The Washington City Council voted Dec. 2 to approve multiple ordinances and routine items during its regular meeting, including a consultant agreement for the Washington Regional Airport runway extension, a contract for sidewalk improvements on Jefferson and Main streets, a temporary construction easement, the purchase of portable and mobile radio equipment, and personnel reappointments. The council also approved a staff recommendation on employee health‑insurance renewal.
Key actions the council approved during the meeting included:
- Airport runway design consultant: The council authorized an aviation project consultant agreement between the City of Washington and Crawford, Murphy & Tilley for professional services on the Washington Regional Airport runway extension project and amended the 2024–2025 budget to reflect the work (ordinance 7a). Council recorded the ordinance as passed.
- Jefferson and Main Street sidewalks: The council authorized a contract with Understow/Understaw Construction Co. (transcript spelling varies) for curb, gutter and sidewalk work along Jefferson and Main streets and amended the 2024–2025 budget to fund the project (ordinance 7b). The ordinance passed on second reading.
- Temporary construction easement: The council authorized a temporary construction easement agreement with Sarah Chairs (transcript) for property at 1305 in support of the Jefferson Street project (ordinance 7c). The ordinance passed on second reading.
- Radio equipment purchase: The council authorized acceptance of a quote from Radiocom Co. for portable and mobile radio equipment, to be funded via ARPA grant through the Department of Public Safety, and amended the 2024–2025 budget accordingly (ordinance 7d). The ordinance passed.
- Tourism commission reappointments: The council approved reappointments of Kurt Olfel and Tyler King to the Tourism Commission, terms to expire December 27 (appointment item recorded during the meeting).
- Health‑insurance recommendation: The council reviewed a staff recommendation for the city’s health and medical insurance renewal and approved the staff recommendation; staff will present the changes to employees at upcoming meetings.
Several of these items were introduced with minimal debate and passed after roll‑call responses. Where staff identified funding sources (for example, ARPA for radio purchases), the council amended the budget as part of the ordinance process. Vote tallies in the transcript are recorded as council roll calls approving each ordinance; the meeting minutes record each ordinance as passed.