Nathanial George

The key discussion topics for the City Council Meeting included a Public Forum for resident input, approval of the agenda, and a Public Hearing concerning three items: modifying City Ordinance Chapter 30 regarding official and staff pay, establishing a community engagement collaborative, and modifying Chapter 33 fee schedule. Consent approvals covered the minutes from the December 2, 2025, City Council Meeting, bills, and the Year to Date Budget Report for 2025, along with supporting financial summaries and account balances. Administrative items involved requests for council action on hiring a probationary firefighter, resolutions designating official financial institutions, polling locations, and legal papers for 2026, adopting Ordinance Chapter 30, setting the 2026 meeting schedule, amending the fee schedule, and making committee assignments. Engineering and capital project updates covered project status reports, the Magney Construction payment application and change order, and various invoices from Moore Engineering for general services and specific projects like the WWTP and infrastructure improvements. Updates were also provided on the Lepinski Pallet property demolition and the complications encountered with the Compost Site preliminary plat submission to the County Zoning department. Finally, departmental written reports were presented, and community development topics included an application for domesticated chickens and an update on the ERCOA Lot Project.

The meeting included a public forum where a resident questioned the funding process for becoming a regional park. The agenda was approved, and a public hearing was held regarding the proposed 2026 Operating Budget and Tax Levy. Key engineering and capital project items involved the approval of Change Orders 10 and 11, and pay applications for Magney Construction and Douglas-Kerr Underground, LLC, related to project 20993G and 20993M, respectively. The Council also approved the municipal consent layout approval for project 20993Q and discussed a public open house for project 20993R. Administrative actions included the unanimous approval of the Final Property Tax Levy Resolution (25-39), the 2026 Final Operating Budget Resolution (25-40), and the 2026 Employee Salary Schedule Resolution (25-41). The Council directed staff to draft an amended ordinance regarding per diem pay for commission members and Council special meetings. Furthermore, the Council approved selling a drone for $6,000.00 and purchasing a snowblower for the public works bobcat. License actions involved approvals for various Tobacco, Cannabinoid, and Liquor Licenses. The Council also addressed the proposed listing agreement for the vacant ERCOA lot. The meeting concluded with a closed session for the City Administrator's Annual performance review.

The meeting included a discussion on a variance proposal for PID NO 14.056.0700, where community members sought more information on the property's orientation, and the variance was unanimously approved. Additionally, City Administrator Stahl provided a copy of the Comprehensive draft by WSB, with a brief description of the comprehensive plan. Commissioner LaQuier expressed interest in chairing the Commission.