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Lake City Council keeps 1.6 mill tax rate, approves end‑of‑year bonuses and ARPA premium pay; agrees to split conduit cost with school
Summary
At its Oct. 18 meeting the Lake City Council adopted a 1.6 mill tax rate for 2022, approved $500/$250 end‑of‑year bonuses, authorized ARPA-funded premium pay (with several abstentions), agreed to split a $5,522 conduit installation cost with Riverside School District, accepted the 2020 audit and approved multiple personnel and property actions.
Mayor Cameron Tate called the Lake City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2021, and the council conducted several votes that will affect city finances and operations through the end of the year.
The council adopted Resolution No. 2021‑10‑18 to keep the city millage rate at 1.6 mills for 2022. Councilmember Tommy Eakins moved the resolution and Councilmember Brenda Hutcheson seconded; the motion passed unanimously (6–0). The tax-rate motion was presented by Mayor Tate during the meeting’s regular agenda review.
The council also approved end‑of‑year bonuses for city employees: $500 for full‑time employees and $250 for part‑time employees. The motion, moved by Councilmember Danny Dunigan and seconded by Councilmember Brenda Hutcheson, passed with five yes votes; Councilmember Kate Wells abstained. Separately the council adopted Resolution No. 2021‑10‑18B to authorize premium pay from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for municipal employees who continued working during the COVID‑19 pandemic; that resolution was moved by Councilmember Hutcheson, seconded by Councilmember Jake Emery and passed with one abstention by Councilmember Wells (5–0, 1 abstention).
Following the resolution, the council voted to pay a one‑time maximum premium pay to all full‑time employees from ARPA funds (moved by Hutcheson; seconded by Cash). That motion passed with the same abstention pattern. The council separately approved an ARPA payment of $375 to Holly Gallapoo as the designated one‑time premium for part‑time employees; the Gallapoo payment passed unanimously (6–0).
The council accepted the City of Lake City’s 2020 Legislative Audit, which reported no findings. Councilmember Danny Dunigan moved acceptance; Councilmember Kate Wells seconded and the motion passed (6–0).
On a long‑standing concern about overhead lines near Riverside School on Rebel Drive, Mayor Tate presented a contractor bid of $5,522 to install conduit and route electric lines underground. Mayor Tate said Riverside School Superintendent Jeff Priest agreed to pay one half of the cost; Councilmember Danny Dunigan moved that the city pay the other half and Councilmember Harmony Cash seconded. The motion to split the $5,522 bid passed unanimously (6–0).
The council authorized taking bids on a city‑owned parcel at 810 Walker with a minimum bid of $5,000 (moved by Dunigan; seconded by Hutcheson). It also recorded that Michael Pyburn passed animal‑control certification (ACL Level 1 and chemical capture); the council approved a pay increase of $1.00 per hour for Pyburn, raising his rate to $13.70 effective immediately (moved by Hutcheson; seconded by Cash). Both motions passed (6–0).
Councilmembers approved acceptance of a $744 donation from Unico Bank into the Little League Fund (moved by Dunigan; seconded by Wells) and then adjourned. Most motions were unanimous; the two actions involving premium pay and end‑of‑year bonuses drew a single abstention by Councilmember Kate Wells.
Votes at a glance • Resolution No. 2021‑10‑18 (city millage 1.6 mills for 2022): moved by Tommy Eakins; seconded by Brenda Hutcheson; passed 6–0. • End‑of‑year bonuses (full‑time $500; part‑time $250): moved by Danny Dunigan; seconded by Brenda Hutcheson; passed 5–0 with Kate Wells abstaining. • Resolution No. 2021‑10‑18B (ARPA premium pay authorization): moved by Brenda Hutcheson; seconded by Jake Emery; passed 5–0 with Kate Wells abstaining. • ARPA one‑time premium pay to full‑time employees: moved by Brenda Hutcheson; seconded by Harmony Cash; passed 5–0 with Kate Wells abstaining. • ARPA payment $375 to Holly Gallapoo (part‑time premium): moved by Harmony Cash; seconded by Brenda Hutcheson; passed 6–0. • Accept 2020 Legislative Audit (no findings): moved by Danny Dunigan; seconded by Kate Wells; passed 6–0. • Conduit installation cost share with Riverside School ($5,522 total; city pays half): moved by Danny Dunigan; seconded by Harmony Cash; passed 6–0. • Authorize bids on 810 Walker (minimum $5,000): moved by Danny Dunigan; seconded by Brenda Hutcheson; passed 6–0. • Increase pay for Michael Pyburn by $1.00 to $13.70/hour (certification pay): moved by Brenda Hutcheson; seconded by Harmony Cash; passed 6–0. • Accept Unico Bank donation of $744 to Little League Fund: moved by Danny Dunigan; seconded by Kate Wells; passed 6–0.
What’s next: Several actions require administrative follow‑up (processing ARPA payments, posting the 810 Walker bid notice, and executing the conduit work with cost‑share arrangements). The meeting adjourned after the listed votes.
