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 cash disbursements of $1,631,444.58 for the month, and year-to-date totals for the May 1–April 30 fiscal period. The City Treasurer reported combined checking balances including the General Fund ($2,958,027.21), Special Revenue Funds ($4,136,095.22) and Bond Sinking Funds ($1,025,675.25), plus named funds such as ARPA and Harbor Development. Overtime and part-time payroll totals were recorded by department.

Ambulance reports were presented: Beardstown recorded 48 calls in November with total charges of $43,634.00 and collections of $37,332.37; Virginia reported 21 calls with charges of $24,098.00 and collections of $34,882.69. County tax and year-to-date adjustment figures were included in the submitted reports.

On ordinances, Alderperson Eric Harbin moved, seconded by Alderperson Dawn Seward, to adopt the tax levy ordinance for the 2024–25 fiscal year; the measure passed by roll call vote 6–0, with Buhlig, Culves, Davis, Harbin, Schramm and Seward voting yea and Baer and Taylor recorded absent. Harbin and Seward then moved and seconded adoption of an ordinance abating certain 2024 levied taxes to pay debt service on the City’s Series 2016A and 2016B general obligation refunding bonds; that abatement ordinance also passed 6–0 by roll call vote.

Alderperson Mary Davis moved, seconded by Alderperson Eric Harbin, to approve an Intergovernmental Dispatch Services Agreement with the Cass County Emergency Telephone System Board to provide dispatching services for calendar year 2025 at a cost of $88,459.90; the motion passed 6–0 by roll call vote.

The council authorized vehicle purchases in two separate motions. Alderperson Keith Schramm moved, seconded by Alderperson Dawn Seward, to purchase a 2025 F-750 diesel truck from Morrow Brothers Ford, Inc. for the Public Works Department at a total cost of $185,460.00; the motion passed by roll call vote 6–0. Alderperson Eric Harbin moved, seconded by Alderperson Dawn Seward, to purchase a 2025 Dodge Durango and a 2025 Dodge Ram truck from Thomas Dodge for the Police Department at a combined cost of $125,758.20; that motion also passed by roll call vote 6–0.

Alderperson Mary Davis moved, seconded by Alderperson Eric Harbin, to approve the City Council meeting dates for 2025; the motion passed unanimously by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m. on a motion by Davis seconded by Seward.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes (Dec. 3, 2024): Motion by Alderperson Dawn Seward, seconded by Mary Davis; outcome: approved unanimously by voice vote (action_minutes_approved). - Consent agenda: Motion by Alderperson Eric Harbin, seconded by Dawn Seward; outcome: filed/approved unanimously by roll call (action_consent_filed). - Ordinance — Tax Levy (FY May 1, 2024–Apr 30, 2025): Motion by Alderperson Eric Harbin, seconded by Dawn Seward; outcome: adopted by roll call vote 6–0 (action_tax_levy). - Ordinance — Tax Abatement (Series 2016A/2016B bonds): Motion by Alderperson Eric Harbin, seconded by Dawn Seward; outcome: adopted by roll call vote 6–0 (action_tax_abatement). - Agreement — Dispatching services (Cass County ETSB): Motion by Alderperson Mary Davis, seconded by Eric Harbin; outcome: approved by roll call vote 6–0; contract amount $88,459.90 (action_dispatch_agreement). - Purchase — 2025 F-750 truck (Morrow Brothers Ford, Inc.): Motion by Alderperson Keith Schramm, seconded by Dawn Seward; outcome: approved by roll call vote 6–0; cost $185,460.00 (action_truck_purchase). - Purchase — 2025 Dodge Durango & 2025 Dodge Ram (Thomas Dodge): Motion by Alderperson Eric Harbin, seconded by Dawn Seward; outcome: approved by roll call vote 6–0; combined cost $125,758.20 (action_police_vehicle_purchase). - Council calendar — 2025 meeting dates: Motion by Alderperson Mary Davis, seconded by Eric Harbin; outcome: approved unanimously by voice vote (action_council_dates).

(For full financial line items and the ambulance reports, see the filed routine reports approved under the consent agenda.)