Andover City Council approves annexation, special use permit, vendor agreements and renews employee benefits; keeps existing fireworks dates

The Andover City Council voted unanimously during its April meeting to approve a set of routine and development actions, including annexation of a one‑acre parcel in the Southern Hills development, authorization of plan‑review and inspection services with the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD), approval of a special use permit for pet grooming and pet boarding at 301 West Central Avenue (ZSU25‑0001) and renewal of the city’s employee insurance lines and plan changes for the 2025–26 plan year.

The council also approved an application for a cereal malt beverage (CMB) license for a new Casey’s General Store at 300 South Andover Road, engineering and utility agreements for small plats (Post East Patch engineering agreement for a design/construction phase not to exceed $8,900 and a Vista Ridge improvements extension agreement with Parkview Reserve LLC), mayoral library board appointments, and a resolution that maintains the city’s existing fireworks sale and discharge dates for the July holiday rather than matching an expanded state sales season.

Several items included brief staff presentations and limited council discussion. Julie Boyd, interim planning and zoning administrator, told the council the special use for 301 West Central covers doggy day care initially and includes boarding in the approval so the applicant would not need to return to the council later for boarding; the council adopted the planning commission’s findings and approved the special use (case ZSU25‑0001).

Human resources director Chastity Page and consultant Jayla Miller presented the city’s benefits renewal. City staff reported the medical plan is performing well in the second year of being self‑funded and the renewal results in an overall decrease of about 1.1 percent (approximately $20,935). The council approved a plan design change that shifts contribution splits closer to pre‑self‑funding levels, introduces a qualified high‑deductible health plan (HDHP) with an HSA option and a one‑year city HSA contribution for first‑year enrollees ($500 for…