City staff used the Board of Works meeting to report on a range of departmental activities and an economic development update.

Parks and cemetery: Diana reported four interments/cremations and that three graves were saved at a cost the meeting recorded as $3,600. She listed four scheduled concerts (May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 8), said city crews removed a playground 'monkey barrel' and replaced it with a climbable concrete spinner, and confirmed an electrical outlet at the splash pad building was moved to a new location.

Code enforcement: The chair introduced Paige as the city's new code enforcement officer; the transcript states this was Paige’s first meeting in the role. Paige said staff were pursuing a demolition order for a property referred to as Sweetland and described an upcoming code enforcement dashboard intended to streamline case handling. The chair and other board members praised Paige’s early, productive work.

Streets, water and waste: The street department reported December solid-waste figures (153.66 tons) and year totals (1,629.49 tons trash; 266.58 tons recycling; 394.84 tons large-item pickup) and said salt use from October through December was 21.66 tons. Ongoing street projects include near-completion of West Street, East Street paved to an intermediate asphalt level (final surface to follow after other roads are ready), storm-sewer work on Jackson Street and sidewalk replacement at the Main and Dearborn corner; the sidewalk work will reintroduce a grass strip rather than extending concrete to the road edge. The water department reported a new service line and a hydrant installed at the junction and some valve and manhole-lid updates.

Arts and public projects: The Powers/Art commission reported work on RFPs for gateway signage and a downtown sidewalk 'vinyl coverings' gallery project; commissioners planned a meeting with the mayor to finalize details before issuing RFQs.

Economic development: The chair introduced Colin Hafines as the city's director of special projects and said he joined last week. The chair reported the county approved its portion of a proposed Northgate property sale, allowing the city to move forward with resolutions through the Redevelopment Commission (RDC) and potentially work with a prospect in the industrial park. The chair also noted a Texas buyer recently purchased a building and may schedule a site tour to discuss redevelopment prospects.

The meeting proceeded to adjourn after these updates.