–Two liquor licenses and changes to the city liquor code regarding the Class A license were approved by the Benton City Council during its meeting Monday night.

The council approved a Class E license for Bonzfire Grill. The vote was 4 to 1. Commissioners Don Storey, Dennis Miller and Don Wyant along with Mayor Fred Kondritz voted yes while Commissioner Ronnie Baumgarte voted no.

The council approved a Class A license for Good Times on East Main. The vote was 4 to 1 with Commissioners Don Storey, Dennis Miller and Don Wyant and Mayor Fred Kondritz voting yes while Commissioner Ronnie Baumgarte voted no.

Changes made recently by the council to increase Class A licenses to nine from seven were also approved by a 4 to 1 vote. Voting yes were Commissioners Don Storey, Dennis Miller and Don Wyant along with Mayor Fred Kondritz. Commissioner Ronnie Baumgarte voted no.

(Pictured; Don Wyant)

–The Benton City Council approved two items involving the Benton Municipal Airport following its executive session at Monday night’s meeting.

Commissioner Don Wyant made a motion to move forward with the airport wildlife fence project. Commissioner Don Story seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously by the council.

Commissioner Dennis Miller made a motion to approve the request for quotation process for new airport engineering services. Commissioner Don Story seconded the motion, which was also approved unanimously by the council.

(Pictured: Don Storey)

 

–The Benton City Council approved donating a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria from the police department to Franklin County Emergency Management at Monday night’s meeting.

Commissioner Don Storey says he was contacted by EMA Director Ryan Buckingham in August about needing a vehicle in order to perform daily duties and to respond to emergencies throughout the county. Storey says the car has been taken out of service by the police department due to mechanical issues.

Commissioner Ronnie Baumgarte seconded the motion. The council voted unanimously to give the car to Buckingham’s office.

 

–A Benton truck driver addressed the Benton City Council Monday night about needing a place for truckers to park their trucks and trailers when they come home.

Doug Hager says there is no place for truckers to park in Benton and noted that neighboring towns like West Frankfort and Christopher have areas for this purpose.

Hager suggested letting truckers use Industrial Park Road again for parking. Commissioner Don Wyant didn’t like that idea because he didn’t want the road damaged from truck jacks like in the past.

Mayor Fred Kondritz really didn’t have an answer for Hager regarding truck parking, but added that hopefully someone in town will hear about the problem and provide a place for truckers to park in Benton.

 

–The City of Benton is going to start cracking down on dogs running loose in the city.

During Monday night’s City Council meeting, Commissioner Don Storey told the council there is a city ordinance that says dogs must be on leashes and it needs to be enforced. Storey spoke with Police Chief Kyle Melvin Monday about this issue and he’s on board.

Benton pays Franklin County almost $17,000 a year to handle animal control.  But Storey says there is one problem with animal control when it comes to taking care of loose dogs.

Storey says the only way animal control will come out during those hours is if someone gets bit, which has happened recently. And even then no one showed up according to Storey.

Storey says he will speak to the county board about the animal control issue and see what can be done to solve this problem.