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Holstein council approves $348,556.50 wastewater payment after councilmember recuses
Summary
At its Jan. 27 meeting, the Holstein City Council voted to approve a $348,556.50 payment to King Contracting LLC for a wastewater improvement project after Mayor Kathy Breyfogle removed the claim from the consent agenda because Councilperson Mike Johnsons company is a subcontractor; Johnson left the room and later recorded an abstention.
The Holstein City Council approved payment of $348,556.50 to King Contracting LLC for a wastewater improvement project after addressing a conflict of interest involving Councilperson Mike Johnson.
Mayor Kathy Breyfogle told the council that Johnsons business, Holstein Electric, is serving as a subcontractor on the wastewater project and directed that the King Contracting claim be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. Councilperson Bonnie Stevenson moved to approve the consent agenda with that claim excluded; the motion passed unanimously.
Johnson left the council chambers before the separate vote on the King Contracting LLC claim. With Johnson absent, Councilperson Marcus Prell moved and Stevenson seconded approval of the $348,556.50 claim. The motion carried with four ayes and one abstention noted for Johnson. Johnson rejoined the meeting after the vote.
The separate handling of the King Contracting claim followed the councils routine conflict-of-interest process: removal from consent, temporary departure from the chamber by the member who reported a financial connection, and a recorded abstention on the matter when present. The City Administrator later reported the full list of vendor payments approved on the consent agenda, with total reported claims of $382,618.54.
Votes at a glance: the council approved the King Contracting LLC claim $348,556.50 (motion carried; Johnson abstained), and adopted several resolutions by roll call: Resolution 26-03 (certifying delinquent utility charges), Resolution 26-04 (naming city depositories and deposit limits), Resolution 26-05 (setting the city attorney rate), and Resolution 26-06 (approving the Cherokee-Ida Solid Waste Commission 2026 plan).
