MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY AUGUST 25, 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 STOREY, COMMISSIONER KAYS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING FROM AUGUST 11, 2025 AS PRESENTED. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT PURCHASE ORDER #00345 TO BURKDELL MULCH FOR TWO 2,000 LB BAGS OF GREEN RUBBER MULCH FOR USE AT MALKOVICH PARK AROUND THE PLAYGROUND. SECOND BY COMMISSION 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 SUBMITTED BY LOUISE JACKSON (FROM PASSION TO ACTION) FOR THE USE OF CAPITOL PARK FOR THE FALL-O-WEEN EVENT TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 18, 2025. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS CLEANED UP THE NORTHWEST MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT. SHE STATED THEY HAVE ADDED GRAVEL TO THE AREAS WHERE TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED. SHE STATED THAT THE AREA LOOKS SO MUCH NEATER AND CLEAN NOW.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, POOL ADJUSTMENTS, OR LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT THE WATER LINE PROJECT AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL IS STILL IN PROCESS.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00144 TO OC RUGGED LAPTOPS FOR 8 REFURBISHED TOUGHBOOKS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,984.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. 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 #00145 TO AMAZON FOR 8 BROTHER 200 DPI PRINTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,113.44. 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 APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00157 TO BOB JOHNSON’S COMPUTER STUFF, INC FOR 8 HEADREST PRINTER MOUNTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,543.63. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT THE COUNTY DISPATCH BUILDING WILL BE DONE AND THE CITY SHOULD BE SWITCHED OVER TO COUNTY DISPATCH BY DECEMBER 1, 2025.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR AUGUST 29, 2025 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $77,898.55 AND FOR WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,324.79 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $104,223.34. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAD NO UPDATES FOR THIS MEETING.
UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT UPDATES, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT NEXT WEEK’S TRASH DISPOSAL SCHEDULE WILL BE BEHIND ONE DAY DUE TO THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ALSO STATED THAT A RELEASE WAS MADE BY AMEREN DESCRIBING A PROGRAM TO HELP CITIZENS WITH THEIR BILLS AND THAT IT WAS POSTED ON THE CITY’S FACEBOOK PAGE AND AVAILABLE TO BE PICKED UP AT CITY HALL. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WANTED TO REMIND CITIZENS THAT THE ANNUAL CHAMBER CAR SHOW WILL TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 AROUND THE PUBLIC SQUARE. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THIS YEAR THERE WILL ALSO BE RC DRAG RACING TAKING PLACE ON EAST WASHINGTON STREET.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPOINT GUNNER BAILEY TO THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A TERM OF 4 YEARS. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY.
VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPOINT LORI HOLMAN TO THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A TERM OF 4 YEARS. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION. 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 HE WOULD LIKE APPROVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL SEE TRACKS? THINK TRAIN® WEEK IN THE CITY OF BENTON FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 21, 2025. COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED THE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BROWN AND ROBERTS FOR THE BENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT. ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THIS IS THE SAME AGREEMENT WE HAVE SIGNED BEFORE. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
UNDER MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT MALKOVICH PARK HAS RECEIVED SOME GRAFFITI. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAS SPOKEN WITH PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CRAIG MILES AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE GRAFFITI.
NO OLD BUSINESS.
NO NEW BUSINESS
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA 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 COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
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6:00 P.M.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO OPEN SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
COMMISSIONER KAYS MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER KAYS, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
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