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Votes at a glance: Ferron Council adopts budget, raises garbage rate, moves to PTO policy and approves bids
Summary
At the meeting the council adopted the fiscal-year budget and several resolutions, approved construction change orders and accepted bids for cemetery gate and fire-station locks; the council also accepted the city risk assessment and authorized year‑end budget adjustments.
What the council decided
- Adopted the final fiscal-year budget and related year‑end adjustments prepared by city finance staff. The council voted to adopt the FY 2025–26 budget and to authorize staff to make end‑of‑year departmental adjustments necessary for compliance with state budget rules.
- Adopted resolution 2025‑3 to raise garbage collection rates effective July 1, 2025. The council approved an increase to the first‑can fee described in the resolution (resolution language in the packet lists the first‑can fee as $13.50 and the second‑can fee as $7.45) and the city reported the change will bring roughly $9,000 in additional revenue.
- Adopted resolution 2025‑4 to adopt the real and personal property tax rate for the 2025–26 fiscal year at the rate provided by the county (0.007) with authorization to adjust the final adopted rate after the county provides final figures.
- Adopted resolution 2025‑5 formally adopting the FY 2025–26 budget as recommended in the public hearing and packet.
- Adopted resolution 2025‑6 to amend the Ferron City personnel policy: the council approved sunsetting separate vacation, sick and compensatory time policies and adopted a unified paid time off (PTO) policy. Council discussion clarified accrual and payout rules, including a 200‑hour cap and transitional payout for existing balances so employees do not lose previously accrued leave.
- Approved a change order for sidewalk removal/replacement work for Mike Riley (addition of three sidewalk segments) and authorized payment for the additional work.
- Accepted a bid from Clayton Eubanks to purchase and install a security gate at Ferron Cemetery; councilmembers cited repeated vandalism and vehicle trespass as reasons to secure the site at night while leaving a pedestrian gate for daytime access.
- Approved purchase and installation of electronic door locks/key‑fob access for the fire station so the station can track and limit which users enter training and ambulance areas; the locks will join the citywide key‑fob system already in place at City Hall.
- Accepted the citywide risk/fraud assessment as presented by staff with direction to finalize a small number of written policies to improve internal controls and training documentation.
- Approved payment of warrants and adjourned.
How the council voted (summary of roll‑call votes recorded in the meeting minutes)
- Resolution 2025‑3 (garbage rate increase): motion by Council member Peterson; second by Council member Schaller. Roll call recorded: Kelly — Aye; Vance — Aye; Greg — Aye; Gary — Aye; motion carried.
- Resolution 2025‑4 (adopt tax rate): motion by Council member Stallard; second by Council member Peterson. Roll call recorded: Kelly — Aye; Vance — Aye; Ray — Aye; Jerry — Aye; motion carried.
- Resolution 2025‑5 (adopt FY 2025–26 budget): motion by Council member Peterson; second by Council member Stallard. Roll call recorded: Kelly — Aye; Vance — Aye; Jerry — Aye; motion carried.
- Resolution 2025‑6 (personnel manual/PTO): motion by Council member Brown; second by Council member Singleton. Roll call recorded: Jerry — Aye; Greg — Aye; Vance — Aye; Kelly — Aye; motion carried.
- Sidewalk change order (Mike Riley): motion by Council member Peterson; second by Council member Brown. Roll call recorded: Kelly — Aye; Vance — Aye; Greg — Aye; Gary — Aye; motion carried.
- Cemetery gate bid (Clayton Eubanks): motion by Council member Peterson; second by Council member Stallard. Roll call recorded: Kelly — Aye; Vance — Aye; Ray — Aye; Jerry — Aye; motion carried.
- Fire station locks/key‑fob (security bid): motion by Council member Brown; second by Council member Singleton. Roll call recorded: Kelly — Aye; motion carried.
- Risk assessment acceptance: motion by Council member Stoller; second by Council member Singleton. Roll call recorded: motion carried unanimously.
Notes and next steps
- Several votes were unanimous or carried without recorded dissent. Multiple items (CIB application outcome for the agricultural center, insurance settlement amounts, and the county’s in‑kind match) remain unresolved and staff will return with details when those external determinations are complete.
- For the PTO change, staff confirmed transitional payout language so employees’ previously accrued vacation/sick/compensatory balances will be preserved and handled according to the new policy (a 200‑hour cap and payout mechanics were discussed). Council asked staff and HR to finalize the PTO language and clarify bereavement and floating holiday language before final personnel manual publication.
- The cemetery gate purchase and the fire‑station locks were authorized to proceed; staff will coordinate scheduling and installation and return with implementation details as needed.
