{"id":6565,"date":"2026-01-27T15:07:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T15:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/?p=6565"},"modified":"2026-01-27T15:14:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T15:14:21","slug":"special-meeting-minutes-january-23-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/?p=6565","title":{"rendered":"Special Meeting Minutes &#8211; January 21, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>City of Benton<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>901 Public Square, Benton, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Special City Council Meeting<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>January 23, 2026 \u2013 3:00 PM<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Call to Order<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Mayor Messersmith called the Special City Council Meeting to order at <strong>3:00 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Roll Call:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Official<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Present<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Commissioner Cockrum<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Commissioner Storey<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Commissioner Garavalia<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Commissioner Kays<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Mayor Messersmith<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>A quorum was present.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Agenda Item 1 \u2013 Hiring Committee Update<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Commissioner Cockrum reported on behalf of the hiring committee that five candidates had been interviewed for an open position. The committee\u2019s selected candidate declined the job offer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Action:<\/strong><br \/>\nNo action was taken. The committee will reconvene to determine next steps.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong> Agenda Item 2 \u2013 Approval of City Auditors<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Commissioner Kays presented a proposal to replace the City\u2019s current auditor (Atlas) with <strong>Lauterbach &amp; Amen LLP<\/strong>, a municipal auditing firm based in Naperville, Illinois.<\/p>\n<p>Key points included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Atlas has repeatedly failed to deliver audits on time, causing issues with grant compliance and revenue receipts.<\/li>\n<li>Lauterbach &amp; Amen specializes in municipal audits and already serves the City\u2019s police and fire pension funds.<\/li>\n<li>Proposed three-year audit contract:\n<ul>\n<li>FY 2026: $57,100<\/li>\n<li>FY 2027: $60,000<\/li>\n<li>FY 2028: $63,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The City paid Atlas <strong>$145,815<\/strong> over the previous two years for late and not as thorough audits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Council members and staff emphasized the importance of accurate, timely, and thorough audits, especially as the City pursues more grant funding.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Motion:<\/strong><br \/>\nCommissioner Kays moved to approve <strong>Lauterbach &amp; Amen LLP<\/strong> as City Auditors for the term <strong>April 30, 2026 \u2013 April 30, 2029<\/strong>.<br \/>\nSeconded by Commissioner Garavalia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Member<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Vote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Cockrum<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Storey<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Garavalia<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Kays<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Mayor Messersmith<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Motion passed unanimously.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong> Agenda Item 3 \u2013 Fire Pension Fund Accounting Services<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Commissioner Kays and City Treasurer John Dougherty presented a proposal for <strong>Lauterbach &amp; Amen<\/strong> to provide accounting and pension administration services for the <strong>Benton Fire Pension Fund<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Services include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Online pension portals for retirees and active members<\/li>\n<li>Monthly account tracking<\/li>\n<li>Compliance and reporting to the Illinois Department of Insurance<\/li>\n<li>Ongoing verification to prevent improper payments<\/li>\n<li>Direct support for pensioners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It was noted that the <strong>City<\/strong> (not the pension fund) would pay for the service. Pension funding levels were discussed, with the City being above the statewide average and on track for required funding targets.<\/p>\n<p>Some concern was raised regarding whether the pension boards had approved the change. Legal counsel had advised that City approval must occur first before pension boards ratify the agreement.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Motion to Table<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Commissioner Garavalia moved to <strong>table<\/strong> the item to allow further discussion with department members.<br \/>\nSeconded by Commissioner Storey.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vote on Motion to Table:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Member<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Vote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Cockrum<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Storey<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Garavalia<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Kays<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Mayor Messersmith<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Motion to table failed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Final Motion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Commissioner Kays moved to approve <strong>Lauterbach &amp; Amen<\/strong> for accounting services for the <strong>Benton Fire Pension Fund<\/strong>.<br \/>\nSeconded by Commissioner Cockrum.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Member<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Vote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Cockrum<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Storey<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Garavalia<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Kays<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Mayor Messersmith<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Motion passed (3\u20132).<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong> Agenda Item 4 \u2013 Police Pension Fund Accounting Services<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Commissioner Kays moved to approve <strong>Lauterbach &amp; Amen<\/strong> for accounting services for the <strong>Benton Police Pension Fund<\/strong>.<br \/>\nSeconded by Commissioner Cockrum.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Member<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Vote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Cockrum<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Storey<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Garavalia<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Kays<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Mayor Messersmith<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Motion passed (3\u20132).<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><strong> Adjournment<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Commissioner Cockrum moved to adjourn.<br \/>\nSeconded by Commissioner Garavalia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Member<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Vote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Cockrum<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Storey<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Garavalia<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Kays<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Mayor Messersmith<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Motion passed unanimously.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The meeting adjourned at approximately <strong>3:26 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>City of Benton 901 Public Square, Benton, IL Special City Council Meeting January 23, 2026 \u2013 3:00 PM Call to Order Mayor Messersmith called the Special City Council Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Roll Call: Official Present Commissioner Cockrum &hellip; 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