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Athens City Council adopts budget amendment, approves TDEM-funded generator contracts and several insurance measures
Summary
At its Oct. 27 meeting the Athens City Council adopted a FY2026 budget amendment, approved three generator contracts funded by TDEM HMGP, and authorized employee insurance and ancillary benefit agreements; all recorded motions passed unanimously.
The Athens City Council on Oct. 27 approved a package of budget and contract measures, including the final reading of a fiscal-year budget amendment, three generator purchases funded through a Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and several insurance and employee-benefit contracts.
The council adopted the budget amendment on final reading after Finance Director Sarah Smith said there were no changes since the first reading. The amendment increases the General Fund by $115,000, producing an amended General Fund budget of $17,896,068, and records Restricted Municipal Court Fees of $30,352. City Secretary Bonnie Hambrick read the ordinance caption before the council voted 5-0 in favor (Mayor Aaron Smith; Mayor Pro-Tem SyTanna Freeman; Councilmembers Bryan Barker, Katha Lawyer and Bill Priestley).
Elizabeth Borstad, city manager, told the council that three generator purchases for wastewater and lift-station sites were bid under TDEM’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for FEMA DR-4485. Ludco, Inc. was the low bidder on all three projects: Daniels Lift Station ($142,000), Robbins Road Lift Station ($146,000) and the North Wastewater Treatment Plant ($265,000). Council approved separate resolutions accepting Ludco’s bids and authorizing the city manager to execute the contracts; each motion carried unanimously.
The council also approved an updated insurance package and employee benefit arrangements. After a presentation from Jeff Summers of Gallagher Benefit Services, the council authorized the city manager to enter agreements to continue Blue Cross Blue Shield as the city’s base medical plan (MTBCB528) with a buy-up option (MTBCP528), move dental coverage to Blue Cross Blue Shield (DTNHR33), and retain Standard Insurance for vision and remaining ancillary benefits. Council likewise approved property, liability and worker’s compensation proposals — staff noted a year-over-year increase in property and liability costs from $254,742 to $291,608 (a 14.5% increase); aviation insurance rates were reported to be unchanged.
The council voted on the consent agenda and other measures by unanimous vote throughout the evening; a full roll call was recorded for the budget ordinance final reading.
