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Council approves biweekly claims; residents question street-sweeper purchase and specific claims
Summary
The council approved biweekly claims numbers 19759–19788. Public and council members questioned individual line items, including a sealed-bid street-sweeper purchase that closed at $12,000 and credit-card and rental charges.
The Stevensville Town Council approved its biweekly claims, covering claim numbers 19759 through 19788, and discussed several line items and a recent sealed-bid equipment purchase.
Council member Barker moved to approve claims 19759–19788; council voted to pass the motion (vote recorded as passing, council attendance and recorded ayes later in the meeting reflected unanimous approval for the claims batch). During the claims discussion, council and members of the public questioned charges including postal box fees, credit-card transactions for vehicle repairs, and rental charges for a trencher used for irrigation work at a town site.
Public commenters and council members focused on the street-sweeper purchase. Council members confirmed the council authorized a sealed bid with a maximum of $12,000; the winning sealed bid was for $12,000. Members and commenters noted the town had been the only bidder and discussed whether direct negotiation could have reduced the town’s net outlay. Another commenter recommended the town enact a resolution when spending significant funds and asked that sale and purchase procedures be clarified.
Council members also fielded questions about credit-card charges listed on the claims packet and asked staff for clarification and supporting bid documents for items such as the street sweeper purchase. No change to the approved claims was recorded on the meeting record.
