Lewiston City Council approves fiscal‑year adjustments, appointments and ballroom floor bid

The Lewiston City Council on Jan. 21 unanimously approved budget adjustments for fiscal year 2024 and adjustments for 2025, confirmed several volunteer appointments and accepted a contractor bid to repair the ballroom floor.

During the public hearing the council reviewed a set of year‑end changes for 2024 and smaller adjustments for 2025. The 2024 adjustments increased several revenue lines and shifted expenditures across departments. Among the revenue and appropriation changes discussed for FY‑2024 were: a $41,700 increase in general sales and use tax revenue; a $24,000 increase in charges for garbage receipts; increases tied to Fourth of July events (rodeo sponsor income +$9,000 and rodeo expenses +$8,000); and several departmental expenditure adjustments including $20,000 moved from general government buildings and $10,000 moved from planning and zoning salaries into the treasurer line. The meeting packet, as presented to council, showed $112,700 of debits and $112,700 of credits, leaving the 2024 budget in balance.

For 2025 the council approved an increase to garbage receipts of $30,000 and an internal reallocation that moved $20,000 out of planning and zoning into recorder and treasurer lines (split $10,000 each). Council members voted to close the public hearing and then to adopt the adjustments. A roll call vote was recorded with all members voting in favor.

The council also voted to appoint Jake Higley (transcript: "Jake Hickley"/"Jake Higley" used interchangeably in the meeting) to the Planning and Zoning Commission and to add three new members to the Events Council. The council acknowledged longtime Events Council volunteer Crystal Mitchell (identified in the meeting as resigning) and approved Symone Holyoke, Chantelle Poynter, and Courtney Little as new members; the motion carried unanimously.

In other business the council accepted a contractor bid from Abby Carpet to repair and reseal the ballroom floor, including a mesh bed and a self‑leveling layer followed by a new finish. Council discussion covered the timetable (the contractor indicated the work could be done this season, with a multi‑week sequence for mesh, leveling and floor finish) and the facility changes that will follow (removing fixed benches and ordering replacement chairs). Council authorized the bid by motion and it passed unanimously.

The council approved the minutes from the Dec. 17 meeting at the start of the session and later moved into a closed session on a possible real‑estate transaction before adjourning. Several items were discussed but not decided at the meeting, including potential use of RDA/Grants or RAPTax (recreational/parks funding) for park restroom and court sealant projects, and whether to purchase new padded or non‑padded folding chairs; council members asked staff to bring additional cost estimates and to place the chair decision on a future agenda.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Dec. 17 minutes — motion carried unanimously. - Opened and closed public hearing on FY‑2024 and FY‑2025 budget adjustments — motions carried unanimously. - Adopted FY‑2024 and FY‑2025 budget adjustments as presented — roll call: all in favor (motion passed unanimously). - Appointed Jake Higley to Planning and Zoning — motion passed unanimously. - Added Symone Holyoke, Chantelle Poynter, and Courtney Little to Events Council; thanked Crystal Mitchell for service — motion passed unanimously. - Accepted bid from Abby Carpet for ballroom floor repairs (mesh, self‑leveling, new finish) — motion passed unanimously. - Adjourned to closed session for possible real‑estate transaction and then adjourned — motions passed unanimously.

No ordinances or fee changes were adopted at the meeting; funding adjustments approved were reallocations within the adopted budget.