Mound City Council approves budget changes, discusses changing compactor hours

Journal staff report

MOUND CITY – In a special meeting on Monday, Dec. 8, the Mound City Council approved year-end changes to the city budget, hired a part-time employee to run the city’s trash compactor and approved authorization for unused sick and vacation hours in excess of carryover limit to be banked and made transferable to other employees for medical-related purposes.

All five members of the city council were able to attend the special meeting.

The change in the sick leave and vacation carryover was allowed to help an employee who will be undergoing surgery to use time offered by other employees who have accumulated significant leave time.

The change in the budget allowed line items in the general fund to be transferred to the water and sewer funds going into the 2026 fiscal year. The water fund received a $67,000 bump up to just over $373,000, and the sewer fund was increased by nearly $18,700 to nearly $171,600.

The council also voted to hire Carlos Nerio to run the trash compactor part-time with a wage of $14 per hour with no benefits.

The council also discussed changing the compactor hours at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The council agreed to have Jonathan Mauk keep track of how many people dispose of their waste between 5 and 6 p.m. Also discussed was the possibility of changing the hours during the winter season.

In other business at the Dec. 2 meeting, the council:

• Approved increasing the prizes for the residential Christmas decorating contest. The first-place winner will now receive $125, second place $75, and third place $50. Judging will take place on December 19, 2025.

• Tabled a decision on extending Grant Goodison’s tenure on the planning and zoning Board. Council member Megan Purvis said that if Goodison did not want to renew, she would fill his seat on the board. Purvis will be going off the council in January.

• Discussed the process of using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for demolition of derelict houses. City Clerk Shelby Murray will get bids from Brian Antrim on a few properties that could be considered for demolition to get a general idea on cost.

• Approved to give all full-time employees and Andres Flores Carrillo a $200 Christmas bonus and part-time employees a $100 Christmas bonus. The council also approved a $350 allowance for the employee Christmas party.

• Approved a reduced water bill for one resident because of a leak and order that water for another customer be shut off until the property owner repaired a leak.