•August 7, 2024•

By Megan Russell

The Sullivan City Council had their first meeting of August, on Thursday, August 1^st at six at the library. The meeting started with reports from Commissioner Abbey Sherwood, beginning her reports with another positive review on the Splash Pad, but revealing a small frustration with the Splash Pad. While speaking on how massive a hit the pad was to the community, it uses non-recyclable water. In the state of Illinois, in order to have a water system like this which recycles it must include cleaning chemicals like those often found in pools. Sherwood continued to explain how if the city were to switch to a recycle system the chemicals added would then identify the Splash Pad as a pool, and would then need a whole new set of rules and regulations the community would need to follow. Average Splash Pads can use from 5,000 to 26,000 gallons of water daily. Sherwood reporter that the park also received some new paint and minor improvement projects.

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Sherwood's reports continued onto the Civic Center pool's liner, which was last replaced in 2009 and is in need of replacement. The soonest this would be able to happen would be March or April, however the new liner is not in the budget and the maintenance required for the replacement would require a full pool drain.

Sherwood ended her reports with revealing winter plans with neighboring communities to create a winter Christmas light spectacular. This plan is between Sullivan and a few other communities to draw in visitors to the areas and visit all of the participating light-works in each town. They hope to have their first meeting on this within the month.

Commissioner Douglas Shook stepped up next with his reports, starting off with minor fixes to side walks, roads and parking lots in the park and throughout town, fixing pot hots with hot patching. Due to the recent weather and storm damage tree trimming has now fully commenced, having removed some limbs and even a whole tree after the storms. “The whole tree was dead- hollow-the only thing alive on it was a single limb hanging over the road, and one big storm and it's coming down. We just removed it and in the fall, we're gonna' grind it down and plant a sapling there” shook added to his reports of the removal of a tree. Mayor Mike Mossman continued with Shook's idea and mentioned the tree farm having many saplings ready to go whenever they are ready.

Wrapping up commissioner reports and jumping over to claims, a special meeting was called and to be scheduled at a later date considering an engagement letter with Vander Burgh Financial services LLC. The purchase of two new vehicles for the gas department and the city was motioned, The truck for the gas department was unable to be purchased through a local source, the purchase of the new Ford F550 for the city is a new idea for the winter. In purchasing this truck, they plan to use it instead of the average snow plow, adding the proper pieces to it, it will be smaller and lighter, able to get into smaller places and clear the roads more efficiently.

Commissioner Shook ended the meeting with a motion to start a project to improve the historic buildings of downtown Sullivan. This was met with a stalemate, some agreeing with his wishes and other reporting they think they should speak more on the subject.

“25 years from now, I'd hate to see something happen knowing we could have done something” Shook stated while defending his claim.

While agreeing on the idea overall of building improvement Commissioner Mike Kirk did show some hesitation stating, “-not a taxpayer's fault if you didn't fix your roof”. The decision was pushed to a later date or a second meeting however Shook did state that fixing things such as mechanicals or inside work for the building was in budget for this year. The council meeting ended soon after, officially ending at 6:42.