The Grayville City Council met on Monday evening, making significant decisions and announcements. The city approved a bid of $2,676 from Brad and Denise Schroeder for the purchase of property at 122 S 3rd Street. Additionally, Bobbie Hatcher, who currently serves as the Chief of Police, was appointed as the City Administrator/City Clerk, effective September 1st.
In the police department’s activity report for July, Hatcher reported that law enforcement responded to 274 calls for service, conducted 61 traffic stops, opened 13 case files, made 5 criminal arrests, issued 31 citations, and administered 14 written warnings.
The bid for Grayville’s waterline replacement project Phase II was awarded to Kieffer Brothers from Mt. Carmel, with a projected cost exceeding $1.37 million. Funding for the project will include a DCEO Grant of $550,000, over $200,000 in ARPA funds, and the remaining $600,000 to be drawn from Revolving Loan TIF I and II funds. Mayor Travis Thompson cautioned that the city’s TIF resources will be limited in the coming years due to this expenditure.
During the meeting, city leaders also approved the transfer of a TIF agreement from Tupper’s Guns to new owners Michael and Moriah Pipher. Additionally, they formally ratified a TIF agreement with Mark Smith amounting to $10,000, which had been informally agreed upon in previous meetings.
The city is moving forward with plans to enhance economic development by engaging Moran Economic Development. A representative presented details of the new Business District Development Plan during the meeting. Jake Zambaldi, Director of Development Programs, outlined the proposed project, emphasizing the area’s economic potential.
If successful, the establishment of the business district will introduce a 1% sales tax in the designated area to fund economic development initiatives. This will raise Grayville’s sales tax from 7.25% to 8.25% on specific purchases. Pending a smooth process, the new tax is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025, with the city expecting to receive funds by March. The next steps involve holding a public hearing to establish the proposed Business District, with a special meeting scheduled for Thursday to set the public hearing date on September 9th at 6:30 pm. Additionally, the city plans to annex property at 811 South Court, opposite the Industrial Park, to include it in the district.
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