City Council — Minutes

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING THUSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2024 7:00 P.M. Mayor Jason TePaske called the special city council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Patricia Wessel, Robert Chaffee, and Brian Leslin. Also present were Gordon O’Brien, Scott Williamson, Kasandra Thompson, Leslie LaRose, and Cynthia Anderegg. Vacant: Ward #2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Troxel seconded by Chaffee to approve the agenda. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER REPAIRS TO CITY OWNED BUILDING OCCUPIED BY THE COMMUNITY CUPBOARD Christine Beenken and Katie Warner spoke to the Council about the bids they received for the planned window replacement and façade repairs to the city owned building on N. Stone St. that the Community Cupboard currently occupies. The non-profit organization agreed to contribute approximately $3,565.00 of the ARPA grant monies that they were awarded to be used toward the repairs. As per the bids they received, the estimated repairs will cost about $10,800 for materials and labor. They request the Council pay for the balance of the repairs. They would like to have the contract for the repairs signed no later than December 1st. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to approve the window and façade repairs to the city owned building on N. Stone St. and to allocate Contingency monies to pay for the remaining balance of the cost of the repairs for this project. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, Vacant; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. BUDGET DISCUSSION ON 2025 GENERAL FUND, SEWER FUND, AND WATER FUND BUDGETS The City Council reviewed the proposed General Fund, Sewer Fund and Water Fund budgets for 2025. a. DISCUSS & CONSIDER FIRE DEPT TRUCK COSTS FOR THE CITY The City’s appropriation for the 2025 Fire Department budget as submitted by the Augusta-Bridge Creek Joint Fire Department includes the city’s portion of the new brush truck’s annual loan payments for 2025 (approximately $7,600). Library Board member Bunny Turner requested that the City Council increase the proposed municipal appropriation by $5,200 in-order to retain a high school student junior clerk position. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to approve $70,000 for the municipal appropriation for the Augusta Memorial Public Library’s 2025 Budget. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, Vacant; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to make changes as discussed to the proposed 2025 General Fund budget and present the updated proposal at the Public Hearing scheduled for November 26th. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to make changes as discussed to the proposed 2025 Sewer Fund and Water Fund budgets. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk