Caledonia’s new mayor, Jeremy Leis, presided over his first city council meeting on Monday evening, January 13, 2025.
Mayor Leis called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and led his colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Councilmembers Bob Klug, Amanda Ninneman and David Fitzpatrick were also present.
The council accepted the resignation of councilmember Ryan Stenzel, effective December 31, 2024, and announced that a vacancy exists on the council effective January 13, 2025. Residents interested in the position should contact City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson or attend the January 27 council meeting.
The board approved the minutes from the December 9, 2024, regular city council meeting. They also unanimously approved the consent agenda including the payments and disbursements, the 2025 utility deposit interest rate of 4.4%, Merchants Bank as the city’s Official Depository of Funds, and The CBD Shop’s tobacco license.
There were no public comments
Public Works/Zoning Director Casey Klug provided minimal updates for the council. He reported that a storm sewer pipe collapsed at Second and Grove a few weeks ago, but the men were able to repair it on their own time without needing outside help. “So that was nice,” he added. The department has also been performing overdue maintenance work such as interior painting, cleaning and organizing, “Just trying to make a safer work environment.” Last week, the department had its first sewer training class. Regarding the plant, Klug said that the electric work will be ready for equipment startups in a couple of weeks. Currently, there is minimal work going on at the plant, other than Hoskins working on the programming. The startup date has not yet been confirmed.
City Clerk/Administrator Dickson did not have any updates for the council.
Included in the council packet was a contract to purchase a pumper body for the chassis that the city previously ordered. Dickson noted a price increase of $15,511 for the pumper body. The price of the chassis has not increased. Councilmember Klug was not comfortable approving the purchase of the pumper body until it is confirmed how the increase will be paid for. He made a motion to table the decision until the January 27 council meeting.
The mayor announced the following council appointments: Auxiliary mayor, David Fitzpatrick; Emergency Management director, Mayor Leis; Board of Zoning Appeals – City Council, Library Board, Bob Klug; Economic Development Authority Board, David Fitzpatrick and Amanda Ninneman; General Government, Mayor Leis; Personnel Committee, Bob Klug and Mayor Leis; Public Safety Committee, Mayor Leis; Fire and Ambulance Committee, Amanda Ninneman and Mayor Leis; Culture – Recreation Committee, David Fitzpatrick and Amanda Ninneman; and Enterprise Funds Committee, David Fitzpatrick and Mayor Leis. There are vacancies on two committees.
The council unanimously approved the Caledonia Argus as the city’s 2025 Official Newspaper of Record at a cost of $3 per column inch as compared to the Fillmore County Journal’s quote of $4 per column inch.
The council approved an update to the utility customer policies and procedures, specifically to page five, which will now read as follows: All properties with access to public water service, public sewer service, or electric service are required to pay the monthly service availability charges.
In other business, the board:
- Authorized city employees to issue an RFP (Request for Proposals) for engineering services. Bolton & Menk, Inc. have provided the city with services since 2019, and it is considered best practice to seek bids every three to five years.
- Approved the pay equity compliance report.
- Approved the 2025 ambulance rates and send a notice to the townships that the 2026 township per capita subsidy will increase by $8, a total increase of $18,304.
- Reviewed the overtime reports for pay periods ending on December 8, December 22, and January 5.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
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