Benton Council to vote on school resource officers, rezoning properties to commercial & more July 27th

The Benton City Council will have a full agenda on July 27, 2026, including votes on a contract for school resource officers, multiple property liens and several rezoning requests. The session begins with an agenda meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Benton City Hall, located at 410 River St., with the regular council meeting immediately following. Read more below.

The Finance Committee will present a resolution that authorizes Mayor Tom Farmer to execute a contract with the Benton School District. This agreement provides nine school resource officers for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Council members will also consider amending the fire department budget to incorporate a FEMA grant, authorize facility maintenance funds and declare city property as surplus for a public auction (2007 Ford Crown Victoria).

The Community Service Committee seeks to place certified liens against four properties to recoup expenses incurred by the city. These properties are located at

313 E. North St.,
708 Burton St.,
1222 Cherry St. and
1704 Huntley St.

Additionally, the committee proposes a contract with TekConnectGov for new online permitting software and a resolution to allow fireworks displays at Benton High School football games.

The Planning Commission brings five rezoning ordinances for the council to review. These measures include rezoning 2409 Military Road from single-family to general commercial and updating classifications for properties at the following locations to support single-family and multi-family developments:

Tiner Cove,
Deerfield Road,
East South Street and
Watts Road

Officials will also review an amendment to update definitions for specific uses and structures within the Benton zoning ordinance.

The following is the full agenda:

Benton City Council agenda July 27, 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 Cody Calhoun

III. Pledge of allegiance – Council Member Baptist

IV. Roll call – City clerk

V. Statement of FOIA compliance & roll call.

VI. Approval of minutes – June 22, 2026 regular meeting

VII. Committee reports & motions

A&P commission – Council Member Brown/Baptist – No items listed.
Animal services committee – Council Member Villines/Hamm – No items listed.
Commissions committee – Council Member Spencer-Cole/Reed – No items listed.
Community service – Council Member Reed/Spencer-Cole

A.) Resolution no. 32 of 2026
A resolution requesting the Saline County tax collector to place a certified lien against real said property located at 313 E. 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.

B.) Resolution no. 33 of 2026
A resolution requesting the Saline County tax collector to place a certified lien against real said property located at 708 Burton Street as a result of incurred expenses by the City of Benton in accordance with state law and city ordinance; and for other purposes.

C.) Resolution no. 34 of 2026
A resolution requesting the Saline County tax collector to place a certified lien against real said property located at 1222 Cherry Street as a result of incurred expenses by the City of Benton in accordance with state law and city ordinance; and for other purposes.

D.) Resolution no. 35 or 2026
A resolution requesting the Saline County tax collector to place a certified lien against real said property located at 1704 Huntley Street 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. 36 of 2026
A resolution exempting Benton High School football games from ordinance no. 29 of 2007; providing for fireworks display by the Benton High School athletics pursuant to ordinance no. 41 of 2022 on the same dates; and for other purposes.

F.) Resolution no. 37 of 2026
A resolution accepting the lowest responsive and responsible bid and awarding a contract to TekConnectGov. for the purchase and implementation of an online permitting software; authorizing the Mayor to execute the contract and related documents; and for other purposes.

Finance committee – Council Member Brown/Morrow

A.) Resolution no. 38 of 2026 A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a contract with the Benton School District for the placement of nine (9) school resource officers for the 2026-2027 school year; and for other purposes.

B.) Resolution no. 39 of 2026 A resolution declaring certain personal property of the City of Benton as surplus; authorizing the sale of such surplus property at public auction; and for other purposes.

C.) Resolution no. 40 of 2026 A resolution amending the FY2026 fire department general fund budget to increase revenue and expenditure appropriations for a FEMA grant ward; and for other purposes.

D.) Resolution no. 41 of 2026 A resolution amending the FY2026 fire department general fund budget to increase revenues from the sale of a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria and to increase appropriations for fire department facility maintenance; and for other purposes.

E.) Resolution no. 42 of 2026 A resolution amending the FY2026 City of Benton budget to reallocate appropriations among budget line items; and for other purposes.

Parks committee – Council Member Hart/Lee
Personnel/health & safety committee – Council Member Baptist/Morrow
Planning commission – Council Member Spencer-Cole

A.) Ordinance no. 38 of 2026 An ordinance rezoning property identified as 2409 Military Road in the City of Benton, Saline County, Arkansas from R1 single family district to C2 general commercial; amending the official zoning map; and for other purposes.

B.) Ordinance no. 39 of 2026 An ordinance rezoning property identified as 1206 Tiner Cove in the City of Benton, Saline County, Arkansas from AG agriculture to R2 single family district; amending the official zoning map; and for other purposes.

C.) Ordinance no. 40 of 2026 An ordinance rezoning property identified as 1715 & 1717 Deerfield Road in the City of Benton, Saline County, Arkansas, from R2 single family district to R5 multi family district; amending the official zoning map; and for other purposes.

D.) Ordinance no. 41 of 2026 An ordinance rezoning property identified as 411 East South Street in the City of Benton, Saline County, Arkansas, from R2 single family district to R5 multi family district; amending the official zoning map; and for other purposes.

E.) Ordinance no. 42 of 2026 An ordinance rezoning property identified as parcels 800-02297-000 & 800-02298-000 (1841 and 1829 Watts Rd) in the City of Benton, Saline County, Arkansas, from R1 single family district to R5 multi family district; amending the official zoning map; and for other purposes.

F.) Ordinance no. 43 of 2026 An ordinance amending section 2.002 of the Benton zoning ordinance regarding definitions for certain uses and types of structures; and for other purposes.