City Council — Minutes

JOINT MEETING AUGUSTA CITY COUNCIL, TOWN OF BRIDGE CREEK BOARD, & AUGUSTA-BRIDGE CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARD WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2024 6:00 P.M. MINUTES Mayor Jason TePaske called the Joint meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and roll call was taken. Present were Augusta Council members: Sue Troxel, Bruce Stabenow, Patricia Wessel, Bob Chaffee, and Brian Leslin; Town of Bridge Creek members: Rick Strauch, Patrick Bethke, Bruce Logterman, Duan Ives, and Brian Bertram; Augusta-Bridge Creek Joint Fire Department: Ken Zich, Bernie Buttke, Wayne Williamson, Matt Buttke, and Harvey Horel. Also present were Town of Bridge Creek Clerk, Elizabeth Pettis and City of Augusta Clerk-Treasurer Cynthia Anderegg. Pledge of Allegiance Fire Chief Ken Zich gave information about the brush truck that was recently purchased. The truck chassis is $52,434 and the brush box is $49,975.81 for a total of $102,409.81. At this time, the Fire Dept does not have adequate funds for the purchase without depleting their savings account. They are requesting that the municipalites contribute additional funds for the purchase. Duane Ives cited Article II B Spending Limitations of the Bylaws that states the Corporate Members must approve the acquistion of any item costing $10,000 or more . Zich admitted that this was an oversite and that the Municipalities should have been consulted for approval of the purchase. As the 2024 budgets have already been set for the municipalities, the group discussed differnent funding options for the equipment pruchase. Town of Bridge Creek Board member, Duane Ives made a motion that was approve by the Town Board. The City Council then made the same motion as follows: Motion by Troxel seconded by Chaffee to put 20% down for the purchase of the truck and brush box out of the Fire Department’s 2023 carryover funds [Fire Department’s fund balance/checking account] and authorize the Fire Board to take out a 7 year loan for the remaining balance. The 2024 loan payments will be made by the Fire Department out of the 2023 carryover fund. Any proceeds from the sale of the old brush truck will be put back into the Fire Department’s carryover property outlay fund. The loan payments beginning in 2025 will be included in the Coprorate Members share of the operating budget at the existing proportionate share aggreement [2008 Bylaws Article I D Proportioate Share]. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. There was additional discussion on future equipment replacements and repairs. There is a need for the Fire Department to develop a 10 year equipment replacement schedule and financial plan. The group brought to the Fire Departments attention that a 501(c)(3) should be applied for by the non-profit fund raising organization known as the “Members”. This group holds fundraising events annual to help financially supplement the fire department. This group is not to be confused with the Corporate Members or the Joint Fire Department. The group also discussed reviewing and revising the Bylaws of the Augusta-Bridge Creek Fire Deparment, Inc. The main topic of this discussion was Article I D. Proportionate Share. No action was taken. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk-Treasurer