Waterville council approves 2025 appropriations, five-year capital plan and multiple plats; awards paving engineering contract

The City of Waterville City Council approved a package of budget, capital and development measures during its Jan. 27, 2025 meeting, including the annual appropriation ordinance for 2025, a revised five-year capital plan, three subdivision plats and a contract for pavement engineering.

Key votes and motions (summary):

- Approval of minutes from the council’s Jan. 13, 2025 meeting — motion by Todd Borowski; second John Rosick; voice vote, approved.

- Resolution 3824: Adoption of the City of Waterville five-year capital planning program (all municipal funds and departments) — motion moved and seconded (motion recorded on the floor; staff presented revisions including moving the Waterville-Montclova Road widening from 2025 to 2026 at ODOT’s request, added paving and park parking expansion). Council voted in favor by voice; resolution adopted.

- Ordinance 1124: Annual appropriation (operating budget) for fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2025 — council moved to suspend rules and passed the ordinance as an emergency measure on final reading after roll-call votes; ordinance adopted. Finance staff and administrators summarized revenue estimates, noted an approximate 3% increase in 2024 collections vs. 2023, and discussed sewer-plant cost pressures that could affect future years.

- Ordinance 1424: Approval of Farnsworth Village at Waterville Landing, Plat 6 — applicant Adrienne Henline presented plans for 15 lots and two ponds; motion to accept ordinance moved by Mary Duncan, seconded by Wayne Wagner; roll call vote in favor; ordinance adopted.

- Ordinance 1524: Approval of Fiddlers Green at Waterville Landing, Plat 3 — council noted seven conditions of approval and remaining escrows/maintenance bonds; motion moved and seconded; roll call vote in favor; ordinance adopted.

- Ordinance 1624: Approval of Fiddlers Green at Waterville Landing, Plat 4 — motion moved and seconded; roll call vote in favor; ordinance adopted.

- Resolution 0325: Authorize municipal administrator to contract with Proudfoot Associates, Inc. to prepare plans, specifications and bid documents for the 2025 city paving program — project scope includes Cedar Lane resurfacing (Michigan to Freedom), an alley reconstruction, the fire station parking lot, 26 new parking spaces at Conrad Park, and seal/rejuvenation of recently paved streets and shared-use paths; cost of proposed engineering work quoted as $30,884. Motion moved, second recorded; voice vote in favor; resolution adopted.

Why it matters: The appropriation ordinance and capital plan set the city’s spending priorities and permit staff to move forward on paving, park improvements and development-related inspections and contracts. Plat approvals clear the way for the developer to proceed with building in Farnsworth Village and Fiddlers Green, subject to the remaining conditions and escrows discussed on the record.

Meeting notes: Several council members and staff discussed paving priorities, funding sources and the schedule to bid and complete spring/summer work. The finance director and treasurer reported year-end balances and described timing-related cash drops tied to debt service and project closeouts; staff said the city ended 2024 with higher-than-expected fund balances and reduced a planned transfer out of the general fund.

Quotes from the meeting: “We were able to reduce our transfers out from the general fund $250,000 and increase the street paving,” the municipal administrator said while explaining the revised appropriation. On the court matter earlier in the meeting, a council member said of the litigation: “Several courts have agreed,” after the appeals court affirmed the ruling.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the paving bid documents and with the administrative steps required to finalize plat addresses, escrows and punch-list items before certificates of occupancy and lot releases as described by the city administrator and planning staff.