MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM OF THE CAMPBELL BUILDING LOCATED AT 901 PUBLIC SQUARE, BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER STOREY WAS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING FROM JANUARY 27, 2025 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, UPDATES, OR BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SEND A NOTICE OUT THAT THE CITY OF BENTON WILL BE ACCEPTING MOWING BIDS FOR CITY PROPERTY, NUISANCE YARDS, TWIN OAKS, AIRPORT, ETC. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA HANDLED THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT FOR COMMISSIONER STOREY IN HIS ABSENCE.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00713 TO BI-STATE COMPRESSOR FOR OIL AND FILTER ELEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,860.10. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00429 TO MID-AMERICA FIRE AND SAFETY FOR TEN (10) 100-FOOT SECTIONS OF 5” SUPPLY HOUSE AND 2 ADAPTORS FOR 4” TO 5” IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,444.06. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00428 TO SENTINEL EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS FOR ANNUAL SCBA FLOW TESTING AND REPAIR OF 1 SCBA IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,729.18. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00430 TO LEO ELLEBRACHT COMPANY FOR 3 SETS OF GEAR REPLACING EXPIRED GEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,006.52. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00427 TO ESO FOR ANNUAL FIRE REPORTING MODULE AND ANNUAL EMS REPORTING MODULE IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,021.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO PAY A PORTION OF THE ESO PURCHASE ORDER FROM THE AMBULANCE FUND. COMMISSIONER KAYS ALSO STATED THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL WAS AWARE THAT PURCHASE ORDER #00713 TO BI-STATE COMPRESSOR WAS ACTUALLY FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND NOT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO REGRETFULLY ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF OFFICER MICHAEL CAIN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE MEMBERSHIP WITH THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS DRUG TASKFORCE FOR $8,000.00 A YEAR. SHE STATED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT BE REPLACING OFFICER CAIN’S POSITION ON THE DRUG TASK FOR AT THIS TIME AND THAT IS WHY SHE IS RECOMMENDING MEMBERSHIP AGAIN. CHIEF FUNKHOUSER STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO PAY FOR THIS THROUGH THE OPIOID FUND. THIS MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, NO POOL/LEAK ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS, AND NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED FEBRUARY 14, 2025 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,434.43 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,745.06 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE AMOUNT OF $101,179.49. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS DATED FEBRUARY 10, 2025 FOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $299,604.87 AND THIS INCLUDED $14,528.20 FROM THE IJRL TIF FUND AND $3,000.00 FROM THE DOWNTOWN TIF FUND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF SETTING RESTRICTED FUNDS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AECI INFRASTRUCTURE PAYMENT RESOLUTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDED TO DISCUSS THE APPROVAL OF NEW WATER AND TRASH RATES. THE TRASH RATES ARE ALREADY APPROVED TO INCREASE, BUT THE COUNCIL HAS NOT SET NEW WATER RATES. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HOLD OFF ON THIS UNTIL WE SEE IF ANYTHING CHANGES. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS UNTIL THE SECOND MEETING IN MARCH. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS CLOSE TO A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THEIR UNION CONTRACT.
NO UPDATES OR ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION UNDER THE CITY ATTORNEY.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT AN APPRAISAL HAS BEEN DONE ON 1403 SOUTH MAIN AND THAT WE ARE IN TALKS FOR AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY FOR THE CAMPBELL BUILDING. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT WE ARE STILL AWAITING THE FEASIBILITY STUDY BEING COMPLETED BY ARCHITECHNIQUES.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE CITY HAD RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR THE USE OF CAPITAL PARK MADE BY BRANDON OVERTON FOR THE BILL CULKIN MEMORIAL EVENT ON MAY 24, 2025. THIS APPLICATION HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS APPLICATION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED MR. CALCATERRA TO DISCUSS ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT MADE BY JASON DREW TO BUILD 2 FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS LOCATED AT 325 WEST 4TH STREET. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THIS IS SET TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT $900/MONTH PER UNIT. THERE WILL BE 12 DUPLEXES BUILT, 24 RESIDENCES. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THERE WAS ONE OPPOSITION AT THE PUBLIC HEARING. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT IT IS HIS RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
5:26 P.M.
