Alma council approves $306,735.51 in claims, adopts Mighty Tidy assessment and sets administrator pay scale

The Alma City Council met June 1 at City Hall and approved claims totaling $306,735.51, adopted a special-assessment resolution for Mighty Tidy and set a new pay scale for the city administrator.

Mayor Hal Haeker called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and the council first voted to confirm the meeting was duly convened. On a roll-call vote the council then approved the minutes of May 18, accepted the treasurer's report and approved claims and invoices for the period May 19–June 1, 2026 totaling $306,735.51. The claims motion was made by Councilmember Tom Moulton and seconded by Larry Casper.

The council approved the Mighty Tidy Notice of Special Assessment and adopted Resolution No. 6-2026 on a motion by Joel Wheeler, seconded by Larry Casper. The roll-call vote recorded three yes votes and one abstention: Moulton, Casper and Wheeler voted yes; Chris Mahalek abstained.

One routine procurement item saw the council accept a single bid for a Behlen Curvette building for the City of Alma Golf Course. The council accepted Justin Morris’s bid of $2,526 on a motion by Wheeler, seconded by Mahalek.

On personnel matters, the council voted to set the City Administrator pay scale at $70,000–$100,000 per year (motion by Casper; second by Moulton).

Several items were postponed for further information. The council tabled an addendum to the city cleaning contract with contractor Jeff Lynch after identifying two issues in the draft addendum — the document did not include cleaning of the ballfield restrooms and it listed an incorrect contract start date. The council also tabled proposed changes to Title IX (General Regulations — Animal Control 90.99), citing questions about chickens/fowl, zoning consistency, permit requirements and rooster restrictions; the tabled motion asked City Attorney Doug Walker to supply additional data. A separate personnel-item discussion about expanding background checks and random drug screening beyond gas-related staff was also tabled pending counsel guidance.

The council discussed irrigation options for the golf course. The golf board has asked Miller & Associates to examine whether the course could tie into the city water system; Water Superintendent Scott Kuhl raised concerns about pressure differences and whether the city can meet the course’s water needs while the east well remains shut off. Engineer Chris Miller planned an on-site visit and will provide an engineering report; no council action was taken.

With the city administrator position vacant, Mayor Haeker proposed hiring South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) at $80 per hour plus mileage to perform compliance monitoring for the Auditorium Revitalization — Rural Community Recovery Program subaward (No. 23-RCRP-032, monitoring period 10/31/2024–05/26/2026). The council tabled that decision to allow for further consideration.

The meeting concluded after routine updates on local projects — installation of a sprinkler at the trail gazebo, the South Street lift station, downtown and auditorium sound systems ahead of the Fourth of July parade, and locating a site for the farmers market following auditorium restoration. Council adjourned at 7:13 p.m.

Votes at a glance: determine meeting convened (4–0); approve minutes (4–0); approve claims $306,735.51 (4–0); accept treasurer's report (4–0); adopt Resolution No. 6-2026 (Mighty Tidy) (yes 3, abstain 1); table cleaning-contract addendum (4–0); table Title IX — Animal Control (4–0); empower staff on phone proposals (4–0); accept Behlen Curvette bid ($2,526) (4–0); table drug-screening expansion (4–0); set City Administrator pay scale $70,000–$100,000 (4–0); table compliance monitoring for auditorium grant (4–0).

Next steps: City Attorney Doug Walker was asked to provide additional information on the animal-control ordinance and the drug-screening policy; Miller & Associates will inspect the golf course and deliver a report on irrigation options. The council did not schedule further action dates during the meeting.