MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY, MARCH 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 MARCH 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: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00863 TO SAMS CLUB FOR FIVE (5) LIFETIME COMMERCIAL FOLDING CHAIR FOUR (4) PACKS, TWO (2) LIFETIME 60” ROUND STACKING TABLES, AND ONE (1) LIFETIME EIGHT (8) FOOT COMMERCIAL GRADE FOLDING TABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $949.84. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO ITEM (B) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AWARDING 2025 MOWING BID, UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR USE OF CITY STREETS, PARKS, OR PUBLIC PLACES FOR THE BENTON /WEST CITY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO USE CAPITAL PARK ON APRIL 30TH THROUGH MAY 3RD, 2025 DURING THE REND LAKE WATER FESTIVAL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR USE OF CITY STREETS, PARKS, OR PUBLIC PLACES FOR THE VETERAN’S FAIR TO USE CAPITAL PARK ON MAY 3RD, 2025 DURING THE REND LAKE WATER FESTIVAL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00715 TO UTILITY PIPE SALES FOR METERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,321.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO POOL ADJUSTMENTS AND NO LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #25-04 CLOSING VARIOUS ROADS FOR THE REND LAKE WATER FESTIVAL PARADE. SECOND BY COMMISSION STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00139 TO THE HILTON HAMPTON INN AND SUITES FOR TWO (2) HOTEL ROOMS FOR TWO OFFICERS FOR SRO TRAINING WITH A TOTAL COST OF $866.88. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED ATTORNEY MALKOVICH TO HANDLE ITEM (B) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD A COPY OF THIS MOU IN THEIR PACKETS. THE MOU STATES THAT IF THE CITY FAILS TO PAY FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ON TIME, THE EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE 1.1 TIMES THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE OWED AND THAT THE OUTSTANDING AMOUNT MUST BE PAID NO LATER THAN THE NEXT PAYROLL DATE. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW THE POLICE AND FIRE MERIT BOARD TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF HIRING TWO (2) FULL-TIME PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICERS. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT TESTING WILL BE DONE ON MARY 17, 2025 TO FORM A NEW LIST. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED HE HAD NO PAYROLL FOR APPROVAL, PURCHASE ORDERS, OR BILLS AT THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER KAYS PRESENTED THE COUNCIL WITH TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ORDINANCE. AFTER DISCUSSION, THE COUNCIL AGREED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS ITEM FOR ANOTHER TIME. MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO CHARGE OFF BAD DEBT IN THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,091.81. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER KAYS PRESENTED THE COUNCIL WITH CHANGES TO THE BENTON PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR MAY 1, 2024 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2027. THESE CHANGES INCLUDED A RETROACTIVE PAY RAISE OF 4% FROM MAY 1, 2024 TO PRESENT, A 3% PAY RAISE EFFECTIVE ON MAY 1, 2025, A 2.5% PAY RAISE EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2026, AND EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2027 AN INCREASE OF BASE HOURLY WAGE RATES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THIS BARGAINING UNIT BASED ON CPI FOR THAT YEAR. THERE WAS ALSO A CHANGE IN LONGEVITY WHERE THE FIRST STEP WILL BE TAKEN AT THE START OF YEAR 3 INSTEAD OF THE START OF YEAR 4. EXTRA COMPENSATION AND TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WERE ALSO ADDRESSED. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT, LOCAL #318, FOR MAY 1, 2024 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2027. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
NO UPDATES FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
UNDER UPDATES, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE 2025 ROAD PROGRAM WILL BE STARTING SOON. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF EVENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS MEETING.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE APPOINTING DAVID MITCHELL TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY BOARD. HE STATED THAT MR. MITCHELL PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THIS BOARD AND SINCE RETIRING FROM DELTA AIRLINES, HE IS WILLING TO SERVE AGAIN. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT DAVID MITCHELL TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY BOARD REPLACING REECE RUTLAND, WHO HAS RESIGNED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION TO DISCUSS AMENDING ZONING CODE 40-3-95 AND APPENDIX “C” AS IT RELATES TO REBUILDING DWELLINGS IN THE EVENT OF A NATURAL DISASTER OR FIRE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER TO LOOK INTO THIS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
IN OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT THE RESIDENCY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE STATED THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF INCENTIVE TO KEEP POLICE OFFICERS HERE.
IN NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE HAS TICKETS FOR THE HOSPITAL AXILLARY SCHOLARSHIP DINNER IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THEM. THE COST OF THE TICKETS IS $40.00 EACH.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, LINDA SMITH ASKED WHEN THE CITY COULD FLUSH THE FIRE HYDRANT IN FRONT OF HER HOME. SHE STATED THAT HER WATER SMELLS LIKE WET DOG. COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE AND THE FIRE CHIEF HAD JUST SPOKE ABOUT THE FLUSHING OF THE HYDRANTS AND HE EXPECTS TO START IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO. MRS. SMITH STATED THAT SHE IS BATTLING BREAST CANCER AND HER DOCTOR TOLD HER SHE IS NOT TO BE DRINKING TAP WATER.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM (C) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY, INCLUDING HEARING TESTIMONY ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR AGAINST LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO DETERMINE ITS VALIDITY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
5:43 P.M.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
6:04 P.M.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO AWARD THE 2025 MOWING BID TO DAVID BOOKER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KAYS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 2. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM AND COMMISSIONER KAYS.
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.
6:05 P.M.
