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Forest City Council adopts Parks & Recreation commission ordinance, updates ASV rules; advances utility rate changes and authorizes power-plant rebid
Summary
At its May 18 meeting the Forest City City Council adopted an ordinance creating a council-appointed Parks & Recreation Commission and adopted updates to Alternative Street Vehicle rules, advanced two utility-rate ordinances on first reading, authorized a rebid of a power-plant boiler project, approved a wastewater change order of $80,965 and approved a police SUV purchase for $39,542.
The Forest City City Council on May 18 adopted an ordinance to establish a council-appointed Parks & Recreation Commission and approved final adoption of updated operating rules for Alternative Street Vehicles (ASVs) inside city limits. The council also advanced two utility-related ordinances on first reading, authorized rebidding a power-plant boiler replacement project, approved a wastewater treatment plant change order totaling $80,965 and authorized the purchase of a police utility vehicle.
Mayor Ronald Holland called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers present were Al Stokka, Karl Wooldridge, Brad Buffington, Dan Davis, Marcia Tweeten and Nicolas Determann; Carly Carper was absent. The council approved the consent agenda (agenda, minutes, invoices, licenses and permits); Councilmember Karl Wooldridge registered an abstention on that motion.
On Ordinance No. 861, which revises city code to create a council-appointed Parks & Recreation Commission, the council completed a third reading and adopted the ordinance on final passage after roll-call votes. The council also gave final adoption to Ordinance No. 862, updating definitions and operating requirements for Alternative Street Vehicles within the city. Recorded roll-call votes for the ordinances show the councilmembers present voting yes; Carly Carper was recorded absent.
On utility matters the council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 863, a 1.2% "true-up" surcharge to recover added purchased-power costs for the first year with a planned reduction to half that amount in the second year. The council also approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 864, which would implement a 4% increase to electric utility base rates; both first readings passed on roll-call votes.
The council authorized rebidding the Power Plant Boiler Replacement project after an earlier letting returned no bids. The council set a bid opening for Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., and scheduled a public hearing on the project for Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., and authorized publication and posting of required notices.
Councilmembers approved Change Order No. 6 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements in the amount of $80,965.00. The change order includes control-building HVAC modifications; addition of sludge-pump check valves and sludge-pump drain/sample valves; and replacement of the grit-pump base and lifting rails.
On street infrastructure, staff reported the southeast bump-out at J Street and S. Clark was removed for a curb-stop repair and recommended it not be replaced. The council approved motions not to replace the removed bump-out and to remove the southwest-corner bump-out.
The council set a public hearing for an FY26 budget amendment for June 1, 2026, to address budget lines that exceeded projected FY26 spending.
For departmental purchases, the council reviewed two bids for a 2026 police utility SUV (Forest City Ford: 2026 Explorer, $44,750; Chrysler of Forest City: Durango, $39,542) and approved buying the Durango for $39,542. Informational payroll changes were noted: Lance Heimer passed water-treatment certification (new wage $33.36) and Mikayla Smith graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy (new wage $32.69). City staff provided routine operational updates, and resident Galen Steinberg spoke during public forum; no formal action resulted from the public comment.
Votes at a glance: the consent agenda was approved (Wooldridge abstained; Carper absent). Ordinances 861 and 862 were adopted on final passage with roll-call votes in favor of the present councilmembers; Ordinances 863 and 864 passed first readings on roll-call votes. Motions to authorize rebidding the power-plant boiler, to set bid-opening and public-hearing dates, to approve Change Order No. 6 ($80,965), to approve the police SUV purchase ($39,542), and to remove curb bump-outs all carried as recorded in the minutes.
The council adjourned following the public forum; the meeting record is signed by Mayor Ronald Holland and attested by City Clerk Betty Burress. The council’s next scheduled procedural steps include the June 1 public hearing on the FY26 budget amendment and the June 9 bid opening and June 15 public hearing on the power-plant boiler project.
