MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY JANUARY 27, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM OF THE CAMPBELL BUIDING 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 13, 2025 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. 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 COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, NO POOL/LEAK ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS, AND NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING. AS AN UPDATE COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CRAIG MILES WILL BE MEETING WITH ENGINEERS ON THE WEST MAIN PROJECT. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT IDOT HAS BEGUN GETTING RIGHT OF WAY AGREEMENTS SIGNED FOR THIS PROJECT.
THERE WERE NO ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED JANUARY 17, 2025 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,866.20 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,373.55 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,239.75. 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 PAYROLL DATED JANUARY 31, 2025 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $76,392.45 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,157.47 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,549.92. 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 ROLLOUT OF ADP WILL HAPPEN IN FEBRUARY. COMMISSIONER KAYS ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS STARTED WORKING ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT HE IS 70% FINISHED AND IS WAITING FOR INFORMATION FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS IN ORDER TO FINISH.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES OR ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS MEETING.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL IS STILL NAVIGATING WHAT TO DO ABOUT 1403 SOUTH MAIN. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY ARE WORKING ON AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY HALL TO REMAIN TEMPORARILY HOUSED IN THE CAMPBELL BUILDING.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAS NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF CHANGING INSURANCE COVERAGE PROVIDER FROM BLISS MCKIGHT TO ICRMT. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH BOB REA AND HILLIARY REMM AT S.C.D. REA. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE CITY A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS BY SWITCHING PROVIDERS. THE LIABILITY INSURANCE IS UP FOR RENEWAL IN FEBRUARY AND THE WORKER’S COMPENSATION INSURANCE IS UP FOR RENEWAL IN MAY. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO SWITCH INSURANCE PROVIDERS TO ICRMT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DO A SPONSORSHIP FOR S.I. COMIC CON. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT LAST YEAR THE COUNCIL DID A TIER III SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $500.00. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO COMMIT TO A TIER III SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $500.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE RANGLER GIRLS WILL BE HEADING TO IHSA STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS COMING WEEKEND AND HE STATED THAT THERE ARE 3 MEMBERS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL WHO WILL BE SINGING IN THE IMEC ALL STATE CHOIR IN PEORIA THIS WEEKEND AS WELL. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT LAST WEEK WAS A GOOD ONE FOR THE BENTON INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THERE WAS A GREAT CROWD ALL WEEK.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
5:07 P.M.
