Though arguably she’s had all the keys to the city, Grayville Mayor Travis Thompson and city leaders officially honored long time city employee and Clerk JoEllen Seil Monday night bestowing upon her an official key to the city highlighting 37 years of dedication to public service and the citizens of Grayville. Seil began working for Grayville back in August of 1987 and enjoyed her final City Council meeting from the gallery in advance of her September 30th retirement. Police Chief and newly appointed City Administrator Robert Hatcher is taking over Seil’s duties.
Other highlights from Monday night’s Grayville Council meeting include leaders officially adopting Ordinance 962 which establishes the Grayville Business District. Commissioners and the mayor have been working through those steps which they say will help pave a path forward for the city to attract and assist businesses to the city.
Arlynn Davis presented Council with the audit with no significant findings or issues. In fact, Davis says the net position of the city especially it’s utilities is solid.
Most importantly is to look at that net position number at the bottom. Net position of water is almost 1.3 million. Sewer is at 397,000. Gas at 2.4 million. And then garbage at 26,000. So total net position for all your utility funds is a little over 4.1 million…a good spot to be.
Grayville is working on multiple projects including a water main replacement of which construction is now underway. Additional projects engineer Rex Gower updated council on include the Albion/Grayville water treatment plant and the proposed waste water treatment plant grant.
Commissioners and the mayor approved $22,000 in TIF funds for Nowark Investments for a new roof which is estimated to cost the company in excess of $88,000. They also tabled sewer improvements at the KOA campground for due process on the advice of city attorney Jay Walden. A special council meeting is anticipated to expedite overdue work needed there. The Grayville swimming pool concession stand will be snacks only moving forward and leaders approved the same tax levy which should actually provide some slight relief to local taxpayers. Commissioners Andi Ford and Don Baldwin agreed with Treasurer Sharon Walden’s recommendation that the city should do it’s best to live within its means and try to save residents some money.
Ford: I agree with you that I think keeping it the same would be the smart way to go. We’re not gaining a whole bunch if we increase it and it will help ease some of the burden on the taxpayers.
Baldwin: Yeah, I concur with that. I think we oughta leave it the same, give people a little bit of a break.
The tax levy should afford the city with $266,181 based on estimates.
With no executive session, Grayville Council adjourned at 7:40pm.
