Walnut Grove council selects Code Red and CivicPlus, adopts fee schedule, OKs sidewalk variance and issues solid-waste RFP

The Walnut Grove City Council met at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, and voted on a package of technology, fee and public-works items that the council said aim to improve communications, municipal services and walkability.

Councilors voted to adopt a mass-notification system and a new website/billing vendor, approved an updated municipal fee schedule that changes sanitation rates and administrative charges, approved a developer's variance to delay sidewalk construction on a street near the high school, and authorized a request for proposals (RFP) for solid-waste and recycling collection services with a public bid-opening and a planned award timeline.

The council said the mass-notification system will be Code Red; the motion passed unanimously. Councilors selected CivicPlus to provide the city website and a combined billing solution for sanitation and other municipal billing; the council approved that selection in open vote. The council approved an updated fee schedule that sets single-family residential sanitation at $20 per month (including a 95-gallon refuse bin, an 18-gallon recycling bin and pickup of three yard-waste bags), with additional recycling bins at $8 per month, a 65-gallon recycling bin option at $3 per month and yard-waste bags priced at $3 each. Administrative charges in the schedule include copies at $0.10 per page and replacement permits or certificates at $30; a $2-per-page notary fee appears in the draft schedule but councilors asked staff to verify whether state law now prohibits charging for notarizations and to revise the schedule if required.

On land-use, the council approved a variance that allows a developer to defer constructing a sidewalk on one side of a street serving an area near the high school. Council discussion referenced pedestrian safety near the school, a portion of existing sidewalk that is currently unconnected, and the potential for future private development to add sidewalks. Transcribed debate included an initial motion to deny the variance that failed; a subsequent motion to approve the variance passed. The transcript does not record a clear roll-call tally for the final approval.

For solid-waste services, staff presented a draft RFP that the council agreed to issue. Key dates described in the meeting: advertise beginning Sept. 12, 2025; deadline for written questions Sept. 26, 2025; post answers Sept. 30, 2025; proposals due Oct. 13, 2025; public bid opening Oct. 16, 2025 at 11 a.m. at City Hall; review at the Oct. 30 work session; and a possible award at the Nov. 6 council meeting. The RFP seeks collection for household refuse, recycling, yard waste, bulk pickup by schedule, commercial services (including roll-offs and compactors), and an assisted-collection option for residents unable to move containers.

Other items included a vote to approve the meeting agenda and consent agenda, updates from the Downtown Development Authority and the library about outreach and upcoming events, and a public-works report noting staff hiring and maintenance scheduling. Councilors moved into an executive session to discuss potential litigation at the close of the meeting.

Councilors instructed staff to verify legal questions and implementation details in several areas before contracts or consumer-facing changes go into effect: specifically, the legality of charging for notarizations under recently updated state law; final pricing and contract terms with website and notification vendors; and the proposed solid-waste contract's terms on maximum numbers of yard-waste bags and special pickups.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript): Mass-notification system — Code Red; outcome: approved unanimously. Website hosting and billing solution — CivicPlus with billing; outcome: approved (roll-call not detailed). Fee schedule (including sanitation rates and administrative fees) — outcome: approved (transcript records “3 in favor, 1 against” for the motion approving the fee schedule). Sidewalk variance (expansion/sidewalk-installation waiver request near the high school) — outcome: approved (transcript records an initial motion to deny that failed and a subsequent motion to approve that passed; exact vote tally for the final motion not specified). Solid-waste and recycling RFP — outcome: authorized for advertisement and bid opening (approved unanimously). Executive session to discuss litigation — outcome: approved by council vote.

Council members and staff said they will return with contract documents, final pricing and any legally required changes before vendor contracts are executed or fees are implemented.