Council approves SRF loan actions, equipment purchases and multiple pay requests; leases and abatements advanced
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Summary
At its February 17 meeting the Aberdeen City Council approved first readings and roll‑call votes on a Clean Water SRF revenue bond and a sewer surcharge, authorized equipment and vehicle purchases (incl. a Horton ambulance), awarded construction bids, accepted pay requests for water and wastewater projects, and approved a resolution of intent to lease airport grassland.
The City of Aberdeen council handled a broad set of motions and roll‑call approvals at its meeting, advancing financing actions, procurement and routine project payments.
Clean Water SRF revenue bond and sewer surcharge: Finance staff described ‘Clean Water 5,’ the second loan in a three‑part SRF loan series intended to fund multiyear sewer plant improvements. Staff said the loan structure is a 30‑year SRF loan; the related draft surcharge would be $16 per user per month (baked into rates rather than itemized) with an effective date tied to substantial completion or two years after closing (staff cited a potential effective date of 2027‑12‑01). The council gave first reading approval to move the bond process forward and to bring the matter back for a second reading.
Private ambulance licensing: The council approved first reading of an ordinance (packet reference '26 0 2 11') that removes duplicative city driver licensing for private ambulance services when the state already licenses personnel and equipment; the city retains oversight of 911 emergency response and said it will rely on state licensing as the baseline. Staff emphasized the change is intended to ease burdens on a local family‑owned ambulance operator while preserving public safety oversight.
Procurement and pay requests: Council approved multiple construction pay requests and bid awards, including pay request No. 8 to PKG Contracting for wastewater treatment plant work (project reported ~28% complete), pay requests for water tower and transmission line work (to Dami and Landmark Structures), and an award to Jensen for the 10th Avenue Southeast mill and overlay low bid ($440,123.59). Council also approved a decking bid for the water treatment plant filter gallery and authorized purchase of a 2026 Silverado pickup (replacement for a 2009 unit) and purchase of a Horton ambulance through a buying group for $301,644 (build lead time estimated at 950 days).
Airport projects and invoices: Council approved several airport invoices and a $177,133 contract deduction (roughly a 7% decrease) tied to efficiencies on the terminal access road and parking lot project. Funding for the airport change order was described as 95% federal, 2.5% state and 2.5% city. Staff also described an upcoming installation of a preconditioned air (PCA) unit funded mainly by a federal VAIL grant and an expansion to the snow removal equipment (SRE) building.
Other votes and actions: The council approved routine property tax abatements (largely clerical or mobile‑home‑park related), accepted a parks board recommendation to name parkland (Good News Park) and accept a donated dollhouse collection, and approved weekly bills after staff corrected a packet date error. Several motions recorded abstentions as noted in the roll calls; otherwise the votes carried.
Next steps: The ordinances that passed first readings will return for second readings. Staff will publish public hearing notices and prepare guidance materials where required by the approved actions.