Three residents used the council’s public-comment period to press for more transparency and follow-up on separate community projects: an airport lease reported in local media as a $1-per-year agreement, the status of grant funding and completion deadlines for a splash pad, and confusion over ownership and management of Market Square.

Jill Fillator told council she learned from news reports that an airport lease was approved with a $1-per-year term and said residents were not told the terms in advance. She asked why the city used an emergency three-reading waiver for related airport action and whether more competitive bidding or broader notice might have been appropriate. Fillator also asked for clarity about grant deadlines for the splash-pad project; she said she understood a prior deadline might be Dec. 31, 2025, and asked what protections exist for donated funds if the project is not finished on the grant schedule.

Fillator pressed the council on Market Square, saying the plaza is owned by multiple entities including a Community Improvement Corp. linked to the FEDC and other parties, and that unclear ownership complicates scheduling and public use. She asked whether the council could explore consolidating ownership or management so the site could be more easily used for community events.

Council members and staff responded during public comment that the council’s authority over Market Square is limited when property is owned by outside organizations and that staff would not engage in an extended discussion during public comment. The city indicated staff would check grant timelines for the splash pad and review the airport lease and its procurement/notice process; no additional council action was taken at the meeting.