By James B. Bartle
The Sullivan City Council took action on several items Tuesday and received a financial report from city administrator Mark Falloon.
The council approved the purchase of electric transformers in the amount of $47,850; tabled a bid for emergency roof repairs to the police department pending a guarantee on the roof; awarded four bids for surplus equipment totaling $22,623.77; a new voice recorder for the Sullivan Police Department was approved at a cost of $10,369.66; and awarded a purchase for a 2009 Cargo Van for the electric department from West Brothers Ford in the amount of $16,467.
City engineer Robert Schaffer updated the council on several ongoing city projects.
The wastewater treatment plant was on schedule and a possible extension due to weather from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources could be granted if needed.
Schaffer gave an overview on the Elmont Rd. project, which was printed in the Mar. 4, 2009 edition of the Sullivan Independent News. Schaffer explained that paving will begin as soon as the weather allows. He explained that the freezing temperatures and wet weather have a big effect on the project and that thawing has finally begun on the base of the roadway so paving could begin soon.
The West overpass is moving forward with a one night closure on Mar. 12. Schaffer stated that the overpass will be closed for two months beginning Mar. 30.
Schaffer also reported to the council, a story that appeared in the Mar. 4, 2009 edition of the Sullivan Independent News, that the city was awarded stimulus funding for a portion of the East Vine St. improvements.
The project is 100 percent funded and must begin in 2010.
The council is scheduled to meet with MoDOT regarding the North Service Road realignment project next week.
DAC Industries has approached the council regarding a $500,000 low interest loan to be loaned through funds from the State of Missouri. The company will add some 17 full-time jobs and 10 part-time jobs with an expansion near Aerofil Technology. The company would repay the loan at a rate of $9,208 per month. The council discussed the loan and will vote on it, in ordinance form, at their next meeting.
City Administrator Falloon reported that the city, thus far, is weathering the economic storm and is on target with its budget and with its revenues and expenditures. He felt the city was in pretty good shape and did not anticipate any problems at this time.
The council approved a motion to proceed with grant funding and city funds to have lights erected at the Highway D intersection at Missouri Baptist Hospital. The $140,000 project is funded with $71,308 in grant funding.
Mayor James Schatz made two appointments to the Industrial Development Authority Board (IDA). Mitch Klauser was appointed to a term through February 2013 and Greg Krueger was appointed to a term through February 2015. Both appointments were approved unanimously.