Huron commission certifies election, approves lift‑station change order and Hearon Event Center water hookup

The Huron City Commission on April 14, 2025, certified the results of the April 8 municipal election and approved several operational and capital items, including a $77,000 construction change order for a wastewater lift station and a $6,865 installation of water lines at the Hearon Event Center ballroom.

The commission heard a report from Finance Director Pauline Curry showing 858 total votes cast across two precincts and an overall turnout of about 11 percent. Curry provided precinct totals and vote counts by candidate as part of the official canvas of elections.

The commission approved a construction change order for the lift station near the Crossroads congregational church, authorizing a net contract increase of $77,000 to replace the wet well now rather than later. Assistant Engineer Dennis Bennett told commissioners the work was timed to avoid re‑excavating the same site in the near future: “After looking at the wet well there, it was decided now is the time to do that, so we won't have to tear it up again.”

Commissioners also authorized staff to rebid the asphalt emulsion procurement after the initial solicitation drew no bidders. Bennett said the rebid was needed because the request was not forwarded to suppliers previously; he recommended setting a new bid opening for May 6, 2025.

Under departmental business, the commission approved adding water lines in both Hearon Event Center ballrooms and in the lobby to allow use of syrup‑in‑bag beverage systems rather than premix units. Brenda Jager, representing the event center, told commissioners Coca‑Cola will retrofit existing bars to use the syrup bags but the ballroom needs water and electrical hookups: “Coke will no longer be selling us premix units, so we have to go with syrup in a bag. … We would have to run‑in both ballrooms and in the lobby.” The commission approved the $6,865 expenditure to be paid from the event center’s foundation funds rather than the regular budget.

On the consent agenda, the commission accepted the voluntary retirement of Fire Chief Ron Hines effective April 25, 2025, and approved personnel actions including granting full‑time status to 9‑1‑1 telecommunicator Jenna Waldner and police officer Treveon Smith. The consent agenda also included approval of raffle permits and routine bill payments.

Other items noted during the meeting: Police Chief Larry announced an Easter egg hunt at Casa Fields at 2 p.m. on Saturday; Commissioner Harvey said milling of the Third Street Bridge was postponed after contractor mechanical issues and was rescheduled for Thursday, April 16, with alternating one‑lane traffic planned; and Mayor Mark Robich read a proclamation recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in honor of the city’s dispatch staff.

Votes at a glance

- Canvas of elections (certify April 8 results / related motion): approved; recorded turnout ~11%; total votes 858. (Vote tally: not fully specified in transcript.)

- Consent agenda (retirement of Fire Chief Ron Hines; personnel actions; raffle permits; payment of bills): approved by roll call.

- Rebid authorization for asphalt emulsion (set bid opening for 05/06/2025): approved by roll call after staff explanation that no bids were received.

- Construction change order No. 3 — TLC Olson Construction, lift station improvements (Bid #2024‑05): net increase $77,000; authorized and mayor authorized to sign; approved by roll call.

- Hearon Event Center water‑line installation for portable bars (installation cost $6,865, paid from foundation funds): approved by roll call.

All roll‑call votes at the meeting were recorded as motions carried unless noted; specific individual vote names were not consistently recorded for every item in the transcript.

Why it matters

The lift‑station change order represents a near‑term capital expense to reduce future street disruption and likely avoids additional excavation costs. The Hearon Event Center modification is an infrastructure decision intended to support event operations and future vendor bidding; commissioners discussed whether vendor contract partners should share costs but approved the city‑funded fix. Certification of the municipal election concludes the official vote count and enables seating of the winners and related transitions noted during the meeting.

Sources and attribution

Statements in this report come from the audio transcript of the Huron City Commission meeting and are attributed to speakers as recorded: Mayor Mark Robich; Finance Director Pauline Curry; Assistant Engineer Dennis Bennett; Brenda Jager (Hearon Event Center); Police Chief Larry; Commissioners (identified in roll calls by last name in the transcript); and staff named during the consent agenda (Fire Chief Ron Hines, telecommunicator Jenna Waldner, police officer Treveon Smith). Direct quotations are taken from the transcript and attributed to the named speakers above.

Ending

Commissioners did not schedule further action on the items beyond contract signatures and rebid dates; several routine and ceremonial items—proclamation of Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and community event announcements—closed the meeting.