Council approves contracts, ordinances and appointments in unanimous votes; policy on cash-in-lieu tabled

Green River City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a set of contracts, ordinances and appointments, while tabling further action on a proposed cash-in-lieu of benefits policy.

The council approved a contract with Larson and Company to serve as the city auditor, ratified a waste-removal partnership agreement with AirBuild, adopted two ordinances updating cemetery headstone size rules and establishing a fire inspector position in city code, and confirmed multiple appointments to local boards and commissions. The council also approved the consent agenda and tabled consideration of a policy allowing employees to take cash instead of city-offered health benefits.

The contracts and ordinances were presented with staff summaries and received brief discussion before roll-call votes. The city explained the auditor contract followed an RFP process and that Larson and Company was the lone responder whose references checked out. The AirBuild agreement will allow the private firm to collect organic waste from the city's existing organic-dump area for conversion into biochar, subject to terms in the partnership agreement.

Appointments confirmed by voice or roll call included Glenn Brown as a regular member of the planning commission and Dylan Kiel as an alternate; Ben Langhoff to the tree board; Larry Packer and Mary Leanne Chaddister to the Historic Preservation Commission. The council approved the June and July financial and meeting-minute items in the consent agenda.

The council discussed, but did not decide on, a proposed policy to allow employees to opt for cash in lieu of health insurance. Councilmembers asked staff to run the draft policy by the city attorney and return with a formal ordinance or policy at a future meeting; a motion to table the item passed.

Votes at a glance - Contract award: Larson and Company — approved (motion and second recorded; approved unanimously). Referenced during agenda item discussing city auditor procurement and ethics concerns about prior provider. - Contract award: Waste-removal partnership agreement with AirBuild — approved unanimously after discussion of operations and hours; the city's organic dump will remain open. - Ordinance adoption: Amend municipal code (Title 7, Chapter 4, Section 7) to allow 36-inch headstones — adopted unanimously to align code with industry standard sizes. - Ordinance adoption: Add Section 7-4-417 (fire inspector appointment, qualifications, authority) — adopted unanimously; council asked staff to review potential overlaps with existing fire chief duties and to add a fee schedule. - Appointments: Glenn Brown (planning commission, regular member) — approved unanimously. - Appointments: Dylan Kiel (planning commission, alternate) — approved unanimously. - Appointments: Ben Langhoff (tree board) — approved unanimously. - Appointments: Larry Packer (Historic Preservation Commission) — approved unanimously. - Appointment: Mary Leanne Chaddister (Historic Preservation Commission) — approved unanimously. - Consent agenda (financial reports, payment and transfer reports, and meeting minutes) — approved unanimously. - Policy: Cash-in-lieu of benefits — tabled for further legal review and drafting.

Councilmembers and staff said additional follow-up work or ordinances may be needed to clarify enforcement, fees, or overlaps in duties for some items (notably the new fire-inspector code and the cash-in-lieu proposal). No ordinances were rejected; the recorded actions were unanimous approvals or, in one case, a tabling motion.