Audit Finds Sullivan ‘Most Fiscally Responsible’ Among Other Cities

The Sullivan City Council on May 7 received its fiscal year 2023 audit, conducted by K DeLuca Audit Services, LLC.

Kristen DeLuca, CPA, presented the audit. 

Mayor Dennis Watz asked how Sullivan compared with other city audits. 

DeLuca responded by stating that the city’s audit was the ‘most fiscally responsible’ audit that she performed, adding that she wished that all her audits were as good and went as smoothly. 

Following the presentation, the council approved the audit unanimously.

The council approved two requests from the Meramec Community Fair Board to hold the fair parade at 7 p.m. on June 18, through downtown Sullivan, pending all emergency services approval.

The council also approved the requests for liquor licenses for the fair set for June 20-22.

Sullivan Chamber of Commerce received approval to hold their annual Diner on Main Street event on September 26, requesting street closures from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

City Administrator J.T. Hardy reported that Oak Grove Village was requesting $398,664.23 from the Transportation Escrow Fund between the city and village to widen Williams Drive. The council approved this matter unanimously.

Under Sullivan Police Department, Hardy reported that the K9 officer has resigned and an attempt to relocate the department K9, Fen, has not worked out with other officers.

The department received the K9 through a Missouri grant program and will be seeking to relocate the K9 to another department in the program.

Hardy reported that the results from the Parks and Recreation Survey have been completed and tabulated to be used in the Parks Comprehensive Plan being drafted.

Estimates for site development and design plans for a new parks department building was presented to the council at a cost of $20,000. The council had no objections to seeking a request for qualifications on these plans.

Hardy reported that city staff assisted in cleanups with the recent storms that hit the area on May 6, reporting that the NWS, National Weather Service, determined and EF-1 had hit the town with a building destroyed at Highway 185 South and East Vine, One More Pub.

The board and mayor expressed their sincere appreciation to city crews who helped keep streets clear and electric to residents along with assisting in flooding issues.

Two ordinances were approved Tuesday night that included:

Ord. 4021, which approved federal grant funds for improvements to North and South Rd. and will be included in the Missouri Department of Transportation’s 2026 budget. The improvements are for sidewalks, curb and guttering and other improvements in the area, some of which will not be grant eligible;

Ord. 4022, approved the annexation of 0.31 acres of property at 955 Thatcher Rd. as requested by Kenneth and Linda Pondrom and approved by Planning and Zoning.

In closed session the council approved the hiring of Police Patrolman Parker Howsden at a grade 10(6) $21.76 per hour.