Sales Tax Trending Higher, Council Approves Bids
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit many businesses and municipality budgets hard in 2020, but following a report by Sullivan City Administrator J.T. Hardy, sales tax in the City of Sullivan is up between 4-6%.
Hardy announced the increase to the Sullivan City Council Tuesday night, December 15, during his report to the council.
Hardy reported the findings to the council, which prompted some discussions about whether this has been affected by more people working from home and shopping locally, so they don’t have to travel. Regardless, the council was encouraged by current sales tax levels.
Hardy continued his report to the council where they approved bids for Sullivan Parks and Street Department for the purchase of two 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 CK trucks for $113,748 from Don Brown Chevrolet, St. Louis, after trading from 2005 and 2005 trucks with overall trade-in values of $9,000 and $10,600 respectively.
The trucks are complete with snow plows and salt spreaders for winter road maintenance.
]The council approved the purchase of two 2021 Ford Utility Police Interceptors from Hutcheson Ford, St. James, for $59,462. The department is trading in a 2013 and 2014 Dodge Charger with values in trade at $6,500 and $7,000, respectively.
The purchase of 21 new firearms for the Sullivan Police Department was also approved in the total amount of $8,998.50, including 18 Glock 17 GENS for $7,713 and three Glock 26 GENS in the amount of $1,285.50.
The firearms are purchased through a joint bid through the State of Missouri and purchased from Kiesler Police Supply.
A change order in the decrease price of new hangars constructed at the Sullivan Regional Airport was approved for $36,388.04. The deduction was made possible due to a change in the drainage layout of the project. The overall cost, 90$ funded through the Federal Aviation Administration and Missouri Department of Transportation-Aviation, was $1,546,997.52.
The council approved the payment of the monthly bills totaling some $1,224,061.82, following review by Alderman Bobby Maupin.
The council approved one ordinance. Ordinance 3904, which approved changing the zoning of a property, owned by JMR Company, Inc., Jane Rorher, located at 316 North Church St. The zoning chair takes the property from R-2 (single and multiple family district) to C-3 (office and residential district. The mater was reviewed and approved by Planning and Zoning.
Under Aldermen Input, aldermen reported several lights out along Highway D and requested that MODOT be contacted for repair.
Alderman Paul McCulloch reported he received a complaint about a ditch along a private drive/Randy Drive, clogged with debris. McCulloch said that the property owner was contacted and the ditch was cleaned out and the drainage pipe replaced.
Alderman Jason Alexander reported that the state of Missouri has the new traffic lights working on the Exit 226 overpass.
Sullivan staff reported that adjustments are still being made to the flow of traffic.
Mayor Dennis Watz extended thanks to staff members for the Christmas lighting throughout the city.
The council did not have any items for closed session and concluded their meeting in 45 minutes.