Sullivan City Council Reviews Key Purchases, Proposed Ordinances, Departmental Updates

The Sullivan City Council held a packed meeting on Tuesday, October 15, addressing multiple items, including a street closure request, department purchases, and three proposed ordinances. City Administrator J.T. Hardy also presented several key updates and bid recommendations.

Temporary Street Closure Approved

The council approved a request from Temple Baptist Church, located at 444 Beeman Street, to temporarily close Beeman Street from Orchard Street to South Mansion for the church’s Annual Fall Festival. The event will take place on Thursday, October 31, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., offering a safe, family-friendly alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.

Key Purchases and Budgeted Items

Hardy presented several departmental requests for council approval, including:

• Street Department: A bid recommendation to purchase a new skid steer through the Sourcewell-NJPA contract for $84,314.37. The department had budgeted $85,000 for the purchase.
• Police Department:
  • Approval of the Hyper-Reach Emergency Notification System at a cost of $5,450.
  • Approval of a five-year subscription to the Axon Virtual Reality Training System, costing $5,610 annually.
• Water and Sewer Department:
  • Purchase of a new Evirosite HD-Rover sewer inspection system for $124,289.80 through a Sourcewell contract, which did not require competitive bidding.
  • Approval of $13,900 for upgrades to water tower control panels to prevent obsolescence.
• Electric Department: Approval of the lowest bid from Fletcher-Reinhardt, Bridgeton, for three transformers (37.5 KVA, 50 KVA, and 500 KVA-two primary bushing) totaling $77,674.

Engineering and Grant Project Updates

Cochran Engineering submitted a proposal to conduct a Phase I Cultural Survey, required for the North and South Road grant project, at a cost of $5,976. The survey is expected to take 30 days to complete.

The council also reviewed bids for cart path and bridge replacements at the Sullivan Golf Course, following reports in the Sullivan Independent News on October 9.

Proposed Ordinances

Three bills were presented for approval as ordinances:

• Bill No. 4034: Increasing the City Collector’s annual salary from $40,000 to $45,000, effective April 8, 2025, if approved.
• Bill No. 4035: Dividing a lot at #2 Community Plaza, owned by First Community National Bank, into two separate lots. This plat was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission on October 8.
• Bill No. 4036: Authorizing a 30-day agreement for additional services with Cochran Engineering, costing $5,976, to conduct an archaeological study required for a pending grant application related to the North and South Road project.

Payment and Closed Session

The council also reviewed and approved payment of the city’s monthly bills totaling $2,523,146.26.

Following the public session, the council moved into a closed session to discuss real estate, litigation, personnel matters, and contractual negotiations.