Benton to consider $3.3M turf, new truck, county contracts Sept. 28

The Benton City Council will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, at Benton City Hall to vote on a $3.3 million park turf contract, intergovernmental funding agreements with Saline County, and several local rezoning requests.

The agenda meeting begins at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by the full council meeting at 410 River Street. Read more below.

Mayor Tom Farmer will open the meeting with a proclamation celebrating the Benton Panthers’ victory in the Salt Bowl, followed by a report on the city’s drone program delivered by Police Chief Hodges.

A major focus of the agenda involves park upgrades and financing. Under the Finance Committee report, council members will consider Resolution No. 59 of 2026, which would award a contract not to exceed $3,317,583 to GeoSurfaces, Inc. for the purchase and installation of artificial turf at Bernard Holland Park and Riverside Park. The council will also consider Ordinance No. 47 of 2026, authorizing the issuance of a General Revenue Promissory Note to fund the park improvements, as well as Resolution No. 60 to award a shade canopy replacement contract at Holland Park to Little Rock Tent & Awning.

In municipal operations, the council will vote on 2027 intergovernmental agreements with Saline County regarding the city’s share of operating costs for the Saline County Detention Center (Resolution No. 57) and county animal services (Resolution No. 58). City vehicle purchases up for approval include a dump truck for the Streets & Drainage Department from Rush Truck Center (Resolution No. 61) and a Fire Department truck from Everett Chevrolet (Resolution No. 62). Additionally, the council will review the fiscal year 2025 financial audit (Resolution No. 63) and consider an ordinance amending the employee pay structure (Ordinance No. 48).

Four rezoning ordinances from the Planning Commission will also come before the council:

Ordinance No. 49 of 2026: Rezoning 811-817 North East Street and 214 Magnolia Street from R-2 (Single Family Residential) to C-2 (General Commercial).
Ordinance No. 50 of 2026: Rezoning 1323 Columbia Avenue from R-2 to R-5 (Multi-Family District).
Ordinance No. 51 of 2026: Rezoning 411 East South Street from R-2 to R-3 (Single Family District).
Ordinance No. 52 of 2026: Rezoning property at the intersection of Cedar Street and Brown Street from R-2 to R-3.

Board appointments include the reappointment of Greg Shinn to the Advertising and Promotion Commission (Resolution No. 48), Kevin Malone and Jana Hogue to the Benton Historic District Commission (Resolutions No. 49 & 50), and the appointment of Melba “Cissy” Brown to the Board of Civil Service Commissioners (Resolution No. 51). The council will also vote on placing certified property tax liens against five local addresses to recover city-incurred expenses.

The full Meeting Agenda for this Benton City Council gathering is as follows:

BENTON CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

September 28, 2026

5:30 P.M. Agenda Meeting

COUNCIL MEETING IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AGENDA MEETING

Benton City Hall, 410 River Street, Benton, AR 72015

I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Tom Farmer

II. INVOCATION Pastor Dr. Maury Gibson

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Spencer-Cole

IV. ROLL CALL City Clerk

V. PROCLAMATION Mayor Tom Farmer

BENTON PANTHERS – SALT BOWL VICTORY

VI. DRONE PROGRAM REPORT Chief Hodges

VII. 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.

VIII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 24, 2026

Regular Meeting

IX. A&P COMMISSIONER REAPPOINTMENT Mayor Tom Farmer

RESOLUTION NO. 48 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF GREG SHINN AS A

MEMBER OF THE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION COMMISSION OF THE

CITY OF BENTON, ARKANSAS, FOR A TERM EXPIRING OCTOBER 10, 2030,

PURSUANT TO ARK. CODE ANN §26-75-605(D); AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

X. COMMITTEE REPORTS & MOTIONS

1. ADVERTISING & PROMOTION COMMISSION Council Member Brown/Baptist

2. ANIMAL SERVICES COMMITTEE Council Member Villines/Hamm

3. COMMISSIONS COMMITTEE Council Member Spencer-Cole/Reed

4. COMMUNITY SERVICE Council Member Reed/Spencer-Cole

A.) RESOLUTION NO. 49 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE MAYOR’S REAPPOINTMENT OF KEVIN

MALONE AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE BENTON HISTORIC DISTRICT

COMMISSION PURSUANT TO ARK. CODE ANN. § 14-172-206; AND FOR

B.) RESOLUTION NO. 50 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE MAYOR’S REAPPOINTMENT OF JANA

HOGUE AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE BENTON HISTORIC DISTRICT

COMMISSION PURSUANT TO ARK CODE ANN. § 14-172-206; AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

C.) RESOLUTION NO. 51 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MELBA “CISSY” BROWN AS A MEMBER OF THE

BOARD OF CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF BENTON,

ARKANSAS, TO FILL AN UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING THE FIRST MONDAY IN

APRIL 2030, PURSUANT TO THE ARK. CODE ANN. § 14-51-211; MAKING

FINDINGS AS TO THE QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY ARK. CODE ANN.

§ 14-51-202; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

D.) RESOLUTION NO. 52 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE

A CERTIFIED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 18632 I-30 NORTH

AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN

ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

E.) RESOLUTION NO. 53 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE

A CERTIFIED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROEPRTY LOCATED AT 609 MILITARY

ROAD AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN

ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

F.) RESOLUTION NO. 54 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE

A CERTIFIED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 801 BROOKVIEW

DRIVE AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN

ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

G.) RESOLUTION NO. 55 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE

A CERITIFED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2713 JANET DRIVE

AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN

ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

H.) RESOLUTION NO. 56 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SALINE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR PLACE

A CERITIFED LIEN AGAINST REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1222 CHERRY

LANE AS A RESULT OF INCURRED EXPENSES BY THE CITY OF BENTON IN

ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

5. FINANCE COMMITTEE Council Member Brown/Morrow

A.) RESOLUTION NO. 57 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BENTON TO ENTER INTO AN

AGREEMENT WITH SALINE COUNTY FOR THE CITY’S PROPORTIONAL

SHARE OF THE COST OF OPERATING THE SALINE COUNTY DETENTION

CENTER FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2027; AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF THE CITY’S

PROPORTIONAL SHARE SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION; DIRECTING

SUBMISSION AND FILING OF THE AGREEMENT; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR

AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

B.) RESOLUTION NO. 58 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BENTON TO ENTER INTO AN

AGREEMENT WITH SALINE COUNTY FOR THE PROVISION OF ANIMAL

SERVICES DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2027; DIRECTING SUBMISSION

AND FILING OF THE AGREEMENT; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY

CLERK TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

C.) ORDINANCE NO. 47 OF 2026

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF THE CITY OF BENTON,

ARKANSAS GENERAL REVENUE PROMISSORY NOTE (RIVERSIDE/HOLLAND

PARKS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT), SERIES 2026; PROVIDING FOR THE

PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE NOTE; AUTHORIZING

THE EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; AND

PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO

D.) RESOLUTION NO. 59 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND AWARDING A CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT

NOT TO EXCEED $3,317,583.00 TO GEOSURFACES, INC. FOR THE PURCHASE

AND INSTALLATION OF ARTIFICIAL TURF AT BERNARD HOLLAND PARK AND

RIVERSIDE PARK, PRICED THROUGH THE TIPS PURCHASING COOPERATIVE;

CONDITIONING EXECUTION UPON COMPLIANCE WITH ARK. CODE. ANN.

§ 22-9-203, BONDING, LICENSURE, AND APPROPRIATION; AUTHORIZING

THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AND RELATED

DOCUMENTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

E.) RESOLUTION NO. 60 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE

BID AND AWARDING A CONTRACT TO LITTLE ROCK TENT & AWNING FOR

THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HOLLAND PARK SHADE CANOPY;

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AND RELATED

DOCUMENTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

F.) RESOLUTION NO. 61 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE

BID AND AWARDING A CONTRACT TO RUSH TRUCK CENTER FOR THE

PURCHASE OF A DUMP TRUCK FOR THE STREETS & DRAINAGE

DEPARTMENT; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT

AND RELATED DOCUMENTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

G.) RESOLUTION NO. 62 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE

BID AND AWARDING A CONTRACT TO EVERETT CHEVROLET FOR THE

PURCHASE OF A TRUCK FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT; AUTHORIZING THE

MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AND RELATED DOCUMENTS; AND FOR

OTHER PURPOSES

H.) RESOLUTION NO. 63 OF 2026

A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE REGULATORY BASIS FINANCIAL

STATEMENTS AND OTHER REPORTS OF THE CITY OF BENTON,

ARKANSAS, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025,

PREPARED BY ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE AUDIT; DOCUMENTING THE

REVIEW BY ARK. CODE ANN. § 10-4-418; DIRECTING THE FILING AND

PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF THE REPORT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

6. PARKS COMMITTEE Council Member Hart/Lee

7. PERSONNEL/HEALTH &

SAFETY COMMITTEE Council Member Baptist/Morrow

A.) ORDINANCE NO. 48 OF 2026

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND ADOPTING THE PAY STRUCTURE FOR

CERTAIN OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BENTON,

ARKANSAS; CONDITIONING IMPLEMENTATION UPON APPROPRIATION;

REPEALING CERTAIN PRIOR ORDINANCES TO THE EXTENT OF CONFLICT;

AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

8. PLANNING COMMISSION Council Member Spencer-Cole

A.) ORDINANCE NO. 49 OF 2026

AN ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL NOS.

800-75823-000, 800-75824-000, 800-75825-000, 800-75826-000, AND

800-75827-000, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 811-817 NORTH EAST STREET AND

214 MAGNOLIA STREET, IN THE CITY OF BENTON, SALINE COUNTY,

ARKANSAS, FROM R-2 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO C-2

GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT; AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING

MAP OF THE CITY OF BENTON; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

B.) ORDINANCE NO. 50 OF 2026

AN ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL NO.

805-18682-000, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1323 COLUMBIA AVENUE IN THE

CITY OF BENTON, SALINE COUNTY, ARKANSAS, FROM R-2 SINGLE FAMILY

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R-5 MULTI FAMILY DISTRICT; AMENDING THE

OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF BENTON; AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

C.) ORDINANCE NO. 51 OF 2026

AN ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL NO.

805-18624-000, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 411 EAST SOUTH STREET IN THE

CITY OF BENTON, SALINE COUNTY, ARKANSAS, FROM R-2 SINGLE FAMILY

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R-3 SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT, AMENDING THE

OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF BENTON; AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

D.) ORDINANCE NO. 52 OF 2026

AN ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL NOS.

800-12658-000 AND 800-12666-000, LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF

CEDAR STREET AND BROWN STREET IN THE CITY OF BENTON, SALINE

COUNTY, ARKANSAS, FROM R-2 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO

R-3 SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT; AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF

CITY OF BENTON; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

9. PUC COMMISSION Council Member Hart

10. STREETS COMMITTEE Council Member Hamm/Baptist

XI. Old Business

XII. Public Comments

XIII. Adjourn

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Benton to consider $3.3M turf, new truck, county contracts Sept. 28

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