MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR COMMENTS FOR OR AGAINST THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 BUDGET HELD MONDAY APRIL 28, 2025 AT 4:15 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL ROOM OF THE CAMPBELL BUILDING LOCATED AT 901 PUBLIC SQUARE, BENTON, ILLINOIS.
COMMISSIONER KAYS CALLED THE HEARING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. MAYOR MESSERSMITH WAS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM ASKED ABOUT WHY THE I-57 PROJECT WAS STILL IN THE BUDGET. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE MONIES ARE BEING KEPT IN THAT LINE ITEM FOR A POSSIBLE FUTURE PROJECT.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM UPDATED THE COUNCIL ON UPCOMING PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF BENTON INCLUDING WEST MAIN AND EAST MAIN STREET PROJECTS.
COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR A NEW SQUAD CAR IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR A NEW VEHICLE THIS YEAR, BUT THAT ALSO THE FUNDS FOR A NEW SQUAD CAR CAN BE TAKEN FROM OTHER AREAS OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND.
COMMISSIONER STOREY ASKED IF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET WAS ENOUGH TO COVER DISPATCH IN THE NEXT YEAR. POLICE CHIEF CHRIS FUNKHOUSER WAS IN THE AUDIENCE AND HE STATED THAT HE HAD REVIEWED THE BUDGET AS WELL AND THIS AMOUNT WAS SUFFICIENT.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT OF NOTE HE WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO BE AWARE THE BUDGET HAS A NUMBER FOR HIGHER COMPENSATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. HE STATED THAT THIS CANNOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL A NEW COUNCIL IS SEATED, BUT HE WANTED TO HOLD THE NUMBER IN THE BUDGET.
COMMISSIONER KAYS ADDRESSED THE LINE ITEM FOR A SAFETY STIPEND IN EACH DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT INSTEAD OF A YEAREND STIPEND FOR EACH EMPLOYEE, HE WAS PLANNING ON MOVING FORWARD WITH A SAFETY STIPEND. IF THERE ARE 1½ OR LESS WORKER’S COMPENSATION CLAIMS CITY WIDE PER QUARTER, EACH EMPLOYEE WILL RECEIVE A $50.00 GIFT CAR FOR A BUSINESS IN TOWN.
COMMISSIONER KAYS STATED THAT THE FAÇADE GRANT WILL STAY IN THE BUDGET. HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD THING FOR OUR BUSINESSES.
THERE WERE NO COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND COMMISSIONER KAYS. NAYS: 0.
4:45 P.M.
