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Richland council adopts FYE2027 budget, raises garbage rates and approves road repairs
Summary
The Richland City Council on April 13 approved the fiscal-year-2027 budget and new internal-control policies, raised residential garbage rates by $2.50 and commercial rates by $5.00, approved road-repair contracts and several administrative appointments and procurement choices.
The Richland City Council approved its fiscal-year-2027 budget and a set of internal-control policies and took a series of administrative actions at its April 13, 2026, regular meeting.
Hadley moved and Pfeifer seconded approval of Resolution 04-13-26 (2), adopting the City Budget for FYE2027; the motion passed on a roll-call vote, 5 ayes. Council also approved Resolution 04-13-26 (3), establishing internal-control policies governing timecard approval and payroll check signing, by a 5–0 roll-call vote (Hadley moved; Crafton seconded).
The council approved an increase to garbage collection rates to address rising monthly expenses: residential rates will rise by $2.50 and commercial rates by $5.00, with rates to be reevaluated annually; the motion (Hadley moved; Adrian seconded) passed 5–0. The council reviewed current garbage expenses and revenues during the discussion before voting.
On public works and road maintenance, the council approved LL Pellings 2026 road repair quote (Hadley moved; Crafton seconded) and separately approved a repair quote from PNA Ag Drainage for multiple E Harrison Street locations (Hadley moved; Gaines seconded). The PNA Ag Drainage motion passed with four ayes and one abstention from Councilmember Steve Pfeifer.
The council handled several personnel and procedural items: it continued using Jason Rebling as the water/wastewater affidavit operator (motion passed 5–0); Mayor John Capps nominated Katie Lyon to the library board, and the council approved the nomination on a unanimous vote. The council also approved a food truck application (Crafton moved; Gaines seconded) and designated The Clarion Plainsmen as the citys official newspaper for publication.
On administrative modernization, City Clerk Sarah Claeys presented online payment options; the council selected GovCard as the citys online payment processor (Adrian moved; Pfeifer seconded), 5 ayes. Mayor Capps said the council will pursue the T-Mobile Hometown grant to fund park repairs and replacements; the council voted to pursue the grant (Hadley moved; Crafton seconded), 5–0.
In department updates earlier in the meeting, Public Works Supervisor Calder Bender reported that training for affidavit operator Jason Rebling is progressing, the water plant and lagoon had no reported issues, the solar panel system is functioning, a leak at the ballfield bathrooms was repaired and new bleachers were assembled. City Clerk Sarah Claeys said the Department of Natural Resources accepted the final reports for a derelict-building grant and that reimbursement should arrive in roughly 30–60 days; Claeys also reported that the defendant in a Tennessee-related lawsuit agreed in mediation to refund the full amount within 30 days.
Before voting on Resolution 04-13-26 (1) concerning the citys interest in a portion of property on 320th Avenue, Councilmember Joe Adrian declared a conflict of interest, left the room and did not participate; the resolution passed on a roll-call vote, 4 ayes. Mayor Capps adjourned the meeting at 8:13 p.m.
The meeting record shows routine procedural approvals and administrative updates; no citizen comments were made during the public forum.
