{"id":6579,"date":"2026-02-19T21:57:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/?p=6579"},"modified":"2026-02-19T21:57:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:57:34","slug":"city-council-meeting-minutes-january-26-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bentonil.com\/?p=6579","title":{"rendered":"City Council Meeting Minutes – January 26, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

City of Benton<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regular City Council Meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n

January 26, 2026 \u2013 6:00 PM<\/strong>
\nCity Hall,<\/p>\n

901 Public Square,<\/p>\n

Benton, Illinois 62812<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Mayor Messersmith called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Roll Call<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      \n

      Official<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      Present<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

      \n

      Commissioner Cockrum<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      \n

      Commissioner Storey<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      \n

      Commissioner Garavalia<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      Absent<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      \n

      Commissioner Kays<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      \n

      Mayor Messersmith<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

      		\n

      Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      A quorum was present.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Approval of Minutes<\/strong><\/li>\n
      2. January 12, 2026 \u2013 Regular Meeting<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Corrections noted by Commissioner Kays:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Item B was tabled for meter warranty<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        • Typographical correction: \u201cminimum wage rate,\u201d not \u201crace.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Motion:<\/strong> Commissioner Kays moved to approve minutes as amended.
          \nSecond:<\/strong> Commissioner Cockrum<\/p>\n

          Yeas:\u00a0 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Nays:\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Vote:<\/strong> Unanimous<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. January 23, 2026 \u2013 Special Meeting<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Corrections noted by Commissioner Kays:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • \u201cCase\u201d corrected to Commissioner Kays<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
            • Agenda Item 3: seconded by Commissioner Storey<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
            • Adjournment vote corrected to unanimous<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Motion:<\/strong> Commissioner Kays moved to approve minutes as amended.
              \nSecond:<\/strong> Commissioner Cockrum<\/p>\n

              Yeas:\u00a0 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Nays:\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Vote:<\/strong> Unanimous<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Department Reports<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Streets & Improvements \u2013 Commissioner Cockrum<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Purchase Order #00243:<\/strong>
                \nReplacement of six grader tires from Best One Tire (Marion)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Amount:<\/strong> Not to exceed $8,689<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Motion:<\/strong> Commissioner Cockrum moved to approve purchase order #00243<\/p>\n

                  Second:<\/strong>\u00a0 Commissioner Storey.<\/p>\n

                  Yeas:\u00a0 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Nays:\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Vote:<\/strong> Unanimous<\/p>\n

                  Water Department \u2013 Commissioner Cockrum<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Hiring of Billing Clerk<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Employee:<\/strong> Amy Greenwood<\/li>\n
                  • Position:<\/strong> Full-time Billing Clerk<\/li>\n
                  • Effective Date:<\/strong> January 27, 2026<\/li>\n
                  • Wage:<\/strong> $22.00\/hour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Motion:<\/strong> Commissioner Cockrum moved to approve this hire.<\/p>\n

                    Second:\u00a0 <\/strong>Commissioner Storey<\/p>\n

                    Yeas:\u00a0 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    Nays:\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    Vote:<\/strong> Unanimous<\/p>\n

                    (Pay resolution to be presented at February meeting.)<\/em><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. Fire Department \u2013 Commissioner Garavalia <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Billing Services<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      Council discussed entering a one-year agreement for a third-party billing service to collect hazmat and fire-related reimbursements.<\/p>\n

                      Motion:<\/strong> In the absence of Commissioner Garavalia, Commissioner Storey moved to approve the agreement with PA Fire Recovery Services <\/strong>for hazmat billing.<\/p>\n

                      Second:<\/strong>\u00a0 Commissioner Cockrum<\/p>\n

                      Yeas:\u00a0 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      Nays:\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      Vote:<\/strong> Unanimous<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      1. Finance \u2013 Commissioner Kays<\/strong><\/li>\n
                      2. Payroll Approval<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        Payroll Date:<\/strong> January 30, 2026
                        \nTotal:<\/strong> $112,335.37<\/p>\n