Chief Melvin Introduced Officer Mark Wilkey And K9 Officer, Ranger. Chief Melvin Stated That Ranger Was Born In Czechoslovakia, Sent To Germany, And Was Adopted By The City Of Benton In Indiana. Chief Melvin Stated That Ranger Will Be Used For Tracking Suspects As Well As Missing Or Endangered Elderly And Children. Officer Wilkey Stated That He And Ranger Completed A 400 Hour Training Acadamy.

Commissioner Baumgarte Made A Motion To Approve A Change Order For The Construction Of The Wastewater Treatment Plant In The Amount Of $59,709.50. Second By Commissioner Wyant. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Baumgarte Made A Motion To Approve Pay Request #6 To River City Construction For Construction Of The Wastewater Treatment Plant In The Amount Of $621,573.30. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Baumgarte Asked The Sealed Bids For Four (4) House Demolitions Be Opened And Read Aloud. Terra Pro Excavating Bid $21,500.00; Wiggs Excavating Bid $21,425.00; Roadworks Bid $22,951.33; Schafer Excavating Bid $31,300.00 Or $34,900.00 If The City Wished A Garage Be Demolished In Addition; Terry Baker Excavating Bid $21,240.00; Joplin Salvage Bid $19,250.00; Freeman Environmental Bid $13,890.00; And Ap Excavating Bid $27,219.00. Low Bid Was Received By Freeman Environmental. Commissioner Wyant Made A Motion To Allow Zoning Administrator David Garavalia And City Clerk Brook Craig To Proceed With Demolition Of These Four (4) Houses After Verifying All Information Needed To Proceed. Second By Commissioner Baumgarte. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Wyant Made A Motion To Approve The Vacation Of An Alley In Mccreery And Stamper’s Addition And The Vacation Of An Unnamed Street. Public Hearing Was Held Before The Council Meeting With No Comments From The Public. Second By Commissioner Baumgarte. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Wyant Made A Motion To Approve Resolution #17-07 Allowing Street Closure For The Annual Chamber Car Show From 4 P.M. To 9 P.M. On September 9, 2017. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Baumgarte Made A Motion To Table Approval Of The Ambulance Ordinance Until All Questions From The Council Regarding This Ordinance Could Be Answered. Second By Commissioner Wyant. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Storey Made A Motion To Approve The Temporary Full-Time Appointment Of Jeremy Young To The Position Of Police Department. Second By Commissioner Baumgarte. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Miller Made A Motion To Approve Monthly Bills In The Amount Of $550,915.01. Second By Commissioner Wyant. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Miller Made A Motion To Approve Payroll For June 30, 2017 From The General Fund In The Amount Of $63,262.11 And Water And Sewer In The Amount Of $30,669.25 For A Total Payroll Of $94,295.36. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Miller Made A Motion To Approve A Sewer Adjustment For Steve Volini Of 503 South Main As It Meets The Criteria Set Forth In The Ordinance. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Miller Made A Motion To Approve Swimming Pool Adjustments For Darryl Lynch Of 420 Stone Brook Drive, Monika Humbrecht Of 511 West Sixth Street, Robin Foster Of 210 College Street, Mary Wyant Of 412 South Stotlar, Van Synder Of 714 Beatrice, Jack Thomas Of 603 East Webster, Rachel Easton Of 1006 South Commercial, Damian Dawson Of 1205 Whisper Way, Tracy And Daniel Bonsack Of 304 North Eighth, And Melinda Thomas Of 600 West Sixth Street As They Meet The Criteria Set Forth In The Ordinance. Second By Commissioner Storey. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Commissioner Miller Stated That He Would Like The Council To Think About The Possibility Of Getting An Estimate For Demolition Of 500 West Main Street. This Estimate Would Be Useful In Letting Potential Buyers Know The Costs Of Demolition If They Were To Choose To Move Forward With It.

Commissioner Miller Stated That Midwest Computer Recycling Inc. Had Been In Contact With The City. They Have Asked That The City Sponsor A Computer/Electronic Recycling Event. This Event Would Be Free To The Citizens And The City. Commissioner Baumgarte Made A Motion To Sponsor A Computer/Electronic Recycling Event. Second By Commissioner Wyant. Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

Attorney Malkovich Stated That The Council Will Need To Discuss Paying For Fuel And Lodging Expenses For John Cerney Under Old Business. John Cerney, An Artist From California, Had Been In Contact With The City Of Benton Regarding An Art Installation He Would Like To Donate. Mr. Cerney’ S Installation Is Worth Approximately $20,000.00 And The Only Thing He Is Requesting In Return Would Be His Travel Expenses.

No Miscellaneous Business.

Under Old Business, Commissioner Wyant Stated That He Did Not Feel The City Needed To Accept This Art Installation Or Pay For The Expenses Of Mr. Cerney. Commissioner Wyant Made A Motion To Not Move Forward With The Installation By Mr. Cerney. Second By Commissioner Baumgarte. Vote Was Taken. Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 1. Commissioner Miller.

No New Business.

No Matters From The Public Audience.

Commissioner Wyant Made A Motion To Adjourn. Second By Commissioner Storey.

Vote Was Taken. Yeas: 4. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Storey, Commissioner Wyant, And Commissioner Baumgarte. Nays: 0.

6:35 p.m.