Bennet Council adopts hazard plan, OKs five‑year refuse contract and 6% employee pay increase

The Bennet City Council on Dec. 8, 2025, meeting at Bennet City Hall, approved several administrative and policy measures, including adoption of an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, authorization of a five‑year residential refuse contract with Uribe Refuse Services, and a six percent salary increase for city employees effective Jan. 1, 2026. Mayor Ryan Cheney presided over the session, and City Clerk Sue Biltoft conducted roll call.

The council adopted Resolution 2025‑11.3 to approve the updated Hazard Mitigation Plan after City Engineer Brian Schuele outlined the changes made to the document. Schuele presented the plan’s updates during the meeting; councilmembers voted to adopt it by motion (moved by Pete Simmons, seconded by Dan Zieg). The plan is intended to guide local emergency‑management priorities and mitigation projects going forward.

The council approved an updated contract with Uribe Refuse Services for residential curbside pickup. City Attorney Matt Blaser explained changes to the original three‑year bid; the new agreement is for a five‑year term with two annual options to renew and covers residential curbside service only. "The new contract will be for a five‑year period with two annual options to renew," Blaser said during the meeting. The motion to approve the contract passed on a roll‑call vote.

Council authorized solicitation of bids for the construction of a new Maintenance Building, accepting the performance specification presented by City Engineer Brian Schuele and setting a completion target of Aug. 31, 2026. Councilmembers Pete Simmons and Jesse Schmidt moved and seconded the authorization to solicit proposals.

In routine reorganizational business, the council nominated and approved Pete Simmons as Council President; the motion carried with one recorded abstention by Councilmember Dan Zieg. Mayor Cheney also presented the 2026 committee appointments and re‑appointed members to their existing committees for Finance, Housing, Streets, Parks, Personnel and Utilities.

The council approved Resolution 2025‑12.1 appointing designated officials, and passed Resolution 2025.12‑3 to increase all city employee salaries by six percent effective Jan. 1, 2026, after brief discussion on whether to use a flat dollar amount or a percentage. The salary increase was approved by roll‑call vote.

The minutes record a motion (moved by Dan Zieg, seconded by Jesse Schmidt) to go into closed session at 8:11 PM to discuss litigation; the council returned to open session at 8:36 PM and adjourned at 8:37 PM. No formal actions arising from the closed session were recorded in the minutes.

Votes at a glance

• Consent agenda (minutes, claims, treasurer’s report, Resolution 2025‑12.2 Master Fee Schedule, Resolution 2025‑12.4 setting water usage rate for Bennet Elementary School): approved (M: Dan Zieg; S: Pete Simmons). Recorded vote: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — yes.

• Resolution 2025‑11.3 (adopt Hazard Mitigation Plan): approved (M: Pete Simmons; S: Dan Zieg). Recorded vote: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — yes.

• Uribe Refuse Services contract (five‑year term, residential curbside only): approved (M: Josh Buck; S: Pete Simmons). Recorded vote: Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, Buck — yes.

• Maintenance Building bid solicitation (completion by Aug. 31, 2026): authorized (M: Pete Simmons; S: Jesse Schmidt). Recorded vote: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — yes.

• Nomination of Pete Simmons as Council President: approved; one abstention (Dan Zieg).

• Resolution 2025‑12.1 (appointment of officials): approved (M: Dan Zieg; S: Pete Simmons). Recorded vote: Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, Buck — yes.

• Resolution 2025.12‑3 (six percent salary increase for city employees, effective Jan. 1, 2026): approved (M: Dan Zieg; S: Jesse Schmidt). Recorded vote: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — yes.

What this means

The refuse contract sets the vendor and service terms for residential curbside pickup for the next five years, subject to the two renewal options. The Hazard Mitigation Plan adoption provides an updated framework for local emergency preparedness and hazard mitigation priorities. The six percent salary increase affects the city payroll beginning Jan. 1, 2026; the minutes do not specify the annual cost to the city.

Next steps

The Post Office inspection and lease renewal item was tabled to the January 2026 meeting for additional cost information. Staff were authorized to solicit bids for the Maintenance Building; further council action will follow receipt and evaluation of bids. The minutes note the council entered closed session to discuss litigation; no outcomes from that closed session are recorded in the public minutes.

(Article based solely on the Dec. 8, 2025 Bennet City Council minutes and statements recorded in the public meeting minutes.)