You want to make a
>> I think we have to do that right after
roll call, I think. Right.
>> Yeah.
>> What are you looking at? What do you
want to modify?
» Oh my god.
Uh, we're live. Let me make sure your
mics are on.
>> All right, we got six o'clock. Everybody
ready?
>> Anybody not ready?
>> I'm ready.
>> Let's do this.
>> Let's call the Ogalsby City Council
meeting to order. Roll call, please.
>> Baldridge,
>> here.
>> Cullinin,
>> here.
>> McDermott
>> here.
>> Moy,
>> here. Currin,
>> here. Before we do the pledge of
allegiance, I'm told we might have a
modification to the agenda. that
>> yeah go ahead to modify the agenda by
placing the mayor's report as number one
item. The second item will be the going
into executive session. The third item
will be asking to table the uh thing
that I had on there. I guess I don't
know where that came from or who put it
on there but I don't the GTI information
I don't think is uh it's not available.
It's not ready to be talked about
publicly.
>> What GTI information? Where is it at?
Which which item
>> I had on there. someone put on there for
me to discuss about GTI and the rate
plan.
>> Do you have a different agenda?
>> No, I don't I don't see that on my
agenda.
>> Which number do you have?
>> My suggestion there, Rich, that we we
could just move to table that if we get
to it at some point.
>> I don't know which one you're talking
about
>> because I don't see one on it.
>> It's not on. Um, it might have been a
draft one. Is is there is there a need
to go into executive session for one of
our items prior to because I hate to
have an audience of people here.
>> Which which one do you want to go into
executive session for so I can read off
the correct one if we do move it?
>> Personal matters.
» Okay.
>> 120 ILCS.
>> Yep. Okay.
>> 2C2 probably Jason
>> the last one
>> or it could be 2C1. Is it collective
bargaining or performance discipline?
>> Wait a second.
>> Okay, that's the last one, Jason.
>> Okay, so you want to make a motion to
move the mayor's report up
and let's do them as separate motions
then. Um, so you want to make is that
correct? You making a motion to move the
mayor's report up as the next item.
>> I was making a motion to move the two
things.
>> You want to try to vote for both of them
at the same time?
>> I don't see why we can't.
I think it makes it confusing, but okay.
All right. Um, so the motion is to move
the mayor's report up and to move one of
the executive sessions up as well um to
the first item.
Is there a second for that?
>> I'll second that motion.
>> Okay. Roll call.
>> Uh, Baldridge.
>> Hi.
>> Colin,
>> no.
>> McDermott.
>> I.
>> Moy.
>> I.
>> Currin.
>> No.
>> Okay. Um, is there a specific order to
those though?
>> You want mayor's report first, I guess.
Okay. Um, [clears throat]
I feel like we should do the pledge
first. Can we do the pledge first? Let's
stand for the pledge of allegiance.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
>> Okay. Um, mayor's report. Uh, first
thing I want to do is I wanted to thank
the electric department. um they had a
relatively large outage. Um and not only
do they always do a great job, but I
just wanted to say this is one of the
advantages of of our small community
that we have here. Not saying that Amron
doesn't do a great job with their
technicians and and things like that,
but when you have a small community
here, our people are not only they're
more than just technicians. They're
friends, their family, their relatives,
um neighbors of people. So, they always
work super hard for that and I
appreciate that. Uh the other thing I
wanted to add to that was that I
specifically had four residents that
called in to give thanks for that and I
really appreciate that because it is so
rare that we can uh get that kind of
recognition for usually the kind of
things that we get feedback on is is
usually things of a negative nature. So
I really appreciate that. And the le the last thing I want to get which is
really weird to talk about as the first
thing I wanted to talk a little bit
about uh 2026.
So, um, over the the holidays and stuff
like that, uh, at church, I there was a thing that somebody talked
about with, uh, don't let people steal
your joy. Um, and and giving it away.
Um, you know, when it comes to me,
there's about four or five people
locally that that give me a hard time
and about half a dozen na nationally.
There's 8 2 billion souls on this
planet. That's not a bad number. So,
2026 is filled with a lot of good things
that we have. Ogalsby is one of the best
places to live. Um, there is so much
good that we have on the horizon. and
some of it's long-term like for example
the thousand acres that's about to
develop around us here uh with uh with
the state parks that's going to be a
huge economic boom to the city that's
probably years away. We got another
possible one that I'm hoping we're going
to be able to announce in several months
if it's going to happen or not. That'll
be a big one. And I have another one
here in about a month that hopefully
within a month that we'll be able to
talk about here. Um there's a lot of
great things on the horizon uh for
Oglesby. So um be part of of giving that
joy to other people. We have a lot of
great organizations in the city, uh,
volunteer organizations, things that
people were part of, people that are
people volunteering to be coaches,
whatever it is. There's a lot of great
ways to give back to our community and
to be part of all the great things that
we have here. It's still one of the best
places to live. So, uh, that's really
all I had. So, kind of a weird thing to
do up front, but we'll talk about that,
I'm sure. All right. The next item that
got moved up was one of the executive
sessions for
the employment compensation, discipline,
performance, or dismissal of specific
employees 5CS120/2C1.
Can I get a motion to go into executive
session for that specific item?
>> Motion to enter executive session.
>> I'll second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Uh, Baldridge.
>> Hi.
>> Cullinin.
>> Hi.
>> McDermott.
>> Hi.
>> Moy.
>> I.
>> Uh, Curtain.
>> Hi. All
right. I apologize everybody for the
delay. Um I'm not sure how long we'll be
in there. So we'll be back out and
obviously we got a full agenda to do. So
» Pat, I got a question for you. If we had
multiple things that we were going to
talk about for this item,
>> would you probably need to do all of
them right now then, too?
>> I mean, you can make a motion.
Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> So, we still could do the other one at
the end.
I was in bed before the midnight hour.
There's still a few people here.
We didn't put the We didn't put the
music on.
» There was music.
>> Okay.
>> we're back in open session. Roll call,
please.
>> Sorry. Uh Baldridge
>> here.
>> Cullinin
>> here.
>> McDermott [clears throat]
>> here.
>> Moy
>> here.
>> Curran
>> here. All right. I apologize about that
everybody. Uh number four, uh public
comment on agenda items only,
>> please.
Okay,
>> mayor, before I start, I'd like to ask
I've done a lot of research on this.
>> Can you pull your Can you pull the mic
thing close to you? That way people can
hear you. No, the the button button
underneath.
>> I watch everybody struggle with
[laughter]
» Sorry, what did you say? Go ahead.
>> I I just want to before I start, I I'd
like to ask that you let me complete
what I have to say. I'm not sure what
the time is limit. It's It's not
lengthy, but I just would hate to be
interrupted.
>> So, what I usually do is after five
minutes have elapsed, I'll say, "Ma'am,
your five minutes has elapsed if you
could wrap up or summarize." So, I will
try not to interrupt you before that.
Okay.
>> I thought it was three minutes. I'm not
going to go.
>> You're good to go.
>> Okay. So, first of all, I want to know
I'm going to I'm going to give you a
little bit of history because I think
it's important to understand
um my point. Um I I'm addressing uh I
believe that is Do you have an agenda
number nine?
Well, there's there's five items in
there.
>> Here you go.
>> The inspectors.
>> Yes. Okay.
>> Discussion and possible action on
ordinance returning building and
electrical inspectors to the electric
commissioner. First of all, I'd like to
point out that that is incorrect. I, as
you know, am city clerk, have been city
clerk um and have been involved with the
[clears throat] city for um about 14
years. And to my knowledge and based on
the research that I have done, the
inspectors have always been under the um
guidance of the mayor, not the the
building or the electrical commissioner
at all. And that did change in 2023
when Commissioner Stephanelli came
aboard and his expertise made it sense
to uh to shift it to accounts and
finance.
So um in 1913
Oglesby adopted the commission form of
government and established five areas of
oversight. Public affairs, public
safety, streets and improvements,
accounts and finances and public
property for more than 75 years. Those
ordinances that established their roles
of those positions went unchanged. I
think in 1975 there was an addition
computers became important and
commissioner um Corless uh was granted
uh oversight over computers as they
brought them into the city. Um, so for
more than 75 years,
nothing really changed.
In 2019,
the new council's first action was to
rewrite commissioner roles based on the
commissioner's self-proclaimed strengths
and personal agendas. They would later
alter these roles six times in four
years. I think most will agree that is
not good government.
The current council made their own
changes in May of 2023, which seemed to
restore most of the original roles with
a few changes that basically distributed
some of the public affairs
responsibilities which the mayor
typically oversees to others. At the
time, I felt this was the reset the city
needed to restore professionalism and
civility to the council. And that's when
this council said, "Hold my beer."
This council, more than any other
council in the past, has demanded
autonomy in their areas of oversight.
This was all well and good until
recently with what I understand has been
no meaningful discussions with the
people involved in code enforcement. Two
commissioners proposed shifting the
responsibility of code enforcement from
accounts and finance commissioner
Cullinin to public property commissioner
Baldridge.
My question to you, Commissioner
Baldridge and No, what's changed?
Commissioner Baldridge, I believe that
you said at the last meeting that your
experience as a concrete finisher makes
you more knowledgeable about
construction and more qualified than
Commissioner Cullinan to be over the
inspectors.
I'd like to say that first there are
very few examples of Oglesby elected
officials who are truly qualified for
the roles that they assume. It is
unrealistic to think that commissioners
have to be skilled in the everyday
operations of their departments. That's
what city employees and professionals
like engineers and auditors and um
attorneys, that's what they bring to the
table.
So, I don't I I I think if you could
look at yourselves and ask, "Am I really
qualified to be the uh the the head of
an electric department, a 2.3 million
dollar enterprise? What in my personal
experience does that or am I really
qualified to oversee a police department
and and manage the day-to-day
activities?" And I think the answer to
that is no. Second, I'm curious as to
why both of the commissioners saying
Cullinin's interest and involvement in
local politics was more important than
that candidate's credentials and
experience in that field.
I also see this change as a blow to
employee morale. No employee should have
to answer to two commissioners when it
comes to their daily duties. Handing
this authority over to the commissioner
of public property is effectively
creating a situation in which the
inspectors, the city clerk's office, and
the police department will be under the
control of two commissioners.
Last but not least, in the short time
that Austin has been a commissioner, he
has presented himself as someone who
makes decisions based on best practices
and what's truly in the best interest
for the city and its residents. He does
his research. His decisions are
fact-based and fair. In my time spent
with Austin, when he was presented with
any possible situation requiring
enforcement, his first question to me
always was, "What does code say?" He
didn't ask who made the complaint, and
he didn't ask whose property, who owned
the property. He wanted to know what the
code said and how we address it. That's
not always been true. I could rattle off
the halfozen instances when in the last
two years politics entered into
enforcement decisions.
As someone who is part of the process of
writing the land development code, who
served at the zoning administrator, and
who firmly believes in maintaining the
quality of our neighborhoods, I ask you
to vote no. This change does not benefit
the citizens of Bulglesby. And honestly,
I think it's political bullying and
power grabbing.
Commissioner McDermott.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> I'm going to specifically ask you to
consider your vote. I'm not sure that
you truly understand the power that
[clears throat] you have right now.
I ask you to ask yourself how this
change benefits the residents of
Oglesby. Please co keep code enforcement
free from politics and personal agendas.
If you believe that maintaining
properties should be a priority, then
rather than vote for this ordinance,
support the building inspectors, city
clerk's office, and the police
department by allowing them to do their
jobs.
>> Thank you.
Appreciate that.
>> Are there any other public comments on
agenda items only?
>> Seeing none, we'll move on. Number five,
approve minutes from the December 15th,
2025 regular meeting. If there's no
additions, corrections, or
modifications, can I get a motion to
approve the minutes?
Uh, if we're not going to approve the
minutes, do we need to table them?
Is everybody exhausted because we had an
executive session before?
I need to either table something.
>> I'll make a motion that we table them.
>> Second.
>> Okay, we're tableabling minutes. Uh,
roll call, please.
>> Aldrich.
>> Hi.
>> Colin.
>> I. McDermott
>> I
>> Moy
>> I
>> Curran
>> I not sure what we're tableling but okay
six approve minutes from the October 6th
October 20th November 17th December 1st
and December 15th 2025 executive session
if there's no additions corrections or
modifications. Can I get a motion to
approve the executive session minutes?
>> I apologize but I've yet to be able to
those and take notice of them. Uh I did
put it on the agenda for an alternative
solution possibly. Okay.
>> Um, for that reason, I would like to
table the passage of the minutes.
>> I'll second [clears throat] that.
>> All right. More than one person feels
they need to table them.
>> I get a motion to uh approve tableling.
>> Baldridge.
>> I sorry. Roll call. I'm sorry.
>> Calvin.
>> I.
>> McDermott.
>> I.
>> Moy.
>> I.
>> Currin.
>> I.
>> Number seven. Approve bills presented
for payment in the amount of
1,430,535.90.
If there's no additions, corrections, or
modifications, can we get a motion to
approve the build? I imagine you're
going to explain.
>> Yeah. So, it's a viscering payment. Um,
the way the loan works uh is basically
that we pay visering and then we get the
loan dispersed back to us from um the
IEPA. So, um that's kind of an odd
format, but that's how it works. Um and
then the other big thing is just our
IMEA payment. So,
>> we're going to have that happen numerous
more time. Any Ross, any idea how many
more times that's going to happen?
a lot of times,
right?
>> This is the third pay, sorry, the fourth
pay
process right now and we're 15% of the
way through the job.
>> So, it's going to happen a lot more
times. Maybe something for the future.
We maybe we want to separate those
because that does look weird without an
explanation. So, but for now, we can
approve them if that's good.
>> Those funds have already been dispersed
to the city.
>> I know.
>> So, those funds are being used
Yeah,
>> that's why I'm wondering if maybe a
different way to present it may make it
a little less confusing then. So, but
can I get a motion to approve the bills?
>> Uh, I will motion that we approve bills
presented for payment in the amount of
1,396,326.86
» 400 the new one.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, I'm looking at the
old agenda. That's my bad. Uh, I will
motion that we approve bills presented
for payment in the amount of
$1,430,535.90.
Thank you.
>> I'll second that motion. Roll call,
please.
>> Baldrich.
>> Hi.
>> Cullinin.
>> Hi.
>> McDermott.
>> I.
>> Moy.
>> I.
>> Currin.
>> I. Number eight. Approve payroll for
December 19th, 2025 in the amount of
$64,48747.
If there's no additions or corrections
or modifications. Can I get a motion to
approve the payroll?
>> I will motion that we approve payroll
for December 19th, 2025 in the amount of
$64,48747.
» I'll second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Baldridge.
>> Hi.
>> Colin in. I
>> McDermott. [clears throat]
>> Hi
>> Moy.
>> Hi
>> Curran.
>> Hi. Number nine, old business. A
discussion and possible action on
ordinance returning building and
electrical inspectors to electric
commissioner Baldridge.
>> Uh it's my understanding that we've
already discussed and uh voiced our
opinions on the passage of the
ordinance. We expected the attorney to
draft the ordinance and uh I believe
that's what's on the agenda tonight is
to pass or not pass the ordinance.
>> Okay. I'll go around the room. My
comments.
>> Yeah, that's my question, too. Do we
have the ordinance?
>> We had the ordinance.
>> Yeah, I sent it to Jen on Friday. I
don't know.
>> I put it in the drive.
>> I saw ordinances maybe.
>> It was at the end of the day when I
finally got it done. But
>> yeah.
>> Um
>> Yeah, I see ordinances for the variance,
but I don't see ordinances for that. So,
>> I can I can send I can go get it.
>> I have it here, Jen, if you need it
quickly.
>> Yeah. How's it read?
>> I will uh
I'll speak my two cents on it. So, um at
the last meeting, I I voiced really my
main concern with it, which is kind of
the process um uh that was kind of taken
to get to this point. Um I do think and
I I think it's rather evident that um
there is uh some degree of political
tension uh in the city of Ogulby. Uh and
I think uh this is a good example of
that. The fact that something like this
was placed on the agenda, nothing was
said to me about it. Um you know, I I
would have at least appreciated a heads
up. Um, but I also think, um, kind of
alluding to what Becky said, and I'll
mention this again earlier, but I I
think just kind of willy-nilly changing
things, um, is a symptom of dysfunction,
which the previous council had started.
Uh, and so I I don't like that. But I
will talk about a few other things. Um
Becky touched on uh some of them, but
again uh moving another commissioner
into oversight of people working in city
hall uh further clouds boundaries
between commissioners. And we've already
had kind of a number of uh scuffles that
have happened behind the scenes about um
whose responsibilities are whose
responsibilities and I don't think
making that more confusing is
necessarily a good idea. Um,
additionally, um, I had actually the day
before, and I mentioned this at the last
meeting, um, the day before this was
placed on the agenda, I had sent out an
invite, and I granted I should have done
it earlier, um, but I had sent out an
invite to, um, the building inspector,
Commissioner Moy, uh, Chief Margus, uh,
to sit down and and discuss, uh,
enforcement of building code and city
ordinances. is
>> I I had that meeting
>> uh with uh Burton uh our building
inspector and uh only Burton on I
believe it was the 29th of December. Um
and uh what Burton and I discussed uh
was a process because I I think there's
two big things at play here and why uh
certain building codes aren't being
enforced. I think it's a combination
historically of politics, but more
recently of uh process. I guess there's
not a I don't think there's um a a good
process in place to actually um identify
remedy these uh building code
violations. And so I'll actually show
you um something that I pieced together.
Um I have mentioned um that I am in the
midst of trying to migrate the city uh
to
um Microsoft. Uh and I I think there's a
good reason for it. Um the we currently
have for email, but we don't really have
uh the suite of Office 365 uh products.
I'm not there yet. The suite of Office
365 products that would make this
relatively seamless. Uh we have
basically our emails. We have a
perpetual license in the office for um
office 2014 which lacks these features
and I I really do think um this
getting this down would really move us
into 2026. Um it's kind of industry
standard but let me pull this up for
you.
So, one of the things I did here, um,
and this is something that I've talked
about before, um, is there absolutely
needs to be some sort of a universal
form that people can submit, um, that
everybody, well, everybody who uh, needs
to know about a ordinance, building code
violation, whatever, everybody can see.
Okay. Um, as I I think I might have said
at a previous meeting, um, that people
on the council were curious about
building permits, uh, and you know, when
who's filing building permits, what are
they filing them for, when are they
filing them, whatever. We moved that
over to the cloud to Excel. Um, and now
everybody can see that at just a click
on their phone. Um, they can they can
see all of that. And I really think we
need something similar for this. And so
what I did was I put together a code
violation form. Um, and this would be
universal. It'd be used by every
department. Uh, but basically what you
do is you select your type of complaint,
whether it's a building, electrical
complaint, a plumbing complaint, an
ordinance complaint, a zoning violation,
whatever. You type in the location of
the complaint. You have the option to
leave contact information so the person
who's investigating the complaint can
follow it up or can follow up on it with
you. um because they'll likely need more
information. And then you have uh you
have to provide information on what
exactly it is uh that is the basis of
your complaint. And so what happens is
and this is the beauty of for all of the
negative things about you know AI and
automation and whatever this is one of
the beauties of living in uh 2026 is you
can actually put together using
Microsoft's Power Automate tool. Um,
it's an automation tool. Um, you can
actually put a flow together where when
a new response is submitted, uh, the
Excel spreadsheet that this is linked
to, which I'll show you in a sec, uh,
pulls that information into it. And so
that Excel spreadsheet is what everybody
can see, that Excel spreadsheet pulls
this information into it from the forms
and it's there and it's visible and
nobody has to manually input it. And
then better yet, um when you select uh
building, electrical, plumbing, zoning,
whatever, um it will this switch down
here, it will send an automatic email uh
to whoseever uh area of concern it is.
And so if you put a building electrical
complaint in, it will send an automatic
email to Burton Levens, our building
electrical inspector. Uh if you put in a
uh plumbing thing, it'll send it to Alt.
If you send if you put in an ordinance
thing, general ordinance thing, it will
send it to the police department. Okay.
Uh and so all automated reduces the
amount of paperwork that people have to
do. And I'll actually show you uh the
Excel sheet as well. This is uh this is
what it would look like on our end. Uh
this is what the how the information
would be provided to us or presented to
us. Uh basically when it comes in I
actually filled out one for my house
just I don't think there's any
complaints but you know uh just as an
example uh it comes in automatically uh
it gets put in as an automatic input
method. You can actually add manual uh
entries to it by selecting this drop
down here and putting manual. Uh if you
if somebody calls in calls it in doesn't
fill out the form. There's the status of
it, the date that it was submitted, the
type of complaint it is, and this uh
basically the way the automation works
is whatever it says in here, it sends
that email to whoever's area of concern
it is. The location of the complaint, contact information, the
complaint information, that's all stuff
that's from the form automatically
populated into the Excel spreadsheet.
Okay? And then there's form there's a
few fields here or a few columns here uh
for the actual person who's tasked with
investigating the violation to fill out.
So data first contact with complaint the
complainty response was action taken yes
or no they can put down the applicable
ordinance uh and then they list a
follow-up date. They list a solution and
then they can also add administrative
notes. And so what I did here was I went
on Lasal County property tax assessor's
website or whatever and I just took a
picture of my house. I uploaded it to
one drive. I created a sharable link and
uh just for documentation for evidence
you can actually it will link you to
that picture. Uh and so or whatever
pictures you can link it to a folder and
it will show multiple images. Okay. Um,
and so we've taken the first steps on
this and yeah, granted I probably could
have taken them earlier. I that's that's
fine. That's a fair point. Whatever. Um,
but the the steps have been taken. And
frankly, had this not ever been placed
on the agenda, since I did take action
on this the day before it was placed on
the agenda, we could have already had a
resolution to this. We could have all
been on the same page. I could have I
could have met with Commissioner Moy in
the police department and we could have
moved on this sooner than we are now
because we have to decide ultimately
whose department it's it's going to be.
Um the
I mean that's that's basically all I
have to say about it. Um I'll yield my
time. So
>> Okay,
Commissioner B,
>> thank you foring your time. It
>> was very [laughter] good. It was very
good. Um, no. And I think that's great
administrative stuff. I don't think that would the oversight would change
that. I mean, your guys's role wouldn't
change as far as accepting building
permits, accepting fees, processing
those, and getting them to Burton. It's
just if there's a complaint about a
building permit thing, wouldn't someone
who has more construction background be
the appropriate person to discuss that?
I didn't when I made my change, I didn't
expect that Rich would be in there.
bossing around the girls in the office.
It would all be flowed just like it is
now. I mean, are you involved in the
day-to-day every time an building
permits issued that you're assigning it
to Burton?
>> No.
I mean, it just kind of
automatically flows that way. And if
there's an issue, then it would go to
the person who has the construction
knowledge.
>> I can I respond?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. What I would say um about that is
um at the last meeting um Commissioner
Baldridge uh said something very
similar. He admitted that it comes down
to who has the knowledge in the given
situation, but then he referenced a
situation with the property on Watson
where he said all of us, this was his
quote, "Look stupid because none of us
knew what we were talking about." And he
said, "Well, it's better to have me in
there who at least knows a little bit
about it." And so I mean what I would
say in that case is I I think and it's
no fault of Commissioner Baldridge. We
all have our our you know things that
we're experts in and I'm sure you know
more about concrete than Burton does. Uh
but what I would say though is I think
as far as
uh the totality of uh the building code
I I think Burton and really structures
and whatever else. I I would think that
Burton probably knows a lot more than
you and I just I don't know how exactly
you'd be a check on [clears throat]
that. So
>> just want to make sure that we keep
going around. Everybody gets first. Did
you have any more that you wanted to
>> You asked a question, I think, or
something.
>> That was
>> You were good.
>> No, I'm good.
>> Okay. Commissioner McG, [clears throat]
>> um I'm going to ask, do you have the uh
sewer and water
the paper that was Aaron handed you the
other day?
>> I do. I'm going to read I'll read that
when I get to my thing.
>> Well, that's the reason why I'm asking.
>> You want me to read it now for you?
>> Well, if you would, please.
>> Sure. under the um street and water
commissioner. It it says this in one of
the lines of all ordinances,
resolutions, rules, and regulations
pertaining to the water department, the
sewer department, the street department,
and the plumbing inspector, and the
commissioner may prescribe and enforce
any other rules and regulations in order
to work toward the efficient and
economical management of the department,
not in conflict with any law ordinance
or resolution. So, it does say the word
plumbing inspector in there. It is not
under
>> that person though.
>> The daybyday operation goes through to
finance. Is that correct?
>> I'm sorry. You're asking me. What are
you asking me?
>> The dayby-day financing part of it goes
through to finance. Correct.
>> Yeah.
>> I would suggest that that needs to be
put in there and then even with the
electric department be the same.
>> You see what I'm saying? A day
[clears throat] by day.
the finance and is doing the plumbing
and water and everything else.
>> Correct.
>> The only time I get involved is when
it's directly an issue
>> when when something ties into a private
plumbing thing into that. That's so
there's a little bit there is some
relation to that. I'm going to talk
about that a little bit, but
>> well that's where I'm getting at. That's
where I think
>> that's what I was trying to make the
argument last time is the the
departments don't have anything to do
with the inspectors.
>> See, that was recently brought up to my
attention and I think that needs to be
in there.
» Well, I'm sorry. What? What needs
>> I think that that needs that's what
needs to be in there. That was recently
brought up to my attention
>> earlier today about the dayby-day
functions should be in there.
Pat
I don't want to interject but just based
on the day
>> by day functions is operated by the
finance the only time I get in there
>> daytoday functions of what Mac
>> the building plumbing inspectors and
everything else the only way I get
involved is if there's an actual
>> can you share that
>> confrontation
>> I'm not sure
>> that's just the case I just I don't know
>> read it again
» and is this a code section
>> this is it's it's the code se this is
just a snippet But it's the code section
underneath the uh the the street and
water commissioner
>> u is what it says public whatever it is
public improvement your your spot that's
what it says that's the only mention of
the word public plumbing inspector
>> right
>> is what I'm saying
>> but the dayby-day operation goes through
finance
>> see what I'm getting at
>> I don't I don't either office
>> I don't either
>> day by day operation
>> daybyday operation goes through finance
somebody comes in here and wants a
plumbing license or inspected, it goes
through that office.
>> He does not involve the go any correct
office and that wouldn't change
>> what I'm argument right here is that I'm
taking it out of the clerk's office and
that's not a valid argument.
>> That's what I'm trying to get at.
>> Well, I'll
leave it at that. You go ahead and do
your thing, Rich. So,
>> do Rich Let do his and then
>> He did his. That's why he went first.
>> You done with yours?
>> He went first. Um, okay. So, I was going
to read this, but the funny thing is
Becky actually I hate to read that, but
I I put it all together and I took out
all the bad words. So, I feel like I
still want to read it, but Becky
actually touched on at least 50% of what
I what I was going to write here. So, um
let me read [clears throat] it. Before
we get into opinions, I want to start
with some factual correction because
accuracy matters. The agenda states the
proposal would return inspection
services to the electric department.
That is not correct. Inspection services
in the city has never been under the
electric department. Historically, they
reported directly to the mayor's office.
During this administration and with some
extensive talks with Commissioner
Stephanelli, um where did I say? Um I
agreed to move them under the accounts
and finance commissioner at least
functionally because that department
already manages the building permit
process, plan review fees, compliance
tracking and records. So keep in mind
they are still not in the ordinance of
the finance commissioner. They just
happen to be in that department they
work with the most. Also, the words
plumbing inspector do appear in the
street commissioner ordinance, but they
don't report to him what it says. And I
quote, "Of all ordinances, resolutions,
rules, and regulations pertaining to the
water department, the the sewer
department and the street department and
the plumbing inspector and the
commissioner may prescribe and enforce
any other rules and regulations in order
to work with towards the efficient and
economical management of the department
not in conflict with conflict with any
law, ordinance or resolution. So to be
clear, this proposal is not a return to
a previous structure. It would be new
and unprecedented change. What
inspectors actually do? It's also
important to clearly define the roles of
our inspectors. Building, plumbing, and
electrical inspectors oversee private
property construction. They enforce
building codes, electric codes, plumbing
codes, and permit compliance. They do
not inspect city-owned electric
infrastructure. They do not inspect
substations, transmission lines, or
municipal electrical systems. They do
not oversee electric department
operations. The electric department's
work and the inspector's work operate in
entirely different spheres. Because of
that, placing inspectors under the
electric department does not improve
oversight, efficiency, or compliance,
and it raises legitimate concerns about
independence and organizational
alignment. addressing the experience
argument. There's also been an argument
made that this change is justified based
on personal construction and building
and trades experience of our electric
commissioner having not x amount of
defined years experience but more years
of experience than another council has
been alive. I find that to be more of an
attack on someone's age than their
actual knowledge. Experience absolutely
does have value. But inspection
oversight is not governed by the tenure
alone. It is governed by code
enforcement principles, administrative
controls, permitting workflows, legal
defensibility and independence from
operational departments. There are
nationally recognized qualifications
that exist specifically to define
competency in construction management
and inspection oversight and including
and I got these from Google and chat
GPT. Uh first one certified construction
manager CCM by the way super impressive
uh certification very specific though.
Next one, project management
professional, PMP, ICC building and
electrical inspector cert certification,
certified building official, CBO, and
professional engineer. Interestingly
enough, if you looked at how these were
ranked, uh Google even put uh PMP on
top, which is interesting because we
have somebody up at this uh on this
council that has one of those, right?
That happens to be me.
So I I I actually think, believe it or
not, Google has it wrong. C CCM is
probably way more than the PMP, but I'm
not going to argue with Google if it's
saying I know what I'm talking about.
But that's all right. That said, that
said, this is not about credentials or
personalities. It's about structure,
precedent, and sound governance.
Competence. This is where the real crux
of everything should lie. Competence is
a hard thing to try to ever guarantee
with elected officials, but our last
person in the role had a high very high
degree of competence in this area. I
even had this written before I knew
you'd be in the audience. In fact, I
think he did a pretty good job. In
almost the seven years I've been on the
council, we really had only one major
thing messed up with the building
inspection related stuff. At least to
the point where we had to issue out a
settlement. Here's the funny thing.
Based on the complications of the
circumstances, I don't even blame the
past commissioner for those errors. I
mean, I would prefer to have have him
perhaps handle it a little differently
or a little better, but I can't
complain. He saw an issue and he did a
lot of work in the clerk's office to fix
the issue from ever being able to happen
again. Bravo. I say this because when
that air happened, no other commissioner
came in and said, "Hey, because of that
mistake, I want to take charge of the
inspectors." Now, flash forward to our
new commissioner. He has not had any
issues with any building permits or
inspectors in the 10 months he's been
doing the job. In fact, he's worked
extra hard to make changes to fix things
for even better as you could see by the
very long detailed explanation that we
had on the screen here. Um, so my point
is he has done a lot of efforts and work
to try to improve the process and this
is before items have even become an
issue. So to me that's demonstrated more
than adequate competence to not make a
change to how this is handled currently
where inspectors should report. So this
decision should be straightforward. We
can leave inspectors where they are
integrated with the permitting and
finance functions that are already
support their work or if a change is
truly necessary, return to the structure
that has existed for decades, maybe even
a hundred years with inspectors
reporting to the mayor's office, which
they technically do now. What does not
make any sense in moving inspectors
under department they do not inspect,
they do not support, and whose
operational responsibilities are
unrelated to private construction
compliance. That approach does not align
with best practices and does not improve
accountability. Closing. For those
reasons, I do not support moving the
inspection services under the electric
department. On top of that, you'd be
separating it from the plumbing anyways.
I believe the current structure works.
And if this body believes a change must
be made, the only historical, accurate,
and logically consistent alternative is
returning inspection oversight to the
mayor's office. This decision should be
based on facts, function, and
governance, not disagreements between
departments. So, that's my two cents.
So, I think everybody's had a chance to
talk once. Does somebody else want to
chat again?
>> Good. I'd like to make a motion to pass
ordinance number 137-10526.
» There's a motion to pass it. Is there a
second?
>> I'll second. But can I I guess I want to
talk again, but can I encourage
Commissioner Baldridge and Colin to work
together because I think that
[clears throat] Colinin does bring a lot
to table with recordkeeping and
administrative functions. And I don't
when I'm doing this I'm not expecting
those functions to leave the oversight
of Austin.
>> So you there you go.
>> Let me answer let me answer your first
question. So your first question is um
can you still talk about after emotions
are made? This came up last time.
Technically yes because you're supposed
to have a a closed debate if you if
somebody still wanted
>> motion. Correct.
>> You second the motion. So I don't know
why you seconded. No, I I screwed.
>> But technically, [laughter] if the two
get seconded and you still had um a
supermajority that still wants to talk
about it,
>> you can still discuss.
>> You could still discuss it. So So you
made the motion, you've second it
>> and I want to thank you because that was
a thing that I kind of got reinfor and
it seemed like I did something wrong and
I even I didn't.
>> So let So let me explain. If you Okay,
let me back up on this. If you look at
Pure Robert's rules of order, Pure
Robert rules of order do say that you
make a motion and you make a second and
then you debate the item. That is not
our standard practice here. Our standard
practice is that we debate the item,
talk about it and stuff like that and
then when action's ready, we make a
motion. So that's why if somebody still
makes a motion and the majority still
wants to talk about it, you have that
right. So there's a motion, there's a
second, but if there's something that
anybody else wants to add on, you
absolutely can do that until a motion is
made to close the debate. I will add I I
appreciate your sentiments. Um all I'm
saying is I will provide
uh I will assist with the recordkeeping
uh the tech technological aspect of it.
But as far as actually
uh enforcement,
>> I'm I'm not part of that anymore. That's that's Rich's obligation. So I
I'm you know uh if I if I have the power
you know I I'll deal with the with the
you know the political possible
political push back but I'm removing
myself from that um if if I don't have
this power and that will be Rich's uh
burden to bear but I will certainly help
him actually get the stuff done.
>> And that was kind of why I was like I
don't know why you're com
>> oh no
>> against it because quite honestly it's a
headache. So,
>> well, it's yes, it's it's not something
anybody should envy. Um, but I will
certainly assist Rich Rich with um um
the administrative portions of it, but
I'm not actually going to and I
appreciate that as [clears throat] well.
>> Okay.
>> And I'd like to do is work together.
>> So, if we actually
vote against this, you're still taking
care of the finance. When it actually
comes to an issue, Rich will take over.
>> I'm I'm helping Rich with the paperwork.
I'm not helping him with enforcement.
That's that's that's
>> as far as like recordeping accepting
permit just like the plumbing in the
water.
>> The permits will still be issued here at
city hall. That's not changing.
>> That's what I was trying to get to.
>> Okay. So, if we vote no, it stays the
same.
>> So, there's a motion to second, but is
there any more I want to go to the roll
call in case anybody has anything else
they want to say about it yet?
>> No, that's it. Okay. Again, I I I've
read my long thing about it. um
what it is. I guess people will will
decide. I don't like the idea of
separating comm uh uh department roles
or anything like that. I don't see the
value of it, but that's what it is.
There's a if there's no other comments,
there is a motion in a second. Can I get
a roll call, please?
>> Baldridge.
>> Hi.
>> Colin,
>> no.
>> McDermott.
» No, stays the same.
>> Moy,
>> you still get it.
>> And Curran,
>> no.
>> Okay. stays the way it is until further
notice. You still
>> All right. B. Discussion and possible
action on Culver under Edhand Highway
and installation of new pipe at Manhole
Outlet. Mcderman. Okay. We discussed
this at the last council meeting. Um we
were asking if it's an emergency or not.
Um
I talked to Ross.
You claim it is significant emergency.
Um, we have uh I guess Dan left, didn't
he?
>> We have Poolhore with a bid. Correct.
>> Correct.
>> And um we'd like to get that approved.
Do I need to uh
>> Well, we'll go around. Balders, do you
have anything?
>> Okay.
>> Uh I think we went through this not long
ago. Uh something to go out with the
pool. I I believe that the union
probably
should have their part in this. I think
that we have a few few weeks at least. I
have talked to Ross as well and uh I
believe we have time to put this out to
bid.
>> Okay.
>> I don't I don't know enough about it.
>> Can you remind me I think I asked last
meeting what is the threshold for bid?
>> 20.
Okay.
>> 20.
>> Um since I have you here, Ross, little
bit of conflict for what I just heard
between both of them. I and we haven't
talked about this. is how how critical
do we have the action to move
>> that pipe has failed
>> okay
>> now whether or not it's going to affect
the road tomorrow or in two months
that's impossible to say
>> but it's imper it's going to happen
>> it has failed the pipe has failed so um
there's potential for further collapse
there's a potential for you know not
getting the full section of flow through
it so there's potential for flooding
upstream repair I'm not saying that we
call it to get here tonight
>> I fix that. But if it is a bid process,
you're talking potentially months to
where now we're into the spring before
this is fixed
>> and having a lot of storm water going
through that pipe. I I would worry about
that. And so because it's not this isn't
a project to add something new um
because it's a want developing something
I believe that because it has failed it
has potential to get worse that time is of the essence okay where it's a repair it's not it's not a
project to build something new or like I
said develop something
>> is to fix something that's broken
>> the failure f further is imminent got it
um
>> my opinion means anything but It needs
to be fixed as soon as
>> Okay. Has anybody reached out to because
again I didn't do any research on this
but has anybody reached out to the
county to see if they had anything that
they would pay a portion of it?
>> It is not a county. It is within the
corporate limits of the city. So it is
fully
>> so we're fully responsible for it and
it's imminent in that case. Um I don't
know what everybody thinks. I mean I
think we we've done our due diligence.
We asked the questions.
>> Um the question do we have an amount
that needs to be discussed?
>> Uh I can't remember what it was. It was
over the It was over the uh 20,000.
That's why it needs to get a vote.
[clears throat]
>> It was 35, but says that's on the high
end. High in case
>> I think I remember that.
>> So time materials, right?
>> So it be max of 35,000. Okay. All right.
Well, I think we've asked the questions.
We we found out that the thing is
imminent. Um, I I agree that if if you
would have said we probably got six
months to a year, maybe we put it out to
bid, but I think when things are like
this, my thoughts are we probably should
just go ahead and approve it and get it
before we get a collapse on a road.
>> All right. Anybody else have any open
discussion?
Right. If you want to make a motion to
whatever. I make a motion that we uh
go for a bid with Puhar on the um
ED highway installation of a new pipe
and manhole at the manhole outlet
>> at a cost of a maximum of 35,000 maybe.
Matt.
>> Yeah. Just to clarify, approve the bid.
Approve. Approve the bid of that. Okay,
got it. Uh can I get a second?
>> I'll second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Waldridge.
>> No.
Colin.
>> Hi,
>> McDermott.
>> I
>> Moy I
>> Curran
>> I
>> C discussion and possible action on
purchase of speed trailer me message
board Moy.
>> Ah so we talked about this before. I
have two quotes here but I'm now I'm
wondering if I need to put it up fid or
so there are two different companies to
replace our speed trailer.
The one that would be ideal would be the
stalker radar radar. Um,
it has the message sign if you recall
that we could put more messages on there
besides just
slow down. We could customize it. But
the really nice thing about it is that
it does collect data. So if someone
says, "People are speeding by my house."
Now we have the ability to bring a speed
trailer there and actually collect data.
How many cars go by the house? How many
cars are speeding?
>> Too rich. So, the stalker is the better
of the two. It's just over $21,000.
Um, but there is an alternative quote.
Is there three that you need for
anything over 20,000?
>> No.
Okay.
>> You're just supposed to advertise it for
bids, Hillary. But, but you can agree as
a council, twothirds of the council can
agree to move forward without
>> going through that procedure. So,
>> Okay.
You have anything
We'll come back. Baldridge
call.
>> Um
I mean this is replacing an existing
one. Correct.
>> If you recall, um I did bring up that
the existing one is no longer working
and it was the motherboard that had gone
out and to replace it, it was ridiculous
and not worth.
>> We just have the one be
>> Mike, we just have the one-speed
trailer, right?
that is not
>> that's not working.
>> We have one that's not working, one that
is working.
>> Do we have one that No.
» Okay.
>> Mhm. And the idea was that this could
also be used in other departments like
when we had the bridge closed.
>> Board.
>> Did you have anything in there?
>> She's referring to anformational board.
Mhm.
» So, you're looking you want to get the 21,000, not the 1891.
>> This is Yes.
>> So, is there a better
>> Well, it looks like with the um warning
lights, which is the other bid. It does
have a subscription service that you
have to and it's a two-year requirement.
>> Which one has a subscription service?
>> Warning lights.
>> The the expensive one or the cheap?
>> The cheaper one.
>> Oh, you got to pay. You're going to hit
us on subscriptions anyways. Okay.
>> All right. Was this something that was
um requested as part of like the annual
like uh appropriations
>> if if they have money in their budget is
what you're asking? Yes, there is money
in the budget.
>> Okay.
>> Matt, do you have anything yet?
>> No.
>> Okay.
>> That be for the stock.
>> Anybody else? If nobody has anything
else, if you want to make a motion for
action. I want to make a motion to
purchase the speed trailer from Stalker
Radar at $21,167.
» I'll second that motion. Roll call,
please.
>> Baldrich.
>> Hi,
>> Curran.
>> Hi.
>> Oh, sorry. Colin,
>> I
>> McDermott.
>> Hi,
>> Moy.
>> Hi.
>> Sorry.
>> All right. Discussion and possible
action to approve Gerard variance
request. Cullinin.
>> Uh Pat, you drew the ordinance for this.
So
>> correct. So you approved the plan
commission's recommendation to grant the
Gerard variance request at the last
meeting. Uh it takes the maximum height
of a building in that zoning district
from 15 ft to 21 ft.
>> 22 I think
>> 22. Um and this ordinance formalizes
that decision you made at the last
meeting.
>> Okay. Do you have anything else you want
to add to that?
>> Mo.
>> Nope.
nothing bridge. No,
>> I think we already talked about it last
time and we had a recommendation for it.
So, if there's no other further
discussion, if I can get a motion to
approve the uh variance request.
Um this is um I will motion that we
approve ordinance number 13 05-01
0525
an ordinance granting a request for
variance filed by Samantha Gerard.
>> Second
>> roll call please. Baldridge.
>> Hi.
>> Col uh Curran Cullinin, sorry. Colin,
>> I
>> McDermott
>> I
>> Moy
>> I
>> Curran
>> I
>> E discussion and possible action to
approve Fielder/Walter
variance request. Cullinin.
>> Pitch it back to Pat.
>> Same thing. Um you considered the plan
commission's recommendation at your last
meeting and agreed to grant the variance
request that the Fedler Walter parties
had filed. This actually will formalize
the approval of a 35 foot driveway uh
which is in in excess of the 25 or 24
foot standard in that zoning district.
And the driveway already exists just to
let you know. It was constructed by the
contractor without knowing anything
about it.
>> It was just a mistake.
[cough and clears throat]
>> Okay.
>> And you approved this at the last
meeting again.
>> I don't have anything. No. Well,
McDermott
Baldridge.
>> No, I'm good. Same as before. Uh, no
issues here. We get a motion to approve.
>> I will motion that we approve ordinance
number 136-0525,
an ordinance granting a request for
variance filed by Robert J. uh, Feedler
and Karen Walter.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Baldrich.
>> Hi.
>> Cullinin.
>> Hi.
>> McDermott.
>> Hi.
>> Moy.
>> Hi.
>> Currin.
>> Hi.
>> 10. New business a discussion and
possible action to move the mayor's
report to the beginning of the meeting
moiled.
>> All right. So this is why I'm bringing
it here as discussion. Um I first want
to address my um response to last
meeting's mayor's report and it was not
how I perceive that I want to handle
myself, how I think I represent the city
very well. It it did get under my skin.
I did get upset. I had a very human
emotional response. But that's not fair
and that's not how I want to go forward.
The reason I put the item on the agenda
is not for retaliation or any purpose
other than that, but to try and bring
down the temperature on our meetings.
Obviously, this isn't working. This is
statistically we have the most fights
towards the end of the meeting regarding
the reports. So, I don't want to point
fingers and say it's one person's
problem or the other, but did you know,
this may seem like I'm like all over the
place, but did you know there's Robert
rules of order debates? And I actually
found this out that there is somebody in
that I'm very close with that is
actually a judge of it. And part of what
I'm getting at is we can bring down the
temperature of our meetings without
getting ugly and nasty if we use a point
of order correctly
and all of that. So the reason I'm
asking to move the mayor's report is
that it's not uncommon that a mayor's
report is first because he is the chair
of the meeting. He does represent the
council and it gives him the opportunity
to make the opening remarks and set the
tone for the rest of the meeting and
announce the events that are happening
publicly. First, um Galveston, Texas is
one of the um cities that is mo most
often um commented or looked at as a
successful commissioner form of
government and that is how they operate
their meetings. So, that was why I
wanted to bring it to you guys'
attention and maybe talk about it,
discuss it, see if we want to try
something different. It's obviously
reversible, but something that maybe we
can try and work together to do better.
>> Okay.
>> I think it's a good idea. It worked
today.
>> It worked. You're fine.
>> Right. Alders,
>> I think at the beginning of meeting
people are paying more attention than at
any point in the meeting unless there's
something crazy going on. So, I think
that it would be beneficial to the city
and the citizens to have the mayor give
you an announcement at the very
beginning of the meeting to tell you
what's going on in the town.
[clears throat]
» I I'll start out by saying this. Um, at
the last meeting, the mayor did take a
bit of a a dig at the beginning of his
mayor's report, and I think we should
agree to not insert any politics
whatsoever into our reports and just
leave them totally nonpartisan. I think
that's a good rule to follow and leave
the fighting over, you know, whatever
else for the actual agenda items. Um,
but I I really don't see I Well, first
of all, beyond that, I I also think that
this is just kind of a and I appreciate
what you had to say about it, but I just
I think this is just a a wild thing to
even be discussing. Um
I
it's as we kind of said with changing
the ordinance um on uh on the inspectors
um I just I think when we have all these
changes just kind of off-the- cuff kind
of you know just spur the moment kind of
whatever maybe spur the moment is not
the right phrase but it it just it just
feels like we we make a lot of changes
just to make changes because we feel
like, you know, something in the city is
not working the way that is supposed to
or we don't like the way the city's
being run and so we're just trying to
force a round peg into a square hole.
Like I I I don't know. I I really think
the willingness to change things so
freely, as I kind of said with the
inspector's thing, is kind of just a a
sign of dysfunction that it has it it
started well before us. Um, and like I
said, I I will admit freely my part uh
in in getting uh some of that assumption
into city hall, and I apologize for
that. But I I really just I really don't
think that this is even something that
we should be discussing. And I I would
also ask too, um if if we move the
mayor's report to the beginning to set
the tone and people listen most at the
beginning, why wouldn't we also move the
commissioner's reports to the beginning
of the meeting? I I just I feel like
that would be consistent.
>> Do Do you want to ask me or is it
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Well, I did research [clears throat]
into that, too. So, it wasn't like it
was like a thoughtless process. I um
originally proposed this because the
mayor does hold a different role than
the rest of us. He is the chair. He
doesn't have a direct department really
like we do to offerformational updates.
And partially, I was also being selfish
because I like I do the think first
responder every other meeting. And I I
think that that's a good positive way to
end. So if we have a positive report in
the beginning and a positive report in
the end, that was my intention. So
and the reason why I put it on the
agenda is because agenda changes have to
be approved by council. We can't in the
latter.
>> No, I that is true. I just I wish it was
wasn't something we were discussing. But
>> is there anything else?
>> No, that's it.
>> Okay. So couple things. Um
first of all um your explanation was
very eloquent. I I do that that is a
wonderful sentiment to be able to set
the tone and it for the for the meeting.
I I actually think that's a a wonderful
idea. It really is. I'm not even joking
about that. However, I mean this is on
the agenda the the the meeting after you
said I want it's you're on video saying
I want the last word next meeting. Well,
no, that I don't want you to have the
final word, but that being said,
>> I apologize.
>> I know you did. I acknowledge that. But
just so keep that in mind. So, I always
take that with with a grain of salt with
that. The other thing with this is uh
they looked into it how far this went
back. For all I know, it could have been
all the way back to, you know, 1916 for
all I know. Uh it's been this way for a
while. I don't think there's a problem
with having the mayor's report at the
end. Um
the irony is um if if you if you want
the mayor's report up front just so I
can talk about the general thing, set
the tone and stuff like that. Um I think
you forget that the council members can
add things. So I can simply just put
right after commissioner reports mayor's
final comments if I wanted one. I have
that right to do that. So, so if you're doing it for that reason, uh
it's,
you know, you're you're not going to win
in that regards if that's what you're
trying to do. Uh but if if it's for your
legitimate reasons, um I I think that
actually is a wonderful sentiment. And
you are right. I mean, look at the time
right now. It's 8:25 at night. The other
thing I wanted to point out, you says,
uh I think somebody was it that said I
think see it worked really well for
lowering the temperature today because I
talked first.
We didn't even start our council meeting
for an hour and a half because we had to
go into close session and and and handle
some business that is not pleasurable.
So I don't know if I agree with that that sentiment there. Um but again
it's it's a wellthoughtout argument. So
um
>> I guess do we want to try it because
this clearly what has been happening is
not working. I think we all can kind of
agree to that. The other argument, and I
will say this with Commissioner
Cullinin's comments, um I think
sometimes forget people forget maybe
some of the other previous commissioner
points and uh reports in the past, have
had some crazy things in there that I
think that they've stated things that
aren't true or whatever. I I just sit
here and listen, let them listen and do
whatever they say. So, I think when it
comes to your individual report time,
you are authorized to say whatever it is
you want to say.
>> Um this is what I believe. So, it's
called freedom of speech. So, um, does
anybody else say anything to that?
>> Regardless of where this goes, I just
want to I I do want to commend
Commissioner Moy for for your apology
about, you know, your response to that.
I I I think we could all benefit from,
you know, more apologies and, you know,
whatever. And I think that took a lot of
uh courage to to do that. So, I just
want to give you a
>> I wanted to apologize the hour after I
felt really bad, but [laughter]
>> All right. Any other comments on this
topic?
>> Well, I think it's a good idea. That
way, you can bring up uh current events
that are coming up right off the bat.
>> As I said,
>> pretty good.
>> There's not terrible ideas, and you do
get people's attention a little earlier
in the thing. I just think the tradition
has been
>> I I I think it's a weird time to be
asking to to move that right after we
just had something that was strange
about that. The timing is strange. I
don't think there's a need a strong
enough need to change tradition just
yet, but the council can decide that.
So, Anything else?
>> I'll make a motion to move the mayor's
report.
>> Yeah,
>> we're spec Can I ask where specifically
do you want?
>> I guess we need to have a little
discussion.
>> What does that What does that mean? Like
right after before pledge allegiance
>> we start talking.
>> Should we do it after public comment?
» You could do it before. It doesn't
really
>> be that's why I say be be specific was
when you say beginning a meeting. I
guess you could do it immediately.
>> As soon as you can do it is after roll
call,
>> right? to verify that you have a
legitimate
>> and that's why I wanted
>> I think so too.
>> I think the place to put it would be
between the pledge and the public
comment.
>> Okay.
>> Keep the public comments about items on
the agenda.
>> So is your motion to move the mayor's
report
>> immediately after pledge of allegiance.
>> Sure.
>> And I'll second that. That's good.
>> Okay. Roll call, please.
>> Waldrich.
>> Hi.
>> Cullinin.
>> No.
>> McDermott.
>> Hi.
>> Moy.
>> Hi.
>> Currin.
>> No. That's where I'll be giving the
reports I guess.
All right. B discussion and possible
action on raffle license approval.
Colin.
>> Yeah. So, um I guess maybe Jen can speak
more to this, but I did write down a few
things. There's a few organizations that
do raffles. The three that I saw were
the American Legion, IVCC, and the
Dickinson House Foundation. And um
they're seeking raffle licenses for the
upcoming year or for this year.
>> It's just it's just an annual renewal
that we do.
>> We are not having that as well. I is we
are
>> yeah that's all that's been submitted
okay so far
>> it's sorry my apologies tag days are the
ones that have a certain time frame that
they're supposed to apply for
>> my apologies
>> there's no set specific time on this
>> all right my bad all right go anything
else uh Moy
>> I I don't have anything to add
>> I have nothing
>> for neither do I think they're great uh
great organizations and as more uh I
don't know if there's ever and a
nonprofit that we've denied the the
ability to do a raffle license. So, I
think it's great. Uh, if we can get a
motion to approve the raffle licenses.
>> I will motion that we approve um the
attached uh raffle licenses.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Baldrich.
>> Hi.
>> Cullen.
>> Hi.
>> McDermott.
>> I.
>> Moy.
>> I.
>> Currant.
>> I.
>> C. Discussion and possible action on
creating an ordinance to place all prior
executive session minutes in online
commissioner files, giving easier access
and review prior to voting.
uh approval I think supposed to say.
Baldridge
>> uh as I stated earlier there's a number
of uh past minutes that need to be
reviewed and the only possibility we
have to review them is during business
hours which my opinion are like banker's
hours. I don't have banker's hours and I
am gone from 4 to 5:30 in the morning
until after 5:00 pm every night. I don't
really see a problem with putting these
on our private server here so that we
could read them at our availability
instead of coming here and having to be
here during that exact time.
>> We'll go around the room. Colin,
>> so I guess what I would say regarding
this and then I have a potential
compromise on this if if we need to do
that because of the banker's hours. What
I would say is um I'm not familiar of
with any board, at least the one board
I've served on, I guess. Uh I'm not
familiar with any board um that actually
gives members uh copies of the closed
session minutes to just have and
possess. Uh when I was on the library
board um I mean I was a secretary um I
produced the close session record or the
close session minutes and then they were
put away in a lock box. Uh and you could
come in and you could review them at
your discretion but that was really it.
and and I really think that is best
practice. Um, we've talked before about
things um, we've talked before about
things uh, being talked about outside of
close session that shouldn't have been
talked about outside of close session.
Uh,
that's what it is. is I mean uh but I
even if we can't stop people necessarily
from discussing things that happen in
close session out of close session I I
would say it's probably beneficial
um if that person doesn't have like an
actual official document to corroborate
what they're telling somebody. Um so uh
for that reason um I'm just against it
and those reasons I'm against it. Um,
and
I I I really I'm really totally against
it. But I mean, if this is going to end
up being passed, what I would be more
comfortable with is if if it's if if
it's this set of minutes, the the
minutes that are listed here, October
6th, October 20th, November 17th,
December 1st, December 15th, executive
sessions. Um, and I'll take the blame
for October 6th, October 20th, November
17th, and December 1st. I didn't
communicate clearly enough to Jen uh
when Jen took the role of city clerk uh
that we the kind of practice is that we
review those at the following meeting
and then we approve them. That's my
fault. I'll own up to that. Um but what
I would suggest is if we are going to do
this, I would suggest that we do it for
just this set of minutes and then moving
forward we don't do it at all and it's
still paper copies in the office given
to you before a council meeting for you
to read. I just I don't think this is I
don't think it's a good idea to have
these uh circling out there. That's it.
>> Okay. Mo
>> I can understand your confidential
[clears throat] issues here with some of
the topics, but
>> I'm trying I'm trying to rack my brain
as something as an alternative. I mean,
password protecting it probably wouldn't
prevent someone from screenshotting it,
but um if someone's that bent on getting
the information out there,
>> that's going to happen with their mouth.
I would think
>> I'm just I'm I'm interested to see if
there's some kind of other
ways to do this besides
» I feel if somebody wants it out there,
they're going to get it out there one
way or the other.
Um,
I don't know if there's any other way to
do it.
>> Okay. Um, so the only part of this I
think has has value is the discussion
part. Uh, everything else with the
action of what to do, I think it is so
dangerous I'm surprised it's even on the
agenda. I'll echo everything um,
Commissioner Cullen said. I've never
served on another board that that would
allow something like that. Whether it be
school board, IVRD, we we we don't do
that. There's just Let me explain what
closed session minutes are best used
for. One, they make a record of the
meeting. Great. That doesn't have any
value to the public except for usually
years later. Every six months, we
determine which ones can be released.
Matter of fact, next meeting we're going
to do that for all of our past ones,
right? The only ones that get released
are ones that issues are completely
no longer anything anything have a
factor anymore. Right? So they don't
really play a factor into the public for
that. The only thing they play a factor
to the public is that it is a thing of
uh um
being being
available to everybody that they can see
after the fact. So usually any relevant
information is is from months to years
ago. So they don't have any value that
way. The other value that they have is
sometimes there's things that we talk
about in close session that are
relatively detailed and complicated,
especially if there's a negotiation deal
that's gone back and forth like 10 times
and and then there's there's times that
we've actually had to go to the minutes
to say, "Hey, our first proposal that we
did with this back seven months ago,
what what did we offer?" So, we we've
had to go to the close session minutes
for that. Those are the value points of
close session minutes. The negative
thing if the if the some of these
minutes were to get out into the public
space, everything that we're talking
about here right now, it's all online
already. Our open session minutes
[snorts] really don't mean anything
because people could watch the video
tomorrow, today, whatever.
I'll give you an example. We are in
union negotiations right now, contract
negotiations.
If the things that we talked about in
our close session about how we're
strategizing for, we're talking about,
we're trying to negotiate and stuff like
that. If that were to fall into the
wrong hands,
that would have a serious detrimental
effect to the taxpayers's resources,
right? I mean, our job not only I mean,
we all want to make sure our employees
are paid well, taken care of well, but
we do have a a financial responsibility
to look after the taxpayer dollar. And
if those if you put something in an
online format, you are just opening up a
can of worms. So to me, it cannot be an
option. Close session minutes always
have to be controlled. End of end of
discussion. To me, there's this
shouldn't even be a discussion. What
there should be a discussion for is if
we have council members that cannot find
an adequate time to be able to come in
to review them in person, that is a
problem. We have to find a way to be
able to to to to work around that.
Right. I don't know what that answer is.
I do think that somebody should be able
to find time within the next couple
weeks, maybe maybe if they any delay
next couple months to find some time to
come into this office or building during
the working hours. If that can't be, we
can talk about other options. I don't
know what that's going to be. I don't
know if that means putting it on a
private server in the in the room there
that's specially password protected to
look at. I I don't know what the answer
is. We can definitely discuss that. We
can discuss that. But to me, the option
cannot be for close session minutes to
ever be on an online location to where
somebody could take them out of city
hall. I I don't I don't even know, Pat,
do you have any legal thought process on
that?
>> This would completely violate best
practices. I I just don't think it's
something you should do. You're inviting
trouble. It's way too accessible to the
general public if somebody can get into
somebody's computer and take a look at
these. No, I just don't think this is a
good idea.
>> And I'm not talking about the things
>> I would definitely recommend against.
>> Yeah, I'm not talking about the things
that we might squabble about and people
just want to hear a gossip aspect. I'm
talking about the things that have true
financial liability to the city if
people if if it was available to the
public. We can't have that. I think the
idea of having I mean if if the time
making the time or having the time
period is an issue if we could have some
sort of and I'm sure there's a way to do
it to severely lock down a computer and
require a user ID and password to access
that computer so we can audit who who
logs into that computer in city hall. I
think that's a good idea.
>> Well, if we're already coming to city
hall then
>> yeah but everybody has a key. Everybody
has a key because then we know then we
know that that person only accessed them
at city hall and we know when who's
accessing them.
>> Believe that's what I asked you guys the
last time when we initially started this
conversation. You said it was impossible
or something.
>> Oh, I don't an option then.
>> I I I don't want to say anything's ever
impossible. I just I don't know of a
proper way because like you said,
somebody could take a screenshot of it
and Mac, I don't know if I agree with
that. I [clears throat] I agree with
what Cullinin said. There's a difference
because again, I'm not going to blame
anybody, but we've had problems in the
past where there's been certain items
that have been talked about in a very
secure location that were very important
and they have gotten out of here. That's
caused that's caused problems.
>> I I can't hold uh a council member
liable for I I I can't I can't charge
them with anything. I can't if they do
that.
>> But there is something to say if you
have the document to show with it.
There's one thing about hearsay and
there's another thing with saying,
"Yeah, no, look, I got the minutes right
here. There's what it said."
>> Rich, I think what I was talking about
is if they were placed on the internet
in a folder or something like that. Like
if they're on the internet, there's
really very little way that we could
control them because you could just
anybody could just say, "Hey, look at
this." You know, whatever. But if but if
we required that somebody be physically
in city hall and somebody log in using a
user ID and password that specifically
only goes to them and that computer
can't upload anything to the internet. I mean I think that would be an
agreeable solution.
>> It's better. I still don't think it's I
mean I mean if you can't trust somebody
you can't trust them. They could take
out maybe have a pair of medic glasses
on and take pictures of the camera of
that television. Yeah, you could do that
>> to uh if somebody wants to come in here
and take information and they're just
that much of a bad person.
>> Yeah, that is true. That is a fair
point.
>> Your charm never ceases to amaze me.
>> I'm sorry. Would it be possible that we
could do where um if you can't make it
say, "Hey, would you be possible for me
to come in on a Saturday?" I would not
be against that coming in for a couple
hours so somebody could come in and and
review. I I don't have a problem with
that.
>> I think something like that is makes
more sense because the the thing that's
crazy about executive session, look at
this. We we haven't approved the ones
from the 6th, the 20th, the 17th. We
have like five of them here that haven't
been approved, it doesn't affect
anything because they're not released to
the public until six months after. So to
me, if they have to get delayed,
executive session doesn't doesn't mean
that much to me. As I as I said, the
biggest value of them is transparency
after the fact. And if we need to review
something because something happened so
many months ago that we're not aware of.
I I just don't think I I to me it's not
even a discussion to have in an online
open access thing. It cannot be if
there's a way to lock it down or like I
said if maybe only if they can only be
here once a month even if they got to be
on the weekend or something like that.
We got to make special accommodations
for that. We do need to make
accommodations for the council members
because people have lives and jobs and
responsibilities. Um but so I I think
the discussion should continue and
trying to find a more appropriate way to accommodate that.
>> Can I make a recommendation or an ask?
I'm not directing you what to do, but
tech guru Austin Cullen, can you look
into some alternative solutions and have
them prepared by the next meeting so
this just doesn't keep going? I I can I think just off the cuff I I can and I
will, but I think off the cuff, if I had
to guess, the best solution would
probably be what I suggested, which is
having a password protected uh computer.
Um you know, maybe maybe you put it in a
place that is recorded or something like
that where you know, you can see the
person accessing it, whatever. But I
really think that's going to be your
only option. Um but I can research it.
Could you look into that little Mission
Impossible tape that says it's
self-destruct after?
>> Yeah, I can look into it.
>> That's a reference, but actually
>> I have to get into contact with
connecting point anyway. So,
>> okay. So,
>> do I need to make a motion to do
anything or are we just going to leave
it open-ended?
>> I mean, the only action on here is if
you're going to do the action that that
basically Baldridge recommended or
whatever. I think what we should do is
continue the discussion to look for a
more appropriate way to solve this
without putting the city in peril.
>> I know that sounds overly dramatic, but
I do truly believe if some of these
executive session minutes were to get
out there there's a true financial I
don't think Pat, you wouldn't even argue
with what I'm saying, right? There's a
true financial liability.
>> A huge financial liability.
>> Yeah. I I would definitely not recommend
you put these online and available to
look at from afar. No.
>> Good. Okay. So, I would that's what I
would recommend. Uh we continue to look
at alternative solutions that that can
cater to the council members a little
better.
>> Yeah.
>> Because right now, again, we got five of
them that aren't approved.
>> The world ain't burning down,
>> but we didn't have them until recently.
>> Say again,
>> they haven't been adding up on there.
Those were all put together pretty much
at the same time, right? All
>> one
>> wasn't a
>> I'll be honest. I look at the executive
[clears throat] session before we're
going to release them because that's
when the important time is.
>> Yeah. No, everything um all of them
minus uh the last one on there which was
what December 15th or whatever. Um yeah,
they're they're I guess you could say.
>> Yeah, they've accured over time, but I
will take responsibility for that. I I
didn't communicate clearly enough the
expectation to our new city clerk that
that's what we do after each meeting.
So,
>> I'm not looking to place blame. I'm only
looking for solution areas to
>> clear that up and be able to move on.
Okay.
>> So, is the discussion what I'm hearing
is that we're going to look for more
alternative solutions.
>> I make a motion that we look into more
alternatives
>> and because we all agree that we do have
to make things available at
commissioners schedules when they're
available.
>> Right. Okay. All right. Uh if there's if
there's no other discussion, uh we'll
move on. D discussion on central
locations. where city employees original
records and certifications are
maintained current. All right. So, I put
this on here. I know I feel like I
shouldn't have even had to put it on
here, but I just want to make sure that
this is clear because there has been
some issues lately. Um, it's been
brought to my attention that not all
records are are being maintained at city
hall. My understanding is, and I think
our chief of police already walked off
is over there. There's only two two Hey,
how are you? Thanks, Chief. There's only
two things that uh two locations where
employee records are stored. Uh one is
city hall here. Their employee record
has everything in it. Their pay records,
their their uh discipline reports,
evaluations, certifications,
qualifications, everything. The only one
that's a little different is police
because police are under a very special
program. How they do their evaluation
systems and stuff like that. Even though
their pay records might be down here,
their evaluation cycle, all that stuff
is under a lock and key at the police
department. So, I don't think there's an
issue if you have copies locally at the
different departments, but there needs
to be the the original everything copy
needs to be maintained here at city
hall. So, I thought I'd go around the
room and see if somebody thinks
different than that understanding. Um,
Colin,
>> I I would agree with your assessment on
that.
>> Okay. To reiterate, you're saying with
the exception of just the police,
>> the police department,
>> do you do realize like fire has monthly
training certific
but I don't know I don't know if we keep
uh fire people as like employee records.
So we don't have employee records on
them. So
>> and and with ambulance like their
paramedics license and stuff
[clears throat] like that since that's
something that's transferable.
>> I would say the full-time employees
paramedics we should because we have a
file on them here. We probably need to
have their copies of everything here,
but everybody else if they're not
full-time employees.
>> I haven't had an opportunity because
this was added as one of the last agenda
items, but I haven't I had an
opportunity to talk about it with
Margus. I have not had an opportunity to
talk with Pete or
>> Okay. Well, again, this this is an
action. This is just a discussion.
Right.
>> So, Right. So, but you agree with
>> So, I'm not sure what the ambulance is
doing right now.
>> Okay. Well, if you'd like to check on
that because my thought process is the
full-time employee stuff, everything
would be kept here,
>> but if they but yeah, if you got a whole
bunch of part-time employees and stuff
like that, we don't keep a record for
them.
>> Okay, McDermott,
>> I agree with Mo.
>> Okay, Baldridge.
>> I don't know what records you're looking
for. My my understanding is that the uh
personnel records and everything are
already kept in the city hall's offices
here. Um I I kind of think I know what
you're talking about. And those are some
uh apprenticeship records and those are
kept with the apprenticeship school.
>> So we didn't the city of Ogby has ever
had the acquired.
>> Well, I thought I thought when we got
the certifications, we kept them here. I
mean, for I I think of it is for
anything like liability purpose. Like
for example, Dan's probably I don't even
know if Dan's still in the room anymore.
Uh they have some different
certifications that they have for like
spraying [clears throat]
uh I can't remember if it's pest control
or weed control or something like that,
but we keep those kinds of things down
there because we need to maintain them.
We might get a call from the insurance
thing that says, "Hey, can you update
us?" We don't have to go look for it or
hunt for it. We have it at city hall for
those records. So, um same with any
certification. The moment we get them,
my thought process is they should not be
stuck in a drawer somewhere at a
department level. If they want to keep a
copy there, that's fine. But the
original everything needs to be at city
hall so we don't have a problem with an
employee coming down and saying, "Hey,
I'd like to look in my employee file and
get my whatever." And we go, we don't
have it. It's that's maintained
somewhere else. I I we shouldn't have
those conversations.
Just want to make sure everybody's under
that same mentality. if there's still
some discussion. I
>> I think I need to just discuss because
they do have significant amount of
certified part-time
>> and I think for liability purposes, I'm
sure their certification is somewhere on
file. I don't know what their record
management system is for the ambulance.
>> Okay. And and I'm not sure either. I
only talked to the chief about it just
to make sure I I knew that they had a
special how they did their evaluation
stuff. So, okay. So, we'll look into
that one, but as far as everybody else,
everybody's on board with the idea uh
that city hall is where they keep that
stuff. Okay. Uh, is there anything else
on that topic?
All right, moving on. Number 11, public
comment on any topic.
» We got a long wait to get here.
» Some of you are aware, I'm Kathy Nova,
and some of you are aware that Crockett
Street has a horrible turnaround.
um car. It's a dead end street and it's
a turnaround at the end and the big
trucks like UPS and F Express have
difficulty. But today I witnessed the
ambulance. They picked someone up. I
don't know if they were in the car. They
were down on my street, but they went
down and they could not turn around.
They went back and forth, back and
forth. Finally, they decided they just
would back out of the street. So, I
think the city needs to take a look at
see if they can widen that somehow so
the bigger trucks can get turned around.
>> The interesting thing is I remember us
talking about this like six, seven years
ago. And I think at the time the
question was, can we put a sign up that
says no big truck because you don't want
them have to turn around but an
ambulance obviously they got to get down
there. So that might change up the
conversation a bit.
>> Yeah. He tried using my neighbor's
driveway runs and couldn't get turned
around and finally he just backed up and
he backed all the way down the street.
So that That's That's serious.
>> It ends in a circle thing, doesn't it?
>> It's not much of one.
>> It's not much of a circle. And if you
need to if I have property, I need to
donate some property to get that larger.
It's just It's an issue. I know my
neighbor's mailbox was knocked down by
one of the big trucks. I put cones in my
driveway because I invested a lot of
money in concrete and I had a UPS truck
back up and the curb. I had another guy
with a gooseeneck [clears throat] um
hitch drive in and scratch the, you
know, the concrete. So, I'm trying to
protect my driveway because that's the
first place that they think about
turning around is. But, um, when I saw
the ambulance today, I thought this has
to be addressed.
>> I appreciate that.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> Any other public comment on any topic?
>> Number 12, commissioner reports.
Commissioner Cullin.
>> Oh, boy. Let me find it. Uh,
okay. Uh so that portal that I've been
talking about uh the new we're replacing
uh payment service network um this is I believe part of the civic systems it's
an extension of civic systems um which
is we made a
year and some change ago made a a large
purchase for a lot of our uh bookkeeping
software blah blah blah and this is part
of it. Um the portal rolled out Friday
of last week. I was informed today that
we have 55 people signed up uh for the
portal, which is actually very good, I
think, for Friday of last week. I'm
pretty pleased. Um I want to remind
residents that signing up uh for online
payments uh made via AC is fee free. Um
however, cards at this point in time
will incur a charge of uh 3.5%.
So, wanted to remind uh people of that.
I also, speaking of the new year, um on
our website, city council's page has
been updated uh for the new year. So, it
shows the 2016 calendar, so forth and so
on. What you'll notice is that videos
are no longer linked there if you ever
go there to pull up videos. Um but they
are still on our official YouTube
channel. All of this year's videos, uh
moving forward will be listed on that
page.
Um, uh, other kind of administrative
housekeeping things. I pulled this off
the, uh, off the newsletter. So, uh,
golf cart stickers expired as of, uh,
1231, uh, December 31st. Uh, you should
have received a reminder. If you have
any questions, please contact city hall.
And the last thing I was kind of showing
off, I'm actually genuinely like I I'm
very
I don't know like that that kind of
techy stuff I was showing earlier
actually really for whatever reason like
it gets me like really excited. Like I
it's it's very like I don't know. It's
like the same way I get excited when I
go to Staples. Like I I'm kind of kind
of a loser in that sense. But uh that
stuff really does excite me. So
Microsoft 365 working on that. I talked
about the building inspections things.
Um I also want to keep other records uh
on that as well so they're accessible to
everybody so you know we're holding each
other accountable uh such as rental
inspections and other things. Um I also
talked about this before but we got a
bit sidetracked. I really want to
prioritize um digitizing all of our
forms. obviously offering a physical
copy, but trying to just to digitize,
offer a digital option for as much as we
do and push people towards that. Um, and
so forms specifically, we were talking
about like building permit forms, our
new civic systems thing, uh, should be
able to handle those. Uh, but other
forms, even something as, you know, uh,
frivolous as a Dickinson house request
form, I would love there to be an online
option. um that again everything's
automated, sends a request, request is
reviewed, sends a confirmation email. I
would love that um because it just makes
everything so much more efficient and so
much more streamlined. Uh and so I I
feel like a loser in my room at night uh
playing around with Microsoft Power
Automate, but I'm actually kind of
having a little bit of fun with it. So
um I look forward to seeing uh what it
can do once we get Microsoft totally
rolled up. So, uh, that's all I have for
tonight.
>> Thank you. Wish you well.
>> Okay. For the fire department, they had
14 calls total, which included five
vehicle accidents, two activated alarms,
two life assist, one auto aid, one
police assist, one structure fire, one
hazmat call, one wire down. So, for
2025, there were a total of 224 calls
that the fire department responded to.
And I just want to point out that this
is a 16% increase from 2024. So, they
are getting more calls. So, if you've
ever felt the call to action, please
consider the fire department
[clears throat] and joining them.
Applications can be picked up there.
Um, and then I I have the ambulance
report as well, which has 63 total
calls, five transfers, one ALS
intercept, two mutual aids, 55 all city
and district calls encompassing. And I
did want to take a moment because the
district has asked us to start breaking
out these calls. They want to know how
many are happening. In November, they
had 60 We had 68 total ambulance calls,
but 14 were in the fire protection
district. In December, 63 total calls,
but four were in the district, just to
keep in mind. Um, tonight, I do not have
um statistics from the police
department, but I'll catch up on them
next time.
>> Thank you, Commissioner McDerman.
>> Okay, the uh dry bridge has been
complete. Uh that I want to thank
deconstruction. Um they will have to do
the black top. Um the wastewater
treatment plant is operating pretty
good. They're doing good work down there
and they're going to do a pretty big
pour within the next couple days I
believe.
That's it. That's all I got.
>> When you said pour, what does that have
effect?
>> Not on the roadway, right? Just down
there.
>> Cool. Thank you,
>> Commissioner Baldridge. Uh, as
Commissioner Moy has stated, um, the
commissioner's reports are, in my my
opinion, to give a report of your
departments. Uh, I've asked both of my
superintendents of their departments to
give me an an update uh, every two
weeks. And, uh, this is what the
electric department has provided. Over
the last two weeks, we have received an
insur settlement payment of
$88,372.14ning
storm damage I received in September. We
also finished and received the grant
from IMEA for $20,2863
which goes towards the P purchase of a
variable frequency drive for well pump
number three. They have signed up for
the new Julie underground rapid response
system which will give a more precise
response for any underground locate that
is called in. We are currently waiting
for the additional login credentials for
all the other guys. This program was
supposed to be 100% in use by January
1st. However, they are way behind in
getting each person's credentials sent
out. We have been working on getting our
electrical system mapped out and
installed on the GIS maps which will be
once completed have all of our system
recorded in one place which will be
easily accessible to both all guys
working in the field as well as
permanent record for the city. This is a
work in progress. We had a major
incident of wind damage on Sunday,
December 28th. A large oak tree was
blown over and fell into our main
circuit power lines which run down by
the alley between Oak Street and Porter
Avenue, knocking down the power lines
and snapping off a corner pole on Church
Street. We called Shar Tree Service to
remove the large tree which was laying
on both our power lines and a garage on
Oak Street so repairs could be made.
Power was restored to the affected
customers around 7 a.m. If you recall,
it was about 50 to 60 mph winds, I
believe, that night and they uh it was
very cold and they stayed all and got
all that. I do appreciate that we have
cleaned out all of our electrical appra
apparatus that was stored in the
Dickinson house basement and have been
working on organizing and installing
additional shelving at both our landfill
storage building as well as a storage
shed behind her shop and getting rid of
any junk that has been accumulated
through the years when we get the time.
Thank you. JP uh from the parks
department says that uh the garbage is
downtown dog parking disc golf and water
street uh they get picked up on weekly
rounds. City Hall maintenance and
cleaning gets done weekly. Uh he's got
BB gun club prep, makeup shoots, and
club nights. The Dickinson house has to
be maintained weekly to touch up
painting, the smell from the traps, new
install bathroom, bowling alley
maintenance. Uh been working on cleaning
up the Dickinson House multiple times a
week. Prepped for the 54 or 5480 mound
and bases at Gandalfi Diamond. Prep for
the new south batting cage post at
Gandalfi Diamond. Cut down some large
tree branches that fell at Memorial
Park. Changed the flags and clips as
needed at flag poles. Got the Christmas
lights taken down and organized them
back into storage. Been painting some
garbage cans and uh done some ceiling
tile work in the park's office and
organized the shop. Starting next week,
they're going to do maintenance on all
the equipment. It's a late start due to
the early snow and start refinishing
more Memorial Park sign and Dickens
House baseball complex sign. If you
notice the one down at Memorial Park,
they uh took that down last year and
took some time and really made that look
nice and it saved the city a lot of
money and made it look a lot better for
everybody to look at. So, do appreciate
all that. That's all I have.
>> All right. All good stuff. Thank you. Uh
mayor's [clears throat] report was
already completed. Um so number what I
got 13 there. Executive session for
collective negotiating matters between
the public body and its employees or the
representatives or deliberations
concerning the salary schedules for one
or more classes of employees 5
LCS120/2C2
to discuss the purchase of lease of real
estate 5 LCS120C5
the employment compensation discipline
performance dismissal specific employees
5 LCS120C1.
Uh can I get a motion to go into
>> I'll make a motion to go into executive
session.
>> I'll second roll call please.
>> Uh Baldrich.
>> Hi.
>> Cullinin.
>> Hi.
>> McDermott. I
>> Moy
>> I
>> Curran
>> I I think this is officially the latest
time we've started executive session.
There's no there's no planned action exe
after executive session. Thank you
everybody. Have a wonderful night and a
happy new year.
[clears throat]
» I'm throwing
>> That's not great.
>> No cracks.
just breaking stuff. No, I said no. No
cracks,
>> which would really suck because I don't
use this thing that often.
» Tony, didn't even know you're going to
be here and I said nothing but good
things about you.
>> You bet.
>> I might not like you, but you did good.
work.
>> That's
>> You did good work.
What
>> about your wife?
>> What about your wife?
» You did.
I
» Oh my god. Thank god my wife still
there.
Oh boy.
Back to school tomorrow.
All right,
we're back in open session. Roll call,
please.
>> Baldridge,
>> here.
>> Colin,
>> here. McDermott
>> here.
>> Moy
>> here. Curran
>> here. Thank you for anybody that's still
paying attention. I'm It's probably well
past your bedtime. Um that's all we have
tonight. Uh number 14 is adjournment.
Can I get a motion to adjurnn?
>> I'll make a motion to adjourn.
[laughter]
>> Everybody.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Uh Baldridge
>> here.
>> Call it.
>> I.
>> McDermott.
>> I Curran
>> I. We are adjourned. Night night. night.