Winner City Council approves several budgeted donations and an encumbrance resolution; Winter Resource Center donation deferred

The Winner City Council approved a package of budgeted donations, an encumbrance resolution to restore funds for cemetery projects, and routine claims, and it approved a District 32025 agreement. The council also voted to enter executive session on a contract issue. A $10,000 donation to the Winter Resource Center was postponed after a councilmember declared a conflict of interest.

Council members approved the District 32025 agreement and authorized the mayor to sign. The council approved donations to several local organizations as budgeted: $6,984 to the T4 Foundation; $18,064 to Maingate (listed on the agenda as “Maingate Council”); $25,000 to the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce; and $31,900 to South Central Economic Development. The council adopted Encumbrance Resolution 2025-2, which includes returning $7,500 to the cemetery budget for projects planned in 2025, and it approved the claims docket. After votes on those items, the council approved a motion to enter executive session for a contract issue.

Not all donations were finalized at the meeting. Councilman Clay moved and Councilman Shaheen seconded a motion to donate $10,000 to the Winter Resource Center, but Shaheen declared a conflict of interest and recused himself. The city attorney advised that with only three eligible voters present the council should defer action until a meeting with four eligible voters; the council moved the Winter Resource Center donation to the next meeting's agenda.

The donations that passed were described on the agenda as budgeted amounts and were approved by roll-call votes recorded by the clerk. Tally details recorded in the meeting transcript show each passed donation carried on unanimous roll-call votes of the four eligible councilmembers present at the time of each vote. The encumbrance resolution was described by Public Works Director Troy Krueger as restoring money authorized in 2024 that did not get spent and returning it to the cemetery budget for 2025 projects.

The meeting closed its open session business by approving the claims docket and then voting to go into executive session to discuss a contract matter. The executive-session motion passed on an affirmative voice roll call and the public was asked to clear the room prior to the closed session.

Votes at a glance

- District 32025 agreement: approved (motion by Councilman Skyler; second by Councilman Meiners). Vote recorded: Clay — yes; Meiners — yes; Skyler — aye; Shaheen — yes. Outcome: approved. - Winter Resource Center — $10,000: deferred (motion by Councilman Clay; second by Councilman Shaheen; Shaheen recused for conflict of interest; attorney advised postponement until four eligible voters can vote). Outcome: postponed to next meeting. - T4 Foundation — $6,984: approved (motion by Councilman Skyler; second by Councilman Clay). Vote recorded: unanimous among eligible voters present. Outcome: approved. - Maingate (listed as “Maingate Council”) — $18,064: approved (motion by Councilman Shaheen; second by Councilman Meiners). Vote recorded: unanimous among eligible voters present. Outcome: approved. - Winner Area Chamber — $25,000: approved (motion by Councilman Clay; second by Councilman Skyler). Vote recorded: unanimous among eligible voters present. Outcome: approved. - South Central Economic Development — $31,900: approved (motion by Councilman Clay; second by Councilman Skyler). Vote recorded: unanimous among eligible voters present. Outcome: approved. - Encumbrance Resolution 2025-2 (includes $7,500 to cemetery): approved (motion by Councilman Clay; second by Councilman Meiners). Vote recorded: unanimous among eligible voters present. Outcome: approved. - Claims docket: approved (motion by Councilman Meiners; second recorded). Outcome: approved. - Executive session — contract issue: approved to enter executive session (motion by Councilman Shaheen; second by the mayor). Outcome: council entered executive session.

Ending: Council members said they would hear presentations from the organizations that were the recipients of the approved donations and from those whose requests remain pending; the Winter Resource Center representative will return next month for the deferred $10,000 request.