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Walcott council sets hearing to update building codes, approves finances and reappoints fire chief; Jacob Puck sworn in as mayor
Summary
At its Dec. 15 meeting, the Walcott City Council unanimously approved the consent agenda including financial reports and Resolution 2025-65, set a Jan. 5 public hearing to update Chapter 160 to the 2021 International Building Codes, approved Resolution 2025-66, reappointed Joe Hahn as fire chief and administered oaths to Jacob Puck and Bobbie Martinez.
Mayor John Kostichek called the City Council of Walcott to order at 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2025, and led a brief meeting in which the council took several routine and organizational actions.
The council approved the meeting agenda (motion: Harry Knutsen; second: Jacob Puck) and then moved to the consent agenda. Clerk Lisa Rickertsen noted a correction to the Dec. 1, 2025 minutes (the minutes should show that Kirk Koberg seconded the agenda approval, not Harry Knutsen). Councilor Lisa Mengler moved and Everett Bieri seconded to approve the consent agenda, which included the corrected minutes, invoices and the November 2025 financial reports; roll-call ayes were Mengler, Bieri, Knutsen and Puck, and the motion carried.
The meeting record includes the council's financial detail: listed invoices subtotaled $82,287.35; payroll dated Dec. 5, 2025, totaled $35,473.10; and the grand total expenditures reported were $117,782.45. Fund balances and revenues were presented across the general, water, sewer and other funds.
On procedural business, Councilor Jacob Puck moved and Councilor Lisa Mengler seconded a motion to set a public hearing for Jan. 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to consider amending Chapter 160 (Building Codes). The proposed amendment would update the International Building Codes adopted by the city from the 2015 editions to the 2021 editions.
The council also approved Resolution 2025-66, adopting the city organizational chart (motion: Everett Bieri; second: Lisa Mengler). The council recorded its approval of the resolution by roll call and the motion carried.
Members of the Walcott Fire Department re-elected Joe Hahn as fire chief for the 2026 term. The council then approved Hahn's appointment by motion (mover: Jacob Puck; second: Everett Bieri), confirming his term through Dec. 31, 2026.
Mayor John Kostichek used the meeting to express thanks and appreciation to community members and organizations, noting that their cooperation made serving a small town easier during his 34 years of service to the city. Kostichek and Councilor Harry Knutsen were publicly thanked by staff and council colleagues for their service.
Mayor John Kostichek administered the oath of office to Jacob Puck, who was sworn in as mayor, and to Bobbie Martinez, who was sworn in as a council member. The meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m. after a motion by Lisa Mengler and a second by Jacob Puck; the motion carried.
All motions recorded in the minutes carried, and the council noted that votes were unanimous unless otherwise specified. The council will hold a public hearing on the proposed Chapter 160 amendment at 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2026.
