City Council met in special session on July 8, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Jared Andrews
Wyatt Perry
Amy Farris
Dylan Canaday
Gabriel Forsmann
Cody Edwards
City employees present: Public Works Director Mager, Chief Newman, Treasurer Rowland and City Administrator Kennedy.
SNOWHAVEN
Snowhaven budget had no changes. City Administrator Kennedy re-budgeted $200,000 of the building project in case Arnzen ends up finishing in October. Kennedy explained the city needs to rehire for a manager as Joel Wasem was certified as an 8-month seasonal employee and had to be terminated. Because Joel is related to Councilor Forsmann within the second degree, the city needs to go through a new hiring process that was passed by the legislature and effective July 1st. Kennedy stated the council could choose to advertise and follow the new rules and if Joel is hired certify him as an 8 month seasonal employee and then do the whole process again next year or they could hire him as PERSI eligible and he’d be a year round employee with limited or no hours out of season. Council felt having him be PERSI eligible would be the best option.
STREET
Public Works Director Mager stated he increased his gas budget across all funds. He has four addition ADA intersections budgeted at $27,000. His grader is a 1972 and has lots of wear that has been cobbled together over the years. He is looking to purchase a used machine for $200,000.
Mager wants to seal coat N Meadow, N Hall, W North 6th and W North 7th and then do a Crooks Street overlay.
RECREATION
Mager budgeted a new pool circulation pump for $27,000 in case the pump would quit.
WATER
Under utilities, $62,000 was added for Clearwater well using prior year Myrtle Well expenses.
Mandated testing went up as DEQ is requiring more testing. Generator replacement at Mrytle well is $77,000 and mini splits at 2 wells are $14,000.
SEWER
Under training for sewer, Mager added $3,500 to pay for an apprenticeship program if we have the correct candidate. In a master plan, JUB recommended the city budget $150,000 in line maintenance annual to keep up on repairs. Mager wants to replace the manhole on Crooks and the manhole by the little cabin on the south end of Lions Park and then CIPP from the cabin east to the daycare. The new base amount for WWTP repairs & maintenance should be $120,000 instead of $82,000. At the plant he budgeted an extra compressor for $39,500. On de-chlorination they are moving from SO2 to calcium thiosulfate at $15,000, which is safer and works great. In the current year the mixers had inspections and they were in good repair, so he is budgeting a landia mixer and propeller for $26,000 in case one needs replaced this year. Mager had two lines that needed to be replaced. The D Street line for $810,000 is an 18” line from Anderson Aeromotive to the truck route. This project was pulled from our sewer bond project. The other proposed project is C-3 N Hall between 3rd and 4th for $330,000.
BUDGET DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS:
The Council started discussing budget proposals. They agreed to add a 4.2% COLA. They would like to see increases on dog impound fees, raising everything $15 and changing board fees from $6 to $10 per day. All items were left in the general fund. On the police budget the council was concerned with the training budget being so low and chose to move it to $18,500. Discussion on the ARF request for a monthly increase of $100 to $200 occurred and the council agreed to approve the $2,400 annual amount.
Everyone agreed the 4 ADA corners on Main need to be fixed. Discussion occurred on the grader. Mager explained it is almost 50 yrs old and no one wants it for trade in. Mager wants an older grader that isn’t all electronic, so probably in the 2009 era. Right now there is one on Craigslist for $129,000. The grader is used for blade patching, grading, ditch pulling and snow plowing. All proposed street and water items were left in the budget.
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 P.M.
_________________________________
Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
