Council approves series of contracts, plats and budget amendments; votes at a glance

The New Richmond City Council on an evening agenda voted unanimously on a series of items including a consultant study for a water main at the airport, rezoning and subdivision approvals for Rich River Trails, several public-works contracts and an amended 2024 budget.

Councilors approved a proposal to authorize a water-main study at the airport by consulting firm SCH and moved to begin the work this spring, with completion expected later in the summer. The council also approved rezoning and a preliminary and final plat for the Rich River Trails First Addition, authorizing 28 single‑family lots and recording dedications of right-of-way for three streets.

The council awarded several public-works contracts: contracted pole replacements to Push Incorporated (not-to-exceed $50,000), a three-phase transformer purchase for school projects (RESCO/ERCO transformers, $43,008.34), a pickup truck replacement to Johnson Ford ($44,489), cured‑in‑place sewer lining to VISISU Sewer (approximately $86,943), and authorized purchase and bidding actions for programmable logic controllers and fiber‑optic installation to support water and SCADA systems. The council also approved selecting MSA as the primary and SEH as the secondary firms for construction inspection services, and approved contracting with Maelstrom Inspections LLC and Johnson Brothers Plumbing for commercial plumbing inspection/supervision services.

The council adopted Resolution 0325‑01, approving amendments and carry‑forward appropriations for the 2024 fiscal year so the city can proceed to audit. Finance staff reported a strong 2024 with general‑fund revenues of about $10.8 million versus a budgeted $8.8 million and an increase to unrestricted fund balance reported at roughly $4.6 million.

Most motions passed on recorded roll calls. Where abstentions were recorded, they were noted in the roll call (for example, Alderman Gartner abstained on the transformer purchase because of a personal relationship to the school). Several items were approved without extended discussion.

Votes at a glance (outcome and roll calls from the meeting record): - Airport water‑main study — approved (Aldermen Kittle, Breeze, Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Montello, Vries: yes) - Rezoning to Z4 (Rich River Trails) — approved (Breeze, Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Montello, Kittle: yes) - Preliminary and final plat (Rich River Trails First Addition) — approved (Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Mantello, Kittle, Vries: yes) - Contracted pole replacements (Push Inc., NTE $50,000) — approved (Gartner, Volkert, Montello, Kittle, Vries, Weinmeier: yes) - Three‑phase transformer purchase (RESCO/ERCO, $43,008.34) — approved, Alderman Gartner abstained (Volkert, Montello, Kittle, Vries, Weinmeier: yes; Gartner: abstain) - Truck replacement (Johnson Ford, $44,489) — approved (Kittle, Vries, Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert: yes; Montello: abstain) - Cured‑in‑place sewer lining (VISISU Sewer, ~$86,943) — approved (Mantello, Kittle, Breeze, Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert: yes) - PLC upgrade authorization (authorize to bid) — approved (Rees, Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Mantello, Kittle: yes) - Fiber‑optic installation authorization (authorize to bid) — approved (Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Mantello, Kittle, Breeze: yes) - Construction inspection services (MSA primary, SEH secondary) — approved (Gartner, Volkert, Montello, Kittle, Breeze, Weinmeier: yes) - Commercial plumbing inspection contracts (Maelstrom Inspections LLC primary; Johnson Brothers Plumbing backup) — approved (Volkert, Montello, Kittle, Breeze, Weinmeier, Gartner: yes) - Landfill monitoring services agreement (GHD) — approved (Montello, Kittle, Breeze, Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert: yes) - Amended 2024 budget resolution (0325‑01) — approved (Kittle, Breeze, Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Mantello: yes) - Forward New Richmond named as decision committee for Regional Business Fund micro and façade loan programs (resolution 0325‑02) — approved (Breeze, Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Montello, Kittle: yes) - Tourism funding allocations (multiple reimbursements) — approved (Weinmeier, Gartner, Volkert, Mantello, Kittle, Breeze: yes) - Ordinance changing park board composition (Ord. 621) — approved (Gartner, Volkert, Montello, Kittle, Breeze, Weinmeier: yes)

This item summary covers the motions that were recorded on the council roll calls during the meeting; motions that were procedural or unanimous with no roll call are described in the staff packet and the minutes.