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Echo council sets 2025 levy at $170,000, adopts hazard plan and approves vendor for utility billing
Summary
At its Sept. 10 meeting the Echo City Council approved a 2025 levy of $170,000 (3% increase), adopted Resolution 2024-010 adopting the Yellow Medicine County Hazard Mitigation Plan, selected Banyon Utility Billing as its vendor, and approved several operational items including a temporary liquor license and tree removals; all motions carried unanimously among members present.
Acting Mayor Darren Gjerset presided over the City of Echo council meeting on Sept. 10, where the council approved a package of budget and operational actions it said were needed to keep city services running.
The council voted to set the 2025 levy at $170,000, a 3% increase from 2024. Councilman Reid Hanson moved to set the levy at that amount; Councilman Mark Schettler seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The council’s motion did not detail program-level allocations; the clerk said budget work and laptop-replacement quotes will continue as part of office preparations.
On a separate vote, the council unanimously approved Resolution 2024-010 to adopt the Yellow Medicine County Hazard Mitigation Plan, which the clerk presented as the county-level mitigation framework the city will use in planning and emergency preparedness.
The council also approved several operational items by unanimous votes: selecting Banyon Utility Billing as the city’s new utility-billing software (moved by Councilman Mark Schettler, seconded by Councilman Reid Hanson); authorizing the city to retain authority for cannabis licensing and permitting; and approving a temporary liquor license for the Legion Club for the Lions Ribfest (moved by Councilman Dan Larsen, seconded by Councilman Mark Schettler).
Council approved a contractor quote to remove three boulevard trees judged a hazard and authorized a one-time standby payment of $100 plus $25 per hour for on-call work to Tim Dhoore while Public Works Supervisor Bryan Nielsen is on vacation; both motions passed unanimously. The council also approved the consent agenda covering bills, payroll and bank information.
All motions were recorded in the minutes as "carried unanimously." Attendance listed Acting Mayor Darren Gjerset and Councilmen Mark Schettler, Dan Larsen and Reid Hanson; based on that attendance the votes were unanimous among the four council members present. The clerk and department staff participated in discussion but were not recorded as voting members.
The council adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
