[0:02] call to order this meeting of the Osmo City Council

[0:06] on August, this is September 10th. That's

[0:10] right. >> August 27th, 2026 at 6 p.m. here in

[0:16] Memorial Hall. Madam Clerk, we do roll call.

[0:19] » Council member Shane here. >> Council member Mik

[0:22] » here. Council member De. >> Council member Dickens

[0:26] » here. >> Council member Hennis

[0:28] » here. Council member Braden >> here.

[0:30] » Council member Philip >> here. Council member

[0:33] » here. Mayor H >> here. If you'll stand for the pledge of

[0:36] allegiance and remain standing for invocation.

[0:47] United States of America which stands one nation

[0:56] with liberty and power.

[1:06] Dear heavenly father, we only ask your blessing upon the city council tonight.

[1:11] We ask for your wisdom and guidance for local members of the council and for the

[1:15] community members here tonight. Lord, we also want to [clears throat] lift up to

[1:19] you tonight all of our first responders that help to keep us safe. We ask that

[1:25] you would protect them as they protect us. We also pray that uh the new school

[1:29] year has begun that your blessing will be upon all of our schools,

[1:33] administrators, teachers, coaches, staff, and all of

[1:37] those students. We ask for a great school year and for a safe school year.

[1:42] May your hand protect our schools and our community. We thank you for all of

[1:46] these that are here tonight to have our voices heard and for those here to

[1:51] listen to those voices. But Lord, would you help us tonight to honor you the way

[1:55] that we treat each other, whether we agree or disagree with one another, may

[2:00] we be willing to listen to one another and treat each other with compassion and

[2:04] respect. May we believe as your word commands us and Lord love our neighbors

[2:09] and ourselves. We ask all these things in Jesus name.

[2:12] » Amen. Thank you.

[2:22] » We move on to uh consent agenda. Consent agenda items will be acted upon in one

[2:30] motion unless a council member requests an item be removed for discussion.

[2:34] separate action. Mayor, I move we approve the consent

[2:39] agenda as presented. Second. Got a motion by Councilman Dickinson, a second

[2:45] by Councilman Chastine to approve the consent agenda as presented. There any

[2:50] other questions or comments from council?

[2:54] Madam Clerk, >> council member Chhatty.

[2:56] » Hi, Council Member. >> Hi, Council Member.

[2:59] » I

[3:03] council member Bry. >> Council member Phill.

[3:06] » Council member Paulo. >> I.

[3:09] » Motion carries. We will move on to the next item,

[3:14] [clears throat] which is comments from the public. Citizen participation will

[3:18] be limited to three minutes. Please stand and be recognized when we call

[3:22] your name.

[3:30] Let's start with chapter number seven.

[3:48] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[3:52] Chain I'm here to use my three minutes to discuss the significance of the

[3:58] injection of power later on agenda and the development of the US ambassadors

[4:03] which is actually a spin-off of the touris commission that the city council

[4:07] has appointed. Um US ambassadors is about 6 months old.

[4:13] It's open to all who love the surrounding history and to want to

[4:18] welcome the visitors and inform locals about it. Initially about 10 to 11

[4:23] people responding. We had a 2.5 hour crash force on history about 10

[4:29] brochures and homework to be given and a good discussion. We've been present so

[4:34] far at the John Brown birthday John like memorial home opening have given tours

[4:41] to new school employees about. So why did this happen? In spring of 2023, the

[4:48] most womb, pardon me, can't see it happen marathon was down at mile zero. I

[4:52] went down to check it out and there were two to 300 people down there with nobody

[4:56] from most to long or so I in my very imaginable self introduced myself to 25

[5:03] people directing them down to whistle stop and I thought we need to not miss

[5:09] opportunities like this. So a massive was born. So what are we promoting?

[5:14] We're promoting the Pawati trail of death which was the forced misplacement

[5:18] of 900 pawing Kansas in our very important history of

[5:22] God state hustle in this district.

[5:27] We had a two and a half hour lecture by Jim Brown and Ron Hobstein about the

[5:32] railway history. Tedd Roosevelt was doing this speech. 35,000 people here

[5:38] that gave possibly the most important speech in the 20th century which

[5:42] introduced such radical things as child safety, work safety, 40hour work week,

[5:48] social security, um national healthcare was important that a Democratic

[5:56] president came to red state and gave a speech 120 years later on the same

[6:00] topic. Finally, Egyptian Highway

[6:06] was the first north and south highway that went from New Orleans to Winnipeg,

[6:11] Canada, and called the Paloto Pines Highway. I don't know if you all have

[6:16] seen in the last year, there's now a sign on Highway 169 and 165 by Tractor

[6:22] Supply. So, these are signs that are designating the Jackson Highway. I've

[6:27] been in contact with Roger Bell who's the president in M for MSI Oklahoma in

[6:33] John right now next month they're having a convention with several hundred people

[6:37] people coming in from the north and the south he says we have very significant

[6:42] uh findings here we have the trip mar bridge

[6:48] the silent bridge and the original red brick surface we had one of the few

[6:54] original highway original gas stations down by our people. So the goal is to

[7:00] get people here and designate where these signs are and bring more people

[7:07] attraction. He said people want photo ops signs and information. Thank you.

[7:12] » Thank you.

[7:17] » Next we'll go Hson.

[7:22] Do I >> do you usually ask people?

[7:27] » I think he left. Oh,

[7:31] » I was thinking that when I watch

[7:39] that still

[8:10] Okay. [clears throat]

[8:13] I'm not out here saying I'm against the Jefferson highway or think about it or

[8:17] anything else but I me and my family

[8:22] some nobody really heard of it until last 6 months and I don't know we want

[8:29] to publicize that as a historic high

[8:35] like you guys can't jump it's it's a oneway road spots and I called in and

[8:41] asked problems fixed fixed might back in them and it only last

[8:48] and at the bottom where the floor is built under the road. I'm guilty of

[8:52] destroying city property because when the rain gets bad enough, I drive kick

[8:57] them like on the shoulders so the water got somewhere going. The road is lower

[9:02] than the shoulders. It all runs to the bottom. That's where it says time as she

[9:08] dies. [clears throat] Do you want to spend the

[9:11] money on the signs forward? I'm not saying I know that's part of making a

[9:19] historical deal. making 30 mph can't do 30 mph

[9:28] and then like say hospital but the water I drove down

[9:34] all the SW historical highway they get pushed into the lake

[9:42] and if my might be irritated that's what's going on I got a picture

[9:49] anybody there now doing it. That's what's

[9:52] happening in the industry. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Like I said,

[9:57] I'm not against historic. It's cool. Nobody really

[10:03] nobody that I know. It was historic until 6 months ago when everybody

[10:09] started talking about the big thing. But yeah, it may not find out. It really

[10:16] be cool. That's the reason I'm here. I was I

[10:21] bridge.

[10:39] » Good evening, council member and the mayor. The citizens of Osw follow the

[10:43] process. We wrote an ordinance, went through the requirement county council

[10:47] review, collected the signatures, submitted the petition, and it has been

[10:51] certified. There is something very important to consider. Now, the same

[10:55] petition we have was shared with Emporia and Elder Radio and both prevailed in

[11:00] district court challenges. The 13th district court ruled the petition

[11:05] legislator and the district court judges of both cities ruled the citizens

[11:09] initiatives can move forward to the ballot and their city council voted in

[11:13] both cities to put them on the ballot. Those decisions support what we have

[11:17] been saying from the beginning. Citizens can use the initiative process to

[11:22] establish legislative policy concerning those massive hypers scale data centers

[11:26] or AIS. Our ordinance doesn't name alcohol project catalyst or any

[11:31] particular property. It establishes a general rule for high impact in brown

[11:36] swing. There's also another experience issue

[11:39] the city needs to address. The city's redevelopment agreement with alcohol

[11:44] depended on approximately 160 acres previously conveyed to the city by the

[11:49] state of Kansas. The legislative language is clear on the quick claim

[11:53] deeds which I have certified copies of. Quote, "In the event that any portion of

[11:57] the above ascribed real estate has not been used for economic development by

[12:03] July 1st, 2026 that all rights, title, and interest in such portion of such

[12:08] real estate shall revert to the state of Indians."

[12:11] [clears throat] End quote. No amendment was reported by that date and as of

[12:15] today there is still no amendment reported. The Kansas statutes provides

[12:19] no express authority for a late opinion to retroactively undo that reversion.

[12:24] Because of this, the city cannot simply fix this after the fact. It may require

[12:28] new legislative authority and lawful rebates. The city should explain how it

[12:33] will continue relying on predevelopment freedom dependent on land that it no

[12:37] longer owns according to that legislative and the predevelopment

[12:41] agreement should be rendered invalid because of these facts. Important

[12:45] citizens led by Jay fought for their petition and the right to put to a vote

[12:50] in one in court and their city agreed with them. Eloro citizens led by fought

[12:55] with their petition and right to vote for a vote in one in court and their

[12:59] city agreed with them. We are not asking for you to agree with us. We're

[13:03] requesting the city follow the law, respect the petition process and either

[13:08] adopt the ordinance or place it on the ballot. Let the people of those have

[13:13] their say in the legal process. Thank you.

[13:32] » Thank you for letting me talk. Um

[13:37] here we are standing. Yes. See, here we are standing in the

[13:42] presence of greatness of John Rana. Edward, we too are standing up against

[13:48] slavery and tyranny of mankind. For the past several months, we have evidence

[13:54] and reports that these data centers are the harbinger of tyranny, enslavement,

[13:59] and death of our communities, country, and planet. My wife had been on the

[14:05] Miami County Economic Development Committee.

[14:08] uh she was the president of the committee.

[14:11] Many corporations had come to the area ready to build.

[14:16] Both of these companies would have had less impact on our lives than the data

[14:20] centers and every single one of them rejected.

[14:24] Why would they reject it? It's because the community did not want mining

[14:28] nuclear identity and become part of the urban straw.

[14:32] My uncle grew up under the thumb of terror and enslavement in Nazi occupied

[14:39] France. At age 13, he grew up there and killed 37 Nazi officers.

[14:47] Even at that young age, he realized that he was fighting the soul of mankind.

[14:53] Do you not realize they are doing the same?

[14:57] And why I'm few data sinners are not our savior. There

[15:02] is only one savior. His name goes by Allah God and Jesus and

[15:10] the great burial. Alco and other data centers.

[15:17] I'm sorry. Alco and other data center contractors to target small rural

[15:22] depressed communities not to help us but the line of poverty goal. And in this

[15:27] case the goal includes the land, the air, the water and the sweat of

[15:32] generations that came before us. In this room you see MAGA, you see progressives,

[15:39] you see Democrats all working together in fear that the city council is willing

[15:44] to sacrifice ocean water. You have a chance to stand here with us

[15:50] and defend against this harp of death. History is waiting for grand.

[15:56] So please make a decision. Help us protect our community. Thank you.

[16:09] I don't think Paulie Plane made it. Uh she said she may or may not make it. So

[16:17] » please. >> No. No. It's the same thing with your

[16:20] son tried to speak for you. We don't favor. Everybody knows how we're going

[16:24] to leave the story. All right. That's all citizen comments that we have. So

[16:29] we'll move on to presentation proclamations under pass. It's

[16:33] constitution week. So believe we have missing.

[16:41] Thank you for having me. My name is Renee Slinker and I am the American

[16:46] chapter of American

[16:51] state constitution week chair and I'm here

[16:56] today to promote awareness of our constitution. Constitution week was

[17:02] passed uh into uh by Congress unanimously in 1955 and signed into law

[17:10] uh in 1956. So uh it is law public 9:15

[17:17] and what we do is we promote the constitution uh during uh month of

[17:22] August to council meetings and then in September we go into the schools in

[17:28] several counties and we've been doing this for 13 years. This is my 14th year

[17:35] and uh so we really enjoy it. I do want to say and I just want to ask everyone

[17:42] everyone that is here in uh this family to please contact Trojan Elementary

[17:50] teachers fifth grade teachers because for the last two years I have not been

[17:56] able to be invited into the school even if it's for 30 minutes. I do 30 minutes

[18:02] to an hour and I give a great presentation show a children's video

[18:08] that's from Katie the fifth graders love it and um it's only a 10minute video and

[18:15] I I just feel that they really are missing out on our constitution and bill

[18:21] of rights which I feel all schools should have that opportunity for their

[18:27] children and their students. So anyway, I just asked everyone to contact the

[18:32] school. I have sent several emails, including to the superintendent

[18:37] and the principal. Uh, and I just have not gotten any replies. I did get a

[18:42] reply from the princip

[18:50] elementary school. So, I guess that's where we need to go. But, uh, I can't do

[18:56] anymore. react to the citizens here in Oswie to contact the school if they want

[19:03] their children and and I'm sure they get taught in American history. I just don't

[19:08] know how much of the constitution I have no advice that they are actually

[19:14] learning. And this is a problem not just in this town but in the state of Texas

[19:21] and in getting more American history into our schools. But anyway, I would

[19:27] really appreciate that and thank you very much for being here. And um Mayor

[19:34] would if you want to read the proclamation, take the vote and then

[19:37] take a picture and you want me to hand them out now.

[19:42] » Uh that's fine. Get ready to make the proclamation and

[19:46] » you can hand them out how we're doing that. I guess or if you want to wait

[19:50] until after Lawrence is done.

[19:55] application issued by the mayor city council.

[19:59] Whereas September 17, 2026 marks the 239th anniversary of the drafting of the

[20:05] Constitution of the United States of America by the constit constitutional

[20:09] convention. And we're add that it's fitting and proper to aford official

[20:14] recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the

[20:19] patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion. And whereas

[20:25] public law 915 guaranteeing the issuing of a proclamation each year by the

[20:31] president of the United States of America designating September 17th

[20:35] through September 23rd as Constitution Week. Now therefore Nick Hampton mayor

[20:42] of the city of Osami does here proclaim the week of September 17th through

[20:48] September 3rd 2026 as Constitution week. And he urges all citizens to reaffirm

[20:55] the ideals that the framework of the Constitution had in 1787

[21:00] by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian

[21:05] of our liberties. Remembering that lost rights may never be regained. Proclaimed

[21:11] this 27th day of August 2026 at Hamson Mayor City Water.

[21:22] We need a motion by council to authorize a signing of the proclamation.

[21:27] I'll move to approve the proclamation. >> Second.

[21:31] » We got a motion by Councilman Hennis and a second by Council Lady Cwell to

[21:36] approve the authorization and signing of the proclamation of constitution.

[21:41] Any other questions or comments from the council?

[21:44] » Madam clerk. >> Council member Sha.

[21:47] » Hi. >> Basic.

[21:48] » Hi. Council member Dean. >> Hi. Council

[21:50] » member Jac. >> Hi.

[21:52] » Council member. >> Hi.

[21:53] » Council member Graten. >> Hi.

[21:55] » Council member. >> Hi.

[21:56] » Council member. >> Hi.

[21:59] » Motion carries. So we'll take a little second here. We'll sign the

[22:04] proclamation. Then we can as a council take a picture.

[22:10] » Does anyone want? I think I've still got

[22:23] » I still got mine. >> Anyone else?

[22:40] We all together. Yep.

[23:05] discussion

[23:07] » [laughter]

[23:17] [laughter]

[23:28] » Thank you very much.

[23:49] It's like uh thank you Miger. Move on to assigning delegates to the

[23:55] LKM annual conference in Witchah. I know I will be there. Florence will be

[24:02] there. He'll be there Saturday

[24:07] and probably two of us.

[24:12] [clears throat] I'll do it.

[24:17] I've got the weekend.

[24:33] I move that um that we have Mary as our

[24:45] » Kevin

[24:51] for the conference.

[24:56] Motion by council lady Falcon. Second by council me to

[25:02] appoint Brent and myself is the voting de and Kevin as alternate. Any other

[25:09] questions or comments from council? Madam clerk

[25:21] Iceberg

[25:25] I follow. >> Motion carries. We'll move on to public

[25:30] hearing. We have a public hearing on our 2027 budget.

[25:34] Do we want to present the budget and then open the hearing? Um get the pass

[25:41] first.

[25:49] So open for public hearing on the 2027 budget.

[25:56] Anybody would like to speak about the budget?

[26:03] That's the second time. There's anybody from the public' like to speak about

[26:10] open the hearing at 62.

[26:16] » Yeah.

[26:24] » We had comments from the public earlier. >> This is not the time.

[26:29] » Okay. So I think

[26:32] » sir, >> this is not the time for that.

[26:35] » Talk about the budget. >> You are going to talk about the budget.

[26:40] » Okay. >> I I think that we need to be cautious

[26:44] with uh the budget this year. Um I think that we need to be looking at better

[26:50] ways to use our resources and our money. Um that I think there needs to not be

[26:57] some influences to build up that gap in because

[27:04] it's about being able to steer our community down there

[27:11] and the same thing applies to a lot of things. I was going to talk about what

[27:16] uh I just hope you guys do the right things. I'm from

[27:22] I believe and I want you guys to stand up for all

[27:26] these people out here. Thank you.

[27:37] Is there anybody else like to speak about the budget?

[27:45] I'll ask a third and final time if there's anybody from the public that

[27:49] would like to speak about the budget.

[27:53] Okay, we close the budget hearing at 628.

[27:58] [clears throat]

[28:01] Now I guess we'll do the presentation budget.

[28:13] Thank you, mayor. Um, I'm going to give the council a quick update on the on our

[28:19] progress before I jump into the high level of overview of the 2027 proposed

[28:25] budget. Um, this past year, uh, we've continued to clean the community up by

[28:30] identifying structures that are needed repair.

[28:34] We continue to enforce nuisance uh codes by first through education and and

[28:39] [clears throat] then secondly enforcement. We use a variety of

[28:42] communication to try to accomplish that. Um the Swson building is in dire need of

[28:48] uh tension. While it's proving to be a more difficult more difficult than

[28:53] expected to redevelop that project, they have an important historic tax credit

[28:57] strategy. They are planning on applying for a moderate income housing grant this

[29:02] fall and if they're successful in that then they will start construction

[29:04] shortly after the first of the year. Uh Brewers Automotive has seen a

[29:09] significant improvement with replacement of all their sheet metal on the exterior

[29:13] of their building. And there's other businesses along Sixth Street that have

[29:17] also uh continue to follow in the city's uh leadership with uh rebuilding uh so

[29:23] many different streets in our community. Um the Sixth Street business program

[29:27] that was approved as part of the 2026 budget adoption has been handed out.

[29:31] We've received two applications thus far for that. Um in terms of replacing

[29:36] streets, the 14 million has some sales tax and improved four years ago has

[29:42] continued to be utilized to uh not only rebuild uh some certain streets to full

[29:48] depth and then but we've also been uh doing no overlays the last couple of

[29:54] years, most recently Brown Avenue from first to sixth because it was

[29:58] experiencing significant reflective and alligator cracking on the surface and

[30:04] and um also Pacific Hill 6th and 12th. Um that project that street was also

[30:10] experiencing some significant alligator crafting. But more importantly, that is

[30:14] the shared use path. That's the bicycle boulevard that's a part of our

[30:19] transportation alternatives grant which I'll talk about in a little bit. It

[30:23] makes sense to put the sher on Pacific Avenue on mold asphalt and then turn

[30:29] around and mill it at the end of the following year. we have to repaint the

[30:33] the sheriffs. So, so that was uh another that was a big undertaking. It was one

[30:38] of our brightest needs in the community. In terms of hard infrastructure,

[30:42] water treatment plan is final design has been submitted for review and approval

[30:48] with KDH. Um on the electric version, we're continuing to work on the

[30:53] conversion to the higher voltage high voltage. currently who's working on uh

[30:59] converting certified. Uh this 2027 budget keeps operating

[31:04] transfers from utility funds to 5% which is our cap and our financial policies

[31:09] between each of our utilities as if it was a uh as a privately owned utility

[31:14] and the 5% reflects a franchise that we take off of that for operation expenses.

[31:20] Uh the only caveat to that is the water fund. Four years ago when the council

[31:25] approved the water treatment plant, uh, one of the things we said that needed to

[31:29] happen was we needed to stop operational transfers out of the water treatment

[31:33] fund um to help pay for the the new water project. On the economic

[31:40] development throne, uh, we had 13 new home permits that were issued in 2025.

[31:46] Um, we've issued so far this year. We've got four more ready to pick up in city

[31:50] hall. So that would make a total of eight that have been issued in 2026.

[31:55] Um the uh Fifth Street Terrace, we actually expect up to four more this

[32:00] year knowing uh the other builders of the town and what their plans are. Um so

[32:05] Fifth Street Terrace construction will continue. The loft on Sixth Street is

[32:09] complete and open. 525 Main is nearly complete. There's a new real estate

[32:14] office realy on Sixth Street. There's a new bank going in uh where T Bank or

[32:22] Great Southern Bank used to be. It had been vacant or used to store it for

[32:27] quite a number of years, but it's it's giving new life into it as we speak.

[32:32] 5510 mainland project was disappointing. It did not go where we hoped it would

[32:37] go. 510 needs to be demolished. The RFP is going to be issued to prospective

[32:42] biders. Once 510's down, we will reach that RFP instruction process over in the

[32:48] north development. There's a lot that's been said about what's going on in the

[32:51] north land was proposed for the north land, but uh from my standpoint, this

[32:57] opportunity is the biggest opportunity to come to the city of Oawatami in the

[33:02] 20 years. It will fundamentally change this community for the better and for

[33:07] generations to come. On the soft infrastructure front, the KO

[33:11] transportation alternatives grant starts in September next month. The

[33:15] reconnaissance survey for the consideration of John Brown Park being

[33:19] brought in the National Park Service. The surveys we complete is still being

[33:23] reviewed and awaiting and we are awaiting the report. Uh the new

[33:27] clubhouse golf course has been designed. The architectural

[33:32] phase two of the architectural work has been completed. Uh the next step on that

[33:37] project is this to figure out $217,000 in payment of design. Um we don't know

[33:44] uh where that's going to come from yet. If we're not going to have the money to

[33:48] build it yet, it doesn't make a lot of sense to design

[33:52] have um so we'll continue to work on

[33:56] financing [clears throat] that project. Um, some of my concerns and goals,

[34:01] retention of existing employees, uh, compensation of our frontline employees,

[34:05] uh, just to keep pace with our neighbors. While we don't have a lot of

[34:08] turnover, uh, I don't want to see that start to happen. I we've got a lot of we

[34:14] got a good group of people working for our for our community. Um, and I'm I'm

[34:18] proud of him, but I want um, we need to keep our utilities full

[34:23] by utility rates pace from inflation. uh grow the new construction needs to

[34:29] increase or keep pace with the rate of inflation. Um we need to continue to

[34:34] encourage construction on infill lots. Um so the backside of the combinations

[34:40] while it's not always easy, the backside of that is those properties get new life

[34:44] into them. Um a couple properties will be in the last two years already have

[34:49] new homes uh peritted for them or soon to be soon to have new homes permitted

[34:54] for them. Um there's three loss that we have out right now. We just approved. We

[34:59] issued that a couple of meetings ago. Those bids are due on September 14th. So

[35:03] hopefully the meeting after that we'll have those for the council to consider.

[35:07] Um redeveloping our business corridors as I mentioned before the law on 6th 544

[35:13] main which has been done a couple years now. 525 and 519. Uh both equipment

[35:18] buildings continue to see improvements. Uh I mentioned earlier brewers and then

[35:23] 500 and 510. Um some of the things we need to

[35:27] continue to keep our focus on is finishing the projects that we started.

[35:31] Um the water plantation project will break ground this coming spring or

[35:36] winter shortly after the first year and then the TA grant which I just mentioned

[35:41] uh will start next month. Um the next thing we'll need to start looking at

[35:46] though is what are our next big roles? Um the new the community has mentioned

[35:50] multiple times on social media that they would like to see a bicycle pedestrian

[35:54] overpass. Um the overpass that we currently have is not permitted. The

[35:58] bicycles are pedestrian. It's undersized. Um trucks loaded trucks

[36:02] cannot go over it. Um it's questionable if we can send fire trucks over it. Uh

[36:08] concrete trucks cannot go over it. The school bus is questionable as to whether

[36:11] it should go over it. So in reality, don't build bicycle pedestrian overpass,

[36:15] we really should look at building a new overpass with bicycle pedestrian

[36:19] accommodations. Um, another project that we've talked

[36:23] about at least in the 20 years since I've been here, it's been a dream of the

[36:27] community to restore the asylum bridge going over the merit scene at first to

[36:32] make that into a shared use path up to the state hospital.

[36:36] Um, that's a significant expense as well. um the library expansion, the new

[36:41] clubhouse, additional pool in the streets, all of those things would

[36:45] require us. And I'm not eager to be hyperbolic. I'm

[36:50] trying to be hyperbolic, but these projects get infinitely more difficult,

[36:55] if not impossible to do without a significant rebalancing tax base and

[37:01] significant outside investment. Uh so going back into the uh more detail

[37:08] of the budget uh the sources of revenues for the 2027 budget 50% of it comes from

[37:14] utilities. Uh only 15% comes from property taxes but that's the 15%

[37:20] everybody feels. Um sales taxes 10% and then everything else the other 25% say

[37:26] miscellaneous fees charges and interf transfers.

[37:30] Uh in terms of where those funds are used, uh the biggest expense is the

[37:35] contractual services. The biggest contractual service that we have is the

[37:40] uh the purchase and generation of electricity. Um the next largest expense

[37:45] is 27% on the personnel uh salaries and benefits. Debt service is 13% and inter

[37:54] transfers uh are 10% of the expenses. uh everything else needs to capital outlay

[38:00] the nonappropriated dollars that we reserve for the following year for the

[38:05] 2028 year. Um that's the that's the remaining 20%.

[38:10] Among our property tax lending funds, we have three of those general fund. It's

[38:14] the bondage bonds and employee benefits fund. Um you'll see in 2025 we in the

[38:20] year 40 $40,000 under budget. Um you'll see that the proposal for the improved

[38:26] budget for 2026 was 4.4 million. Uh the improved the proposed budget for 2027 is

[38:34] 4.8. That increase is not an increase of 10% in spending. That's an increase in

[38:40] the uh proposed budgeted carryover balance. our financial policies. One of

[38:45] our goals that we try to shoot for and to build good financial stability for

[38:50] the community is to have at least a 25% fund balance uh carried over from one

[38:55] year to the next. Um the general fund uh 25% general fund fund balance would be

[39:02] approximately $1 million. Um we carried over at the end of 2025

[39:08] 281,000. So, we've got another $700,000 we've got to build up in what I would

[39:14] consider the rainy day funding in case in a worst case scenario. We have

[39:18] another flood, we have some other emergency, those dollars are important

[39:23] to have so we can have so we can taken care of initially while we wait for uh

[39:29] for the aid that we're able to state or federal disaster declaration.

[39:34] On the employee benefit side, the hard fund balance in this fund is limited.

[39:38] 30% um the employee benefits only funds the employee benefits for those

[39:44] employees that do not work for either a utility

[39:48] the uh the those enterprise funds uh those employees uh their benefits uh get

[39:54] paid for out of it and then lastly the bonding interest fund this month bounces

[39:59] to approximately 10% um but this is where all our debt runs through um and

[40:04] that's it it recommended um to repay that debt

[40:11] with property taxes a big chunk of it. The rest of it is pledged under either

[40:16] water revenues, sewer revenues or line.

[40:24] Um the next page you find fund you'll see that status of all debt. Um you'll

[40:30] see the the order in which they are retired. You'll see 2012. the refunding

[40:35] issue uh was done in 2012. Uh that actually rolls off our books in 2027.

[40:42] And then the next bond that falls off will be our newest bond which will be

[40:46] the uh 2022 pay which was issued um which is four years ago. That was only

[40:53] take your note. Um the following page shows me just that's just a line graph

[40:57] of where residual balances are the next uh 20 years.

[41:05] Uh the next page is the transfers out of utilities. The one thing I want to point

[41:10] out is that this is the total transfers. These are not only operating transfers

[41:15] but they're also service transfers. Uh and then the the very final page is a uh

[41:22] I guess not final page the biograph in the in the presentation like this will

[41:28] be made available on the city's website. So if someone wants to stop at city hall

[41:32] tomorrow or in the coming days uh to pick up we'll make those available. Then

[41:38] uh that se that last se last page the red line is assessed value. Blue line is

[41:43] the no levying. of our levies been coming down and our valuations have been

[41:46] going up. Important takeaways from the 2027 budget

[41:51] that we proposed. Uh number one, it's a revenue neutral budget. Um we're

[41:57] continuing to focus on rebuilding our fund balances. Like I mentioned earlier,

[42:01] uh this budget has 0% cost of living, but it does have a 3% merit increase. Uh

[42:08] we are planning to pay off a portion of the temporary notes to be issued in

[42:12] 2023. Uh those come due in 2027. If I remember right, uh those 10 notes were

[42:18] 2.5ish million for water manes. Uh 2.5 million for six street and 1.6 1.7

[42:28] million for trails. Um we'll be able to send u most of the trails money back

[42:34] because the cost has not come in where we expected it. Um then we've got enough

[42:38] money up to be able to pay off the $2.5 million uh water note or or almost pay

[42:45] that off. Um the value for 2027

[42:51] it actually went down from 2026 426

[42:58] and 2026 to 40,765. And I want to explain to the council the

[43:02] reason for that. Excuse me. [clears throat] when we got

[43:06] our our estimated asset valuation in June of 2020

[43:12] by to build the 2026 budget. That estimated assessment valuation should

[43:18] have a value of almost $42,000. Um included in that was the solar

[43:25] um Everg had not gotten their tax exemption approved by the board of tax

[43:29] appeals yet and it did not get approved until after the budget was set. So, we

[43:34] took a little bit of a hit, but we're able to absorb it because we have some

[43:37] of what I mentioned earlier, final balances help absorb some of that. So,

[43:42] that's why you're seeing a decrease in the assessed valuation from last year to

[43:46] this year. But if you look at where assessed valuation was in 2025, we're

[43:51] still well above that. So, um budget 27 is 18.9 million. In 26,

[44:00] the total approved budget was 18.3. That's a 3% increase from one year to

[44:05] the next. Um the big water plant will break ground early next year. Uh we'll

[44:10] continue to focus on Preach Terrace. We'll renew our efforts to find

[44:14] developers for 500, 510 Bay, Hickory Valley, and the Indian Ridge properties.

[44:20] And then the last thing we've got to mention is what we're going to do next

[44:24] year in terms of mill and overlay. There's [clears throat] still a number

[44:27] of streets with decent curves but have surfaces but need to be uh refreshed

[44:32] we'll call it. Um the list of those streets are the candidates car avenue uh

[44:38] from 1st to 6th all the streets around Vista Bman from 7 to 12 Main Street from

[44:45] 128 O'Neal from Bay to Mill

[44:50] from France Drive. Um, if there's others that pop up, we will certainly add that

[44:56] to the list. We're not going to be able to do all of those next year. Um, I

[45:00] think we all know that we'll be we'll do as many as we can with the money we have

[45:04] available and then we'll do some more till 2020.

[45:09] And with that, I'll answer any questions might have

[45:17] a little bit larger trans

[45:27] the the loan. So if you look at the so in the packet

[45:33] which is available on the city's website there's a schedule of transfer on page

[45:38] three. The total transfers

[45:43] uh the total transfers um are in line with what was approved for 2026

[45:51] and 2027. But you'll remember when we adopted the 2026 budget, I started

[45:56] talking about needing to start moving the the water

[46:02] $2 million. I I don't know. there is there's a

[46:08] there's a large chunk of money in it because we're building up not only

[46:12] retirement content notes, but also we're going to start taking on um we're going

[46:16] to have a significant bond payment every [clears throat] year for 40 years once

[46:20] the water plant is built because that loan is $30 million for the short and 40

[46:25] years and I think the amortization on that is like $110,000 a month. So, so

[46:29] that's like the rates of where they're at, but we have that $2.5 million note

[46:34] in the plan in 2026 and 2027. So, we took the the water from uh the water

[46:42] transfers from zero of the $678,000 that's going into CIP water. So, when

[46:48] that note comes due in March of 2027, we'll have those dollars there to retire

[46:53] as much of that bond as possible.

[47:07] on the emergency fund balance chain. What did you say our goal

[47:14] was 25%. And

[47:19] how much of that would or when would we reach that?

[47:25] I I mean, we're really only going to be able to reach it as fast as we can reach

[47:28] it. I mean, we could levy tax and get there in two years, but nobody wants to

[47:34] do that. Um, so we're just continuing to be frugal with what, you know, right?

[47:40] Just we're just slowly trying to build it over time. Uh, like I mentioned, the

[47:46] employee benefits fund is there. Um the bond and interest will probably get

[47:50] there uh in three years but the general fund is going to take a while

[48:01] better than where we've been in the past where we're better than where we've been

[48:05] the last couple three years. I just think about it

[48:12] being there. So I remember when I came in the first fight was it was it was way

[48:17] worse than it is now.

[48:24] » I think it's worth noting the first time we've ever been to revenue.

[48:27] » That's correct.

[48:48] 388 reoping the 2027 budget. >> Second.

[48:54] » Got a motion by council shastain, a second by council lady to approve

[48:59] ordinance 3883 adopting the 2027 budget for the city of Los. Any other questions

[49:06] or comments for council? >> Council member.

[49:11] » Hi. >> Basic

[49:16] council member.

[49:23] » Hi. >> Council member please. Hi.

[49:26] » Council member. Council member Braden. >> Hi.

[49:30] » Council member Philippin. >> Hi. Council member.

[49:33] » Hi. Motion carries. We'll move on to new business resolution 1391

[49:40] authorizing the installation of Jefferson Highway Rock.

[49:46] Jefferson already introduced some of the background on this. I know

[49:50] you guys are all aware of Jefferson Highway.

[49:55] What I want to answer questions on if you found them is location, costs, and

[50:01] the rest of the things that impact it. And so if we have any questions I will

[50:07] go from there. >> Where's the sign? Let's see.

[50:11] » So the local institute placed at least two signs maybe three. Um one by the

[50:17] state hospital one on first street and then it needed one somewhere directing

[50:22] people to go down six because right now the actually showed them to go down

[50:27] fourth and that's not the most historically accurate route for him to

[50:31] be taking. We think that that came built uh when six street construction and so

[50:37] at that point we couldn't go sixth street. I'll be quite honest.

[50:50] And the gentleman was active and I kept his name was talking about

[50:59] the road. Um

[51:04] I need time to say you know if we are going to indicate this the

[51:12] road should that road be worked on and things

[51:19] a little bit better standard or is that not very

[51:25] a couple things to address that um first let me make you feel with the rental is

[51:30] we're encouraging people to go to the southern portion of the Jefferson

[51:34] Highway behind the state hospital. That section of the road is in is in um but

[51:41] we don't want to encourage people to basically end up at a dead end uh where

[51:46] the side is. So the rap is to encourage them to come in from the highway. They

[51:52] hit the state hospital. They turn down water and then they actually end up on

[51:56] old Casey to come into town. um and then want them to come first and then follow

[52:01] from there. Uh and most of the people who are traveling the Jefferson Highway,

[52:07] they're out looking at the most the closest they can to historical route. Um

[52:13] they're not to be bothered by the state of near as much as we are, especially

[52:17] since it's original and they are not going to be bothered by having to go

[52:21] back and forth because what they're trying to do is trace the route in the

[52:25] way that they can. Um, I do agree that the section of a supply that's brick is

[52:31] in dire need of rehabilitation, but by rehabilitating it, we would take the

[52:36] historic pieces of it away. So, it's kind of like this or that situation.

[52:50] Is there stuff we can do to help with the drainage that he mentioned about how

[52:54] the water doesn't have anywhere to go? Is there things we can do at least

[52:57] improve that? >> Um, we put in storm bread. Uh, there's

[53:02] not a lot of places for it to go.

[53:12] You know,

[53:17] [clears throat]

[53:25] » the art completes

[53:31] on Brown is definitely some work with the far to go, but the active solution

[53:38] uh that needed to be able to actually increase um and to allow low de unabated

[53:44] by we definitely go out there see about

[53:48] doing some ditching now but not all of that right is actually reverse either uh

[53:53] through the whole way um so there's some things that we can definitely look at

[53:57] through there uh I will address that it is not a one road I have been there um

[54:04] it is a very narrow road when it wasn't originally the highway was related

[54:12] and then the brick was put in. And so it's always been very very stiff,

[54:25] but over time we couldn't look at doing whether it be shoulders

[54:31] or if you had to share the road when you're running take it all out takes a

[54:35] historic significance. And these are conversations that we've

[54:40] definitely had before. Everyone said I would love to be able to take it all out

[54:45] and concrete especially um with the traffic that comes into the state

[54:49] hospital. There is a highway spur in a way right there. And obviously there is

[54:54] industrial interest um in some of that development wherever that may end up

[55:00] being. And so having a concrete grow there will serve the community better.

[55:04] But it does take away the story aspect.

[55:10] But it looks like your budget for this is less than 2,000.

[55:15] » Yeah. And that doesn't include an interpretive sign, which is Dr.

[55:20] Put an interpretive sign up in the first round of signs. What we're really

[55:24] looking at is the smaller sign that I think most people have probably seen um

[55:30] that Stephen pointed out on page or sorry on 169. um kind of find

[55:37] and that's what we originally want to put up to two maybe three of those and

[55:42] then at some point down the line the deputy source sign the history or of the

[55:48] gender

[55:55] we have a surplus of money >> I would not say it's a surplus of money

[56:00] but there is money available and fund to cover the signs Um, there's also a

[56:06] couple different donations that we're working on. First, there's a $250

[56:10] donation that will cover the cost of the two to three original smaller signs. Um,

[56:15] and then there's potentially another $500 donation to help cover the cost of

[56:19] the larger interpretive side.

[56:38] So really those signs

[56:43] are really just an indication that this is

[56:46] » yes

[56:49] it's not something

[56:58] » yeah and there are quite a few people I believe who are already using these

[57:03] streets following this path the signs there and the sign is

[57:07] just to give a designation that we're rounding up the Jefferson did come

[57:12] through at the city of Oswag and that there was an impact from it for the city

[57:16] of I don't expect simply putting the signs up to access and increase any of

[57:23] the travel these roads.

[57:37] Mr. Mayor, I move to approve resolution 1391 authorizing the installation of the

[57:42] Jefferson Highway.

[57:46] » Second. Got a motion by council Hennis and second by council lady Philip to

[57:52] approve resolution 1391 authorizing the installation of the Jefferson highway

[57:57] rout. Any other question or comments from council?

[58:02] Madam clerk, >> council member.

[58:05] » Hi. >> Council member Basic.

[58:07] » Hi. >> Council member Dean.

[58:08] » Hi. >> Council member D.

[58:10] » Hi. >> Council member.

[58:12] » Hi. >> Council member Braden.

[58:14] » Hi. >> Council member.

[58:16] » Hi. member. >> Motion carries. Looks like we do have an

[58:22] executive session for client privilege. [clears throat]

[58:33] » Mr. Mayor, I move that the city council recess in a closing second session for

[58:39] the purpose of privilege attorney consultation with the city attorney

[58:43] pursuant to the exception ASA 5-4192 close meeting last

[58:51] until 7:15 p.m. and will resume here at 7:15 p.m. also attending city manager.

[59:03] Second got a motion by council Dickson and second by council me to move into

[59:09] executive session for final approvement attorney privilege start back up at

[59:14] 7:15. All in favor?

[59:18] » Motion carries.

[59:32] Back into open meeting with no action taken.

[59:38] Going to move on to council report. I'll start to my left.

[59:42] Council Shastine.

[59:51] the other day.

[59:54] I do remember

[1:00:09] I didn't know where I went, but I heard that

[1:00:19] information.

[1:00:23] The more information we get like that around you

[1:00:28] that happened back in the day people recognize how much people

[1:00:38] Thank you.

[1:00:47] » [clears throat] >> Um, I will say I noticed the work that I

[1:00:51] believe volunteers from the city did around the building that we're using as

[1:00:55] a temporary courthouse. Cleaned up uh lot and just cleaned it up quite a bit

[1:01:03] made a lot nicer. So, thank you to them and um [clears throat] employees and

[1:01:07] volunteers and time and equipment work to do that. Even though we don't own a

[1:01:12] building, it doesn't look nice. Um they were using explan

[1:01:23] centers and drove by several. Um just from my own knowledge and my own opinion

[1:01:30] of what uh we've been hearing and seeing and

[1:01:35] it's very responsive and glad I did that. I would suggest anybody else like

[1:01:41] to do that point you that's like

[1:01:47] the only thing I would add is um we do have acoustic tile work and uh void

[1:01:54] build which is painting one of those 10 by 10 by 10T by 2T panels is an inch

[1:02:03] thick weigh 24 lb >> and they'll hang from the ceiling

[1:02:08] They will hang on the walls, the north wall and the south wall.

[1:02:12] » Good East. So that hopefully will moderate something here and if it does

[1:02:21] not do enough >> continue to try to make it the color

[1:02:27] will be [clears throat]

[1:02:36] » any other staff reports

[1:02:41] to got [laughter and clears throat] a

[1:02:43] motion. Move second. >> Motion by Councilman Brett, a second by

[1:02:48] Council Chastine for a German. All in favor? I

City Council Meeting 08/27/2026

Transcript