Ella Tinsley was there for WROY/WRUL News and has the report…
The Village of Norris City Board convened for its latest meeting on July 13th, 2026 and advanced most agenda items without opposition, approving all standard measures (including the meeting minutes, the treasurer’s report, and the payment of bills). While the board had some discussion around uniform expenses, trustees and committee members reported no major concerns. Several members also praised the progress of recent sidewalk projects.
In municipal updates, the mayor, Charles “Skip” Land, reported ongoing EPA consultations tied to the sanitation plant during the Mayor Comments/Presentation section of the agenda. Repairs are underway, and paperwork is being processed. Additionally, during this segment, the board introduced a formal public complaint form for citizens to partake in to improve tracking and responsiveness; this was following public concerns about the existence of such a forum in a previous meeting.
Brought up first during the mayor’s comments to the group, the board confirmed that there will be no expansion of the TIF district. It also noted that the pothole repair machine remains out of service and is being repaired.
One of the longest discussions centered on the deteriorating Kieser House, where the city weighed major options for the lot if proper legal paperwork is put in place. If the board buys the property, they have discussed possible avenues, including demolition, repair, or sale, given its significant structural problems.
“And he had to lay down plywood for you to walk from the back door, which goes into the kitchen area, down the hallway to get to the front living room area. He had to put down three quarters plywood to keep it falling through the floor just walking through there.” Several board members, including Wayne McKenzie, discussed the potential danger of the property and its structural integrity.
Moving into new business for the board, updates to the 250th celebration plan were approved, including which fields will be designated for softball, details on afternoon entertainment and music, as well as fireworks.
The board also approved a newly digitized ordinance book, with amendments planned later for nepotism and zoning. Additional approvals included Phase IV public works payout and the White County Dispatch agreement.
On financial and contracting matters, the board approved a $240,000 budget addition, as Mayor Charles “Skip” Land put it, “Last year 2025, our budget was $5,021,800, and the 2026 is $5,267,000. So it’s a $240,000 addition to the budget. And that’s, I need to sign off on it, get it
all signed up, and then take it to the clerk’s office and have it filed.”
The mayor explained that the increase didn’t surprise him, and it was primarily for a sewage tractor and garbage trucks. The MFT contract was awarded to Mt. Carmel Stabilization, while the final tax computation remains just under 5%. The risk management worksheet was
reviewed, and additional discussion of GUA insurance was tabled for more information.
As an ongoing item, several neglected or abandoned properties were discussed for potential demolition or further enforcement actions. A police report was not available, but animal control responded to a possum pickup and a stray dog. No executive meeting was held, and the
board motioned to adjourn, with the next meeting scheduled for August 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Village of Norris City City Hall.