Council reviews fee schedule changes, sound-trailer plan and FY27 project priorities

Council members on April 15 reviewed a set of administrative and operational items including fee schedule adjustments, sound-trailer operations, and capital-project planning.

Manager Monte Hawkins presented fee-schedule suggestions to ensure fees cover actual labor and materials. He noted the conditional use permit fee is currently $25 and does not cover postage and processing; Council directed staff to compute actual employee time and materials so fees cover costs. For hydrant meters, staff recommended increasing the fee from $1,000 to $1,500 to cover replacement of the meter and attachments; council members signaled support for that adjustment.

On sound-trailer operations, the council heard that employee Sharm Lopshire had managed the trailer but stepped away from that responsibility. Hawkins proposed a $1,200 stipend plus time-and-a-half or hiring a part-time contractor; council supported exploring compensation and equipment-upgrade options to ensure event coverage.

Mayor Matt Robinson requested council members provide capital-project priorities; Manager Hawkins proposed preparing both a 12-month snapshot and a five-year outlook. The council scheduled a May 26 walkthrough to visit hydro plants, sewer facilities, the penstock project and other assets so department heads can brief members on scope and needs. Mayor Robinson also said he would draft a design and budget proposal for a new commemorative Beaver City coin.

The council took no immediate vote on fee increases and instead instructed staff to return with calculated costs and recommended fee amounts for formal action.