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Hamilton aldermen adopt 2025–26 budget, approve pay ranges, fees and police chief contract
Summary
The Hamilton Board of Aldermen approved the proposed 2025–26 budget and several measures including new employee pay ranges, an amended building permit fee schedule, and a contract naming J.C. Kirkendoll III as chief of police. The board also authorized parking-area resurfacing and approved appointments to boards.
Hamilton — The City of Hamilton Board of Aldermen on June 11 approved the proposed 2025–26 budget and a slate of related measures, including updated employee pay ranges, adjustments to the building permit fee schedule, and a contract naming J.C. Kirkendoll III as the city’s chief of police.
At the start of the meeting Mayor Cole Crawford called the session to order and obtained board approval to amend the agenda to add Resolution No. 2025-13 after the budget discussion. After deliberations, the board adopted the proposed 2025–26 budget by voice vote following a motion from Robert Grant and a second from Deedie Esry.
The board also adopted Resolution No. 2025-12, a 2024–25 budget amendment read by Mayor Crawford and approved on a motion by Deedie Esry. In successive votes the aldermen approved Bill Number 05142025 (establishing employee pay ranges) and Bill Number 052725 (amending the building permit fee schedule); recorded votes in the transcript show Robert Grant, Deedie Esry and Toni Schmidt voting “aye” on each of those bills.
Cole Crawford read Bill Number 06042025, a contract naming J.C. Kirkendoll III as chief of police. After the second reading, the board voted to approve the contract with recorded ayes from Robert Grant, Deedie Esry and Toni Schmidt.
The council also voted to move forward with resurfacing city parking areas and preselected Ellison-Auxier Architects, Inc. to provide architect services for a grant-contingent project described by Rebecca of the Great Highlands Regional Planning Commission. The architect preselection was approved contingent on attorney review of the contract.
Appointments to local boards were handled by motion: Brandon Smith was appointed to the Hamilton Park Board and Bridget Foreman to the Library Board; both appointments were approved by the board.
Votes at a glance: the transcript records the board approving the amended agenda; minutes for May 14, 2025; bills and expenditures; Bill 05142025 (pay ranges); Bill 052725 (building permit fees); Bill 06042025 (police chief contract); Resolution 2025-12 (budget amendment); Resolution 2025-13 (2025/2026 budget); authorization to resurface parking areas; and the preselection of an architect contingent on attorney review. Several motions are recorded in the transcript as passed by voice vote; for named roll-call votes the transcript lists the three aldermen (Robert Grant, Deedie Esry and Toni Schmidt) as voting “aye.”
The meeting concluded after brief department updates, a closed session for personnel and legal matters, and an adjournment motion. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 9, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
