MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY DECEMBER 8, 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 GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER KAYS WAS ABSENT.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING FROM NOVEMBER 24, 2025 AS PRESENTED. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS OR NO PUBLIC PROPERTY USE PERMIT.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO BEGIN OBTAINING ESTIMATES FOR FASCIA AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD NO PURCHASE ORDERS, POOL ADJUSTMENTS, OR LAKE LOT LEASE TRANSFERS FOR APPROVAL FOR THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00152 TO HEARTLAND OFFICE SUPPLY FOR 12 HIGH BACK OFFICE CHAIRS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,328.80. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00151 TO ZIMMERMAN’S GARAGE FOR REPLACEMENT OF A WATER PUMP ON A 2019 FORD EXPLORER IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00150 TO AXON ENTERPRISES FOR 10 AXON TASER PACKAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,992.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
IN THE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONER KAYS, MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL DATED DECEMBER 5, 2025 FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $89,046.54 AND FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,265.93 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $116,312.47. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE MEETING WOULD NEED TO BE CONTINUED TO PAY BILLS.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT HE HAS NO UPDATES FOR THIS MEETING.
UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE ELKS PARADE WAS GREAT. HE ALSO STATED THAT A COMMITTEE HAS BEEN INTERVIEWING FOR THE POSITION OF WATER CLERK AND THAT THERE WERE 161 APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE HAD ATTENDED THE GRADUATION FROM THE SWIC POLICE ACADEMY THAT THAT OUR 2 NEW OFFICERS HAVE STARTED THEIR FIELD TRAINING WITH THE BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED CHIEF FUNKHOUSER HOW THE SWITCH TO THE NEW DISPATCH IS GOING. CHIEF FUNKHOUSER STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO MAJOR PROBLEMS OTHER THAN AN ISSUE WITH THE LOBBY PHONE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THAT THIS ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #001077 TO WEEKS IN BENTON FOR REPAIR OF THE OIL FILTER HOUSING ON THE CODES TRUCK IN THE AMOUNT OF $865.49. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE ORDER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH S.C.D. REA AND RKH INSURANCE FOR A NEW HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH THE GOLD 3000 OPTION OF LEVEL HEALTH. THIS WILL COST THE CITY $716.42 PER EMPLOYEE AND THE EMPLOYEE WILL HAVE NO COINSURANCE WHEREAS BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD WAS OVER $900.00 PER MONTH AND THE EMPLOYEE HAD AN 80/20 COINSURANCE. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE LEVEL HEALTH PROPOSAL FOR THE GOLD 3000 OPTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO PROVIDE END OF THE YEAR GIFTS FOR ALL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $100.00 TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR THEIR DEDICATION. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ADD THE PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS TO THE SAFETY STIPEND PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD A LISTING OF ALL THE MEETING TIMES FOR THE BOARDS IN THE CITY OF BENTON FOR 2026 IN THEIR FOLDERS. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS LIST. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE NEEDED A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #2025-10 ESTABLISHING A GRANT/WRITER/ADMINISTRATOR POSITION IN THE CITY OF BENTON. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE THIS MOTION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR MESSERSMITH ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN CALCATERRA TO ADDRESS ITEM (H) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 24- MANUFACTURED HOUSING CODE TO INITIATE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING MANUFACTURED HOMES FOR RESALE. MR. CALCATERRA STATED THAT THIS IS A CREATION OF A SEPARATE SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR THE PLACEMENT OF A MANUFACTURED HOME, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED A TITLE, TO BE AVAILABLE TO A DEVELOPER WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE INTENTION TO OCCUPY SAID MANUFACTURED HOME. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, #2025-11. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WANTED TO GIVE SOME STATS ABOUT THE VETERAN’S ASSISTANCE PROVIDED IN THE CAMPBELL BUILDING. MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT THIS OFFICE HAS SECURED $268,832.39 IN BENEFITS FOR VETERANS AND THAT THERE WERE 671 CLIENTS SERVED IN THE PAST YEAR WITH 1,014 INTERACTIONS MADE.
ALSO IN MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN SETTING UP A NON-PROFIT MEETING.
IN OLD BUSINESS, MAYOR MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL UNDERSTOOD THAT THE EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVE THAT WAS PASSED WILL STAY THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED. NO CHANGES WILL BE MADE FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. ALSO IN OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE FORGOT TO SAY THAT THE MONTHLY REPORTS FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE PLACED IN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOLDERS.
IN NEW BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER STOREY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE AUXILIARY POLICE BACK TO THE CITY OF BENTON. HE ASKED CHIEF FUNKHOUSER WHAT WE COULD DO TO BRING THEM BACK. CHIEF FUNKHOUSER STATED THAT UNTIL THE SAFETY ACT HAS BEEN CHANGED, YOU CANNOT HAVE AUXILIARY POLICE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
NO MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER COCKRUM MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE COUNCIL MEETING UNTIL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025 AT 9:30 A.M. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COCKRUM. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER COCKRUM, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, AND MAYOR MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
5:30 P.M.
