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Willard City Manager outlines food giveaways, police building progress and spring cleanup plans
Summary
At the March 2 council meeting the City Manager reported the next food giveaway (March 17), said the last event served 312 families, updated members on police department construction and GIS training, and announced spring cleanup and recycling dates.
Willard '026 The City Manager delivered routine operational updates at the March 2 meeting, reporting on food assistance events, municipal construction, staff training, and spring cleanup plans.
Key service updates: The next food giveaway is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2026; the manager said the most recent event served 312 families and that giveaways are planned through June, with continuation beyond June not yet confirmed. The city announced a citywide cleanup the week of April 20 with dumpsters at the soccer complex and a recycling collection for latex paint and tires on April 25 at the wastewater plant, limited to in-town residents.
Infrastructure and training: The manager said police department construction has progressed through soil removal, a slurry mix, floor replacement and wall rebuilding; electrical work is underway and a bi-weekly meeting with contractor Janotta and Herner will provide further schedule updates, including anticipated façade work. City staff completed GIS training for mapping water and sewer lines, manholes, fire hydrants and storm valves (10 staff trained), and officials hope to expand the system to include sidewalks and the cemetery. Fire Department training updates included two people in Advanced Firefighter II training, three in paramedic classes, and a note that firefighter Steven Shupp was certified as an ice diver.
Reminders and calendar items: The City Manager reminded residents that statewide tornado drill is March 18 at 9:50 a.m., that mowing season runs March 1 through Oct. 31 (grass and weeds must be under six inches), and noted a tax-review meeting with the auditor and the Chamber of Commerce banquet later in the week. The newspaper was mentioned as "struggling," and an apology was offered by Jane Ernsberger for her absence at the meeting.
Context and next steps: Updates were informational; Council asked for construction and sidewalk updates and received responses that Janotta and Herner appear ahead of schedule on the police project and that the railroad indicated it did not believe the Main Street underpass sidewalks are its responsibility. No new formal actions or budget decisions were taken at the March 2 meeting.
