Jasper City Council approves budget amendments, appointments and several administrative measures

The Jasper City Council on January __ approved a series of routine and urgent administrative measures, including a mayoral appointment to the housing authority, surplus-property declarations, budget amendments for street repairs and an emergency appropriation to replace a failing equipment shed at the street department.

The actions were presented by Mayor Gary Cowan and city staff and were approved by voice vote during the meeting. The council unanimously approved the mayor’s recommendation to appoint Tommy Johnson to the Jasmine Housing Authority Board to fill an unexpired term through May 2025. The council also declared multiple vehicles from the street and sanitation departments as surplus property, including a 1991 Chevy Kodiak and several Ford Crown Victoria units, and approved disposal as recommended by staff.

Council members approved budget amendment No. 9, introduced at the prior meeting, to provide roughly $99,000 for street improvements at the Wallston Bridge and First Street North; the amendment directs funding from the city’s State Street and Gasoline funds. Separately, the council unanimously gave immediate consideration and approved an emergency appropriation to replace an equipment and safety shed at the street department; staff’s estimate for that replacement was presented at about $125,000 and council members characterized the structure as a safety and equipment concern that required prompt action.

Other administrative approvals included acceptance by the police department of proceeds from its annual calendar sales for community giveaways and children’s events; an extension of the deadline to pay garbage fees without penalty (the city’s billing vendor mailed bills late and staff cited weather-related delays); and acceptance of $8,989, $6,525 and $7,545 in costs for removal of unsafe structures at 46 Pine Street, 2901 Florida Avenue and 2616 Florida Avenue respectively. Council also approved a list of additional unsafe structures identified by code enforcement and accepted staff’s recommendation to proceed with required actions.

The council voted to waive building permit fees for a Belleville State Community College construction project totaling $987,135, consistent with prior practice staff said was authorized under applicable state law. The council discussed and approved all motions by voice vote or unanimous consent, with no roll-call tallies recorded in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance - Appointment: Tommy Johnson to Jasmine Housing Authority Board — approved by voice vote (term expires May 2025). - Surplus property: multiple vehicles from Street and Sanitation — approved by voice vote. - Police calendar proceeds: acceptance for community giveaways — approved by voice vote. - Budget amendment No. 9: ≈$99,000 for Wallston Bridge and First Street North (from State Street and Gasoline funds) — approved by voice vote. - Emergency appropriation for street department equipment shed: estimate presented ≈$125,000 — suspension of rules and immediate consideration approved; appropriation approved by unanimous voice vote. - Garbage-fee deadline extension (normally late after Jan. 20): approved by voice vote. - Unsafe-structure cost confirmations: 46 Pine St. ($8,989), 2901 Florida Ave. ($6,525), 2616 Florida Ave. ($7,545) — approved by voice vote. - Acceptance of list of other unsafe structures and related actions (multiple addresses) — approved by voice vote. - Building permit fees waived for Belleville State Community College construction project ($987,135) — approved by voice vote.

Council members and staff made brief remarks during the approvals but did not record extended debate on the individual administrative items. Several motions were handled by unanimous consent after staff outlined practical or safety reasons for prompt action. No formal roll-call vote counts were recorded in the transcript provided.