The Grove Hill City Council devoted much of its Monday work session to shaping the city’s budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which must be adopted before October.
A central topic was how to structure annual pay raises for city employees. Grove Hill typically awards a 3% increase across the board, but councilmembers raised concerns about fairness, noting that a 3% raise for a lower-paid worker does not carry the same weight as the same percentage for a higher earner.
Mayor Ross Wood asked councilmembers to be ready to make final budget decisions on Sept. 21, with a vote on the new budget scheduled for Oct. 5.
Other council business
In additional action during the meeting, the council:
- Agreed to switch its credit card provider from a Kansas-based bank to Huntingdon Bank, the successor to Cadence Bank, which has an office across the street from town hall. The resolution enacting the change also added protections against fraud and misuse, though the city has reported no problems with its credit card usage.
- Approved a plan to have city workers begin cutting the grass at Grove Hill Hospital. Wood said the hospital spends roughly $15,000 to $18,000 a year on grass cutting, and the arrangement will free that money for other needs.
- Approved a liquor license for Jay-G’s restaurant.
- Heard Wood praise Grove Hill Chamber of Commerce Director Laken Nix for working to recruit new members and promote local activities. A chamber luncheon is planned for Sept. 22 at the senior center, the group’s first membership meeting in some time.
Upcoming community events
Wood also outlined several events in the coming weeks, including the Second Chances Cancer Support Group parade on Sept. 19 at 10 a.m., the Square Cup’s annual block party on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and the Hope in Healing 5K run benefiting the Ronald McDonald House on Oct. 17. The chamber is also promoting an “Eat Outside the Office Day” on Aug. 31, encouraging residents and businesspeople to buy lunch from local restaurants or food truck vendors and eat outdoors.
Because the usual Monday meeting date falls on Labor Day, the next council meeting will be held Sept. 8.