Buffalo City council unanimously adopts 2025 budget; addresses parks, cemetery and building rules

The Buffalo City Common Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt the City of Buffalo City’s 2025 budget during a regular meeting at the Municipal Building. The action followed an earlier public hearing on the budget that drew no public comment.

The budget vote — moved by Councilmember Larry Johansen and seconded by Councilmember George Fuller — was recorded as a roll-call vote with all members voting yes, formally approving the spending plan for 2025. Mayor Ben Holien called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; no members of the public were present.

Why it matters: Adopting the budget sets spending priorities and authorizes the city to carry out maintenance and planned capital work in 2025, including projects referenced elsewhere in the meeting such as park well drilling and shelter repairs. Council referenced use of ARPA funds to reimburse brick-laying expenses at the Piechowski Memorial Shelter.

Beyond the budget vote, council members handled several operational items. Councilmember George Fuller said he will contact Schaffner Plumbing to schedule well drilling at the city park before year-end; if the work cannot be completed, Fuller said the council should set money aside in next year’s budget. Fuller also reported that brick laying at Piechowski Memorial Shelter is ongoing and that those costs will be paid from ARPA funds when reimbursement is received.

Councilmember Kim Beseler said mausoleum lighting at the cemetery has been completed and that the city is preparing for Wreaths Across America. Beseler reported the city’s donated speaker system was returned with one speaker nonfunctional; the council decided to buy a new system and loan the still-working speaker to requesters going forward. Superintendent Stan Meier raised the prospect of the city purchasing and selling its own urn vaults; the council indicated agreement with that plan.

On building matters, the council approved changes to the Building Construction ordinance fines and penalties after a motion by Beseler and second by Jeannie Czaplewski. The Board of Appeals approved a side-yard variance for a garage on South River Road, and the building committee is reviewing another permit application.

Public-works concerns included the Cyrus/Barth subdivision, where Meier said road construction needs to follow the subdivision agreement before winter; current conditions are not plowable and Meier said he will contact the property owner (Cyrus). Riverland will install new covers when lights are taken down, and riverfront docks will be pulled out when the contractor can access the area.

Clerk and administrative items: Councilmember Czaplewski noted that the county has hired a new recycling manager. The council approved operator licenses for Lynch and Katula for B&S Express, discussed permanently moving park mailboxes (the clerk will send letters and Superintendent Meier will relocate them), approved payment of bills and then adjourned.

Votes at a glance: the printed 2025 budget — motion Johansen, second Fuller; roll-call vote, all yes, motion carried. Changes to Building Construction ordinance fines and penalties — motion Beseler, second Czaplewski; all yes, motion carried. Operator licenses for Lynch and Katula — motion Fuller, second Czaplewski; all yes, motion carried. Motion to pay bills — motion Johansen, second Fuller; all yes, motion carried. Adjournment — motion Johansen, second Beseler; all yes, motion carried.

The council did not record any public comments during the hearing or the regular meeting. The meeting minutes were approved and the session was adjourned; no further meeting date was set in the transcript.