Grayville leaders spent more time in executive session than in public session Monday night. Twenty-three of the thirty-nine minute meeting was spent dealing with executive level issues. Prior to that executive session, Commissioner Andi Ford reminded residents to upkeep their properties to avoid the risk of an ordinance violation. Mayor Travis Thompson reported the city pool closed early for the year on Saturday due to a pump failure and says a new pump will need purchased prior to next season. He also reported the benches approved for purchase at the July 28th meeting are being placed.
Following executive session, the council approved appointing Vanessa Fullop to the City Treasurer position currently held by Sharon Walden. She signaled her intention to retire in June. Fullop will join immediately; Walden’s resignation takes effect at the end of September.
Also during regular session, commissioners officially signed off on adding a chapter to the Code of Ordinances surrounding utility charges, disconnection fees, and procedures. They also approved a sludge permit application and $2,500 permit application fee.
Also Monday in Grayville, even though only two commissioners voted to deny the timber purchase proposal for about 14 trees located in the park area, they still got their way. At the previous meeting July 28th, Commissioner Baldwin said he was not in favor of accepting a bid for those trees. Since then, he’s visited the park and said he still had concerns that felling some of those trees could result in damage to other remaining trees and made a motion to not accept bids with Commissioner Scott Browning agreeing. Commissioners Ford and Seth Schonaman voted against not accepting bids and Mayor Travis Thompson agreeing with them. Because city attorney Jay Walden advised the board would need a 4/5ths vote to accept a bid to drop the trees and leaders agreed that would be unlikely given the 3-2 vote just taken, the motion died.
The final action taken at Grayville was a road closure request for the Friends of Grayville. They were looking to close off roadways for a Car Show planned for October 3rd. That measure passed unanimously.