After 4 years and 10 months, Chief Roy Mann’s tenure as Grayville’s Police highest ranking law enforcement officer is coming to a close. Mann delivered an emotional official goodbye to the Grayville City Council Monday evening. Chief Mann first worked for the city in 2005 under then chief Shane Pritchett and became a full time officer in 2007. After short stints, beginning in 2008 with the White County Sheriff’s Department and Albion’s PD, Mann spent 2 years with the City of Carmi’s Police force. He’d rejoin Grayville in 2012 and became deputy chief. In 2015, Mann took on Police Chief duties after Mark Worlds resigned during the month of February. Chief said there would be some people that would be happy he was leaving town and others that wouldn’t and he was ok with where he fit in that. Mann will turn the reins officially over to David Burrows, a 30+ year veteran of law enforcement on either December 13th or 9th depending on the weather. Mann is heading to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where he’ll serve as the municipality’s Chief Evidence Technician. Mann’s wife and children moved ahead of him in February, while he remained behind to fulfill his obligations and meet a threshold for his pension. After thanking the city of Grayville in general including fellow employees and residents, Mann had this to say.
“There was a lot of work to be done in order to get it to where it is today. I truly feel that with both respective council’s help I have accomplished great things in making this department better for the City of Grayville. Second I would like to thank current Mayor Travis Thompson. You have been a pleasure to work for and serve as Chief of Police. I wish you the best of luck in your term as Grayville Mayor. Next to past Mayor Joe Bisch. Thank you as well for trusting me with the major responsibility of leading the City’s Police Department during your term. Lastly, to Chief Shane Pritchett, who had faith in a small town, I said I wasn’t going to get choked up, had faith in a small town kid to put him through Police Academy and start my law enforcement career back in 2005. For it was that decision that lead to my career and all the years I served the City of Grayville and surrounding areas.”
In other news from last night’s Grayville gathering, resident and former Illinois State Police District 19 Commander Larry Garbo addressed council on two fronts. He began by saying he and several (as many as 30 to 40 that he’d talked to personally) residents were displeased about the dumpster fee that has been instituted. Garbo said the common theme that keeps recurring is “Why am I paying taxes?” if I have to pay to use the city dumpster. Of course you may remember from previous meetings, the fee was established not as a punishment for residents, but rather to attempt to curtail the abuse it’s seen, especially from out of towners and some contractors. To that end, Garbo recommended the council go after those abusing it rather than the whole city. Ironically, or maybe not, council was set to discuss dumpster fees anyway on it’s regular agenda. Mayor Travis Thompson stated that since the fees were introduced nearly 3 months ago, about 30 individuals have used the dumpster including 3 out of towners. The total revenue generated from those fees is $560. While the council was sensitive to Garbo’s comments, they hesitated to make a change at the meeting, instead preferring to wait until February when bids are due from 3 new waste management systems. Though not said aloud, it was easy to deduce that council will most likely address the issue at that time.
Furthermore, Garbo stated the need for a grocer, saying that it wasn’t a major inconvenience to him personally, but after talking to several residents, he said he learned how many older residents simply couldn’t travel to Mt. Carmel, Albion, Carmi or Princeton to go to a full on grocery store and the lack of one has created a significant burden on those folks. In that regard, Mayor Thompson said he and the council had been in contact with a number of potential grocers and were making an effort to suitor a solution to that predicament.
Following a lengthy executive session, no formal action was announced, but council did call a special meeting for this coming Monday, December 2nd at 7pm. While the full agenda hasn’t been made known, we do know at least one item making the list will be discussion with regards to the White County Dispatch Agreement.
The fallout from the municipality requesting the Grayville Days Committee to form an official 501©3 non profit continued with the official resignation of 4 members including Steve and Mary Kay Kendrick. Council had to make a formal motion and vote to remove names from the Grayville Days Checking Account which is apparently handled by the city. Councilman Don Baldwin said it was with a heavy heart that he made the motion, saying he hoped the council could reach out to the 4 individuals and attempt to reconcile, recognizing their incredibly valuable impact on the organization. With that news, Mayor Thompson also says there are 9 new members joining the Grayville Days Committee and that the group had begun the process of forming the non profit.
Despite no votes from council members Baldwin and also David Jordan, Grayville is moving forward with a new ordinance (#882) establishing bicycle registration. Mayor Thompson says he hopes by encouraging residents to register their bicycles for a $1 (the cost of the sticker), that less bikes may be lost or stolen and will make it easier to return them. Grayville Police estimated they were currently in possession of about 14 lost or stolen bicycles.
Ordinances 879 and 880 related to the Tax Levy and Abatement were passed unanimously, while the amendment altering Grayvile’s Liquor Code passed as well, albeit with a no vote from Jordan. Finally, Council will officially be able to move forward with another abandoned property demolition, this one at 504 Warren.
That special meeting will be held at 7pm Monday, December 2nd at City Council Chambers. The Grayville Council is due back in regular session on December 9th.
