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Darmstadt council adopts summer-sprinkling sewer-averaging ordinance and approves 2025 payroll, legal retainer
Summary
The Darmstadt Town Council on Dec. 17 adopted an ordinance allowing summer averaging for sewer bills and approved the 2025 payroll ordinance, a 2025 legal retainer contract, and 10 hours of website support. All actions passed by 4-0 voice votes.
The Darmstadt Town Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2024-6 to allow summer averaging of water usage for sewer billing and approved a series of 2025 administrative measures during its Dec. 17 meeting.
Attorney Josh Claybourn presented draft Ordinance 2024-6, which establishes summer averaging and allows for portable meter sewer deductions to be implemented by procedure. Ray Engler moved to suspend the rules on second reading; Cecil Poag seconded, and the council then voted to adopt the ordinance (motion to adopt moved by Poag, seconded by Engler). The ordinance passed by a 4-0 voice vote.
The council also approved the 2025 payroll ordinance (Ordinance 2024-7). Eric Gries introduced the payroll ordinance; Ray Engler moved to approve and Crystal Kahre seconded. The ordinance passed by a 4-0 voice vote.
Separately, the council approved a proposed 2025 legal retainer contract for town counsel. Josh Claybourn presented the contract; Ray Engler moved to approve and Cecil Poag seconded. That motion passed 4-0. The council also approved 10 hours of website support from the town's web designer at a cost of $690 (Engler moved; Poag seconded; approved 4-0).
Clerk-Treasurer Mallory Lowe said staff will work with Attorney Claybourn to finalize portable-meter forms for the summer-averaging program. Lowe also said the town's software vendor and Old National Bank are configuring an ACH/autopay capability; the website designer is adding an online enrollment form but the autopay program was not yet active at the Dec. 17 meeting.
The council handled routine procedural business beforehand, including accepting last month’s minutes, approving the previous month’s financial report and authorizing accounts payable; those motions were approved by 4-0 voice votes.
The meeting ended with brief board remarks and a proposal from President Gries to hold special workshop sessions for council, clerk and superintendents to work on current town projects. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
