Martinsville OKs $3,710 Downtown Striping; Davidson Abstains

City Council | August 26, 2026

Article Summary: The Martinsville City Council approved CMG Asphalt Services to stripe the downtown at a cost of $3,710 on Aug. 26, 2026. Alderman Chris Davidson abstained, casting the only non-unanimous vote of the meeting; the minutes give no reason.

Downtown Striping Contract Key Points:

CMG Asphalt Services was approved to stripe downtown Martinsville at a stated cost of $3,710.00.

The motion came from Alderman Harley Craig, seconded by Alderman Ashley Wilhoit, and carried with five yes votes and one abstention.

Davidson’s abstention is the only departure from unanimity in the entire meeting record. No explanation appears in the minutes.

MARTINSVILLE — The Martinsville City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, hired CMG Asphalt Services to stripe the downtown for $3,710, approving the job over a single abstention from Alderman Chris Davidson.

Alderman Harley Craig made the motion and Alderman Ashley Wilhoit seconded it. The roll call recorded yes votes from Alderman Chris Perry, Craig, Alderman Wendy Isbell, Alderman Travis Hill and Ashley Wilhoit. Davidson is recorded as “Abstain.” The motion carried.

Every other roll call taken that evening — on the minutes, the bills, the treasurer’s report, a contract extension, a surplus equipment sale, a cannabis ordinance, fall cleanup dates, a grant resolution, an administrative agreement and adjournment — came back 6-0. Davidson’s abstention on the striping contract is the only exception in the record, and he was an active participant otherwise, making the motion on four separate items during the same meeting.

The minutes do not record why he abstained. Illinois municipal officials commonly abstain where they have a financial or personal interest in a matter, but the record here states no reason, and this report does not supply one.

The scope of the striping work is described only as “stripe downtown.” The materials include no bid tabulation, no competing quotes, no schedule, no description of which streets, crosswalks or parking areas are covered, and no funding source for the $3,710. The agenda listed the figure identically to the motion, at $3,710.00, indicating the council approved the item as presented.

The city’s agenda and minutes are the only documents available for this meeting; no proposal from CMG Asphalt Services accompanied them. Both the reason for the abstention and the contractor’s written proposal have been flagged for editor follow-up.