Bennet City Council adopts hazard plan, approves five-year refuse contract and 6% pay increase; Simmons named council president

The Bennet City Council met Dec. 8, 2025, at Bennet City Hall and voted to adopt an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, approve an updated five-year residential curbside refuse contract with Uribe Refuse Services, authorize solicitation of bids for a new maintenance building, and set a 6% cost-of-living salary increase for city employees effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Mayor Ryan Cheney called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.; City Clerk Sue Biltoft conducted roll call and confirmed a quorum. The council approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the Nov. 10 regular meeting, claims for payment, the treasurer’s report, Resolution 2025-12.2 (Master Fee Schedule) and Resolution 2025-12.4 setting a water usage rate for Bennet Elementary School, by unanimous roll-call vote.

City Engineer Brian Schuele explained changes made to the city’s Hazard Mitigation Plan; Council approved Resolution 2025-11.3 to adopt the updated plan (motion by Council Member Pete Simmons; seconded by Council Member Dan Zieg). The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Council Members Josh Buck, Jesse Schmidt, Pete Simmons and Dan Zieg voting yes.

Mayor Cheney introduced an updated contract for residential curbside pickup with Uribe Refuse Services. Matt Blaser of Solheim Law Office described amendments that extend the contract to five years and add two annual renewal options; the council voted to approve the updated agreement (moved by Josh Buck; seconded by Pete Simmons) by unanimous roll call.

Council discussed inspection costs and lease renewal options for the Post Office building; that item was tabled for the January 2026 meeting.

Schuele presented performance specifications for the new Maintenance Building and the council authorized solicitation of bids, with work required to be completed by Aug. 31, 2026 (motion by Pete Simmons; seconded by Jesse Schmidt). The council approved moving forward with the bid process.

The meeting included the council’s annual reorganization. Jesse Schmidt moved and Josh Buck seconded a nomination of Council Member Pete Simmons as Council President; the motion carried with Simmons, Buck and Schmidt voting yes and Council Member Dan Zieg recorded as abstaining. Mayor Cheney also presented the 2026 committee assignments and re-appointed members to remain on their committees for Finance, Housing, Streets, Parks, Personnel and Utilities.

The council approved Resolution 2025-12.1 appointing officials for 2026 (moved by Dan Zieg; seconded by Pete Simmons) and later approved Resolution 2025.12-3 to increase all city employee salaries by 6 percent effective Jan. 1, 2026 (motion by Dan Zieg; seconded by Jesse Schmidt). During the salary discussion the council considered using a flat dollar amount versus a percentage and settled on the percentage increase.

The council reviewed written reports submitted by city staff. Later, at 8:11 p.m., the council moved into a closed session to discuss litigation; members returned to open session at 8:36 p.m. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (minutes, claims, treasurer’s report, Res. 2025-12.2, Res. 2025-12.4): approved by roll call (Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg). - Resolution 2025-11.3 (adopt Hazard Mitigation Plan): approved; mover Pete Simmons, seconder Dan Zieg; vote yes: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg. - Uribe Refuse Services updated residential contract: approved; mover Josh Buck, seconder Pete Simmons; vote yes: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg. - Authorization to solicit bids for Maintenance Building (completion by Aug. 31, 2026): approved; mover Pete Simmons, seconder Jesse Schmidt. - Nomination of Pete Simmons as Council President: approved; yes: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons; abstain: Zieg. - Resolution 2025-12.1 (appointment of officials): approved; mover Dan Zieg, seconder Pete Simmons. - Resolution 2025.12-3 (6% salary increase effective Jan. 1, 2026): approved; mover Dan Zieg, seconder Jesse Schmidt.

Authorities and documents referenced in the meeting minutes included Resolution 2025-12.2 (Master Fee Schedule), Resolution 2025-12.4 (water rate for Bennet Elementary School), Resolution 2025-11.3 (Hazard Mitigation Plan adoption), Resolution 2025-12.1 (appointment of officials) and Resolution 2025.12-3 (salary adjustments). The updated Uribe Refuse Services contract was described as a five-year agreement for residential curbside pickup with two annual renewal options.

The council scheduled further consideration of the Post Office building inspection and lease renewal for the January 2026 meeting. The minutes record that the council convened a closed session to discuss litigation; the subject and outcome of the litigation discussion are not specified in the minutes.