Council Approves Budget. Approves Promotions, Hears From Resident Tuesday

The Sullivan City Council met in open session on Tuesday, September 21, holding a public hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget with a balance forward of $23.7 million, $24.9 million in revenues and $24.1 million in expenditures.

The council concluded the public hearing with no input from citizens and during the regular portion of the meeting approved the budget by Ordinance 3932, unanimously.

During the regular meeting one request was made before the council as Steven “Red” Gamache, appeared before the city council for the second time in as many months, frustrated with concerns and views regarding occupancy as it pertains to residential rental property and tree removal projects in the downtown business district.

Gamache has expressed to the council that residential rental properties should have occupancy inspections.

Gamache requested that the council send him a copy of the current City Administrator J.T. Hardy’s employment contract along with the last two administrators contracts.

Gamache then left the council meeting.

Administrator Hardy reported that five bids were received for three, 2,500-foot reels of wire for the Sullivan Electric Department with the low bid coming from Harry Cooper Supply, Springfield, in the amount of $50,700. The council approved the low bid unanimously.

The council approved change orders for the new Sullivan Electric Department building that resulted in a deduction for the construction in the amount of $4,252. The savings is due to the contractor and city feeling it was in the best interest to have the Electric Department Parking Lot area completely repaved by one contractor rather than at different intervals.

The council approved the payment of the September bills in the amount of %1,926,972.73 unanimously.

Sullivan resident Robert Hathman expressed his concern to the council on the rising costs of natural gas for electricity production and its effect on the city.

Administrator Hardy reported that he served on the Mid-Missouri Municipal Power Energy Pool board which will be having another meeting soon regarding these and other forecasts.

Under Alderman Input, Alderman Paul McCulloch stated that he was happy with the city’s solid waste service provider, Swinger Sanitation and wished to acknowledge the company.

The council did go into closed session meeting where four matters of personnel were discussed with the following promotions being announced within the city: Street Department employee Gary Midyett was promoted to equipment operator, Parks Department employee James Fore was promoted to aquatic facility/chemical operator, Parks Department employee Gerry Funkhouser was promoted to foreman and Water and Sewer Department employee Alex Wall was promoted to maintenance technician.

The council will meet next  on October 5, at 7 p.m.