Busy Meeting for Grayville Council
The City of Grayville is passing ordinances, approving property for sale, extending it’s Rain for Rent lease and much more. Board members got a lot done in a short amount of time last night.
Grayville is currently sitting on $2,036,500.40. That includes more than $6,000 in bond accounts, $983,477 in restricted accounts, more than $878,000 invested, and a little over $157,000 cash available for operations. Treasurer Sharon Walden says the city has received some White County tax dollars since the last meeting and expects there could be a bit more straggling in. She also says workers with SafeCare will be servicing the city’s generators sometime next week and is requesting officials who make purchases on behalf of the city turn in their receipts within 24 hours noting she had a handful turned in earlier in the day from back in October.
With Josh Downs and Bob Stroud absent, it was up to Andy Brock, David Jordan and Mayor Bisch to serve as quorum and get business done. They managed to pass Ordinance Number 864 establishing a tax levy of $281,603. In addition, they unanimously approved passing Ordinance 865, abating the 2018 tax levy for general obligation bonds.
Attorney Jay Walden spoke about the sale of excess property. Commissioner Jordan moved the board approve the notice for sale on December 26th. That was followed by Mayor Bisch discussing a new truck purchase for the Utility Department. Jordan said he wished the request had been made back in the spring so it could’ve been budgeted, but acquiesced and moved to purchase an extended cab, 4 wheel drive with a tow package at a price of $24,245 from a dealership up north which beat White County Ford’s bid by more than $7,000. The Utility Department is currently utilizing a 2001 truck that has served the department well.
Commissioner Brock suggested in response to Edwards County’s request for funds to assist with their K-9 program, a donation of $1,000 now and an additional $1,000 in the next budget year which will be after May 1st. It passed unanimously.
Rain for Rent, located on Koehler Street requested and was granted a 2 month lease extension despite Brock’s no vote. The cost will be $3,750 per month.
Mayor Bisch, along with Brock, will travel to the county board meeting Tuesday night to get more information before dealing with agenda item number 7. The board was set to attempt to find a solution to the cost of dispatch services.
Finally, with water commissioner Bob Stroud absent, they were forced to table raising utility tap fees, which Bisch says don’t currently cover the cost. Currently the city only does a ¾ inch tap, meaning they have to outsource anything outside that and the current rate “isn’t even close to covering that cost”.
Attorney Walden reports that he was able to resolve past due amounts with Windsor Oaks. The meeting adjourned around 7:25pm. Reporting from the Grayville City Council, I’m Jc Tinsley.
