If Grayville wants to add to its roughly 1,496 population, those new folks could be looking at a newly established cost. Right now, renters put down $250 for utilities, but homeowners don’t. Grayville Commissioners talked for about a dozen minutes at their January 13th meeting, but tabled the matter to gather more information from surrounding municipalities. At the January 27th meeting, the matter was on the agenda again. City leaders inched closer to establishing deposit amounts, but stopped short of making any concrete decision instead approving City Attorney Jay Walden to draft an ordinance council could look over, consider, and still make alterations. Commissioner Scott Browning remains a dissenter voting no.
The Friends of Grayville are requesting assistance for their activities in 2025. Andy Brock and Bobbi Browning provided a 2024 balance sheet and made the formal request Monday night asking this year for $5,000. That’s less than they requested last year because they didn’t end up spending the $7,500 they were approved for in 2024. As part of their yearly efforts, the group made more than $10,300 in community donations last year supporting a variety of other organizations from churches to 4-H and seniors to youngsters. Any money the city provides usually comes from the hotel/motel fund; those dollars are designed to be put to use in means that bring outsiders to the community. City leaders said they’re working on the budget now and hope to be able to provide an answer in mid-February.
The campground lift station at the park has been a problem and continues to be. The city is looking at thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs. Mayor Thompson explains…
There’s been some issues, just even within the last few days, we’ve had some issues with the sewer department. One of our pumps is down on Water Street at the old sewer plant and we’re looking at a pretty good chunk of change to fix that. And then, also the potential of buying a bypass pump that would help alleviate some of the problems that arise when one of our pumps go down. This pump that went down was purchased back in 2017. And it is gonna have to be rebuilt. As Bobby and the guy that came in today said, pumps are good for one rebuild. Our other pump has already had a rebuild. That happened in 2016. So we are running on maybe borrowed time for the other pump because it’s running twice as hard.
Council decided to table the Milano & Grunloh proposal until they’re able to get figures for the two pumps (rebuild and bypass).
Prior to a 5 minute executive session in which they discussed and would approve Mayor Thompson and City Administrator Robert Hatcher to negotiate with Sally Weber on the city’s reacquisition of a property at the I-64 Plaza, commissioners thanked Utility Manager Scott Irvine and his crew for their efforts dealing with the snow and ice as well as 7 water main breaks city workers have had to manage recently.
Council adjourned at 7:26pm and will gather again February 10th at 7pm.
