By Shannon Wright

The Village of Doyline experienced unusually high attendance for the very first council meeting of the year on Monday, January 6.

Travis Moorehart, the Village’s CPA, presented the 2024 audit review findings. He gave the mayor and council members some helpful tips for future budgeting but said, “The town is in the best financial shape it’s been in in a long time.” 

Moorehart gave praise to the Clerk, Myra Kilburn, to the Mayor, Christie Carter Gates, and to the council for the financial surplus.

However, he mentioned that while the village is in good financial standing it is still not where it needs to be to be fully sustainable.  The council discussed different ways in which current issues could be resolved to continue in a positive financial direction and ideas for income producing activities were suggested and will be considered.

When asked what she would contribute to the long over-due financial good standing of the Village, Gates said, “I would say we are in good standing because we increased the sewer rates as soon as I took office.” She went on to say, “That wasn’t fun or easy, but it was something that had to be done. We had not had a significant increase in many, many years.” 

Gates also mentioned that they have been able to make repairs and purchase new equipment for the town with the use of grant money rather than using the town’s revenue. 

To continue to build on the increased revenue, the mayor and council members are working to address some commercial needs in the community and are encouraging the sale of vacant properties as well. 

The council meeting is held on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Doyline Town Hall and residents are encouraged to attend.