Highland council approves appointments, multiple purchases and parking-lot engineering

Highland City Council on May 5 unanimously approved a slate of appointments, several purchases that waived competitive bidding, and preliminary engineering for a downtown parking-lot expansion.

The council approved Mayor Kevin Hemann’s appointment of Neill Nicolaides as city treasurer; City Clerk Barbara Bellm administered the oath of office. Council also approved appointments and reappointments to the Industrial Development Commission and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission, and reappointed Darren Twyford to the Police Pension Board.

Council members voted to waive competitive bidding and authorize the purchase of 150 meter communication modules from Tantalus Systems, Inc. for $14,149.50 and ITRON electric meters from Anixter Power Solutions, LLC for $16,500. The council also approved vehicle purchases through the National Government Joint Purchasing Program: a 2025 Ram 1500 for the Light & Power Department ($48,202), a 2025 Ram 1500 4x4 for the Police Department ($50,865), and a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee for the Police Department ($40,830). An ordinance declaring surplus fire department property also passed.

City Manager Chris Conrad told the council the sale of two parcels to DJR Properties LLC is related to a planned Main Street and Pine Street parking-lot expansion. Council authorized preliminary engineering services with Oates Associates, Inc. for the project; construction will not begin until a later date and the city will seek an alternate location before executing the sale contract.

Other routine actions included acceptance of Expenditures Report #1289 and notices to bid for Pavement Marking 2025 and Motor Fuel Tax maintenance materials (the latter will use Missouri Trap Rock rather than slag due to availability and price). All motions recorded in the minutes passed on roll-call votes of Councilmembers Sloan, Klaus, Bellm and Napper voting aye.

The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.