Beardstown City Council adopts 2024–25 tax levy, approves dispatch contract and new city vehicles

The Beardstown City Council adopted an ordinance setting the tax levy for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2024 and ending April 30, 2025, approved an ordinance abating certain 2024 levied taxes for debt service on Series 2016A and 2016B bonds, approved a 2025 intergovernmental dispatching services agreement with the Cass County Emergency Telephone System Board for $88,459.90 and authorized the purchase of a Public Works F-750 truck and two police vehicles during a short meeting at Beardstown City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.

The meeting, called to order by Mayor Tim Harris at 7:00 p.m., recorded a quorum with City Clerk Brian Ruch and alderpersons Lisa Buhlig, Ron Culves, Mary Davis, Eric Harbin, Keith Schramm and Dawn Seward present; alderpersons Chris Baer and Shawn Taylor were absent. There were no public comments.

Alderperson Dawn Seward moved — and Alderperson Mary Davis seconded — to dispense with reading and approve the minutes from the Dec. 3, 2024 meeting. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Alderperson Eric Harbin moved, seconded by Alderperson Dawn Seward, to approve and file routine reports under the omnibus consent designation; that motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.

City Clerk Brian Ruch presented the November financials, reporting cash receipts of $1,387,991.23 and…