Graceville City Commission holds monthly meeting

The City of Graceville held its monthly city commission meeting on Tuesday, November 14 at 6:00 PM. The meeting included information on city and county happenings as well as approvals for a fire bonus and amended agenda.

After opening the meeting with prayer and the pledge of allegiance, City Manager Michelle Watkins added one modification to the agenda which focused on approving bids for an upcoming grant project. Moving onto the agenda, the first item was Fire Bonus Approval. Manager Watkins explained as in past years, the fire bonus is budgeted for. The bonus requires that the firefighter answer a certain percentage of calls to be eligible for it and then receives a specific dollar amount per call which gives the bonus amount. The commission approved the fire department bonuses unanimously.

Watkins then moved on to the second item on the agenda which was amending the city budget. City Manager Watkins noted that it was a required to “true up the budget” by replacing the estimated dollar figures with the specific amount received or paid. Watkins noted that the way the fiscal calendar year fell it did have to include one additional payroll period for the city. She noted, “this is basically just reconciling the budget”. Commission Davis noted a significant change in water/sewer department with Watkins noting the number in the original budget was based on a period when they were upgrading water meters and radio technology, “so it was a little bit hard to get that revenue number adjusted until we got those programs implemented.” She finished noting it was a little overestimated with the department getting further along than originally anticipated. The budget was approved unanimously.

The third item on the budget was approval for a bid on an upcoming grant project. Watkins noted that it was related to “MO174” which is also known as “money related to CDBG inflow and infiltration system” the city received noting it was almost a $6 million grant. Single bids were turned in after advertising twice with only Dewberry Engineering and Red Fox Enterprises both turning in a bid for administrative (Red Fox) and engineering (Dewberry). The bids were approved unanimously.

Watkins gave a quick grant update to the commission noting which stage each of the multiple grants were in noting that many were still in the beginning stages including environmental survey and project bidding. She mentioned that the affluent grant being worked on at the city sewer plant is around 80% complete. She also spoke about the work on Brown Street paving adding, “It’s pain and suffering I know sometimes, because it is just the price of progress, but the sidewalks look really good.”

Rod Adams from Melvin Engineering gave a quick update on the Brown Street and Fire Department projects. Adams noted that the concrete crews are moving on down Brown Street. He noted that the main areas left to do are near the Oyster Bar of Graceville. Adams then moved onto the Fire Department project, he noted that they were finishing “ironing out” little things with design including parking and interior as well as a few other clerical items. He finished noting that he hopes to have everything to state for approval next month so that bidding can start soon after. Jon Sims then followed giving a brief update on the plant project.

Watkins then mentioned that the Memorandum of Understanding with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to take over dispatch for the City of Graceville has an effective date of December 1. She noted, “Protocols have been worked through and I feel very confident about those protocols working effectively.” Calls will be transferred directly to Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and they will have a number to dispatch back to Graceville for non-emergent calls. She also added that the JCSO has dispatched for the City for many years during weekends and evening hours. The only change will be JCSO dispatching during office hours as well.

Watkins finished thanking everyone who helped make the Graceville Harvest Day Festival and Autumn Fest successful. She then spoke about the Christmas Parade and Festival which will be held Friday, December 8 at 6:00 PM. The parade route will go from Sanders Avenue on its usual route and the Festival will be held at the Civic Center Walking Track.

A county update was then given by Rhett Daniels and Judy Austin. Daniels began informing the commission the Endeavor property is continuing to grow and change with a new Autism Center located there. He noted that Endeavor joined the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office which was already located on the property. He then spoke briefly about interlocal fire department agreements and interlocal grants. He finished noting that the county has also recently contracted a special magistery which handles code enforcement, fire code, and animal control, in the unincorporated around in Jackson County noting it was a new process but has been going well.

During citizens comments, Bob Lemons spoke about a bench swing at the park that has a pole coming up out of the ground creating a danger. Judy Austin also spoke thanking the city work crew that had cleaned out a ditch on her street and it had made a tremendous difference to flooding and water holding in the neighborhood.

After citizens comments the meeting ended with final sentiments from the city commissioners. To view the city meet in its entirety visit The Graceville News Facebook Page.