Rush Valley council approves historic‑church payment, grant spending authorization and sale of cemetery shed

The Rush Valley Town Council voted to pay $1,500 to a contractor who prepared the town’s National Register nomination for the Clover Ward (Clover Church) and authorized the town to spend grant funds if a grant application for up to $20,000 is awarded to finish restoration work, council members said at their meeting.

The council also approved the surplus sale of a dilapidated shed removed from the Clover Cemetery, accepting a single bid of $200 from Chris Burrows, and approved routine payment of town bills. Council members voted to approve meeting minutes from Feb. 26, 2025 as written.

Why it matters: The payments and conditional spending authorization are tied to the ongoing effort to restore and list the Clover Ward meeting house on the National Register of Historic Places. Council members said listing may open eligibility for tax credits and other rehabilitation incentives; the town will use contractor work already completed to support that nomination and continue volunteer and paid work on the building.

Council action and details

- Approval of Feb. 26, 2025 meeting minutes. Motion moved and seconded; motion carried.

- Payment to contractor for Clover Church restoration. The council approved payment of a $1,500 invoice to the contractor who prepared the National Register nomination and earlier restoration work. The invoice was described in the meeting as the contractor’s final payment for the work already performed. Motion moved and seconded; motion carried.

- Conditional authorization to spend grant funds if awarded. A council member said the town has applied for a grant to finish interior work and install HVAC, a back door and porch steps, and requested authorization to spend grant funds if the application is successful. The grant request discussed was for $20,000; council members approved allowing the town to spend the funds if the grant is awarded.

- Surplus sale (Clover Cemetery shed). The town received one bid, from Chris Burrows, to remove the old cemetery shed. The council approved the bid and authorized disposal/sale for $200.

- Payment of bills. Council members moved and seconded approval of the bills as presented; the motion carried.

Council members did not record roll‑call vote tallies in the meeting audio; each of the motions above passed after the council voted “Aye” during the meeting.

Meeting context and next steps

Council members and staff described extensive volunteer labor and donated materials already used on the church restoration and said some work remains should the grant be awarded. The council asked staff to proceed with payment and to accept grant funds if offered; no additional conditions or contingencies were recorded in the meeting. The surplus shed sale will proceed to the bidder who was present on the town’s bid list.

Quotes

“This is a monumental task,” the mayor said while describing the National Register nomination and the possible benefits if the property is listed.

“We’ve been hard at it over there to get to that point,” a council member said of the restoration effort.

Ending

Council members closed out the item with routine approvals and moved on to other agenda items. The town said it will continue work on the Clover Ward restoration and pursue available funding and donations to complete the project.