Resident praises city services as police, engineer and fire chief report routine progress

At the beginning of the meeting, resident John Healey addressed the council to thank elected officials, the police and Damon Johnson and city yard staff for work that protected his property from stormwater runoff. "I really believe in the vision that this city council has put forward," Healey said, telling the council his family has watched Main Street improve and praising emergency responders.

Police Chief John Scaro delivered his monthly report, saying calls for service and incident reports were slightly down while arrests were about the same. He noted adjustments to speed‑detection parameters and that additional data‑collector information had been supplied to council members at their request.

City Engineer Damon Johnson described progress on the water‑treatment plant project and said equipment is moving in and a contractor will use the fire‑training center area for laydown and storage during early work. He reported an intake pump failure at the current plant and outlined a sewer rehabilitation program that will include short segment replacements and manhole work, with an anticipated roughly 18‑month construction phase followed by an 18‑month analysis period; he estimated the city has invested $80–$100 million in sewer collection and treatment over the last decade.

Fire Chief Mark McCollum reported 52 calls last month, including four structure fires and two HazMat responses, noted 215 training hours and work on apparatus repairs, and described the department as a combination paid/volunteer department with about 12–13 full‑time staff plus volunteers.

Mayor Rick gball and council members also updated the public on Main Street construction progress (reported ahead of schedule), staff hiring, and shelter property acquisition and remodeling work. The council adjourned after routine business.