•May 11, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council approved rate changes for gas, water and sewer during Monday’s meeting. An item for changes to electric rates was also on the agenda but will be discussed at the next meeting.
The motion for rate changes to gas rate was a proposed increase of 4%. Mayor Richard Glazebrook said in discussion that if they had to go on the market and buy, it would cost more and added that they have not raised rates in 10 or 11 years.
Glazebrook advised that the rate change will help with inflation that is going on and will affect the gas department. “You can defer and defer and defer, but in the long run you will end up paying for it one way or another,” he said. Read More

•April 27, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council approved employee raises during Monday’s meeting. A motion was made by Commissioner Abbey Sherwood to approve a 75-cent raise for full time, non-union employees. Commissioner Chuck Woodworth spoke on the fact that water plant employees have been under union negotiations since 2020 and have not received raises for the past three years. He said that he wanted to give those raises to those employees. The total amount for the five employees is $13,018.82 which they have not received. “I think we should move forward with this,” Woodworth said. A vote was taken to amend the initial proposed motion, and a motion was proposed to include the water plant employees. Both were passed. Read More

•April 13, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan Community Education Foundation held a Staff Appreciation Banquet Thursday, April 7, at Building 1225. During that event, mini and major grants were presented, and staff and retirees were recognized for years of service. Grant Wade, chair of SCEF, presented the grants as well as announced donations that were integral to funding those grants this year.
Wade said last year the foundation received one of its largest donations in the amount of $86,000 from Lloyd and Helen Maurer. A memorial in honor of Gary Emel given by the Emel family made an extra $10,000 in grants possible. This year there were seven mini and eight major grants awarded.
Mini grants this year totaled approximately $4,764.00 while major grants totaled $25,504.45. Mini grants in the amount of $450.00 were awarded to Erin Van Deursen and Nichole Watkins for hands-on learning activities for kindergarten students; Courtney Leach/ Leslie Guyot for a portable public address system for SES staff and students in the amount of $499.00; John Bertetto for 10 licenses for cadaver dissection program for SHS students in Anatomy/Physiology courses in the amount of $510.00; Valerie Kalagian/Lauren Fultz/Rikki Ray for 13 document cameras/microphones for elementary school students in the amount of $742.50; Sarah Camp for a sensory table and materials for early childhood students in the amount of $755.00; Kelsey Elliott for flexible seating for fifth grade students in the amount of $839.00 and Sheri McCain for 21 keyboards for third grade students in the amount of $965.79. Read More

•March 30, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The Sullivan City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, March 28, and Mayor Richard Glazebrook began the meeting by recognizing Julie Shasteen who worked for the city for many years, saying she worked hard and enjoyed her job. She recently passed away.
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood made a motion to approve the architectural agreement with Utz and Associates regarding the city building. According to Treasurer Sarah Golden, the design fees will be 10% of the total project. The initial cost of construction is estimated to be $1,800,000. The final fee will be calculated on completion of construction. Read More

•March 16 2022•
by Ellen Ferrera
NP Writer

The second meeting of the public forums on Sullivan school facility needs was held in the middle school gym 6:30-8 p.m., March 8.
The 80 attendees were again assigned to groups of 10 people at eight tables with school superintendent, Ted Walk, leading the meeting.
At the previous session a survey was taken, and there were 70 respondents to the 20 questions regarding needs in terms of importance. The top10 were ranked in order of importance as follows:
• additional classrooms for the elementary school
• replace the middle school
• increased energy efficiency
• larger new gym Read More