Stirling sworn in as Troy’s new alderwoman
By Charles Bolinger
Troy City Clerk Kim Thomas, right, swears in Heather Stirling, the city’s newest councilwoman on Sept. 2. Stirling replaces Tony Manley, who stepped down last month. (Charles Bolinger photo)
Editor • After taking her oath of office, Heather Stirling officially took her place on the dais in Troy City Hall as the newest Ward I councilperson, alongside Elizabeth Hellrung.
Stirling replaces Tony Manley, who stepped down in August to spend more time with his family when he’s not serving as Maryville’s Police Chief. She had a large contingent of family and friends to cheer her on as she took her seat.
City Administrator Jay Keeven told the council that the city employees’ health insurance would be coming up for renewal at the end of September.. He said the city’s health care costs for the renewal would cost eight percent more than in 2024 or $80,000 more this year for the same insurance. The city employs an 80/20 split with its employees.
Keeven noted that last year, there were many big claims on the city’s self-insured hybrid plan. This year, there were not as many large claims but many approached $40,000, where the city is self-insured before the stopgap insurance kicks in. He said there is about $120,000 in the city’s reserve bucket for rainy days.
Police Chief Chris Wasser said a grant they applied for in February was approved from Illinois. The money is for $61,000. Total grant funds are $77,000.
Near the end of the forum, the aldermen approved two resolutions, one for authorizing funds to the Safe Routes to School grant program. The city will provide up to $100,000 in matching funds for a trail connecting Triad High School to the Silver Creek Trail extension on the north side of US 40.
The other was to adopt the 2025 Madison County multi-jurisdictional all-hazards mitigation plan. The county’s hazard mitigation plan (HMP) evaluates damage to life and property from natural hazards that have impacted the county and participating jurisdictions and identifies projects and activities to reduce these damages before an event occurs. The HMP fulfills federal planning requirements of the Stafford Act as amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and the Disaster Recovery and Reform Act.
The main benefit of updating the HMP is that the participating jurisdictions can become eligible to apply for and receive federal hazard mitigation funds to implement the mitigation actions identified in the plan.
Both resolutions passed unanimously. The next city council meeting is Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at city hall, 116 E. Market St.
