City Council — Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2025 7:00 P.M. Mayor Jason TePaske called the Regular meeting of the Augusta City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Lisa Fugett, Brian Leslin, and Robert Chaffee. Also present were Gordon O’Brien, Scott Williamson, Kasandra Thompson, Leslie LaRose and Cynthia Anderegg. Absent: Brian Leslin. Pledge of Allegiance ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROPER POSTING A notice of the meeting and an agenda was posted at the three public places, and the local newspaper was notified. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to approve the agenda. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Chaffee seconded by Abley to approve the minutes for the following meetings: October 7th Special Budget meeting, and October 14th Regular City Council meeting. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT Jane Walsh addressed the council about expanding the library reading garden to include the unutilized, open green space near the library. The Friends of the Library are looking at grant opportunities geared toward children outside reading. She would like the permission of the council for the Friends to make this expansion. Mrs. Walsh also would like the city’s website to be updated and gave examples of other communities’ websites that were more appealing and informative, and to keep the meeting agendas and minutes current. APPROVAL OF DEPARMENT REPORTS Motion by Fugett seconded by Abley to receive the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to receive the Police Department Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to receive the Senior Center Report. Motion carried. Motion by Fugett seconded by Troxel to receive the Library Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Abley to receive the Public Works Department Report. Motion carried. There were no minutes submitted for the Augusta Bridge Creek Fire Department October meeting. COMMITTEE REPORTS Capital Improvement Plan Committee Meeting – 10/16/25 Members will review the draft of the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan document at the next meeting which is scheduled for 11/20/25. Augusta Industrial Development Corp –10/28/25 The committee pledged $5,000 toward the Wendel Immersion proposal project for city owned buildings. The continued discussions on increasing residential housing. They also discussed updating the signage for the industrial park and area business along with marketing strategies for having the city advertise the sale of available city owned industrial lots. The next meeting is scheduled for 12/2/25. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH TOWN OF BRIDGE CREEK The agreement would allow inter-governmental cooperation by giving assistance via phone, email, and on site as needed between the City and Town staff in the Clerk Treasurers offices and Public Works Departments. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to approve the Mutual Aid Agreement with the Town of Bridge Creek. Motion carried. REVIEW AND CONSIDER THE AUGUSTA-BRIDGE CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT’S PROPOSED BY- LOWS AMENDMENT The proposed amendment to Article II, Section B Spending Limitations for the Bylaws of the Augusta Bridge Creek Joint Fire department would increase the emergency procurement expenditure from $10,000 to $25,000 for a single purchase. Motion by Troxel seconded by Fugett to approve the amendment to Article II, Section B Spending Limitations for the Bylaws of the Augusta Bridge Creek Joint Fire department to increase the emergency procurement expenditure from $10,000 to $25,000. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, Absent. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS TO VACATE UNDEVELOPED STREETS: a. RESOLUTION #2025-1111A TO VACATE AND DISCONTINUE A PORTION OF KLINGMAN STREET Motion by Chaffee seconded by Abley Resolution #2025-1111A to Vacate and Discontinue a portion of Klingman Street. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, Absent. Motion carried. b. RESOLUTION #2025-1111B TO VACATE AND DISCONTINUE A PORTION OF SOUTH MADISON STREET Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to approve Resolution #2025-1111B to Vacate and Discontinue a portion of South Madison Street. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, Absent. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER WENDEL COMPANIES ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING MUNICIPAL COMPLEX IMMERSION FEASIBILITY STUDY PROPOSAL PERTAINING TO CITY BUILDINGS. Wendel Companies, an engineering and architecture firm, conducted an initial assessment of the City’s municipal buildings—including the Library, City Hall, Police Department, and Senior Center—during a site visit on September 5, 2025. Their findings concluded that, due to factors such as building age, condition, location, and accessibility, only the Senior Center remains a public asset suitable for reuse. The other facilities are unlikely to meet long-term needs and may require relocation to a newly constructed municipal building or multi-building complex at a new site. To move forward, Wendel Companies has proposed a Municipal Complex Immersion Feasibility Study, which will evaluate current and future space needs for all affected departments. The study will include an in-person meeting to review concept designs, cost estimates, construction scheduling, retrofit options, operational considerations, and overall programmatic needs. The fee for this feasibility study is $10,000. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to accept the proposal from Wendel Companies for the Municipal Complex Immersion Feasibility Study I the amount not to exceed $10,000. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, Absent. Motion carried. SECOND READING OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES: Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to waive the second readings. Motion carried. a. Section 6.06: Snow and Ice Removal: Dirt, Rubbish or Other Motion by Troxel seconded by Abley to adopt Section 6.06: Snow and Ice Removal: Dirt, Rubbish or Other Ordnance. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, Absent. Motion carried. b. Section 11.02.5: Street Event Closure Permit Motion by Troxel seconded by Fugett to adopt Section 11.02.5: Street Event Closure Permit Ordinance. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, Absent. Motion carried c. Section 15.20: Public Records Retention Motion by Troxel seconded by Chaffee to adopt Section 15.20: Public Records Retention Ordnance. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, Absent. Motion carried APPROVE BARTENDER LICENSE APPLICATIONS Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to approve the bartenders application for Kim Sauers, Mulligans. Motion carried. ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Special City Council Meeting – Bid Award & Budget – November 13th at 7:00 pm b. Capital Improvement Plan Committee – November 20th at 6:15 pm c. Augusta Industrial Development Corp – December 2nd at 6:00 pm d. City Council Meeting – December 11th at 7:00 pm ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to adjourn the meeting. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk-Treasurer