The agenda meeting is at 5:30 p.m. The Council meeting will immediately follow. The public is invited. The new location is at the Benton City Hall, 411, River Street, Benton, AR 72015.
READ THE FULL AGENDA BELOW.
BENTON CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
September 22, 2025
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING AGENDA MEETING
- CALL TO ORDER Mayor Tom Farmer
- INVOCATION Bro. Matt Basford
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Spencer-Cole
- ROLL CALL City Clerk
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 25, 2025
Regular Meeting
- STATEMENT OF FOIA City Clerk
COMPLIANCE & ROLL CALL
I affirm that I have not engaged in any prohibited discussion, deliberation, or polling regarding any item on this meeting’s agenda outside of a properly noticed and open meeting, in compliance with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, as amended by Act 505 of 2025.
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS & MOTIONS
- A&P COMMISSION COMMITTEE Council Member Brown/Baptist
- ANIMAL SERVICES COMMITTEE Council Member Villines/Hamm
- COMMISSIONS COMMITTEE Council Member Spencer-Cole/Reed
- COMMUNITY SERVICE Council Member Reed/Spencer-Cole
ORDINANCE NO. 47 OF 2025
AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH AND LAY OFF BENTON MUNICIPAL PROPERTY OWNERS’ MULTIPURPOSE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 141 (ROSEMARY FIELDS SUBDIVISION); AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RESOLUTION NO. 73 OF 2025
A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE A CERTIFIED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 211 EAST NORTH STREET AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RESOLUTION NO. 74 OF 2025
A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE A CERTIFIED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 301 TROUTT AVENUE AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RESOLUTION NO. 75 OF 2025
A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE A CERTIFIED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6606 GARVIN DRIVE AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RESOLUTION NO. 76 OF 2025
A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE A CERTIFIED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2502 GATTIN ROAD AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RESOLUTION NO. 77 OF 2025
A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE A CERTIFIED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 803 BELAIRE CIRCLE AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
- FINANCE COMMITTEE Council Member Brown/Morrow
ORDINANCE NO. 48 OF 2025
AN ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND AUTHORIZING AND RATIFYING THE UPGRADE OF RADIOS THROUGH COMMAND COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RESOLUTION NO. 78 OF 2025
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AUDIT PREPARED BY THE BUREAU OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT FOR THE CITY OF BENTON FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND ALLOCATING FUNDS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RESOLUTION NO. 79 OF 2025
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF A GRAPPLE TRUCK FROM RIVER CITY HYDRAULICS AND AMENDING THE 2025 STREET & DRAINAGE BUDGET TO INCREASE THE APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $207,000 INCLUDING TAX; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
RESOLUTION NO. 80 OF 2025
A RESOLUTION DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY AS SURPLUS; AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF THE SURPLUS PROPERTY AT AUCTION; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
- PARKS COMMITTEE Council Member Hart/Lee
- PERSONNEL/HEALTH &
SAFETY COMMITTEE Council Member Donnor/Baptist
- P&Z COMMISSION Council Member Spencer-Cole
ORDINANCE NO. 49 OF 2025
AN ORDINANCE REZONING 6718 & 6720 ALCOA ROAD IN THE CITY OF BENTON, SALINE COUNTY, ARKANSAS, FROM R2 SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT DETACHED HOUSING TO C2 GENERAL COMMERCIAL; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
- PUC COMMISSION Council Member Hart
- STREETS COMMITTEE Council Member Hamm/Baptist
VIII. Old Business
- Public Comments
- Adjourn
MINUTES – August 25, 2025 – Benton City Hall – Benton City Council was called to order at 5:40 p.m.
The invocation was given by Chief Evans. Council Member Brown led the pledge of allegiance. Roll was called.
The following people were in attendance:
- Council Member Frank Baptist
- Council Member Ann Spencer-Cole
- Council Member Bill Donnor
- Council Member Judd Hart
- Council Member Steve Lee
- Cindy Stracener, City Clerk
- Tom Farmer, Mayor
- Council Member Steve Brown
- Council Member Evelyn Reed
- Council Member Jeff Morrow
- Council Member Trevor Villines
- Council Member Jeff Hamm
- Baxter Drennon, City Attorney
When the roll was called (10) council members were present. A quorum was declared.
The city clerk read the Statement of FOIA Compliance – I affirm that I have not engaged in
any prohibited discussion, deliberation, or polling regarding any item on this meeting’s
agenda outside of a properly noticed and open meeting, in compliance with the Arkansas
Freedom of Information Act, as amended by Act 505 of 2025. Roll was called which resulted
in Council Member Baptist yes, Council Member Brown yes, Council Member Spencer-Cole
yes, Council Member Reed yes, Council Member Donnor yes, Council Member Morrow yes,
Council Member Hart yes, Council Member Villines yes, Council Member Lee yes and
Council Member Hamm yes.
Council Member Hart made a motion to approve July 28, 2025, city council meeting minutes.
Second, by Council Member Villines. The Mayor called for a voice vote. All council members
voted in the affirmative. The July 28, 2025, council minutes were approved with 10 affirmative
votes.
The next item on the agenda was committee reports and motions. Resolution 68 of 2025 is
being sponsored by the Mayor. Council Member Donnor made a motion to adopt Resolution
68 of 2025 – A Resolution Adopting the Saline County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation
Plan for the City of Benton, Saline County Arkansas. Seconded by Council Member Reed.
The resolution was read by title. The Mayor asked for any questions or comments, none. Roll
was called which resulted in Council Member Baptist yes, Council Member Brown yes,
Council Member Spencer-Cole yes, Council Member Reed yes, Council Member Donnor yes,
Council Member Morrow yes, Council Member Hart yes, Council Member Villines yes,
Council Member Lee yes and Council Member Hamm yes. Resolution 68 of 2025 was adopted
with 10 affirmative votes.
[PAGE 2 IS MISSING FROM THE CITY’S MINUTES REPORT]
from where the new animal control facility is being built. The Mayor asked for any questions
or comments, none. Roll was called which resulted in Council Member Baptist yes, Council
Member Brown yes, Council Member Spencer-Cole yes, Council Member Reed yes, Council
Member Donnor yes, Council Member Morrow yes, Council Member Hart yes, Council
Member Villines yes, Council Member Lee yes and Council Member Hamm yes. Resolution
70 of 2025 was adopted with 10 affirmative votes.
Council Member Brown made a motion to adopt Resolution 71 of 2025 – A Resolution
Approving a Contract with AADS Office Solutions for the Purchase of Police Pass Through
Evidence Lockers in the Amount Not to Exceed $55,000; and For Other Purposes. Seconded
by Council Member Reed. The resolution was read by title. The Mayor stated that the bid
did not include tax thus the not to exceed amount in the resolution. The bid was for $47,610.
The Mayor asked for any questions or comments, none. Roll was called which resulted in
Council Member Baptist yes, Council Member Brown yes, Council Member Spencer-Cole yes,
Council Member Reed yes, Council Member Donnor yes, Council Member Morrow yes,
Council Member Hart yes, Council Member Villines yes, Council Member Lee yes and
Council Member Hamm yes. Resolution 71 of 2025 was adopted with 10 affirmative votes.
Council Member Brown made a motion to adopt Resolution 72 of 2025 – A Resolution
Authorizing the City of Benton to Accept and Enter into a Subaward Grant Agreement with
the Arkansas Tri-Region Energy and Environment Innovation Coalition to Utilize
Subawarded Funds for EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (“CPRG”) Project
Implementation; and For Other Purposes. Seconded by Council Member Baptist. The
resolution was read by title. The Mayor stated that the grant is for $421,000, it connects from
the Hooked on Fishing Lake to the girls softball parking lot. The Mayor asked for any
questions or comments, none. Roll was called which resulted in Council Member Baptist yes,
Council Member Brown yes, Council Member Spencer-Cole yes, Council Member Reed yes,
Council Member Donnor yes, Council Member Morrow yes, Council Member Hart yes,
Council Member Villines yes, Council Member Lee yes and Council Member Hamm yes.
Resolution 72 of 2025 was adopted with 10 affirmative votes.
Council Member Donnor was recognized for a report from the Personnel/Health & Safety
Committee. Council Member Donnor made a motion to read and adopt Ordinance 43 of 2025
– An Ordinance Approving the City of Benton Safety Plan; and For Other Purposes. Second,
by Council Member Spencer-Cole. The ordinance was read. The Mayor asked for any
questions or comments, none. Roll was called which resulted in Council Member Baptist yes,
Council Member Brown yes, Council Member Spencer-Cole yes, Council Member Reed yes,
Council Member Donnor yes, Council Member Morrow yes, Council Member Hart yes,
Council Member Villines yes, Council Member Lee yes and Council Member Hamm yes.
Ordinance 43 of 2025 was adopted with 10 affirmative votes.
Council Member Donnor made a motion to read and adopt Ordinance 44 of 2025 – An
Ordinance Permitting Certain Employees and/or Their Relatives to Conduct Business with
the City of Benton, Arkansas, and Prescribing the Extent of Such Authority; and for Other
Purposes. Seconded by Council Member Morrow. The ordinance was read. The Mayor
stated that we do this every year to allow employees to work for the city outside of their normal
job description. The Mayor asked for any other questions or comments, none. Roll was called
which resulted in Council Member Baptist yes, Council Member Brown yes, Council Member
Spencer-Cole yes, Council Member Reed yes, Council Member Donnor yes, Council Member
Morrow yes, Council Member Hart yes, Council Member Villines yes, Council Member Lee.
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