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Council reprioritizes capital projects: backhoe deferred, church bathrooms added to 2027
Summary
Councilors reviewed the capital list and agreed to move several purchases (backhoe, ballpark updates, pavilions) into 2028, keep fire-department exit and exhaust fans on the near-term list, and add Methodist Church bathrooms to the 2027 budget.
Councilors reviewed the town capital-priority list and adjusted timing for several items, moving some purchases later and adding new items to upcoming budgets.
During the capital-list discussion, council members confirmed core 2026 items including the sewer project and the Methodist Church restoration, and noted ongoing work on a transportation master plan. Karen Caldwell asked that bathroom work for the Methodist Church be added; council members agreed that, because the 2026 budget is nearly closed, the bathrooms should be added to the 2027 plan.
The council discussed fire-department needs as well. A cost estimate for the fire-department emergency exit and rooftop exhaust fans was presented: roughly $22,000 for the combined package, with fans priced at about $16,000–$17,000 (electrical work excluded) and the emergency door and labor roughly $5,000 (stairs not included). The council said it would seek an updated stairs price and discuss the items again during budgeting.
On equipment, the council agreed to move the planned backhoe replacement from 2027 to 2028 and to reconsider mower and other equipment purchases based on repair history and condition reviews. Members also proposed moving ballpark updates and pavilion work into 2028 and creating a City Hall improvements list for 2029 (furniture, carpet). One member suggested providing council tablets by 2029 to reduce paper and facilitate meeting research.
Most allocations discussed were directional and placed on future-year budgets; no formal ordinance or binding appropriation was adopted at the meeting. Councilors instructed staff to incorporate the changes into the draft budget for consideration in the next budget cycle.
