Council approves range of routine items, propane bus commitment and appointments

The City of Aberdeen City Council on July 7 approved several routine and action items in a single meeting, including election of a deputy mayor, liaison assignments, a commitment of up to $30,000 toward a propane transit bus grant, board appointments and other operational votes.

Deputy mayor election: The council nominated and elected Councilman Alan Johnson as deputy mayor. Council members cast individual votes; following tabulation the mayor declared Johnson elected. A motion to formalize the election passed by voice vote.

Liaison assignments: The council confirmed representatives to boards and commissions (examples listed on the agenda): 911 communications liaison (Mayor Travis Schoneman and Deputy Mayor Alan Johnson), airport board (Councilman Johnson and Councilman Knobstrup), downtown association liaison and others. The listing of liaisons was approved by motion and carried by voice vote.

Propane bus grant: The council authorized staff to submit a grant application and committed up to $30,000 in local matching funds (to be included in the 2026 budget process) to pursue a propane-powered 24-passenger bus offered through a competitive grant. Transit staff said local refueling is available at Performance Oil and that the city has CDL drivers on staff. The motion to approve a local share of $30,000 or less passed on roll call.

Appointments and reappointments: The council approved three library board reappointments (Troy McQuillan, Peter Ramey and Lynn Klunt) to new three-year terms and appointed Adam Buckhouse to the Parks & Recreation Board for a five-year term. The council also approved the appointments of Jeff Mitchell and Justin Scott to the Board of Ethics.

Encroachment license: The council approved an encroachment license allowing Presentation Heights Apartments to maintain lighting and planting islands that extend into the public right-of-way; the applicant’s representative said the plating and fixtures existed when the lot was originally platted and the license is intended to regularize maintenance responsibility.

Sidewalk extension: The council granted an indefinite extension for a property owner at 2225 North Roosevelt Street to defer construction of a mandatory sidewalk under city ordinance 46-1-27/46-1-28. Staff noted the west side of Roosevelt in that stretch has no adjoining sidewalks and there is a heavily used bike trail on the east side. The council recorded that if the property is sold the extension terminates and subsequent owners would need to address the sidewalk requirement.

Bridge pay request: The council approved Pay Request No. 2 for $96,635.75 to PCN/Grama Construction for the Tenth Avenue Bridge construction; staff said the contractor expects to start major work the following week.

Police drones: The council authorized the police department to surplus three older drones for trade toward a single new drone; staff said the trade offsets most of the purchase cost and that the department uses drones for training, searches and to assess dangerous locations during critical incidents. The motion passed on roll call.

Claims and payroll: The council approved the week’s claims and payroll for the posted pay periods by roll call; one council member recorded an abstention on the payroll vote.

Provenance: Each vote and formal action is documented in the meeting transcript and roll-call record for the July 7 meeting. The propane bus discussion begins with staff presentation about grant timing and local refueling options; the sidewalk extension discussion includes the property owner’s written request and staff legal references to ordinances 46-1-27 and 46-1-28.

Actions (summary list): See structured actions array below for motions, movers/seconders (when recorded), vote tallies and brief notes.

Speakers (selected): Jordan (City Clerk, roll call), Mayor Travis Schoneman, Alan Johnson (Councilman/deputy mayor), Rich (transit staff), Brett Newton (property owner), Joan Franken (Casello Companies, applicant for encroachment license), Chief McNeil (police), Ron (staff), Council members: Ronayne, Foburg, Liebelt, Ward, Ekonger, Nelson, Norbstrup, Nielsen/Nordstrom (names as recorded on roll calls).