Hudson council approves traffic-fine change, awards sidewalk, utilities and crosswalk contracts and OKs police pay bumps

Hudson — The Hudson City Council on an evening meeting approved an ordinance first reading that adjusts fines under the city’s automated traffic enforcement code and voted to award several small public-works contracts and two modest police pay increases.

At the start of the meeting the council held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance change to Hudson Municipal Code Chapter 61, Section 61.06 (automatic traffic enforcement fines). There were no written or verbal public comments. The ordinance (No. 9007) revises the fine schedule to align with the recently changed statutory threshold; council members noted the threshold moves from 10 miles per hour over the limit to 11 miles per hour over. The council approved the first reading on a 4–0 vote (one member recorded as absent).

The council then approved Resolution 3251 to award the sidewalk ADA-ramps project (project amount discussed as a not-to-exceed figure in the packet near $30,000). Councilmembers prioritized ADA work at the intersections on Third and Fourth streets to coincide with a planned overlay of Washington Street; work at the Primrose crossing was discussed but remains contingent on a state Department of Transportation permit for work adjacent to the state highway.

Council approved Resolution 3252 to award the road-grader painting contract; the bid was reported at approximately $19,600–$20,000. Council members briefly compared the repaint cost to the replacement price of a new grader, which was discussed in the $400,000–$500,000 range for context.

The council approved Resolution 3253 to award the utilities upgrade contract and on the record corrected the not-to-exceed amount to $69,500 (staff had earlier referenced $69,400; the motion clarified approval up to $69,500).

Resolution 3254 awarding the Primrose crosswalk project — the installation of a flashing crossing light and associated sidewalk work — was approved with the explicit caveat that the work depends on DOT approval. Staff estimated the flashing crossing lights at roughly $21,300–$21,750 and additional sidewalk work in the $4,000–$6,000 range.

On personnel matters, the council approved Resolution 3255, a $0.50 per hour wage adjustment for a Hudson police officer (listed as Officer Edgar) for achieving drone-pilot certification, and Resolution 3256, a $0.50 per hour increase for the police chief for Taser instructor certification.

All motions recorded in the meeting packet carried by unanimous recorded roll calls of members present (four yes, zero no); one member was marked absent during roll call. The meeting concluded after staff reviewed informational items and confirmed upcoming committee and council meeting dates.

Why it matters: The contracts approved allocate modest capital and maintenance dollars to improve pedestrian safety and ADA access, upgrade underground utilities and preserve city equipment — and the pay adjustments recognize small, certification-driven skill incentives within the police department. The Primrose crossing remains subject to DOT permitting, and the fine changes reflect alignment with state legislation rather than a local policy change.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with contracting and permit applications where required; Primrose work will not begin until DOT permit approval is received and the utilities bid proceeds under the authorized not-to-exceed amount.