Napoleon City Council swears in members, elects leaders and approves contracts and projects

Napoleon — At an organizational meeting recorded in the posted transcript, the Napoleon City Council completed routine organization and approved several items to move city business forward. Council members were sworn in, leadership elections were held, standing committees and meeting schedules were confirmed, the city authorized a property transfer resolution, and the council approved contracts and project plans that will be put out for bid.

Ross Durham was approved as council president for 2026 after a nomination and roll-call vote; Britney Schwab was approved as council president pro tem. The council then confirmed seating assignments and approved standing committee rosters, including chairs for technology, electric, water/sewer/refuse, municipal properties, parks and recreation, finance and budget, and safety and human resources. The council approved continuing the existing meeting schedule for both regular council meetings and standing committees.

On legislation, the council introduced Resolution 060-25, described in the transcript as authorizing the transfer of about 0.876 acres (parcel 41-129332.004) owned by the city to the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) of Henry County and the Fire University. Lori, identified in the record as city staff, described the parcel as "a small parcel... just west of the Fred Gerken company on Oakwood Avenue," unused by the city and recommended turning it over to the CIC to market for sale. City engineer Chad Locks said the property is former railroad land and that sale could generate property tax revenue the city is not currently receiving.

The council approved the award of chemical supply contracts for the water and wastewater treatment plants for fiscal year 2026. Lori told members that three bids were received and staff recommended an award; Jeff Reese, the water-treatment superintendent, said costs had increased slightly but remained within the budgeted estimates. One council member noted some line-item increases, saying the city had budgeted conservatively and could absorb the changes without increasing the budget.

Council members also approved plans and bid documents for the North Perry Street and Railroad Street improvement project. City engineer Chad Locks described the project as replacing the water line on North Perry Street (from Clinton Street to Railroad Street), replacing sanitary sewer on North Perry between the railroad and Flint Street, adding a short storm sewer extension, and repaving both streets plus a block of Shelby Street and an adjacent parking lot. That presentation included a budgeted amount of $865,000 and an estimate of $850,000, with a projected completion date of July 31; the council voted to put the project out for bid.

On administrative matters, the council directed the law director to draft legislation for fourth-quarter 2025 budget adjustments after the finance committee scheduled a review. The council also directed the law director to draft legislation to enact a 3.5% pay increase for the finance director and the law director. The mayor's slate of appointments to boards and commissions was approved by vote, and Tony Carter was appointed to the privacy committee.

The council held an executive session for pending litigation and for appointment or compensation matters; the group returned and reported that no action was taken in executive session. Before adjourning, the council referred yard-waste site rules to the Municipal Properties Committee for consideration on Jan. 12 and approved payment of bills.

Votes at a glance

- Election of Ross Durham as council president (2026): approved by roll-call vote (affirmative votes recorded by members present). - Election of Britney Schwab as council president pro tem (2026): approved by roll-call vote. - Resolution 060-25 (transfer of ~0.876 acres, parcel 41-129332.004 to CIC and Fire University): motion made and approved on first reading (introduced). - Award chemical contracts for water/wastewater plants (FY2026): motion made and approved on roll-call. - Approve North Perry Street and Railroad Street plans and bid documents (put project out to bid; budgeted $865,000; estimate $850,000; completion by July 31): approved by roll-call. - Direct law director to draft fourth-quarter budget adjustments legislation: approved by roll-call. - Direct law director to draft 3.5% pay increase for finance and law directors: approved by roll-call. - Mayor's appointments to boards and commissions: approved by roll-call. - Appointment of Tony Carter to the privacy committee: approved by roll-call.

What happens next: Staff will prepare bid documents and pursue procurement timelines for the chemical contracts and the North Perry/Railroad project; the law director will draft the requested budget and pay-legislation for council consideration. Committee meetings (finance; Municipal Properties) were scheduled for follow-up items, including yard-waste rules and year-end budget adjustments. The transcript does not specify the meeting date in its header; procedural items reference dates in December 2025 and committee meetings in early January 2026.