MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2025 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE CAMPBELL BUILDING LOCATED AT 901 PUBLIC SQUARE BENTON, ILLINOIS.
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 MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2025 AT 5 P.M. IN THE CAMPBELL BUILDING LOCATED AT 901 PUBLIC SQUARE IN BENTON, ILLINOIS. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0 ABSTAINS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED SHE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THE MEETING. UNDER UPDATES COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MENTIONED SHE HAD RECEIVED A FEW PHONE CALLS REGARDING SIGNATURE BRICKS FOR THE PARK.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THE MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED HE HAD NO POOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE A LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFER FOR LOTS 6, 113 & 114 FROM THE WIGGS FAMILY TO THE SHEETZ FAMILY. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LETTER OF RESIGNATION FOR KEVIN SAMPLE. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED UNDER UPDATES THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT WAS OUT WORKING ON PATCHING HEAVILY THIS WEEK WITH THE WEATHER BEING NICE, HE ALSO MENTIONED THE WATER DEPARTMENT WILL BE OUT WORKING ON METERS AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER STOREY GAVE THANKS TO COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA FOR COVERING HIS DUTIES IN HIS ABSENCE. HE ALSO GAVE THANKS TO THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.
COMMISSIONER STOREY HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THE MEETING.
COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED COMMISSIONER KAYS TO PRESENT ITEM 6B SINCE HE HAD MORE DIRECT KNOWLEDGE. COMMISSIONER KAYS EXPLAINED THAT WITH FIREMAN PALMER LEAVING FOR TRAINING THERE WOULD BE A TEMPORARY VACANCY THAT TYLER JENNINGS WOULD FILL. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT MR. JENNINGS AS A TEMPORARY FIREMAN FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES OF THE TEMPORARY FIREMEN BEFORE HIM. SECONDED 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 ACCEPT PAYROLL DATED FOR FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025 TOTALING $109,166.22 WITH $84,237.15 FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND $24,929.07 FROM THE REVENUE FUND. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THE MEETING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-01, RESTRICTING THE $50,000.00 INSURANCE PAYMENT FROM THE MOLD CLAIM AT 1403 S MAIN. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS PRESENTED RESOLUTION 2025-02, RESTRICTING THE AECI INFRASTRUCTURE PAYMENT OF $100,000.00 WITH THE INTENTION OF USING IT FOR PURCHASING LARGER METERS AND GRANT MATCHING. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-02. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS SPOKE ABOUT THE UPCOMING BUDGET STATING ALL NUMBERS HAVE BEEN TURNED IN FROM EACH DEPARTMENT WITH THE EXPECTATION OF SOME MFT NUMBERS, BUT HE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE CITY ENGINEER AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR REGARDING THESE. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED IT IS HIS HOPE TO HAVE THE BUDGET ON DISPLAY BY MID-MARCH FOR PUBLIC VIEWING.
NO UPDATES FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
UNDER UPDATES MAYOR MESSERSMITH WANTED TO CONGRATULATE PARKER JOHNSON ON HIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IN THE STATE SPEECH MEETING. UNFORTUNATELY, MR. JOHNSON HAD ALREADY MOVED ONTO HIS NEXT PROJECT AND WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING, BUT HE SHOULD BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING OF MARCH 10TH,2025. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT REGIONAL BASKETBALL STARTS THIS WEEK. MAYOR MESSERSMITH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH MR. CALCATERRA AND GREATER EGYPT PLANNING COMMITTEE TO GET A COMPREHENSIVE CITY PLAN TOGETHER, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT GRANTS FOR AIRPORT EXTENSION AND MAIN STREET LIGHTINGS. MAYOR MESSERSMITH WAS HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT MOST OF THE SUPPLIES FOR MALKOVICH PARK ARE IN AND THE HOPE IS TO HAVE THE CONCRETE SEALED BY THE WATER FESTIVAL TO ALLOW THE ITEMS TO BE PLACED.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH HAD ONE PURCHASE ORDER FOR A NEW AIRPORT CREW CAR SINCE THE CURRENT ONE DOES NOT RUN. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #504 IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,080.70. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO SPEAK ON ITEM 9C. MR. CALCATERRA EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THE COUNCIL HAD APPROVED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT UNDER A MR. FINKY BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY. MR. EDWARDS HAS COME FORWARD AS AN INTERESTED BUYER AND IN THE INTEREST OF ———–
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED THE COUNCIL FOR A MOTION TO APPOINT BRANDTLEE BROWN TO THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER FOR TERM OF FOUR YEARS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THE MOTION. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED HE WAS ASKED ABOUT A LEAGUE SPONSORSHIP FROM THE BENTON COMMUNITY PARK DISTRICT. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THE CITY DID NOT NEED TO DO A SPONSORSHIP FOR A TEAM SO MUCH AS HE WOULD LIKE TO DONATE FOR THE PARK DISTRICT TO USE IT AS THEY NEED FOR THE LEAGUE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO DONATE $500.00 TO THE BENTON PARK DISTRICT AS A DONATION FOR THE LEAGUE. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED THE COUNCIL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BENTON AND THE COUNTY OF FRANKLIN FOR LEASING SPACE AT $3,000.00 A MONTH STARTING JANUARY 1, 2025. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED COMMISSIONER KAYS TO DISCUSS ITEM 9G. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT FOR APPOINTING TO THE AIRPORT BOARD SPECIFICALLY BUT MORE FOR CREATING A PORTAL TO ALLOW INTERESTED PEOPLE TO SUBMIT THEIR INFORMATION FOR CONSIDERATION TO THE VARIOUS BOARD WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO BEGIN THE WORK TO CREATE A ADVISORY BOARD PORTAL. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED BOTH PAYROLLS IN MARCH WILL USE A BLEND OF THE PHYSICAL PAPER AND THE DIGITAL ADP APP FOR TRACKING. THIS REDUNDANCY IS TO HELP CATCH ANY ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE AIRPORT MANAGER MATHEW HARRISON STATED HE HAD MANAGED TO SECURE OVER $100,000.00 WORTH OF GRANT FUNDING THAT HAD BEEN AWARDED BUT NEVER CLAIMED. MR. HARRISON MENTIONED THAT THE AIRPORT IS STILL ON TRACK TO BUILD THE HANGER AND THE RUNWAY LIGHT PROJECT IS MOVING SMOOTHLY.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
