City Council — Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY AUGUST 20, 2024 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, Patricia Wessel, Bob Chaffee (by phone), and Brian Leslin. Also present were Gordon O’Brien, Scott Williamson, and Cynthia Anderegg. Absent: Kasandra Thompson, Leslie LaRose, and Bruce Stabenow 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 Troxel seconded by Wessel to approve the agenda. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Leslin seconded by Wessel to approve the minutes for the following meeting: July 9th City Council meeting. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT • Sweet Clarice Catering donated the proceeds from the Bean & Bacon Days Food Truck sales to the Augusta police Department for the purchase of protective safety vests. APPROVAL OF DEPARMENT REPORTS Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to receive the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried. Motion by Leslin seconded by Wessel to receive the Police Department Report. Motion carried. Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to receive the Senior Center Report. Motion carried. Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to receive the Library Report. Motion carried. Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to receive the Public Works Department Report. Motion carried. The Augusta Bridge Creek Fire Department submitted the Minutes from the May 8, 2024 meeting as the most current. UPDATE COUNCIL ON PROGRESS OF THE MONUMENT STONE REPLACEMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AUGUSTA VETERAN MEMORIAL PARK – CAROL PEUSE Carol Peuse updated the Council on the progress of replacing the center monument stone in the Veteran’s Memorial Park that was damaged during the May 2024 tornado. The new monument will be 8” wide and will have 3 mounting rods for better stability. The cost of the stone itself is $7,310. The estimated cost to set the stone is $1,500-$2,000. It will take approximately 6 months to quarry and shape the monument. They hope to rededicate the park on Memorial Day 2025. The park was originally dedicated on November 11, 2005. They also plan to update the park by adding benches, repairing the soldiers broken gun stock, and adding a memorial for the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. REVIEW AND APPROVE PAYMENT FOR SEAL COATING THE WEST LAWN AND EAST LAWN CEMETERIES Jerry Boettcher updated the Motion by Wessel seconded by Leslin to approve payment of $10,000 to JJ Premium Sealers, LLC for repairs and seal coating both the East Lawn and West Lawn Cemetery roads using ARPA Funds as agreed at the Special City Council meeting on November 1, 2023. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, Absent; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. UPDATE ON PARKS IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROGRESS • The Stone Street basketball court paving bid was accepted from Senn Blacktop. The court will have a basketball court and 2 pickle ball court lines. Paving is anticipated for the end of August. Estimated cost including paving, line painting, and fencing is approximately $37,000. Hope to get security cameras. Also planning a “graffiti wall”. • The Senior & Community Center was awarded a grant and will be considering redesign of the Senior & Community Center basketball court CONSIDER APPROVAL OF B & B ELECTRIC PAY APPLICATION #12 - PUMP HOUSE WELL #11, PROPOSAL #2 PROJECT Motion by Troxel seconded by Wessel to approve Pay Request #12 for B & B Electric. – Pumphouse/Treatment Well #11 project in the amount of $69,826.57. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, absent; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ENGINEERING AGREEMENT FOR SPRING ST. SEWER REPLACEMENT/LIFT STATION Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to approve the engineering agreement with Davy Engineering for the Spring Street Sewer Replacement and Lift Station project. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, absent; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER RESOLUTION # 2024-0820A – DECLARING OFFICIAL INTENT TO REIMBURSE EXPENDITURES FROM PROCEEDS OF BORROWING Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to approve Resolution #2024-0820A Declaring Official Intent to Reimburse Expenditures from Proceeds of Borrowing for the sewer replace and upgrade existing sewer utilities project. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, absent; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PURCHASING A NEW UNDERGROUND UTILITY LOCATOR Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to Table until the next City council meeting. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AUGUSTA-BRIDGE CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT’S BRUSH TRUCK PURCHASE- AUGUSTA’S SHARE No motions were made. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES The Personnel Committee met prior to the City Council meeting to discuss the hiring of Public Works employees. The Committee recommends to the council to approve the following: Motion by Wessel seconded by Chaffee to recommend creating a Public Works part-time position $20/hour, the position will not be eligible for, nor will employment benefits be offered. Motion carried. Motion by Troxel seconded by Wessel to approve the recommendation of the Personnel Committee to create a Public Works part-time position $20/hour, with no benefits. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, absent; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL QUOTE FOR 2024-2025 Motion by Leslin seconded by Wessel to approve the health insurance quote with Exemplar Health Benefits Administrator – Alliance Trilogy Network – Bronze W404 HAS Embedded for 2024-2025. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, absent; Ward 3, Vacant; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. CONSIDER CLOSING CITY HALL ON OCTOBER 23RD & 24TH FOR STAFF TRAINING. Motion by Troxel seconded by Wessel to approve closing City Hall on October 23rd and 24th for staff training. Motion carried. APPROVE BARTENDER LICENSE APPLICATIONS Motion by Leslin seconded by Chaffee to approve the bartender license applications for Shay Michels working for Mulligans. Motion Carried. ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Strategic Plan Committee Meeting – August 22nd at 6:00 pm b. 2024 Open Book – September 4th 9:00am – 5:00pm c. Board of Review – September 18th 5:00pm – 7:00pm ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to adjourn the meeting. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk