Tax Levy, Turkey Trot, Bids Highlight Council Meeting Tuesday

The Sullivan City Council was scheduled to meet Tuesday night, August 18, with a Public Hearing on the 2020 Tax Levy at 7 p.m. 

The regular meeting followed with a full agenda, including a Turkey Trot, review from planning and Zoning, three bid items and three proposed ordinances.

The Tax Levy hearing shows the real estate assessed valuation at $86,857,439 compared to $87,081,667 with estimated real estate tax of $365,830 up from 2019 $362,602 or a difference of $3,228; the tax rate will be $0.4212 compared to $0.4201 in 2019.

The City of Sullivan does not have a personal property tax, which was eliminated in February 1993.

Under Requests and Petitions, Anytime Fitness, 250 South Service Rd. West, will hold its second annual Turkey Trot for Special Olympics.

In 2019 the event raised $4,700 for the local Special Olympics chapter.

According to owner Maggie Heidbrink, this type of event is popular in many communities. Last year's success has led to the company wanting to continue to tradition for years to come.

The event is scheduled to start at 8 a.m., Thursday, November 26, if approved by the council,

Planning and Zoning is scheduled to provide a report to the City Council from their July 28 meeting. They approved the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map, Section 2.1, and forwarded it to the council for review and approval.

Planning and Zoning also approved a request from Lolita Cox to adjust property lines at 26 Elmont Rd.

The Sullivan Regional Airport Board met on August 12 and reviewed the construction of the ten new hangars at the airport that are expected to be completed by October 27.

Discussion was held on rates and who should occupy the 10 new hangars, whether they should get a waitlist, aircraft size preference, bid process, and seniority.

The group opted to gather more information before making a decision.

Sullivan City Administrator J.T. Hardy was scheduled to present three bid items to the council.

The Fisher Drive sidewalk bids were opened with ten contractors bidding on the project with the low bid coming from Don Maggi, INc., Rolla, for $334,636.02 with the funding coming from a federal grant of $284,022 and city funds for capital improvements for $95,372.

The Sullivan Electric Department received bids for 35-foot wooden poles with four bidders submitting bids with the qualifying bid from Bridgewell, Dierks, Arkansas, in the amount of $10,810.

The final bid was for Springfield Road water line relocation project with the low bid coming from P.J. Meyers Hauling and Excavating, Cuba, for $26,600.

The monthly bills' payment was expected to be approved in the amount of $1,583,907.30, which included $20,694.99 to Oak Grove Village for their share of Wal-Mart sales tax revenue, $508.908.91 to MPAU Power for July electric supply and $29,921.94 for employee retirement program known as LAGERS.

Three proposed ordinances were before the council that included:

Bill 3890, would adjust property lines at 26 Elmont Rd., thereby making two lots which are owned by Lolitta Cox;

Bill 3891 would set the proposed tax levy for 2020, which is found earlier in this article;

Bill 3892, would approve a contract with P.J. Meyers Hauling and Excavating, Llc, doe installation of water main improvements in the Springfield Rd. to Fig St. in the amount of $26,600. The contract is for 30 days and provides for installiing 1,000 liar feet of 8" water main and two 6-inch, 3-way fire hydrants in the Springfield Rd. to Fig St. areas.

The council did have closed session listed for real estate, litigation and personnel.