Lebanon council approves multiple plats, appointments and contracts including city administrator hiring

Lebanon City Council on March 25 approved several final plats and ordinances, awarded contracts for building repairs and equipment, and approved an employment agreement appointing Troy Schulte as city administrator.

During the meeting the council took first and second readings (where required) and adopted ordinances approving final plats for the ISC billboard, a replat of Lot 12 and the south half of Lot 11 (Lewis Addition), Arrow Landing Phase 1, and Ridge Creek Phase 1 and Phase 2. The council also approved a rezoning request to change a portion of the Arrow Landing entrance from CL (limited commercial) to RS-2 (residential) and voted to vacate a portion of Bridal Street to accommodate high-school parking improvements.

In personnel and contracting actions, the council approved an employment agreement to appoint Troy Schulte as city administrator with an April 1 start date; the council recorded unanimous support on that item. The council also approved construction contracts: a roof replacement contract with Ivy Roofing for $41,750, a contract with Knight Construction for four replacement doors at the Wallace Building for $19,800, and a purchase of exhibition-hall chairs and dollies from Page Office Supply for $12,427. The council approved the purchase of electric underground materials from Graybar Electric for $53,159 to reroute three-phase lines around a proposed retail center.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - ISC billboard final plat (Council Bill 68-29): approved on first and second reading; roll calls recorded yes votes from council members present. - Replat Lot 12 & S 1/2 Lot 11 (Council Bill 68-30): approved on first and second reading. - Arrow Landing Phase 1 final plat (Council Bill 68-39): approved (first and second reading); rezoning of entrance from CL to RS-2 (Council Bill 68-40) passed first reading with one "no" vote from Councilor Wall and was placed on the docket for final consideration. - Ridge Creek Phase 1 (Council Bill 68-31) and Phase 2 (Council Bill 68-32): approved after public hearing (see separate article on Daytona Drive concerns). - Employment agreement appointing Troy Schulte as city administrator (Council Bill 68-33): approved on first and second readings; start date April 1. - Bridal Street vacation (Council Bill 68-34): approved to allow high-school parking improvements. - Ivy Roofing contract for roof replacement (Council Bill 68-35): approved for $41,750. - Knight Construction contract for four Wallace Building doors (Council Bill 68-36): approved for $19,800. - Page Office Supply chairs and dollies (Council Bill 68-37): approved for $12,427. - Graybar Electric materials for retail center (Council Bill 68-38): approved for $53,159.

Why it matters: The plats and rezoning decisions clear legal and permitting hurdles that let developers move forward with construction, potentially adding housing units and altering traffic patterns. The administrator appointment fills a top management vacancy; the contracts fund near-term city facility repairs and equipment purchases already included in the capital-improvement program.

Ending: Councilors also heard staff remarks about recent storm responses, public-safety training and potential follow-up work on subdivision-code changes. Several votes were unanimous; the Arrow Landing rezoning drew the single recorded dissent mentioned above.