The Grayville Library Board President Andy Brock is somewhere between annoyed and vexed after finding out that a request for part time staffers to get a raise was not included in the budget. During the Grayville Council meeting Monday night, Brock questioned a request they turned in which suggested raises for two of the library’s part time employees beginning on May 1st. Brock and Grayville Treasurer Sharon Walden’s exchange…
Brock: The Library Board turned in a request for our part-time help. We haven’t heard anything back. I guess the next meeting, the budget will be approved. I just wondered if that request had been…
Walden: When they put the salaries in, we didn’t have that and it was not brought up to the city council. It wasn’t on our agenda to get it approved by the council. That’s all I can tell you. I had Cindy put the numbers in back in January and I went with those numbers. It was never brought up to city council to change anything.
Brock: You guys received the letter.
Walden: I’m sure we did. I’m just telling you what I did.
Brock: On February 23rd.
Walden: Ok.
Brock: So it’s not in the budget?
Walden: It’s not in the budget.
Brock: Not surprising. Thank you.
The letter was dated January 13th. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for April 13th at 6:45pm, prior to the regular council meeting at 7pm.
Also Monday night, council approved a purchase order request amounting to $3,578.49 for a laptop through PC Doctors specifically for City Administrator David Kendrick so he can “handle some things out in the field and not just be in the office to handle them”. Council unanimously approved that expenditure.
Before a brief executive session, council also heard an update from Engineer Rex Gower. He says the bid opening on the Albion/Grayville Water Treatment Plant is set for May 5th. Beyond that, he provided details on a county highway reconstruction project expected to cost more than $2.2 million or $70,000 per 100 feet. The county could also be liable for a portion of Highway 20 from Route 1 to 7th Street and there could be some funding available to assist.
City Attorney Jay Walden said he was taking steps to get money back from a police officer the city paid for training who then left the department.
We had a reimbursement agreement with officer Brandon Smythe for his police training expenses when he left the city. There was a period of time where we didn’t have any communication with him. Originally, he owed $5,515.95. There was a pay down for a period of time. Ultimately, he owed $3,447.48. He came back to the area…he’s an officer at Enfield. I had communication with him, it was pleasant communication. He made promises to pay and made one payment on February 13th of $100. I’ve talked to him subsequent times and there’s always an excuse. I had a short conversation with him today and I said you haven’t been forthright with us and so I’m left with no choice but to file a complaint and if he doesn’t pay, we’ll attempt to garnish his wages.
Commissioner Baldwin commented on the cannon being in place at the Veteran’s Memorial and invited folks to take a look and consider making a purchase of memorial bricks.
Following a short executive session, leaders agreed to a lease with E.T. Simonds at 133 Industrial Park. Mayor Travis Thompson says the lease is for 6 months and will be for $1,250 per month with an option to extend the lease. Beyond that, the city will put up for sealed bid three properties. Bids will be opened in May. Learn more about the properties by calling the city.
Finally, leaders agreed to a $12,950 grant to Project 1855 for an HVAC project at their business. Council adjourned at 7:30pm.