Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Annual Updates Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Grundy Center council receives annual updates; departments request wage bumps and capital projects
Summary
Library, Main Street, Parks and the Community Center presented annual reports and FY2026 budget requests at the Jan. 20 meeting, including two 5% wage increase requests (library staff and Main Street director), park capital needs, and facility rental rate updates. Council took no formal action and directed budget work to committees.
At the Jan. 20 Grundy Center City Council meeting, department and program leaders gave annual reports and budget requests to inform the FY2026 budget process.
Lindsey Freese, Library Director, presented annual statistics for the Kling Memorial Library and asked the council to consider several FY2026 budget items: a 5% wage increase for library employees, planning funds for a children's area upgrade, reclassification of Hoopla revenue and expenditures from the gift trust fund to the general operating budget, and pursuit of grants and donations for the children's area renovation.
Katie Rasmussen, Chamber/Main Street Director, reviewed 2024 projects and events, said Grundy Center reached its third million-dollar benchmark since joining the Main Street program in 2015, and announced planning for a 10-year anniversary celebration in June 2025. Rasmussen distributed a Small Business Support Guide for building and business owners and asked the council to consider a 5% wage increase to mark her fifth year in the position, providing a wage survey of comparable Main Street communities.
Darrel Shuey, Park Board chairman, outlined Park Board requests for the Parks and Sports Complex, including completion of tennis and pickleball courts, a sunshade for the sports complex and pursuit of grants to replace bathroom facilities in all city parks.
Kendra Lufkin, Community Center Director, reported recent rate changes for facility rentals (Wilts Room $125/day; Legion Room $75/day; wedding receptions $400 for Grundy Center residents and $500 for non-residents), said she submitted a Community Foundation grant application to replace televisions and carts, noted Public Works is upgrading light fixtures to LED and replacing ceiling tiles, and requested an inventory of Community Center equipment and ages.
Mayor Pro Tem Smith opened the annual update portion of the meeting. Council members asked questions of presenters but took no formal votes on the budget requests; staff and committees will continue work on the FY2026 budget and may bring specific budget items back for formal action.
