By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

BURKET — The town of Burket will not get all of the 2024 budget it asked for as the town had an illegal meeting when it came to the public hearing for the budget.

On Oct. 22, the Burket Town Council had a public hearing for its proposed 2024 budget at $114,000. During that public hearing, Council President Bill Rayburn was the only council member to attend the meeting. No residents attended the public hearing.

The budget was adopted Oct. 31.

Rayburn said at Thursday’s Jan. 11, meeting, the state recently informed the town the public hearing held on Oct. 22 was an illegal meeting because there was no quorum. Due to that, the town will receive the same amount in 2024 as it did for in 2023 for its budget, which is $96,900.

Earlier in the meeting, Rayburn updated the council on the status of the emergency generators for the Burket Fire Department and the Burket Fireman’s Training Center.

In December, Fire Chief Kevin McSherry updated the council on the generators. He said he received grant money from the K21 Health Foundation for the generators and the Burket Fire Department will have to pay $2,600 and the town will have to pay $2,000 for the generators.

Thursday, Rayburn told the council he signed off on a commitment letter for the town for the $2,000 since December’s meeting. The generators should be installed and functional by today.

In other business, the council:

• Heard an issue of a pile near the railroad tracks that drew concerns about burning due to its size is under review by the council before the council possibly moves forward on the situation.
• Recommended residents bring in trash cans after trash pickup.